MEN 1873-1895
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John Stephens

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
02-09-1945
N/A
26-12-1970
Wigan
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
16-01-1971 v Leeds
Warrington
1974- Widnes
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1970-1974
127 (22)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
16
0
0
48

Biography of John Stephens



HERITAGE NO : 868
John Stephens by Dave Dooley:

You would not normally expect a chef to moonlight in the front row of a rugby league team - but that was the lot of John Stephens. In four full seasons at the start of the 1970s John helped the Saints to a League Championship, BBC TV Floodlit Trophy and a Challenge Cup victory. John was a strong running forward who was also blessed with an excellent battery of offloads and fine scrimmaging skills.

This Widnes born forward came to Knowsley Road in the new year of 1971, providing experience and stability as Cliff Watson`s career was being disrupted by a series of arm injuries. He scored his first try for the club in the 11 points to 8 away victory over Huddersfield on April 17th, 1971. John`s inaugural campaign with the Saints ended in glory as Billy `the bandit` Benyon grabbed a last minute try to sneak the Championship Final from archrivals Wigan. In those days of four tackles limited rugby John was in his element with penetrating angled runs followed by a cute offload to a supporting Saint. Such runs helped expose Wigan in the last ten minutes of that magnificent Final and pave the way for the Saints` backs to weave their magic and retain the tag of national champions.

Watson`s departure in the close season of 1971 provided John and Graham Rees with greater responsibility for Saints forwards` power plays. He was a non-playing substitute as Saints lifted their first BBC TV Floodlit Trophy by defeating Rochdale Hornets in a gritty, tryless battle at Knowsley Road. In the 1972 Challenge Cup Final John was not found wanting in defence or attack as Saints held on to a lead they had created in the first minute of the match courtesy of Graham Rees. John`s tackling was steadfast as the Loiners failed to produce a match-winning move.

John was a mainstay of the pack for the next two seasons though silverware evaded the Saints` trophy cabinet. Whilst at the Saints John gained a total of four Lancashire caps. He was transferred to his hometown club in 1974/5 as Widnes embarked on their great trophy winning sequence.


SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1970~71 2 0 0 20
1971~72 7 0 0 41
1972~73 4 0 0 38
1973~74 3 0 0 27
1974~75 0 0 0 1
TOTALS:16 0 0 127
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1971~72 0001
1972~73 0001
1973~74 0001
1974~75 0001
TOTALS:0004

