Ian Stevens (footballer)

Ian Stevens

Personal information
Full name	Ian David Stevens
Date of birth	(1966-10-21) 21 October 1966
Place of birth	Valletta, Malta
Height
Position(s)	Striker (retired)
Youth career
1983–1984	Preston North End
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1984–1986	Preston North End	11	(2)
1986	Stockport County	2	(0)
1986–1987	Lancaster City	?	(?)
1987–1991	Bolton Wanderers	47	(7)
1991–1994	Bury	110	(38)
1994–1997	Shrewsbury Town	111	(37)
1997–1999	Carlisle United	79	(27)
1999–2000	Wrexham	16	(4)
2000	→ Cheltenham Town (loan)	1	(0)
2000–2002	Carlisle United	67	(18)
2002–2003	Shrewsbury Town	19	(2)
2003	Barrow	?	(?)
2003–2005	Gretna	28	(10)
2005–2006	Fleetwood Town	?	(?)
2007–2008	Lancaster City	?	(?)
Total		491	(145)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ian David Stevens (born 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 in the city at Ripley St. Thomas C of E High School.

Playing career

Preston North End 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 12 games soring two goals. After spending a month at Stockport County, Stevens found himself without a club and playing non-league football for Lancaster City.

Bolton Wanderers

It was while playing for Lancaster that struggling Bolton Wanderers came in for him in March 1987. He was predominantly a squad player at Burnden Park due to the presence of strikers John Thomas and Tony Philliskirk. In a little over four years, he made 47 appearances scoring 7 goals. After being released by Wanderers in July 1991, Stevens signed for Bury.

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 126 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 132 games before Carlisle United tabled a £100k offer for him in May 1997.

Carlisle United

Joining Carlisle on the back of the Cumbrians' promotion, great things were expected at Brunton Park but the club were relegated immediately and the following season only preserved their 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 86 games.

Wrexham

Stevens took a free transfer to Wrexham in July 1999. In his only season at the Racecourse Ground, he scored four goals in 20 matches. He also played a game on loan at Cheltenham Town without scoring.

Carlisle United

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 75 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 24 games before leaving in August 2003.

Gretna, non league & back to Lancaster

Stevens first signed for Barrow but after a month he left 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, only Stevens second 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. After a seasons break he signed for home town club Lancaster City for the start of 2007–08 to bring his career full circle. Indeed, Stevens marked his debut by scoring in an opening day 2–1 home win for Lancaster against F.C. United of Manchester in front of nearly 2,500 fans. Stevens then went onto play just a handful more games for his home town club before leaving at the end of September 2007 and then signing for Bacup Borough. As a professional Stevens played 572 first team games scoring 175 goals and at his peak was, along with Tony Ellis and Phil Stant, one of the most clinical strikers to grace the lower reaches of the football league.

References

• Stevens career stats at Soccerbase