Ben Stevenson (footballer) explained

Ben Stevenson
Fullname:Ben Edward Stevenson[1]
Birth Date:23 March 1997
Birth Place:Leicester, England
Height:1.83m (06feet)
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Portsmouth
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:2005–2015
Youthclubs1:Coventry City
Years1:2015–2018
Clubs1:Coventry City
Caps1:48
Goals1:3
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Colchester United (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:2
Years4:2018
Clubs4:Jumilla (loan)
Caps4:15
Goals4:0
Years5:2019–2021
Clubs5:Colchester United
Caps5:74
Goals5:4
Years6:2021–2023
Clubs6:Forest Green Rovers
Caps6:70
Goals6:0
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Portsmouth
Caps7:1
Goals7:0
Club-Update:15:00, 7 October 2023 (UTC)

Ben Edward Stevenson (born 23 March 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Portsmouth.

Stevenson is a graduate of the Coventry City Academy. He spent 13 years with the club, joining at the age of eight. He made his professional debut in August 2016 and made 48 appearances for the club. In January 2018, he was sold to Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was immediately loaned out to Colchester United, and then joined Wolves' Spanish affiliate club Jumilla on loan for the first-half of 2018–19. In January 2019, he rejoined Colchester United on a permanent basis.

Career

Born in Leicester, Stevenson joined the Coventry City Academy at the age of eight.[2] He signed on as a scholar in July 2013,[3] and signed his first professional contract in 2015.[4]

Stevenson made his professional debut on 9 August 2016, playing 120 minutes in Coventry's 3–2 extra time win over Portsmouth in the League Cup.[5] He scored his first professional goal on 18 October 2016 during a 2–1 win over Oxford United.[6] He scored his second goal for Coventry in their 2–1 home defeat by Milton Keynes Dons on 26 November 2016, but was sent off for the first time in his career after 74-minutes for a high challenge on Dean Lewington.[7] He helped the club to the EFL Trophy and played in the final at Wembley Stadium as City beat Oxford United 2–1.[8]

After making 36 appearances in his debut season, Stevenson was limited to twelve appearances in the first-half of the 2017–18 season through both injury and falling down the pecking order at the club.[2]

On 31 January 2018, Stevenson signed a -year deal with Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee. He was immediately loaned out to Coventry's League Two rivals Colchester United for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[9]

Stevenson made his Colchester United debut on 3 February 2018, coming on as a substitute for Sean Murray before scoring the game's opening goal ten minutes after his arrival on the pitch. Colchester went on to win the match against Newport County 2–0.[10] He made 13 appearances for the U's, scoring twice.

On 31 August 2018, Stevenson was one of nine Wolves players sent to their Spanish affiliate club Jumilla on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.[11] He made 15 appearances for the club.

Colchester United re-signed Stevenson on a permanent basis on 30 January 2019, signing a -year deal from Wolves.[12] He made his second debut for the club on 2 February, starting in their 4–0 win at Northampton Town.[13]

An excellent Carabao Cup run with some notable wins against Premiership teams Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur took them to the quarter-finals against Manchester United at Old Trafford eventually losing 3-0.

On 7 June 2021, Stevenson announced he would be leaving Colchester at the end of his contract after making almost 100 appearances for the U's.[14]

Stevenson signed for Forest Green Rovers on a two-year deal on 21 June 2021 Forest Green won promotion to League One as champions in the 21/22 season.[15] Following their relegation back to League Two at the end of the 2022–23 season, Stevenson departed the club on a free transfer.[16]

On 21 June 2023, Stevenson returned to League One when he signed for Portsmouth on a two-year contract with the option for a further year.[17] Stevenson's debut for Portsmouth came in an EFL Cup tie against Forest Green Rovers,[18] and his league debut followed against Port Vale on 7 October 2023.[19] He scored his first goal for Portsmouth on 10 October 2023 in an EFL Trophy tie against Gillingham.[20]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Coventry City2016–17League One282202040362
2017–18League Two50301031121
Total332503071483
Wolverhampton Wanderers2017–18Championship000000
2018–19Premier League00000000
Total0000000000
Colchester United (loan)2017–18League Two13200132
Jumilla (loan)2018–19Segunda División B – Group IV1500000150
Colchester United2018–19League Two14000140
2019–20League Two282105020362
2020–21League Two322001010342
Total744106030974
Forest Green Rovers2021–22League Two410101010440
2022–23League One290212021352
Total700313031792
Portsmouth2023–24League One1000202151
Career total20689114015324412

Honours

Coventry City

2016–17[8]

Forest Green Rovers

2021–22[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players as at 20th May 2017 . 20 May 2017 . English Football League . 51 . 13 June 2017 .
  2. Web site: Will Ben Stevenson be able to play against Coventry City this month? . Turner . Andy . 1 February 2018 . Coventry Live . 30 January 2019 .
  3. Web site: List of Players under Written Contract . The Football Association . PDF . 30 January 2019 .
  4. Web site: List of Players under Written Contract . The Football Association . PDF . 30 January 2019 .
  5. Web site: Coventry City 3–2 Portsmouth (AET) . 9 August 2016 . BBC Sport . 18 October 2016 .
  6. Web site: Coventry City 2–1 Oxford United . 18 October 2016 . BBC Sport . 18 October 2016 .
  7. Web site: Coventry City 1–2 Milton Keynes Dons . 26 November 2016 . BBC Sport . 30 January 2019 .
  8. Web site: EFL Trophy final: Coventry City 2–1 Oxford United . Scott . Ged . 2 April 2017 . BBC Sport . 30 January 2019 .
  9. Web site: Benik Afobe: Wolves re-sign Bournemouth striker on loan . 1 February 2018 . BBC Sport . 30 January 2019 .
  10. Web site: Colchester United 2–0 Newport County . 3 February 2018 . BBC Sport . 3 February 2018 .
  11. Web site: Wolves send nine player [sic] on loan to FC Jumilla ]. 31 August 2018 . Wolverhampton Wanderers FC . 30 January 2019 .
  12. Web site: Ben Stevenson: Colchester United sign Wolves midfielder . 30 January 2019 . BBC Sport . 30 January 2019 .
  13. Web site: Northampton Town 0–4 Colchester United . 2 February 2019 . BBC Sport . 2 February 2019 .
  14. News: Waldron . Jonathan . 7 June 2021 . Colchester United midfielder Ben Stevenson to depart . Daily Gazette . Colchester . 8 June 2021 .
  15. Web site: Rovers clinch Stevenson signing . 21 June 2021 . Forest Green Rovers . 21 June 2021 .
  16. Web site: 2023 Retained List confirmed. www.fgr.co.uk. 22 May 2023. 22 June 2023.
  17. Web site: Stevenson Becomes Sixth Summer Signing. www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. 21 June 2023. 22 June 2023.
  18. News: Forest Green Rovers 1-3 Portsmouth. BBC. 8 August 2023. 8 November 2023.
  19. News: Portsmouth 2-0 Port Vale. BBC. 7 October 2023. 8 November 2023.
  20. News: Report Portsmouth 5-1 Gillingham. Gillingham Football Club. 10 October 2023 . 8 November 2023.
  21. News: Mansfield Town 2–2 Forest Green Rovers: Draw seals title for Rovers . BBC Sport . 7 May 2022 . 31 December 2022.