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
16th Jan 1971 1
L
 8 Leeds L A 5 12 VIEW
23rd Jan 1971 2
W
 8 Workington Town CC1 A 8 6 VIEW
30th Jan 1971 3
W
 8 Whitehaven L H 27 5 VIEW
6th Feb 1971 4
W
 8 Salford L H 26 4 VIEW
13th Feb 1971 5
L
 8 Castleford L A 6 12 VIEW
20th Feb 1971 6
L
 8 Leeds CC2 A 0 4 VIEW
6th Mar 1971 7
W
 8 Featherstone Rovers L H 23 16 VIEW
13th Mar 1971 8
W
 8 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 26 9 VIEW
20th Mar 1971 9
W
 8 Swinton L H 40 0 VIEW
22nd Mar 1971 10
W
 8 Leeds L H 30 9 VIEW
2nd Apr 1971 11
W
 8 Widnes L A 8 5 VIEW
9th Apr 1971 12
W
 8 Wigan L A 9 6 VIEW
10th Apr 1971 13
W
 8 Batley L A 27 4 VIEW
12th Apr 1971 14
W
 8 Widnes L H 14 5 VIEW
17th Apr 1971 15
W
 8 Huddersfield L A 11 8 1 VIEW
24th Apr 1971 16
W
 8 Huddersfield Ch1 H 28 5 VIEW
30th Apr 1971 17
W
 8 Hull Ch2 H 30 5 VIEW
7th May 1971 18
W
 8 Leeds ChSF H 22 7 VIEW
22nd May 1971 19
W
 8 Wigan ChF N 16 12 VIEW
5th Jun 1971 20
W
 8 St. Gaudens ECF(2) H 62 0 1 VIEW
30th Jul 1971 --
L
 8 Salford * Fr Gallie Cup A 13 28 VIEW
6th Aug 1971 21
W
 8 Leigh LC1 H 11 10 VIEW
12th Aug 1971 22
W
 8 Warrington LC2 H 23 6 VIEW
14th Aug 1971 23
W
 8 Leigh CS H 11 4 VIEW
17th Aug 1971 24
L
 8 Widnes LCSF H 10 12 VIEW
24th Aug 1971 25
L
 8 Leeds L A 13 20 VIEW
27th Aug 1971 26
W
 8 Leigh L A 8 3 VIEW
30th Aug 1971 27
W
 8 Workington Town L H 21 14 VIEW
6th Sep 1971 28
W
 8 New Zealand Tour H 18 8 VIEW
8th Sep 1971 29
L
 15 Castleford L A 13 22 VIEW
11th Sep 1971 30
W
 8 Wakefield Trinity L A 23 12 VIEW
2nd Oct 1971 31
W
 8 Salford L H 23 12 1 VIEW
9th Oct 1971 32
L
 8 Bramley L A 10 15 VIEW
18th Oct 1971 33
W
 8 Oldham L H 50 2 VIEW
23rd Oct 1971 34
L
 8 Huddersfield L A 15 17 VIEW
25th Oct 1971 35
W
 8 Batley L H 35 5 1 VIEW
30th Oct 1971 36
W
 8 Bramley L H 37 4 VIEW
6th Nov 1971 37
W
 8 Dewsbury L A 4 2 VIEW
13th Nov 1971 38
W
 8 Featherstone Rovers JP1 H 37 7 VIEW
20th Nov 1971 --NPS
W
 15 Castleford L H 14 2 VIEW
27th Nov 1971 39
W
 15 Whitehaven JP2 A 12 0 VIEW
30th Nov 1971 --NPS
W
 15 Leeds FTSF A 17 0 VIEW
4th Dec 1971 40
W
 8 Oldham L A 28 0 VIEW
11th Dec 1971 41
W
 15 Hull JP3 H 33 5 VIEW
14th Dec 1971 --NPS
W
 15 Rochdale Hornets FTF H 8 2 VIEW
18th Dec 1971 42
L
 15 Wakefield Trinity JPSF A 9 14 VIEW
27th Dec 1971 43
L
 8 Wigan L A 3 8 VIEW
12th Feb 1972 44
W
 15 Leigh L H 20 7 VIEW
4th Mar 1972 45
W
 15 York CC3 A 32 5 VIEW
11th Mar 1972 46
W
 8 Huddersfield L H 27 0 1 VIEW
14th Mar 1972 47
W
 8 Hull Kingston Rovers L H 29 2 1 VIEW
18th Mar 1972 48
W
 8 Dewsbury L H 16 14 VIEW
24th Mar 1972 49
W
 10 Salford L A 7 0 VIEW
27th Mar 1972 50
W
 8 Halifax L A 19 5 1 VIEW
31st Mar 1972 51
W
 10 Wigan L H 21 4 VIEW
3rd Apr 1972 52
L
 12 Widnes L A 9 19 VIEW
6th Apr 1972 53
W
 10 Workington Town L A 19 10 VIEW
8th Apr 1972 54
W
 8 Hull L A 17 7 VIEW
15th Apr 1972 55
D
 15 Warrington CCSF N 10 10 VIEW
19th Apr 1972 56
W
 8 Warrington CCSF(rep) N 10 6 1 VIEW
22nd Apr 1972 57
W
 8 Hull Kingston Rovers Ch1 H 25 5 1 VIEW
28th Apr 1972 58
W
 8 Rochdale Hornets Ch2 H 17 5 VIEW
4th May 1972 59
W
 15 Bradford Northern ChSF A 14 10 VIEW
13th May 1972 60
W
 10 Leeds CCF N 16 13 VIEW
20th May 1972 61
L
 10 Leeds ChF N 5 9 VIEW
11th Aug 1972 --
D
 8 Salford * Fr Gallie Cup A 12 12 VIEW
20th Aug 1972 62
W
 8 Rochdale Hornets L A 21 3 VIEW
22nd Aug 1972 63
W
 8 Warrington L H 15 11 VIEW
25th Aug 1972 64
W
 8 Huyton L H 41 2 1 VIEW
3rd Sep 1972 65
W
