Jimmy Stephen Explained

Jimmy Stephen
Fullname:James Findlay Stephen
Birth Date:23 August 1922
Birth Place:Johnshaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Death Place:Southsea, Hampshire, England
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:1937–1938
Youthclubs1:Johnshaven Dauntless
Youthyears2:1938–1939
Youthclubs2:Bradford (Park Avenue)
Years1:1939–1949
Clubs1:Bradford (Park Avenue)
Caps1:94
Goals1:0
Years2:1949–1955
Clubs2:Portsmouth
Caps2:100
Goals2:0
Years3:1955–1956
Clubs3:Yeovil Town
Nationalyears1:1944–1945[1]
Nationalteam1:Scotland (wartime)
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1946–1947
Nationalteam2:Scotland
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Clubs4:Bridgwater Town
Clubs5:Newport (Isle of Wight)
Clubs6:Waterlooville
Years4:1956–1957
Managerclubs1:Bridgwater Town (coach)
Manageryears1:1956–1957
Managerclubs2:Newport (Isle of Wight) (coach)
Managerclubs3:Waterlooville (coach)
Years5:1957–1959
Years6:1959-1960
Manageryears3:1959-1960
Manageryears2:1957–1959

James Findlay Stephen (23 August 1922 – 5 November 2012)[2] was a Scottish footballer who played as a defender. At club level, he played in the Football League for Bradford (Park Avenue)[3] and Portsmouth.[4] He also played in two full international matches for Scotland.

Stephen signed for Bradford when he left school in 1938, and turned professional the following year. During the Second World War he made guest appearances for clubs including Halifax Town, Middlesbrough[2] and Huddersfield Town.[5] He left Bradford for Portsmouth in 1949,[2] although National Service in the RAF meant he was restricted to a solitary appearance in the Portsmouth team that won the 1949–50 League title.[6] He finished his career in non-league football with Yeovil Town before becoming a player-coach at Bridgwater Town, Newport in the Isle of Wight, and Waterlooville[2]

Having represented Scotland in five wartime internationals against England,[1] Stephen made his full international debut as captain in the first competitive match Scotland played after the war, a 3–1 defeat to Wales on 19 October 1946 in the British Home Championship. His second and last cap came a year later, also against Wales.[2] [7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.londonhearts.com/scotlandunoff/players/jamesfindlaystephen.html (Scotland player, including unofficial matches) James Stephen
  2. Web site: Jimmy Stephen - A Squad . Scottish Football Association . 12 October 2009.
  3. Web site: Bradford Park Avenue : 1946/47–1969/70 . UK A–Z Transfers . Neil Brown . 12 October 2009.
  4. Web site: Portsmouth : 1946/47–2008/09 . UK A–Z Transfers . Neil Brown . 12 October 2009.
  5. Book: Rollin, Jack . Soccer At War 1939-45 . Headline . London . 2005 . 345 . 978-0-7553-1431-7.
  6. News: Portsmouth all at sea as Bolton Wanderers add to their woes . https://web.archive.org/web/20090924021840/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/portsmouth/6184244/Portsmouth-all-at-sea-as-Bolton-Wanderers-add-to-their-woes.html . dead . 24 September 2009 . The Daily Telegraph. John . Ley . 14 September 2009 . 22 September 2013 . At half-time, Jimmy Stephen, 87, a 1950 title-winner with Portsmouth, was introduced to the crowd. "Sign him up," sang the Fratton faithful. .
  7. Web site: Scotland - International Matches 1946-1950 . Alan . Brown . 6 June 2008 . . 12 October 2009.