Jon Stead
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jon Stead
| image = JonStead01.JPG
| caption = Stead with Derby County in 2006
| fullname = Jonathan Graeme Stead{{Cite web |date=11 September 2020 |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Harrogate Town |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |access-date=14 September 2020 |publisher=English Football League |page=33}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|4|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = Huddersfield, England
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}{{cite news |title=Jon Stead profile |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/jon-stead/4714/ |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=5 July 2020}}
| position = Striker
| currentclub = Bristol Rovers (assistant head coach)
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Huddersfield Town
| years1 = 2002–2004
| clubs1 = Huddersfield Town
| caps1 = 68
| goals1 = 22
| years2 = 2004–2005
| clubs2 = Blackburn Rovers
| caps2 = 42
| goals2 = 8
| years3 = 2005–2007
| clubs3 = Sunderland
| caps3 = 35
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2006–2007
| clubs4 = → Derby County (loan)
| caps4 = 17
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2007–2008
| clubs5 = Sheffield United
| caps5 = 39
| goals5 = 8
| years6 = 2008
| clubs6 = → Ipswich Town (loan)
| caps6 = 1
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2008–2010
| clubs7 = Ipswich Town
| caps7 = 63
| goals7 = 18
| years8 = 2010
| clubs8 = → Coventry City (loan)
| caps8 = 10
| goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2010–2013
| clubs9 = Bristol City
| caps9 = 79
| goals9 = 20
| years10 = 2013–2015
| clubs10 = Huddersfield Town
| caps10 = 19
| goals10 = 2
| years11 = 2014
| clubs11 = → Oldham Athletic (loan)
| caps11 = 5
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2014
| clubs12 = → Bradford City (loan)
| caps12 = 8
| goals12 = 1
| years13 = 2014–2015
| clubs13 = → Bradford City (loan)
| caps13 = 32
| goals13 = 6
| years14 = 2015–2019
| clubs14 = Notts County
| caps14 = 162
| goals14 = 42
| years15 = 2019–2021
| clubs15 = Harrogate Town
| caps15 = 46
| goals15 = 8
| totalcaps = 626
| totalgoals = 143
| nationalyears1 = 2004–2005
| nationalteam1 = England U21
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| manageryears1 = 2021
| managerclubs1 = Hartford Athletic (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2022–2023
| managerclubs2 = Tampa Bay Rowdies (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2023–2025
| managerclubs3 = Barnsley (assistant)
| manageryears4 = 2025–
| managerclubs4 = Bristol Rovers (assistant)
| club-update =
}}
Jonathan Graeme Stead (born 7 April 1983) is an English football coach and former professional player. He is currently assistant head coach of {{English football updater|BristolR}} club Bristol Rovers.
As a player he was a striker who played for Huddersfield Town, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, Derby County, Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Coventry City, Bristol City, Oldham Athletic, Bradford City, Notts County and Harrogate Town, and was also an England under-21 international, earning 11 caps and scoring once.
Club career
=Huddersfield Town=
Stead began his career with home town club Huddersfield Town where he came through the club's academy. He made his league debut for Huddersfield Town, as a nineteen-year-old against Brentford on 10 August 2002 coming as a 69th-minute substitute in the 2–0 loss on the opening day of the season. In total Stead made 42 league appearances scoring six goals in the 2002–03 season.
He scored four goals in three games at the start of the 2003–04 season, igniting interest from larger clubs. Two goals came in Town's opening game of the 2003–04 season in their 2–2 draw at home to Cambridge United. Stead went on to score two goals in a game on three further occasions for the Terriers during the first part of the 2003–04 season, with his other braces coming against Northampton Town on 13 September in a 3–0 home win, in a dramatic 3–3 away draw at Mansfield Town on 22 November and then again in a 3–1 home win over Doncaster Rovers on 3 January 2004.
He scored 18 goals for Huddersfield in 2003–04, with 16 of them coming in the league, before moving to Premier League side Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window. His last game for Huddersfield came in their 2–0 win over Boston United on 17 January 2004.
Stead returned to collect his Play-offs Winners' Medal with Huddersfield Town while he was playing for Blackburn Rovers. He appeared on the pitch celebrating the team he supported as a boy and his hometown club's win. After this he said, "I've moved on, but I know I won't find a friendlier place than this club".
=Blackburn Rovers=
In February 2004 he moved to Blackburn Rovers for over £1 million and signed a four-and-a-half-year contract.{{ Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/3444447.stm | title=Blackburn Sign Stead | publisher=BBC Sport | date=2 February 2004}} Stead marked his debut by scoring the only goal in a match against Middlesbrough.{{ Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3468127.stm | title=Premiership clockwatch | publisher=BBC Sport | date=7 February 2004 }} He went on to score six goals, including vital winners against Fulham, Manchester United and Everton as Blackburn avoided relegation from the Premiership.
