Ernie Steventon
Encyclopedia
Ernest "Ernie" Steventon (1888 – 23 November 1950) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton
in the years prior to World War I
.
in the West Midlands
and after a spell with Walsall
, then playing in the Birmingham & District League, he moved to local rivals Wednesbury Old Athletic
. He soon acquired a reputation as "the best young goalkeeper in the Black Country
", which brought him to the attention of Southampton
of the Southern League
.
Steventon joined the "Saints" in May 1913, aged 24, and was initially in the shadow of veteran goalkeeper George Kitchen
. He made his debut on 8 November 1913, taking over from Kitchen after a run of four defeats, in a 2–2 draw with Crystal Palace
at The Dell. Once he had established himself in the side, his agility and "safe pair of hands" quickly made the 'keeper's jersey his own, with Kitchen only making two further appearances.
Steventon made 25 league appearances in the 1913–14 season, but in 1914–15 he had to contest the goalkeeper's position with Arthur Wood
, both making 19 league appearances each. The outbreak of the First World War brought Steventon's football career to a premature end, although he did make some guest appearances for Blackpool
in 1917.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the years prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Football career
Steventon was born in WalsallWalsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
in the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
and after a spell with Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, then playing in the Birmingham & District League, he moved to local rivals Wednesbury Old Athletic
Wednesbury Old Athletic F.C.
Wednesbury Old Athletic was an English association football club based in Wednesbury, West Midlands . There were actually three clubs to bear this name.-History:...
. He soon acquired a reputation as "the best young goalkeeper in the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
", which brought him to the attention of Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
Steventon joined the "Saints" in May 1913, aged 24, and was initially in the shadow of veteran goalkeeper George Kitchen
George Kitchen
George Kitchen was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs in the early part of the twentieth century, including long spells at Everton and West Ham United.-Football career:...
. He made his debut on 8 November 1913, taking over from Kitchen after a run of four defeats, in a 2–2 draw with Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
at The Dell. Once he had established himself in the side, his agility and "safe pair of hands" quickly made the 'keeper's jersey his own, with Kitchen only making two further appearances.
Steventon made 25 league appearances in the 1913–14 season, but in 1914–15 he had to contest the goalkeeper's position with Arthur Wood
Arthur Wood (footballer born 1894)
Arthur Wood was an English goalkeeper who played for Southampton and Clapton Orient. He was the son of the England international forward, Harry Wood.-Career:...
, both making 19 league appearances each. The outbreak of the First World War brought Steventon's football career to a premature end, although he did make some guest appearances for Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1917.