Former Bristol Rovers striker Archie Stephens will be a guest of the club this coming Saturday when Rovers take on Portsmouth at the Memorial Stadium.
Archie was a relatively late entrant to the ranks of professional football and 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.
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.
As most of you are aware, the Supporters Club have initiated a scheme whereby they hope to present caps to all players who have made at least one league appearance for the club and Archie will be presented with his on Saturday. He was the 481st player to make his Rovers debut when playing against Chesterfield on 5th September 1981.
Thanks are due to Chris Wathen, aided and abetted by another former Rovers striker Paul Randall, for persuading Archie to return to the club for what we think is his first visit to see a game at the Memorial Stadium.
Paul and Archie were quite a formidable strikeforce for Rovers when they partnered each other in the early 1980’s and it will be good to see them both here on Saturday.
John Kayes and the Tote End Old Boys have had a special flag made bearing the words ‘Archie Stephens, Tote End legend’ to be hung in the Thatchers End and Archie will sign it on Saturday.