However, the goals for Blackburn dried up the following season and with manager Mark Hughes signing additional forwards including Welsh international Craig Bellamy, Stead was transferred on 13 June 2005 to Sunderland in a deal worth £1.8 million.{{ Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/4089430.stm | title=Sunderland snap up striker Stead | publisher=BBC Sport | date= 13 June 2005 }}
=Sunderland=
During his time at Sunderland Stead scored two goals, the first of which was on 1 April 2006 against Everton at Goodison Park in a 2–2 draw,{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4842426.stm
|title=Everton 2–2 Sunderland
|publisher=BBC
|date=1 April 2006 |access-date=24 October 2009}} breaking his duck of 11 months without a goal. He scored his second Sunderland goal in the 3–1 defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall on 19 August 2006.{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4786437.stm
|title=Southend 3–1 Sunderland
|publisher=BBC
|date=19 August 2006 |access-date=24 October 2009}}
On 13 October 2006, he completed a loan move to Derby County[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/6044644.stm Stead makes loan switch to Derby], BBC Sport, 13 October 2006 and after failing to find the back of the net in his first 6 games, he finally broke his Derby duck with the first goal in a 2–1 win away at Coventry City on 11 November. He followed that goal with the opener in a 2–0 win at Luton Town to make it two in eight appearances and then again went on to bag Derby's first in the 1–0 home win against Leicester City. He was nominated for Powerade Player of the Month as a result of his form at Derby in November.
=Sheffield United=
Stead was signed by Sheffield United from Sunderland for a fee of £750,000, potentially rising to £1.2 million, on a three-and-a-half-year deal on 11 January 2007.{{cite news| title = Blades sign Stead from Sunderland| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/6247957.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 11 January 2007| access-date = 22 April 2007}}
On 13 January 2007, Stead played his first Premier League game with Sheffield United against Portsmouth{{cite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com
|url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3157.php | access-date=20 January 2007 }} and scored his first goal for the Blades a few weeks later, in his third game, against Fulham.{{cite news| title = Sheff Utd 2–0 Fulham| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6309093.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 30 January 2007| access-date = 1 September 2008}} He would go on to score again for the Blades in the next match against his former club Blackburn Rovers where Stead's muted celebration further endeared him to the Rovers fans, who remained grateful for the considerable contribution he had made during the relegation scrap in 2004.
He scored a respectable five goals in total that season, the final of which came on the last day of the season against Wigan Athletic on 12 May, but his goal wasn't enough to prevent United from being relegated.{{cite news| title = Sheff Utd 1–2 Wigan| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6627849.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 14 May 2007| access-date = 1 September 2008}}
Stead found first team starts harder to come by the following season as he fell behind James Beattie and Billy Sharp in the pecking order but still managed to make over thirty appearances and score six goals. During the subsequent transfer window Stead signed on loan for Championship rivals Ipswich Town with a view to a permanent move.{{cite news| title = Stead signs for Ipswich on loan| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/7592359.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 1 September 2008| access-date = 1 September 2008}}
=Ipswich Town=
Stead made his move to Ipswich permanent on 15 September 2008 after playing just one game on loan for a fee believed to be around £600,000. In that loan game he scored a 20-yard goal, which he described as "the best goal of his career to date". On 25 April 2009, Stead was the last ever senior player to score at Ninian Park after a 3–0 win.
On 15 February 2010, Stead joined Coventry City on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/8516887.stm|title=Coventry City sign Ipswich Town striker Jon Stead |publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 February 2010|access-date=15 February 2010}} He made 10 appearances for the Sky Blues scoring twice before returning to Ipswich at the end of the season. He has scored in every year of his career to date, notching at least 2 goals for each of the clubs he has played for.
Stead was linked with a move to Blackpool in 2010.{{cite news |last1=Browne |first1=Gavin |title=Blackpool 2010 revisited: Ian Holloway can't wait to work with new arrival |url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/nostalgia/blackpool-2010-revisited-ian-holloway-cant-wait-work-new-arrival-2937102 |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=Blackpool Gazette |date=10 August 2020}}{{cite news |title=Stead's Blackpool Move Breaks Down |url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/16827/steads-blackpool-move-breaks-down/page:2/ |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=TWTD |date=30 July 2010}}
=Bristol City=
Stead joined Bristol City on a three-year contract on 22 August 2010.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/8935226.stm|title=Bristol City sign Ipswich Town striker Jon Stead |publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 August 2010|access-date=22 August 2010}} He made his debut in the 2–0 loss at previous club Ipswich Town. Stead scored his first goal for Bristol City when he netted in a 3–1 defeat against Portsmouth on 28 September 2010.{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9031763.stm|title=Portsmouth 3 – 1 Bristol City|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 September 2010}}
On 8 May 2013, Stead was released by City, in hopes of making a move up north to involve his kids spending time with their grandparents.
