Bert Stephens

Herbert James Stephens (13 May 1909 – September 1987) was an English professional footballer, best remembered for his time as an outside forward in the Football League with Brighton & Hove Albion. At the time of his retirement in 1948, Stephens was Brighton's second-highest goalscorer.

Bert Stephens

Personal information
Full name	Herbert James Stephens[1]
Date of birth	(1909-05-13)13 May 1909
Place of birth	Chatham, England
Date of death	August 1987(1987-08-00) (aged 78)[1]
Place of death	Thanet, England
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position	Outside forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
0000–1931	Ealing Association
1931–1935	Brentford	6	(1)
1935–1948	Brighton & Hove Albion	180	(86)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Brentford

An outside forward, Stephens began his career at amateur club Ealing Association and joined Third Division South club Brentford in February 1931.^[1][3] He made just six appearances for the club and scored one goal, before his departure at the end of the 1934–35 season.^[4] Stephens spent much of his time with the club in the reserve team, with whom he won two London Combination titles and the 1934–35 London Challenge Cup.^[3]

Brighton & Hove Albion

Stephens joined Third Division South club Brighton & Hove Albion in June 1935.^[1] He was Brighton's top scorer in the 1936–37 season, with 26 goals in all competitions and again in 1938–39, with 17 goals.^[5] After competitive football was suspended in 1939 due to the outbreak of the Second World War, Stephens remained with the Gulls.^[2] He retired in 1948, after scoring 86 goals in 180 league games and at the time he was Brighton's second-highest goalscorer.^[1][3] Including his tally in wartime matches, Stephens scored 174 goals for the Gulls.^[6]

Personal life

A Kent native, Stephens was born in Chatham and died in Thanet.^[2]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Brentford	1931–32[4]	Third Division South	2	0	0	0	2	0
	1932–33[4]		4	1	0	0	4	1
Career total			6	1	0	0	6	1

Honours

Brentford Reserves

• London Combination (2): 1931–32, 1932–33^[7]
• London Challenge Cup (1): 1934–35^[7]