The Longside Reference

Name: Roy Stephenson                                                            

D.O.B: 27th May 1932 (Died 4th Febuary 2000)

Place of Birth: Crook 

Previous Clubs: Rotherham United, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Lowerstoft Town

Burnley Fee:Junior the Pro

Signed by Frank Hill

Burnley Debut: 10th April 1950, Liverpool A, Won 1-0

Last appearance for Burnley:3rd March 1956, Portsmouth (A) Lost 1-3 scored

Claret Stats: 80 Appearances 28 Goals

Claret Honours: None

International Honours: Selected but never called upon for England U23S.

Claret Stat:A bit part player for Burnley but a Ipswich Town legend, Roy was a winger and a very good one, his twenty eight goals in eighty appearances in his seven seasons at Turf Moor, went to show what a good player Stephenson was.

Roy left Turf Moor in 1956 to go over to Yorkshire and Rotherham United, before a couple of seasons at Ewood Park and Blackburn then Leicester City before Sir Alf Ramsey made and his second division Ipswich Town team brought Stephenson to Portman Road. With Roy in the side Ipswich swept the Second division and in 1961/62 when Burnley had the unenviable label at Double runners up, losing the FA Cup to Spurs and coming second in the league to Roy Stephenson's Ipswich Town.

 "Portrait Gallery today presents 5ft. 5in., 10st.3lb. Roy Stephenson, Turf Moor's little bundle of energy who should become one of Football's "Big" Little-'uns.

Another from that football plantation, County Durham. Home town - Crook. Was playing with Sunnyside Juniors when Burnley found him. He had only just left school and came to Burnley to take up an apprenticeship as a colliery maintenance mechanic.

In June 1949, when he attained the age of 17, he was signed as a part-time professional and the following April played in Burnley's concluding four First Division games.

The following season he made 18 appearances with the senior side and scored six goals, and last season has six senior outings. All these have been on the wing, bu now Roy is being given his chance to make top grade as an inside forward. We wish him luck." Taken from Burnley Reserves v Sheffield Wednesday Reserves match day programme 27th September 1952.