Dale Stephens (footballer)
{{Short description|English footballer (born 1989)}}
{{Other people|Dale Stephens}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Dale Stephens
| image = Dale Stephens 2018.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Stephens playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018
| full_name = Dale Christopher Stephens{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828 |title=Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=2 February 2018 |access-date=10 February 2018}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|6|12|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/8168/Dale-Stephens/overview |title=Dale Stephens: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=27 April 2020}}
| birth_place = Bolton, England
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/dale-stephens/ |title=Dale Stephens: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=27 April 2020}}
| position = Central midfielder
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2007
| youthclubs1 = Bury
| years1 = 2007–2008
| clubs1 = Bury
| caps1 = 9
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2007
| clubs2 = → Droylsden (loan)
| caps2 = 7
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2007
| clubs3 = → Hyde United (loan)
| caps3 = 4
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2008–2011
| clubs4 = Oldham Athletic
| caps4 = 60
| goals4 = 11
| years5 = 2009
| clubs5 = → Rochdale (loan)
| caps5 = 6
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2011
| clubs6 = → Southampton (loan)
| caps6 = 6
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2011–2014
| clubs7 = Charlton Athletic
| caps7 = 84
| goals7 = 9
| years8 = 2014–2020
| clubs8 = Brighton & Hove Albion
| caps8 = 213
| goals8 = 14
| years9 = 2020–2022
| clubs9 = Burnley
| caps9 = 10
| goals9 = 0
| totalcaps = 399
| totalgoals = 36
| club-update =
}}
Dale Christopher Stephens (born 12 June 1989) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Early life
Stephens was born in Bolton, Greater Manchester.{{Hugman|25418|access-date=12 June 2018}}
Career
=Oldham Athletic=
File:Dale Stephens.jpg in 2008]]
Stephens joined Oldham Athletic on 1 July 2008 after rejecting a new deal at Bury.{{cite news |title=Oldham swoop for Bury's Stephens |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/7437951.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 June 2008 |access-date=5 June 2008}} On 9 March 2010, he scored his first goal for Oldham in a 2–0 win over Leyton Orient.{{cite web |title=Oldham 2 Leyton Orient 0 |url=http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10337~47938,00.html |publisher=Oldham Athletic A.F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411233037/http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10337~47938%2C00.html |archive-date=11 April 2010 |date=9 March 2010 |url-status=dead}}
=Loans to Rochdale and Southampton=
On 14 August 2009, Stephens joined Rochdale on a month's loan. He made his debut in a 3–3 draw with Morecambe on 4 September 2009, where he scored the equaliser. It was later extended by another month. On 12 October he extended the loan spell for a third time.
On 24 March 2011, Stephens signed on loan for Southampton until the end of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2323576,00.html |title=Stephens signs for Saints |publisher=Southampton F.C. |date=24 March 2011 |access-date=24 March 2011 |archive-date=2 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902075000/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2323576,00.html |url-status=dead }} He made his debut as a substitute in a 3–2 victory over MK Dons. He started days later against Charlton Athletic but had to be stretchered off at the end of the first half.{{cite news |title=Saints continue top-two charge |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/soton-vs-charlton/231319 |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=14 July 2016 |date=5 April 2011}}
=Charlton Athletic=
On 29 June 2011, Stephens signed a three-year contract for Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee, estimated to be around £350,000.{{cite web |title=Addicks seal double deal |url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2383646,00.html |publisher=Charlton Athletic F.C. |access-date=13 July 2011 |date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702203222/http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2383646,00.html |archive-date=2 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}
=Brighton & Hove Albion=
On 30 January 2014, Stephens signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web |title=Seagulls sign Stephens |url=http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/seagulls-sign-stephens-1327414.aspx |publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. |date=30 January 2014 |access-date=30 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202021404/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/seagulls-sign-stephens-1327414.aspx |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=dead }} Stephens scored his first goal of the 2015–16 season with a strike against Rotherham United, in a 2–1 win. He followed this up with goals against Bolton Wanderers (2–2 draw), Cardiff (1–1 draw), QPR (2–2 draw), Cardiff (4–1 loss), and Burnley (2–2 draw). He formed a vital partnership with Beram Kayal, and would play an integral part in the side that would go 21 league matches unbeaten.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}
On 7 May 2016, in an away tie against Middlesbrough with winner takes all to win automatic promotion to the Premier League, Stephens scored a 55th minute equaliser to give Brighton a lifeline as Brighton needed a win to go up. Four minutes after his headed goal, Stephens was sent off for a tackle on Gastón Ramírez. The game finished 1–1, meaning Boro won promotion to the top flight and Stephens' suspension meant he would miss the play-offs in which The Seagulls would lose the two legged semi final to Sheffield Wednesday.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36176217|title=Middlesbrough 1–1 Brighton & Hove Albion - BBC Sport |publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 May 2016 |access-date=1 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36244725 |website=BBC Sport |date=16 May 2016 |access-date=23 May 2020}}
Stephens was a key performer for Brighton throughout the 2016–17 season, helping the club to earn promotion to the Premier League. He signed a new four-year contract with the club in the summer of 2017, with his previous contract set to run out at the conclusion of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2017/may/stephens-signs-new-deal/ |title=Stephens Signs New Deal |publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. |date=9 May 2017 |access-date=3 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920195730/https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2017/may/stephens-signs-new-deal/ |archive-date=20 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}
