Ian Stevens (footballer)

Ian David Stevens (born 21 October 1966) is an English retired footballer.[3] Although born in Malta, Stevens was raised in Lancaster and educated in the city at Ripley St. Thomas C of E High School.

Ian Stevens
Personal information
Full name Ian David Stevens[1]
Date of birth (1966-10-21) 21 October 1966[1]
Place of birth Valletta,[1] Malta
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1983–1984 Preston North End
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1986 Preston North End 11 (2)
1986 Stockport County 2 (0)
1986–1987 Lancaster City ? (?)
1987–1991 Bolton Wanderers 47 (7)
1991–1994 Bury 110 (38)
1994–1997 Shrewsbury Town 111 (37)
1997–1999 Carlisle United 79 (27)
1999–2000 Wrexham 16 (4)
2000 → Cheltenham Town (loan) 1 (0)
2000–2002 Carlisle United 67 (18)
2002–2003 Shrewsbury Town 19 (2)
2003 Barrow ? (?)
2003–2005 Gretna 28 (10)
2005–2006 Fleetwood Town ? (?)
2007 Lancaster City ? (?)
2007–???? Bacup Borough ? (?)
Total 491 (145)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Preston North End and Stockport County

It was while playing local league football that Stevens was spotted by Preston North End who signed him as a professional in November 1984. His time at Deepdale was difficult however with the club going through a transitional period and at the end of the 1985–86 season he was released after playing just 12 games. After spending a month at Stockport County, Stevens found himself without a club and playing non-league football for Lancaster City.

Bolton Wanderers

It was while playing for Lancaster that struggling Bolton Wanderers came in for him in March 1987. He was predominantly a squad player at Burnden Park due to the presence of strikers John Thomas and Tony Philliskirk. In a little over four years, he made 47 appearances scoring 7 goals. After being released by Wanderers in July 1991, Stevens signed for Bury.

Bury and Shrewsbury Town

At Bury, Stevens scored 40 goals in 126 games before signing with Shrewsbury Town in August 1994 for a fee of £20k. He scored 51 goals in 132 games before moving again to Carlisle United in May 1997.

Carlisle United

Although Stevens joined Carlisle on the back of the Cumbrians' promotion, the club were relegated immediately and only preserved their football league status the following season thanks to a goal from on loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass.[4]

Wrexham

Stevens took a free transfer to Wrexham in July 1999. In his only season at the Racecourse Ground, he scored four goals in 20 matches. He also played a game on loan at Cheltenham Town without scoring.

Carlisle United

Stevens' release from Wrexham in August 2000 paved the way for a return to Carlisle. However, in June 2002 he went for one last hurrah with Shrewsbury Town. In his one season at Gay Meadow he scored just two goals in 24 games before leaving in August 2003.

Gretna, non-league & back to Lancaster

Stevens first signed for Barrow but after a month he left and signed for Scottish Football League club Gretna. Despite getting sent off on his debut for Gretna, Stevens settled in well and in two seasons at Gretna he played 26+5 matches scoring 13 goals and was a member of the championship winning squad of 2004–05. From Gretna, Stevens moved again into non-league football with Fleetwood Town, winning promotion to the Northern Premier League in 2005–06. After a break he signed for his home town club Lancaster City for the start of 2007–08, but played just a handful more games for his home town club before leaving at the end of September 2007 and then signing for Bacup Borough. As a professional Stevens played 572 first team games and scored 175 goals.

References
  1. "Ian Stevens". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  2. Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. "Player Profile". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  4. Metcalf, Rupert (10 May 1999). "Carlisle raise a Glass to survival - Carlisle United 2 Plymouth Argyle 1". The Independent. London. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
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