On 18th March, at our home game against Portsmouth, we were delighted to welcome our former striker Archie Stephens to the Memorial Stadium for the first time.
A relatively late entrant to the ranks of professional football, he was 27 years of age when he joined Rovers from Melksham Town in August 1981 and he went on to score 40 goals in 127 league games. During his time at Eastville.
In March 1985 Middlesbrough paid Rovers a fee of £20,000 to secure his signature. He went on to score 24 goals in 92 league appearances for ‘Boro and later played for Carlisle United, Yeovil Town (loan), Darlington, Guisborough Town, Northallerton Town and Great Ayton.
Thanks are due to Rovers’ supporter Chris Wathen and another former Rovers striker, Paul Randall, for arranging Archie’s visit and thanks, also, to the club for their assistance.
Paul and Archie were quite a formidable strikeforce for Rovers when they partnered each other in the early 1980’s and it was fitting that Paul should be the one to present Archie with his cap at half time.
As I’m sure you are aware, the Supporters Club is hoping to present a cap to all players who have made at least one Football League appearance for Rovers.
When he made his debut, against Chesterfield, on 5th September 1981, Archie became the 481st player to represent the club and his cap bears that number. Paul, who received his cap at the Bristol Rovers Former Players Association Dinner before Christmas, was number 441.
John Kayes and the Tote End Old Boys had a special flag made bearing the words ‘Archie Stephens, Tote End Legend’ which will, by the time of our next home game be hanging in the Thatchers End, signed by the man himself.
Our photos show Paul presenting Archie with his cap (photo courtesy of JMP) and Archie and Paul pictured with Paul’s son Mark, Archie’s son Ben with Chris Wathen standing between the strikers – is he offside! (Thanks to Chris for the photo).