Brighton's first match in the top flight for 34 years was at home to eventual champions Manchester City. Stephens played the whole match in the 2–0 defeat on his Premier League debut.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40835422|title=Brighton & Hove Albion 0–2 Manchester City- BBC Sport|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 August 2018}} He played in Brighton's first ever win in the Premier League in a 3–1 home win over West Brom on 9 September 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41133349|title=Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 West Bromwich Albion|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 September 2017|date=9 September 2017}} Stephens scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season on 8 January opening the scoreline in a 2–1 home win against bitter rivals Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42531682|title=Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 Crystal Palace- BBC Sport|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 January 2018}} On 4 May 2018 Stephens played in the match that ensured Brighton Premier League safety with a 1–0 win over Manchester United at Falmer Stadium.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43916611|title=Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0 Manchester United – BBC Sport|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 May 2018}}
On 10 November 2018 Stephens received his first Premier League red card away against Cardiff. He was sent off at 1–1, it eventually finished 2–1 to The Bluebirds.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46081232|title=Cardiff City beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 – BBC Sport|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 November 2018}} Stephens scored his first ever Premier League goal away against West Ham opening the scoreline in the 2–2 draw on 2 January 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46682776|title=West Ham United 2–2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Arnautovic double rescues hosts – BBC Sport|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 January 2019}} He made 5 FA Cup appearances in the 2018–19 season where The Seagulls made the semi-final.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/apr/06/mancity-brighton-facupsf-060419|title=Gabriel Jesus heads Manchester City into their 14th FA Cup final|publisher=The Football Association|first=Dan|last=Barnes|date=6 April 2019|access-date=21 September 2019}}
Stephens played in Brighton's first home win of the 2019–20 season which came on the 5 October where Brighton put three past Tottenham and keeping a clean sheet.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49861471|title=Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 October 2019|access-date=5 October 2019}}
=Burnley=
On 24 September 2020, Burnley announced the signing of Stephens on a two-year deal.{{cite web |url = https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/clarets-complete-dale-deal |title = Clarets Complete Dale Deal |publisher = Burnley F.C. |date = 24 September 2020 |access-date = 24 September 2020}} Two days after the announcement of his signing he made his debut in what also happened to be his 100th Premier league appearance, starting and playing the whole match in the 1–0 home defeat against his former club Southampton.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54215331|title=Burnley 0–1 Southampton: Danny Ings earns saints first Premier League win – BBC Sport |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 September 2020|access-date=26 September 2020}}
He made his first appearance of the 2021–22 season on 30 December, coming on as a substitute in the 3–1 away loss at Manchester United.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59764946|title=Manchester United 3-1 Burnley: Cristiano Ronaldo on target as hosts move into top six – BBC Sport |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 December 2021|access-date=30 December 2021}} Stephens made his first start of the season on 8 January 2022, starting and playing 82 minutes of the eventual 2–1 FA Cup third round home loss against Huddersfield of the Championship.{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59911314| title=Burnley 1-2 Huddersfield Town: Terriers fightback stuns Clarets in FA Cup – BBC Sport |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 January 2022|access-date=8 January 2022}} He made his first Premier League start in over a year on 5 February, playing the whole match of the frustrating 0–0 home draw against Watford.{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59573774| title=Burnley 0-0 Watford: Roy Hodgson secures first Watford clean sheet on frustrating night – BBC Sport |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2022|access-date=6 February 2022}} On 10 June, Burnley announced that Stephens would leave the club at the end of the month when his contract expired.{{Cite web |last=InCrowd |title=Burnley FC retained list confirmed |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/burnley-fc-retained-list-confirmed |access-date= 10 June 2022 |website=Burnley Football Club }}
On 28 March 2023, Stephens announced his retirement from football.{{cite web|url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/3122883/dale-stephens-retires|title=Dale Stephens retires|website=www.brightonandhovealbion.com|date=28 March 2023|accessdate=29 March 2023}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 30 April 2022}}
{{Notelist}}
Honours
Charlton Athletic
- Football League One: 2011–12{{cite book |editor1-first=Glenda |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 |year=2012 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-6356-8 |pages=37, 136–137}}
Brighton & Hove Albion
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/player/dale-stephens Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802121656/https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/player/dale-stephens |date=2 August 2021 }} at the Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. website
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Dale}}
Category:Footballers from Bolton
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Droylsden F.C. players
Category:Hyde United F.C. players
Category:Oldham Athletic A.F.C. players
Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players
Category:Southampton F.C. players
Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players