Bert Stephens

Herbert James Stephens (13 May 1909 – September 1987) was an English professional footballer, best remembered for his time as an outside forward in the Football League with Brighton & Hove Albion. At the time of his retirement in 1948, Stephens was Brighton's second-highest goalscorer.

Bert Stephens
Personal information
Full name Herbert James Stephens[1]
Date of birth (1909-05-13)13 May 1909
Place of birth Chatham, England
Date of death August 1987 (1987-09) (aged 78)[1]
Place of death Thanet, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Outside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–1931 Ealing Association
1931–1935 Brentford 6 (1)
1935–1948 Brighton & Hove Albion 180 (86)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Brentford

An outside forward, Stephens began his career at amateur club Ealing Association and joined Third Division South club Brentford in February 1931.[1][3] He made just six appearances for the club and scored one goal, before his departure at the end of the 1934–35 season.[4] Stephens spent much of his time with the club in the reserve team, with whom he won two London Combination titles and the 1934–35 London Challenge Cup.[3]

Brighton & Hove Albion

Stephens joined Third Division South club Brighton & Hove Albion in June 1935.[1] He was Brighton's top scorer in the 1936–37 season, with 26 goals in all competitions and again in 1938–39, with 17 goals.[5] After competitive football was suspended in 1939 due to the outbreak of the Second World War, Stephens remained with the Gulls.[2] He retired in 1948, after scoring 86 goals in 180 league games and at the time he was Brighton's second-highest goalscorer.[1][3] Including his tally in wartime matches, Stephens scored 174 goals for the Gulls.[6]

Personal life

A Kent native, Stephens was born in Chatham and died in Thanet.[2]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1931–32[4] Third Division South 2 0 0 0 2 0
1932–33[4] 4 1 0 0 4 1
Career total 6 1 0 0 6 1

Honours

Brentford Reserves

References
  1. "Bert Stephens". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  2. Carder, Tim & Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. p. 231. ISBN 0-9521337-1-7.
  3. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 154. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  4. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 371–372. ISBN 0951526200.
  5. Carder & Harris, Albion A–Z, p. 338.
  6. "Club Records". seagulls.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  7. "Club presented with medals". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
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