Stephen Darrow Stacey (born 27 August 1944)[1] is an English former footballer who played as a full back in the Football League with Bristol City, Wrexham, Ipswich Town and Exeter City.[2][3] He was the first footballer of African American heritage to play professionally in the United Kingdom.[4][5] Stacey was the first Black player to play in the Football League for three of his clubs: Charlton Athletic (debut 7 February 1970); Ipswich Town (debut, 14 September 1968); and Exeter City (debut 14 August 1971).[6]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Darrow Stacey | ||
| Date of birth | 27 August 1944 | ||
| Place of birth | Bristol, England | ||
| Position(s) | Full Back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1961–1966 | Bristol City | 0 | (0) |
| 1966–1969 | Wrexham | 105 | (6) |
| 1969–1970 | Ipswich Town | 3 | (0) |
| 1969 | → Chester (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 1970 | → Charlton Athletic (loan) | 1 | (1) |
| 1970–1971 | Bristol City | 9 | (0) |
| 1971–1973 | Exeter City | 59 | (0) |
| 1973–1974 | Bath City | ||
| 1974–19?? | Floreat Athena | ||
| Rockingham City | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Personal life
editStacey is from a biracial background. He was brought up in Bristol by his mother, a white Englishwoman, after his father (who was a black American G.I.) returned home to the US after World War II.[5]
In 1974, he emigrated to Western Australia, where he spent four seasons in the first division with Floreat Athena and Rockingham City.[7]
He was appointed by the Western Australian State Government to chair a committee to establish 'The Future Direction of Football in Western Australia.'
He has written a book 'The Colour of Football' exploring his life as the first African American to play professional football in the UK.
References
edit- ^ Hugman, Barry (1981). Football League Players Records (1946–1981). Aylesbury: Rothmans Publications. p. 317. ISBN 0-907574-08-4.
- ^ "Steve Stacey". Neil Brown. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Steve Stacey". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ "Black History Month: Steve Stacey - GI's son and football pioneer". BBC Sport. 28 October 2024.
- ^ a b "The colourful life of a football pioneer". The Professional Footballers Association. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ Hern, Bill; Gleave, David (2020). Football's Black Pioneers. Leicester: Conker Editions. pp. 168–169. ISBN 9781999900854.
- ^ "Hall of Merit for Players". Football WA. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
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