Stephens: Alfred (Alf)

WW2 Guest: 1940-1943 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Inside Forward

Born: Cramlington, Northumberland: 13-06-1919

Debut: v Bradford Park Avenue (h): 06-04-1940

Height & Weight: Unknown

Stephens started with the his local Cramlington team before he signed with First Division Leeds United in September 1938 but never played a senior game for them before the commencement of the Second World War. He was a guest with Leeds United at Centre Forward in two consecutive games in the 1939-40 Regional League North-East Division. He made his debut at Elland Road in a 5-2 win over Bradford Park Avenue on 6th April 1940 and scored the third Leeds goal. He retained his position in the next game in a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park and scored the Leeds goal. He also played three games in the War Cup that season, scoring a hat-trick in the First Leg as a Centre Forward, in a 6-3 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road and was then at Inside Right in the Second Leg when United were beaten 2-3 at Hillsborough. Both he and his twin brother, Bill Stephens, were called up into the Army and served with the Royal Engineers, but both were taken Prisoners-of-War in the Middle East in July 1941. They were released in May 1945, and arrived back in England two days after VE Day. He was back at Centre Forward in the 0-0 draw with Sunderland at Roker Park but missed the Second Leg at Elland Road. His final game for Leeds United came in the 1945-46 Football League Northern Section when he played at Centre Forward in a 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers at Elland Road. Apart from Leeds he had played one game for York City in the 1939-40 season without scoring and in the following season he had three games for Aldershot in which he scored twice prior to serving abroad. After the Second World War Stephens joined Third Division South side Swindon Town in August 1946 and he scored two goals in sixteen League games and one F.A. Cup tie in the two seasons before he retired in 1948. He made his League debut with Swindon at Inside Left on 31st August 1946 in a 1-4 defeat at Northampton Town and played his final game at Inside Left on 17th September 1947 in a 0-1 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion. He was the twin brother of Bill Stephens who also played with him at Leeds United and Swindon Town. They created a record that has never occurred since. In the game for Swindon Town at home to Exeter City on 21st September 1946, both scored in the 2-0 win to become the only twins to score in the same game in the Football League. He died in 1993.