Ian Stevens

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Ian Stevens (b. 21 October 1966) is a former footballer who played in the English football league. Although born in Malta, Stevens was raised in Lancaster and educated at the cities Ripley St Thomas' High School.

Contents 1 Preston NE and Stockport County 2 Bolton Wanderers 3 Bury and Shrewsbury Town 4 Carlisle United 1st spell 5 Carlisle United 2nd spell 6 Gretna, non league & back to Lancaster 7 Trivia

[edit] Preston NE 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 10+2 games soring 2 goals. After spending a month at Stockport County (1 game 0 goals) Stevens found himself without a club and playing non-league football for Lancaster City.

[edit] Bolton Wanderers

It was while playing for Lancaster that struggling Bolton Wanderers came in for him in March 1987. Although predominantly a squad player at Burnden Park due to the likes of John Thomas and Tony Philliskirk being the main strikers, Stevens did in little over 4 years make 34+24 appearances scoring 9 goals. After being freed by Wanderers in July 1991 Stevens made the next move in his career when he signed for Bury.

[edit] Bury and Shrewsbury Town

It was whilst at Bury that Stevens reputation as a prolific goalscorer really took off. He became a real hero to the shakers fans scoring 40 goals in 112+14 games before he signed for Shrewsbury Town in August 1994 for a fee of £20k. His record at Gay Meadow was almost identical to that at Bury with him scoring 51 goals in 110+22 games before Carlisle United tabled a £100k offer for him in May 1997.

[edit] Carlisle United 1st spell

Joining Carlisle on the back of the bluebirds promotion, great things were expected at Brunton Park but the club were relegated immediately and the following season only preserved there football league status thanks to a goal from on loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass. Although times were difficult at Carlisle under Michael Knighton's barmy regime Stevens still became a hero in Cumbria scoring 30 goals in 72+14 games before he took a free transfer to Wrexham in July 1999. In his only season at the Racecourse Ground Stevens scored 4 goals in 17+3 matches, he also played a game on loan at Cheltenham Town without scoring.

[edit] Carlisle United 2nd spell

Stevens' release from Wrexham in August 2000 paved the way for a return to Carlisle and although things off the field at the club hadn't changed much, Stevens carried on where he left off. In two injury plagued seasons at United, Stevens scored another 22 goals in 72+3 games before 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 4+20 games before leaving in August 2003.

[edit] Gretna, non league & back to Lancaster

Stevens first signed for Barrow but after a month he left after just 4 games (0 goals) 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, Stevens first as a pro. From Gretna Stevens moved into non league football with Fleetwood Town again winning promotion to the Northern Premier League in 2005-06 before in November 2006 he signed for home town club Lancaster City to bring his career full circle. As a professional Stevens played 459+110 first team games scoring 173 goals and at his peak was along with Tony Ellis one of the most clinical strikers to grace the lower reaches of the football league.

[edit] Trivia

Until his promotion with Gretna in 2005, Stevens first as a pro, he had in fact been relegated with every club he had permanently played for apart from Wrexham where he only stayed for one season. In all he was relegated 6 times possibly making him a contender for one of the most jinxed players in English football.