Alan Stevenson

Jimbob · Post by **Jimbob** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:55 pm

Great Burnley goalie ever I think anyone know what he is doing now !

Claret&Green · Post by **Claret&Green** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:00 pm

He is Commercial Consultant at York City

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:02 pm

A tremendous keeper.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:13 pm

A tremendous keeper until his last year when he bottled crosses.
Continually looking to the ref for protection and making it so obvious they wouldn't give him any.
Shame he finished like that because everything before was top drawer.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:29 pm

He was very unfortunate to have played the same time as Shilton & Clemence, otherwise he'd have had a lot of England caps.

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:41 pm

Wasn't he yet another top goalkeeper who started at Chesterfield as did Gordon Banks I think?

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:43 pm

He did, Mel.
Local lad too.
He's from Staveley.

warksclaret · Post by **warksclaret** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:50 pm

Got introduced to him at an Elton John performance at Chesterfield FC where I believed he was working for in a PR role

Saw him play a few times. One of the top English keepers of his time

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:52 pm

Steve Ogrosovic played for them too.
And Bob Wilson was born there but, don't think he played for them.
Chesterfield have a long history on good keepers.
Must be due to that wonky spire but, don't know why.

Jimbob · Post by **Jimbob** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:56 pm

Has Alan ever been back to turf moor for a speech or half time draw love to see him again !!

Wokingclaret · Post by **Wokingclaret** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:22 pm

I started supporting at the beginning of the eighties, was told he punched too much

His game had gone by 82/83 and would have struggled with the back pass rule in todays game

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 10:01 pm

County standard tabletennis player as well.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 10:06 pm

Great keeper. I remember coming back from an away game on a Viscount central coach and he was in the motorway services eating with his family and we all stareted singing oh Alan Alan Alan Alan Alan Alan Alan Stevenson. He looked a tadge embarrassed but was fine. We were actually saying things like he's eating a pie bizarre.

BFC Gold · Post by **BFC Gold** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 11:09 pm

Great keeper, loved him.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 11:15 pm

We actually signed him in a motorway services on the M1 - the ones closest to Chesterfield.

Never seen a goalkeeper go so quickly - he was embarrassingly bad in the 1982/83 season when we were relegated and he was only 32 at the time. He went to Rotherham then but didn't play much longer.

Always had him down as the second best goalkeeper I'd seen at Burnley after Adam Blacklaw but I think he's been relegated to third now with Tom Heaton ahead of him.

Martinc265 · Post by **Martinc265** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 11:28 pm

I was talking to Tommy Cassidy about Alan over a pint once, when Tommy played for us. He didn't have a good word about him and was really scathing. One thing he did say was in the semi they knew , Newcastle, if they got through to him on a one on one he would bottle out. Was one of my favourites but behind Adam and Harry for me and definitely behind Tom

Silkyskills1 · Post by **Silkyskills1** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:09 am

Don't recall him 'bottling out' in the semi at Hillsboro. He saved McDonald's first attempt and then his second effort with his right foot went through Stevenson's legs. His second goal was well taken.

fatboy47 · Post by **fatboy47** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:43 am

Martinc265 wrote:I was talking to Tommy Cassidy about Alan over a pint once, when Tommy played for us. He didn't have a good word about him and was really scathing. One thing he did say was in the semi they knew , Newcastle, if they got through to him on a one on one he would bottle out. Was one of my favourites but behind Adam and Harry for me and definitely behind Tom

Stevenson was one of the best keepers in the country at that time, and certainly not in any way a bottler...a long way in front of the sometimes dodgy McFaul in the Newcastle net.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:59 am

fatboy47 wrote:Stevenson was one of the best keepers in the country at that time, and certainly not in any way a bottler...a long way in front of the sometimes dodgy McFaul in the Newcastle net.

In fairness, Tommy will be referring to the time both were at Burnley which was 1980-1983 when Stevo was very much in decline.

gtclaret · Post by **gtclaret** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:34 am

I was on holiday in Tenerife in 1999.I was wearing Burnley shorts and the Rep said to me that his Dad played for them. It was his son, he had a Midlands accent. I told him just how good his dad was.

