Mike Stephenson

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Mike "Stevo" Stephenson (born 27th January 1947 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire) is an English rugby league presenter/commentator on British satellite television channel Sky Sports who also represented Great Britain in the sport.

Stevo, the nickname that he is commonly known as on TV and in rugby league circles, played at club level for English club Dewsbury and Australian side Penrith, and also played representative rugby league for the Yorkshire county team. Stephenson played in the specialist hooking position for the vast majority of his playing career.

Mike Stephenson was responsible for the setting-up of the Rugby League Heritage Centre at the George Hotel, Huddersfield.

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[edit] Playing career

Stephenson began his professional playing career at his hometown club Dewsbury in 1966, after being signed from local amateur club Shaw Cross. He went on to make his Great Britain debut in Castleford in 1971, against the touring New Zealand side. His greatest moment in international rugby league, however, was being a member of Great Britain's victorious 1972 World Cup-winning side that won the trophy in France; Stevo scored a try against Australia in the final.

Stephenson's time in the Dewsbury first team coincided with an upturn in the club's fortunes on the pitch, culminating with the team winning the British Rugby League Championship in the 1972-73 season. He left Dewsbury after their championship winning season in 1973 to join Australian Rugby League outfit Penrith. He played 69 games for the Panthers 1974-78, scoring 21 tries. Stevo was also player-coach of the side for a brief, unsuccessful spell. He ended his playing career in 1978 and settled in Sydney.

[edit] Broadcasting career

Stevo began his broadcasting career in Australia with brief spells at radio and television stations in Sydney. He first appeared on British airwaves in 1988, when he was invited to co-commentate on the rugby league Ashes series in Australia for BBC Radio 2 with soon-to-be long-term commentating partner Eddie Hemmings.

In 1990, Stevo joined the new UK satellite television broadcaster BSB as a match summariser for its Rugby League coverage. At BSB, he joined up again with Hemmings, who had also been signed up by the broadcaster. The pairing were kept together when BSB and Sky Television merged to form BSkyB in 1991; the combined satellite TV network inherited BSB's rugby league TV contract.

Stevo was a massive supporter of the creation of Super League, the elite northern hemisphere club rugby league competition which started in the English spring of 1996.

Eddie & Stevo are still the main presenters and commentators on Sky Sports' Super League coverage; they are arguably one of the most recognisable sports commentary teams on British television. Many viewers are drawn to Stevo's sometimes irrational and controversial opinions on matches and the sport in general.

Stevo lives in London during the Super League season, to be near to Sky Sports' Isleworth headquarters; and Sydney during the Super League off-season.

[edit] Some of Stevo's catchphrases during his summaries

  • "..I'm not too sure Eddie!"
  • "..This is the Greatest Game, Of All!"
  • "..he has put his body on the line..."
  • "..its T-R-Y time, for mine!"
  • "..this'll be N-O T-R-Y!"
  • "..Give him a smell of that whitewash and he'll get over it!"
  • "..he's got a bit of claret on his nose.."
  • "..time to play some Rugby League football.."
  • "..why didn't he go for the one-pointer?"
  • "..the merry whistle-blower is at it again.."
  • "..they gotta play better in the second stanza."
  • "..you've got to utilise the forwards.."
  • "..its 'up-the-jumper' time!"
  • "..the ball took a wicked bounce!"
  • "..the supporters are going bananas!"
  • "..I'll put the house on it... AND the swimming pool... AND the push chair!"
  • "..and rightly so."
  • "..it's a knockonathon!"
  • "..is he ever!"
  • "..no doubt about it!"
  • "..he's made a real meal of it.."
  • "...and there is the finger of authority.."
  • "..that fella's a tough hombre.."
  • "...Without a doubt!"
  • "...he's out on his feet!"
  • "...this is getting tasty!"

[edit] References

Stevo: Looking Back, by Mike Stephenson ISBN 978-1-904091-23-3

[edit] External links