stephenson_robert
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| Name: Robert Stephenson |
Nationality: Ireland |
| Position: forward |
Signing Information: Transferred from: Talbot FC, 12/1895, £ |
| Birthdate: 10-09-1875 |
Years at Club: 1895-1898 |
| Age: (149) |
Debut: 11/01/1896 v Rotherham United (Bank Street) 3-0 (League Division Two) |
| Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland |
Previous clubs: Talbot FC |
| Height: |
Farewell to Manchester United: Transferred to ?, 05/1898, £ |
| Weight: |
Passed Away: PA |
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Born in Ireland, Robert Stephenson grew up in Glasgow after the family relocated for business reasons. He attended the West of Scotland Technical College where he excelled both in academics and on the football field. When his parents moved again, this time to Manchester in 1893, Robert enrolled at Owens College and hooked up with Talbot FC.
A sturdily-built forward and expert dribbler, Robert was picked up by Newton Heath in December 1895 and soon experienced both the lowest and highest points of his Bank Street career. On New Year's Day, he played for the reserves against Preston North End and, despite being his team's best player, suffered a 0-10 thrashing!
Ten days later, he found himself in Heath's first team when the directors suspended John Clarkin for one week. Rotherham Town were the visitors as Robert excelled on his debut. First he sent a tremendous shot that the keeper could only block, the ball hitting Donaldson's chest and bouncing in. Then Robert himself added a second and, finally, another of his shots was parried for Donaldson to convert for a 3-0 league victory.
Stephenson stayed at Bank Street for two and a half years and he remained an amateur throughout. However, despite his continuous prolific form for the reserve team, he never appeared in the league again. His only other outing for Newton Heath came against Nelson in the FA Cup in January 1897. Again the result was 3-0 and again the young forward was on the scoresheet, this time with two headers.
Robert at length returned to Talbot where he excelled in the Manchester League. In fact, he earned several call-ups for representative matches in the district and also played for Liverpool Casuals and Old Xaverians FC. He even toured Holland with the latter outfit in the Spring of 1902 when a teammate of his was future Heathen, George O'Brien.
After the turn of the century, Stephenson served Chorlton-cum-Hardy in the Lancashire Amateur League and made the news in October 1905 when he broke his jaw in a serious on-field collision with an opponent's shoulder. Luckily he recovered and resumed his career and continued to occasionally represent a select amateur outfit called Northern Nomads.
Stephenson was also a proficient swimmer and ardent cyclist. Oh, and he did earn a Bachelor of Arts degree for all his years in school. Robert Stephenson had a 100% strike record - Thanks to the tireless work of Charbel Boujaoude for extra info on Robert Stephenson. |
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