=Return to Huddersfield Town=
On 24 June 2013, Stead agreed a return to home town club Huddersfield Town on a two-year deal becoming the team's first signing ahead of the 2013–14 season.{{cite news|title=HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SIGN JON STEAD|url=http://www.htafc.com/news/article/first-team-news-town-sign-stead-878430.aspx|newspaper=HTAFC.com|date=24 June 2013}} He made his 2nd début for the club as a substitute in the 2–1 win over Bradford City in the Football League Cup on 6 August, followed by his league début on 24 August in the 5–1 win over AFC Bournemouth. He scored his first goal for the club in the 3–2 win over local rivals Leeds United on 26 October 2013.
==Oldham Athletic (loan)==
On 31 January 2014, Stead joined Oldham Athletic on an initial one-month loan.{{Cite web |title=Experienced striker joins Latics |url=http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/article/20140131-jon-stead-1332316.aspx |work=Oldham Athletic AFC |date=31 January 2014}}
==Bradford City (loan)==
On 27 March 2014, Stead joined League One side Bradford City on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.{{Cite web |title=Stead joins City |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/stead-joins-city-1449808.aspx |work=Bradford City AFC |date=27 March 2014 |access-date=27 March 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102831/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk//news/article/stead-joins-city-1449808.aspx |url-status=dead }} He made his debut two days later in a 1–0 win away to Leyton Orient.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26694144 "Leyton Orient 0–1 Bradford City"] BBC Sport. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014. Although he returned to Huddersfield at the end of the season, he rejoined Bradford City on loan on 17 October 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29661771 |title=Bradford City sign Jon Stead and Andy Halliday on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 October 2014 |access-date=15 February 2015}} He scored four goals in fifteen games in his second loan spell, and briefly returned to Huddersfield in January before Bradford took him on loan for the rest of the 2014–15 season on 8 January.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30730346 |title=Jon Stead: Bradford City re-sign Huddersfield Town striker |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 January 2015 |access-date=15 February 2015}} On 24 January 2015 Stead scored one goal and set up a further two in a much deserved 4–2 win away at Chelsea in the FA Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30860394|title=Chelsea 2-4 Bradford City|date=27 January 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30971123 |title=FA Cup: Chelsea loss to Bradford is 'biggest shock of all time' |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 January 2015 |access-date=15 February 2015}} In the next round of the FA Cup, Stead scored again; this time in a 2–0 win over his old club Sunderland.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/11413904/Bradford-City-2-Sunderland-0-FA-Cup-match-report.html |title=Bradford City 2 Sunderland 0: League One side beat Premier League opposition again to reach quarters |work=The Telegraph |date=15 February 2015 |access-date=15 February 2015 |first=Mark |last=Ogden}}
=Notts County=
On 2 July 2015 Stead signed for Notts County.
He signed a new contract with Notts County at the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44216750|title=Notts County: Shola Ameobi and Alan Smith leave League Two club|date=22 May 2018|access-date=24 May 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}
He was released by Notts County at the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48312832|title=Notts County: Jon Stead and David Vaughan among 12 released|date=17 May 2019|access-date=20 May 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}
=Harrogate Town=
On 11 June 2019, Stead joined Harrogate Town of the National League.{{cite web|url=https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/news-media/striker-stead-signs-for-town/|title=Striker Stead signs for Town|date=11 June 2019|access-date=1 July 2019|publisher=Harrogate Town|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614192013/https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/news-media/striker-stead-signs-for-town/|url-status=dead}} He made his debut for Harrogate in a 2–2 draw with Solihull Moors on 3 August. On 7 September, Stead scored a brace in a 2–4 defeat to Torquay United, in a match in which he was later sent-off. He helped Harrogate win promotion from the National League through the play-offs during his first season at the club, beating his former club Notts County in the final.
