Len Stephenson

Len Stephenson
Personal information
Full name Robert Leonard Stephenson
Date of birth 14 July 1930 (1930-07-14) (age 81)
Place of birth Blackpool, England
Playing position Centre-forward
Youth career
Highfield Youth Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1951–1955 Blackpool 23 (10)
1955–1957 Port Vale 61 (16)
1957–1958 Oldham Athletic 8 (0)
Witton Albion 0 (0)
Total 92 (26)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson (born 14 July 1930) is an English former professional footballer.

Playing career

Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road. He scored the hosts' second goal in what was his only appearance of the 1950–51 campaign.[1]

He made three league appearances during the following season,[2] but sat out the entire 1952–53 term, at the climax of which Blackpool won the FA Cup.[3]

Stephenson returned to the Blackpool line-up two-thirds of the way through 1953–54, scoring their first goal in a 3–2 home league victory over Aston Villa on 23 January. He made seven further league appearances that season, scoring another three goals in the process. He also scored in the FA Cup, in the Seasiders' third-round replay victory over Luton Town at Molineux Stadium.[4]

He scored five goals in his eleven league appearances during 1954–55, including the only goal of the game in a victory at West Brom on 11 December. He made his final appearance for Blackpool on 15 January, in a 2–0 defeat at Wolves.[5]

Stephenson joined Port Vale in March 1955. With fourteen goals, he was the club's top scorer in the 1955–56 season. However he lost his place in January 1957 and was transferred to Oldham Athletic for 'a small fee' in June 1957.[6] He made eight league appearances for the Latics before finishing his career with Witton Albion.[7]

References

  1. ^ Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, p. 276. ISBN 187362607X.
  2. ^ Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, p. 278
  3. ^ Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, p. 280
  4. ^ Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, p. 282
  5. ^ Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, p. 284
  6. ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 281. ISBN 0952915200. http://www.amazon.ca/Port-Vale-Personalities-Jeff-Kent/dp/0952915200. 
  7. ^ Oldham F.C. at Neil Brown's statistical website