*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Brian Stevens
Appearances: 42 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 1948*
Position: Defender
Season of first appearance: 1970/71
Season of last appearance: 1970/71
Also played for: Crystal Palace (0), Bedford Town, Tonbridge, Hendon and Walton & Hersham
Tough London-born centre-back who started his career as an apprentice at Crystal Palace, signing for them in July 1964. Whilst with the Eagles Brian played alongside future Margate players Davie Houston and Dai Yorath in the club's youth and reserve sides. He made a total of 32 reserve team appearances and also had trials for the England Youth team before being released at the end of the 1966/67 season.
Brian joined Bedford for the 1967/68 campaign and spent two seasons there before signing for Margate in the summer of 1970.
He made his debut in a 3-2 win at Kettering in the Southern League on 12.9.70 and quickly gained a reputation for being uncompromising. The local press described him as being as "iron-hard" and "Margate's chief destroyer". Another report said that Brian's "tactics sometimes border on the ruthless" and on 21.11.70 he played as Margate lost 2-0 at Dagenham in the FA Cup 1st Round.
On 23.1.71 he was sent off during a 3-3 draw at Wimbledon and the dismissal later led to Brian being banned for a month. As the ban began in April it cut his season short and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said it was "a bitter blow" as Brian was "undoubtedly the mainstay of the defence". He'd made a total of 42 appearances during the 1970/71 campaign before his suspension and at the end of the season Brian was released.
He joined Tonbridge for the 1971/72 campaign although he did his training at Hillingdon Borough due to travelling difficulties.
He later played for Hendon where he spent the 1974/75 and 1975/76 seasons.
Brian then moved on to Walton & Hersham for the 1976/77 campaign and also spent the 1977/78 season there.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1970/71 (MFC) |
42 (72) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (13TH OF 22) |
1R |
1R |
SF |
QF |
GR |
| Played in FA Cup 1st Round (21.11.70 - lost 2-0 at Dagenham). | |||||||||