On 8 May 2021 – after the final game of the 2020–21 League Two season – Stead announced, on his Twitter account, that he was retiring from professional football having made a total of 704 first-team appearances scoring 165 goals.{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/JonSteadSA/status/1391070032705228801|title=Jon Stead Twitter Feed|access-date=8 May 2021|publisher=Twitter}}
Coaching career
Stead joined Harry Watling's staff at Hartford Athletic in the USL Championship as an assistant coach in June 2021.{{cite web
| title =FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE FORWARD JON STEAD JOINS HARTFORD ATHLETIC AS ASSISTANT COACH
| url =https://www.hartfordathletic.com/news_article/show/1168897
| website =hartfordathletic.com
| date =11 June 2021
| access-date =5 July 2021
| archive-date =9 July 2021
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185401/https://www.hartfordathletic.com/news_article/show/1168897
| url-status =dead
}}
In January 2022, Stead moved to an assistant coaching role with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In Florida, he reunites with former Sunderland teammate and current Rowdies manager Neill Collins.{{cite web |title=JON STEAD, ERIC WILDE JOIN ROWDIES COACHING STAFF |url=https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/1201408 |website=RowdiesSoccer.com |access-date=4 January 2022 |archive-date=4 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104212751/https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/1201408 |url-status=dead }}
In July 2023, it was announced that Stead would be moving to Barnsley along with Collins.{{cite web |title=Jon Stead to Join Neill Collins at Barnsley |url=https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2023/07/07/jon-stead-to-join-neill-collins-at-barnsley/ |website=RowdiesSoccer.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Rowdies |access-date=7 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=JON STEAD JOINS COACHING STAFF |url=https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/20232/july/jon-stead-arrives/ |website=BarnsleyFC.co.uk |publisher=Barnsley |access-date=7 July 2023}} He departed the club at the end of the 2024–25 season. {{cite web|url=https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2025/may/17/coaching-staff-changes/|title=COACHING STAFF CHANGES|website=www.barnsleyfc.co.uk|date=17 May 2025|accessdate=17 May 2025}}
In June 2025, Stead joined League Two side Bristol Rovers as an assistant head coach. The appointment saw him reunite with manager Darrell Clarke whom he had assisted at Barnsley the previous season. {{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/jon-stead-and-rhys-carr-join-rovers-assistant-head-coaches|title=Jon Stead and Rhys Carr join Rovers as Assistant Head Coaches|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=13 June 2025|accessdate=14 June 2025}}
International career
Stead has represented England at international level, as his early goalscoring exploits at Blackburn Rovers led to a call-up for the England Under-21 side for their game against the Netherlands in February 2004. However, he managed just 1 goal in 11 appearances for the Under-21s between 2004 and 2005.
Personal life
Born in Huddersfield, Stead was raised in Honley and attended Honley High School. Stead and his wife Elizabeth have two daughters.{{cite web
| title =Former Premier league player Jon Stead reels back on retirement to join Hartford Athletic as assistant coach
| url =https://www.courant.com/sports/hc-sp-hartford-athletic-jon-stead-20210709-y3q7mbs5jja5hj4o6eqnmy64qy-story.html
| website =courant.com
| date = 9 July 2021
| access-date = 10 July 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 8 May 2021}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Harrogate Town
- National League play-offs: 2020{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53541549 |title=Harrogate Town 3–1 Notts County |first=Jay |last=Freeman |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 August 2020 |access-date=2 August 2020}}
- FA Trophy: 2019–20{{cite web|first=James|last=Law|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56972515|title=FA Trophy final 2019-20: Concord Rangers 0-1 Harrogate Town|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2021|access-date=3 May 2021}}
Individual
- Bristol City Player of the Year: 2011–12{{cite web|title=Club Records – Brisol City|url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/fanzone/club-history/club-records/|access-date=5 July 2020|archive-date=25 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725204026/https://www.bcfc.co.uk/fanzone/club-history/club-records/|url-status=dead}}
- EFL League Two Player of the Month: September 2016{{cite web |title=Jon Stead named Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month|url=http://www.efl.com/news/article/2016/jon-stead-named-sky-bet-league-two-player-of-the-month-3350965.aspx|date=7 October 2016}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081007133651/http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10418~22521,00.html Jon Stead player profile] at sufc.co.uk
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
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| list1 =
{{Bristol City F.C. Player of the Season}}
{{Notts County F.C. Player of the Year}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stead, Jon}}
Category:Footballers from Huddersfield
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:Derby County F.C. players
Category:Sheffield United F.C. players
Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players
Category:Coventry City F.C. players
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Oldham Athletic A.F.C. players
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players
Category:Notts County F.C. players
Category:Harrogate Town A.F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Hartford Athletic coaches
Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies coaches
Category:USL Championship coaches
Category:Barnsley F.C. non-playing staff