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David Stephenson (rugby league, born 1958)

For the rugby footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s for Leeds, Oldham, Hull, and Rochdale Hornets, see David Stephenson (rugby league, born 1972).

David Stephenson
Personal information
Full nameDavid R. Stephenson
Born(1958-12-03)3 December 1958
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England
Died14 March 2022(2022-03-14) (aged 63)[1]
Playing information
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1977–79 Fylde
Rugby league
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1979–82 Salford 97 36 2 4 116
1982–87 Wigan 214 71 286 6 845
1987–89 Leeds 36 5 89 0 198
1989–90 Leigh 22 3 2 0 16
1991 Salford 1 1 0 0 4
Total 370 116 379 10 1179
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1982–88 Great Britain 10 2 12 0 32
1980–86 Lancashire 6 4 3 0 19
Source: [2][3][4]

David R. Stephenson (3 December 1958 – 14 March 2022)[5] was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. He played club level rugby union for Fylde Rugby Club, and representative level rugby league for Great Britain, and at club level for Salford (two spells), Wigan, Leeds and Leigh, as a goal-kicking wing or centre.

Background

Stephenson was born in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England, and he was a pupil at Arnold School in Blackpool. He was the son of professional footballer, Len Stephenson.[5]

Playing career

Early career

Stephenson started his career as a rugby union player, and represented England at schoolboy level. He made his debut for Fylde RFC in 1977.[6] He switched to rugby league in 1979, joining Salford.

Wigan

Stephenson left Salford for Wigan in 1982 for a club record fee of £60,000. He won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1982 against Australia (2 matches).

Stephenson played right-centre in the 15–4 victory over Leeds in the 1982–83 John Player Trophy Final at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1983.[7]

Stephenson played right-centre, in the 6–19 defeat by Widnes in the 1984 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1984.

Stephenson played right-centre, in the 18–26 defeat by St. Helens in the 1984 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan, on Sunday 28 October 1984, played right-centre, and scored a goal in the 28–24 victory over Hull F.C. in 1985 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 4 May 1985, in front of a crowd of 99,801.[8]

Stephenson played right-centre, and scored 3-goals in the 14–8 victory over New Zealand at Central Park, Wigan on Sunday 6 October 1985,[9] played right-centre, and scored 7-goals in the 34–8 victory over Warrington in the 1985 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 13 October 1985,[10] played right-centre, and scored a goal in the 11–8 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1985–86 John Player Special Trophy Final at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 11 January 1986.[11] He received Wigan's "Player of the Year" award for the 1985–86 season.

Stephenson played for Great Britain in 1986 against Australia, played right-centre, in the 27–6 victory over Oldham in the 1986 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 19 October 1986,[12] played right wing, in the 18–4 victory over Warrington in the 1986–87 John Player Special Trophy Final at Burnden Park, Bolton on Saturday 10 January 1987,[13] played in the victory in the Championship during the 1986–87 season, played right-centre, and scored a goal in the 8–0 victory over Warrington in the 1986–87 Premiership Final at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday 17 May 1987.[14]

Stephenson played right-centre, and scored 4-goals for all of Wigan's points in the 8–4 victory over Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the 1987 World Club Challenge at Central Park, Wigan on Wednesday 7 October 1987,[15] played right-centre, and scored a goal in the 28–16 victory over Warrington in the 1987 Lancashire Cup Final at Knowsley Road, St Helens on Sunday 11 October 1987.[16] In 1987 Stephenson also represented Great Britain against France, and Papua New Guinea.

Leeds

In January 1988, Stephenson was signed by Leeds for a fee of £75,000.[17]

Stephenson played left-centre and scored 6-goals, setting the most goals in a Yorkshire Cup Final record, in Leeds' 33–12 victory over Castleford in the 1988 Yorkshire Cup Final at Elland Road, Leeds, on Sunday 16 October 1988. While at Leeds he played for Great Britain in 1988 against France, Papua New Guinea, Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand,[3] and he was selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour.

References

  1. ^ "In Memoriam: David Stephenson". Wigan Warriors. 14 March 2022.
  2. ^ Who's who in rugby league by David Emery published by Queen Anne Press page 113
  3. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". Rugby League Project. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ Morris, Graham (2005). Wigan Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7524-3470-4.
  5. ^ a b Caplan, Phil (April 2022). "Blackpool Power". Forty20. Vol. 12, no. 4. p. 41.
  6. ^ "Rugby codes unite in tribute to David Stephenson". Blackpool Gazette. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Classic Match: 1983 John Player Trophy Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. ^ "1984–1985 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. ^ "1985 Tour Match: Wigan 14 New Zealand 8". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. ^ "1985–1986 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  11. ^ "1985–1986 John Player Special Trophy Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  12. ^ "1986–1987 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  13. ^ "1986–1987 John Player Special Trophy Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  14. ^ "1987 Premiership Trophy Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  15. ^ "1987 World Club Challenge". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  16. ^ "1987–1988 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Leeds Rhinos mourn Yorkshire Cup winning hero David Stephenson". Yorkshire Evening Post. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
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