 8 Warrington LC1 A 18 16 VIEW
23rd Sep 1972 66
W
 11 Halifax JP1 A 22 20 VIEW
29th Sep 1972 67
W
 10 Swinton L H 33 12 1 VIEW
7th Oct 1972 68
D
 10 Oldham L A 12 12 VIEW
10th Oct 1972 69
L
 10 Leeds FT1 H 6 14 VIEW
13th Oct 1972 70
W
 11 Bradford Northern L H 22 8 1 VIEW
22nd Oct 1972 71
W
 10 Dewsbury L A 17 12 VIEW
27th Oct 1972 72
W
 10 Featherstone Rovers L H 33 8 VIEW
3rd Nov 1972 73
W
 10 Dewsbury L H 12 7 VIEW
15th Nov 1972 74
L
 15 Australia Tour H 9 24 VIEW
19th Nov 1972 75
L
 10 Workington Town L A 4 12 VIEW
24th Nov 1972 76
W
 15 Featherstone Rovers JP2 H 24 8 VIEW
1st Dec 1972 77
W
 8 Oldham L H 24 10 VIEW
9th Dec 1972 78
W
 8 Widnes JP3 H 10 3 VIEW
15th Dec 1972 79
L
 8 Workington Town L H 12 14 VIEW
20th Jan 1973 80
W
 15 Leeds L A 5 2 VIEW
26th Jan 1973 81
W
 15 Doncaster CC1 H 41 0 VIEW
30th Jan 1973 82
W
 15 Rochdale Hornets L H 22 7 VIEW
2nd Feb 1973 83
W
 15 Barrow L H 33 2 VIEW
11th Feb 1973 84
L
 15 Warrington L A 11 13 VIEW
18th Feb 1973 85
L
 15 Wigan CC2 A 2 15 VIEW
2nd Mar 1973 86
W
 8 Blackpool Borough L H 29 0 VIEW
7th Mar 1973 87
L
 8 Swinton L A 7 11 VIEW
11th Mar 1973 88
L
 8 Whitehaven L A 7 9 VIEW
16th Mar 1973 89
W
 8 Salford L H 21 4 VIEW
25th Mar 1973 90
W
 8 Leigh L A 11 7 VIEW
27th Mar 1973 91
W
 8 Leeds L H 19 12 VIEW
30th Mar 1973 92
W
 8 Whitehaven L H 15 9 VIEW
6th Apr 1973 93
W
 15 Barrow L A 6 5 VIEW
17th Apr 1973 94
W
 8 Bradford Northern L A 24 8 VIEW
20th Apr 1973 95
L
 8 Wigan L A 2 12 VIEW
23rd Apr 1973 96
W
 8 Widnes L H 15 5 VIEW
27th Apr 1973 97
W
 8 Leigh Ch1 H 29 14 1 VIEW
2nd May 1973 98
W
 8 Wakefield Trinity Ch2 H 28 0 VIEW
6th May 1973 99
L
 8 Leeds ChSF A 2 7 VIEW
10th Aug 1973 --
L
 15 Salford * Fr Gallie Cup H 15 18 VIEW
27th Aug 1973 100
W
 15 Barrow FTP(2) H 20 8 VIEW
7th Sep 1973 101
W
 15 Wakefield Trinity L H 30 9 VIEW
15th Sep 1973 --NPS
W
 15 Featherstone Rovers JP1 H 34 16 VIEW
13th Oct 1973 102
L
 15 Leeds L A 15 20 VIEW
16th Oct 1973 103
W
 12 Whitehaven FT1 H 35 5 VIEW
19th Oct 1973 104
W
 8 Warrington L H 24 6 VIEW
28th Oct 1973 105
W
 8 Castleford L A 17 7 VIEW
6th Nov 1973 106
W
 8 Rochdale Hornets FT2 H 15 7 VIEW
11th Nov 1973 107
W
 11 Warrington L A 11 5 VIEW
13th Nov 1973 108
W
 12 Australia Tour H 11 7 VIEW
18th Nov 1973 109
W
 11 Dewsbury L H 35 3 VIEW
25th Nov 1973 110
W
 12 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 14 9 VIEW
22nd Dec 1973 111
L
 10 Featherstone Rovers L A 8 13 VIEW
29th Dec 1973 112
D
 12 Wakefield Trinity JP3 A 18 18 1 VIEW
6th Jan 1974 113
W
 8 Wakefield Trinity JP3 (rep) H 16 10 VIEW
12th Jan 1974 114
L
 8 Warrington JPSF A 9 20 VIEW
17th Feb 1974 115
W
 10 Rochdale Hornets L H 38 5 VIEW
24th Mar 1974 116
W
 15 Leigh L H 44 5 1 VIEW
26th Mar 1974 117
L
 12 Widnes L H 0 5 VIEW
31st Mar 1974 118
W
 8 Oldham L H 33 12 VIEW
5th Apr 1974 119
W
 8 Leeds L H 17 5 1 VIEW
10th Apr 1974 120
W
 15 Wakefield Trinity L A 15 2 VIEW
12th Apr 1974 121
D
 8 Wigan L H 9 9 VIEW
15th Apr 1974 122
L
 8 Widnes L A 9 12 VIEW
17th Apr 1974 123
W
 12 Bramley L H 19 13 VIEW
20th Apr 1974 124
W
 8 Workington Town MCC1 H 24 7 VIEW
28th Apr 1974 125
W
 8 Castleford MCC2 H 25 9 VIEW
3rd May 1974 126
W
 8 Leeds MCCSF A 23 10 VIEW
16th Aug 1974 --
W
 10 Blackpool Borough * Fr Charity H 30 8 VIEW
23rd Aug 1974 127
W
 8 Warrington L A 16 10 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 101 | LOSSES : 29 | DRAWS : 5

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