Nigel Stephenson (born 12 October 1950), also known by the
nickname
A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...
s of "Nij", and "Stivvy", is an English former professional
rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...
footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s,
and
coach
Coach may refer to:
Guidance/instruction
* Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities
* Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process
** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers
Transportation
* Co ...
ed in the 1980s and 1990s.
He played at representative level for
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
and
Yorkshire
Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...
, and at club level for
Shaw Cross
Shaw may refer to:
Places Australia
*Shaw, Queensland
Canada
*Shaw Street, a street in Toronto
England
*Shaw, Berkshire, a village
* Shaw, Greater Manchester, a location in the parish of Shaw and Crompton
* Shaw, Swindon, a suburb of Swindon
* ...
ARLFC (in
Shaw Cross
Shaw may refer to:
Places Australia
*Shaw, Queensland
Canada
*Shaw Street, a street in Toronto
England
*Shaw, Berkshire, a village
* Shaw, Greater Manchester, a location in the parish of Shaw and Crompton
* Shaw, Swindon, a suburb of Swindon
* ...
,
Dewsburyhttp://www.shawxsharks.com],
Dewsbury Rams, Dewsbury (two spells),
Bradford Northern
The Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, playing in the Championship. They have won five Challenge Cups, six league championships and three World Club Challenges. The team jersey is pre ...
,
Carlisle,
Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity is a professional rugby league club in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, that plays in the Super League. One of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, between 1999 and 2016 the ...
(
captain) (
Heritage No. 906),
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
and
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a market town in the Kirklees district in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confluence into ...
, as a , i.e. number 3 or 4, and coached at club level for
Hunslet
Hunslet () is an inner-city area in south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is southeast of the city centre and has an industrial past.
It is situated in the Hunslet and Riverside ward of Leeds City Council and Leeds Central parliamentar ...
and
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a market town in the Kirklees district in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confluence into ...
.
Background
Nigel Stephenson was born in
Dewsbury,
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...
, England.
Playing career
International honours
Nigel Stephenson played left-, i.e. number 4, in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
's 0–25 defeat by
Australia in the
1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Championship (also referred to as the World Series) was the seventh tournament for the Rugby League World Cup. The format differed from that employed in previous competitions; no single country hosted the matches, whi ...
Final at
Headingley
Headingley is a suburb of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, approximately two miles out of the city centre, to the north west along the A660 road. Headingley is the location of the Beckett Park campus of Leeds Beckett University and Headingley ...
Rugby Stadium,
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popula ...
on Wednesday 12 November 1975.
County honours
Nigel Stephenson was selected for
Yorkshire County XIII on ten occasions.
and scored 9 tries and won the county championship a record 5 times along with the late David Topliss.
Championship Final appearances
Nigel Stephenson played left-, i.e. number 4, was
captain, and scored a
try
Try or TRY may refer to:
Music Albums
* ''Try!'', an album by the John Mayer Trio
* ''Try'' (Bebo Norman album) (2014) Songs
* "Try" (Blue Rodeo song) (1987)
* "Try" (Colbie Caillat song) (2014)
* "Try" (Nelly Furtado song) (2004)
* " Try (Ju ...
, 4-
goal
A goal is an idea of the future or desired result that a person or a group of people envision, plan and commit to achieve. People endeavour to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines.
A goal is roughly similar to a purpose or ...
s and a
drop goal
A drop goal, field goal, or dropped goal is a method of scoring points in rugby union and rugby league and also, rarely, in American football and Canadian football.
A drop goal is scored by drop kicking the ball (dropping the ball and then kicki ...
in
Dewsbury Rams, Dewsbury's 22–13 victory over
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popula ...
in the
Championship
In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.
Championship systems
Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship.
Title match system
In this system ...
Final during the
1972–73 season at
Odsal Stadium,
Bradford on Saturday 19 May 1973.also won the championship with Bradford northern two years running 1980/81 1981/1982. second time as captain.
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances
Nigel Stephenson played , and scored a
goal
A goal is an idea of the future or desired result that a person or a group of people envision, plan and commit to achieve. People endeavour to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines.
A goal is roughly similar to a purpose or ...
in
Dewsbury Rams, Dewsbury's 2–22 defeat by
St. Helens in the
1975
It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe.
Events
January
* January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the
1975–76 season at
Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside, was the home ground of St. Helens from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hoste ...
,
St. Helens on Tuesday 16 December 1975.
John Player Trophy Final appearances
Nigel Stephenson played , and scored a
drop goal
A drop goal, field goal, or dropped goal is a method of scoring points in rugby union and rugby league and also, rarely, in American football and Canadian football.
A drop goal is scored by drop kicking the ball (dropping the ball and then kicki ...
in
Bradford Northern
The Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, playing in the Championship. They have won five Challenge Cups, six league championships and three World Club Challenges. The team jersey is pre ...
's 6–0 victory over
Widnes
Widnes ( ) is an industrial town in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England, which at the 2011 census had a population of 61,464.
Historically in Lancashire, it is on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form th ...
in the
1979–80 John Player Trophy
The John Player Trophy was a golf tournament on the European Tour that was played in England. It was played twice. The first event in 1970 at Notts Golf Club in Nottinghamshire was the 36-hole qualifying event for the John Player Classic. In 19 ...
Final during the
1979–80 season at
Headingley
Headingley is a suburb of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, approximately two miles out of the city centre, to the north west along the A660 road. Headingley is the location of the Beckett Park campus of Leeds Beckett University and Headingley ...
Rugby Stadium,
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popula ...
on Saturday 5 January 1980.
Career records
Nigel Stephenson holds
Dewsbury Rams, Dewsbury's career goalscoring record, 863-goals scored during his two spells with the club 1967–78 and 1984–86.
Family
Nigel Stephenson is the father of the rugby league footballer
Francis Stephenson, his other son James is a highly regarded Community Coach with Shaw Cross Sharks & Dewsbury Rams and in 2010 James was awarded the RFL Kirklees Coach of the Year Award for his outstanding efforts in rugby league development.
Nigel Stephenson is not related to fellow
Dewsbury Rams, Dewsbury 1973 Rugby Football League Championship winner
Mike "Stevo" Stephenson.
References
External links
Shaw Cross Sharks – Hall of FameDiamond day for Shaw Cross' star production linePlaying at Smales pace sank championsPhotograph "Neil Fox" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Stephenson about to touch down" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Stephenson scores Northern's second" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Ronnie Firth sprays the champagne" at rlhp.co.uk (upside down)Photograph "Peter Fox shows the Championship Trophy to youngsters." at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Jimmy and Nigel parade the Trophy" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "The Mayor shows off the Trophy" at rlhp.co.uk (upside down)Photograph "Northern Off Half Stephenson" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "The 1981 squad pictured at Odsal" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "1981 team v. Hull" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Stephenson Stretchered Off" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Nigel Stephenson In Action" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Nigel Stephenson Scores" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Forsyth about to crash through" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Return to Odsal" at rlhp.co.ukPhotograph "Trevor kisses the turf" at rlhp.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephenson, Nigel
1950 births
Living people
Bradford Bulls players
Carlisle RLFC coaches
Carlisle RLFC players
Dewsbury Rams players
England national rugby league team players
English rugby league coaches
English rugby league players
Huddersfield Giants coaches
Hunslet R.L.F.C. coaches
Rugby league centres
Rugby league players from Dewsbury
Wakefield Trinity players
York Wasps players
Yorkshire rugby league team players