TheOriginalLongsider · Post by **TheOriginalLongsider** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 12:10 pm

Buxtonclaret wrote:He was very unfortunate to have played the same time as Shilton & Clemence, otherwise he'd have had a lot of England caps.

Joe Corrigan ?

Cirrus_Minor · Post by **Cirrus_Minor** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 3:13 pm

Alan Stevenson was a very good goal keeper, in my opinion on a par with Tom Heaton.

Ptangyangkipperbang · Post by **Ptangyangkipperbang** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 3:29 pm

Stevenson lost his place in the relegation season 1976(I think) to Gerry Peyton who in my opinion at the time was the better keeper.After regaining his place Peyton was sold to Fullham and then went onto Everton

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 4:10 pm

TheOriginalLongsider wrote:Joe Corrigan ?

He couldn't catch a cold!

Dazzler · Post by **Dazzler** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:45 pm

The one time Stevo had a chance of a cap was in 1974 when he was sub GK for a match against Poland at Wembley when Phil Parkes got his one and only cap.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:51 pm

TheOriginalLongsider wrote:Joe Corrigan ?

This Joe Corrigan?

https://youtu.be/1sLc1fch5K4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just kidding.
Joe was a very good keeper, most of the time.
But in the early/mid 70s, I just think Alan was better.

Silkyskills1 · Post by **Silkyskills1** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:13 pm

Buxtonclaret wrote:This Joe Corrigan?

https://youtu.be/1sLc1fch5K4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just kidding.
Joe was a very good keeper, most of the time.
But in the early/mid 70s, I just think Alan was better.

I was on a flight back from Sharm a few years ago as was Joe Corrigan. Told him I supported Burnley and he was very pleasant company. He had 'fond' memories of Andy Lochhead on wet days at Gawthorpe and of his trip to Mexico for the 1970 World Cup. I eventually found the courage to refer to that game at Maine Rd. A wry smile told me he remembered it too well but we were both in agreement about the quality of Jimmy Greaves (my favourite ever striker) who scored two in that game which I think was his West Ham debut. It was Ronnie Boyce who scored 'that' goal'. Corrigan was just about to begin working with Hull City having been released by Liverpool

AlargeClaret · Post by **AlargeClaret** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:15 pm

He was a v good keeper was AS great positional skill and v good hands too,though he declined very very early as if he'd lost interest from about 30. His style was not dissimilar to Shilts . Not as good as TH though not as quick and not as good 1on1 That said modern keepers need to be so much more quicker and athletic than yesteryear not to mention decent with feet.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:19 pm

It was Jimmy's debut, Silky.
Think he'd scored for everyone on his debut up to then.
Superb goalscorer. Rightly up there with the greatest of all time.

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:53 pm

Alan Stevenson was a great keeper in an era when there were a lot of great keepers. Difficult to compare through era's but I'd have Stevo on par with Tom. Tom certainly a better organiser and leader but for me AS was a better shot stopper.

Bop · Post by **Bop** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:03 pm

I was at Rotherham when he started against us. As usual the large and very vocal following of Clarets gave him one of the best welcomes I've ever seen for a former player. Fully deserved. Despite his latter day performances he was a great keeper & a wonderful 'servant' as they used to say about loyal players.

Dazzler · Post by **Dazzler** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:19 pm

I got chucked off for swearing before kick off at that Rotherham match.
Got back on for last 10 mins or so when they opened the gates to join in with the constant chant of "Oh alan alan...

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:48 pm

Talking of Joe Corrigan, there was a game on the Turf in the Seventies when we
beat City, think it was 4-1 and nearly every goal was JCs fault.

Anyone recall that? Score might not be accurate.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:50 pm

ashtonlongsider wrote:Alan Stevenson was a great keeper in an era when there were a lot of great keepers. Difficult to compare through era's but I'd have Stevo on par with Tom. Tom certainly a better organiser and leader but for me AS was a better shot stopper.

He certainly had great reflexes. The save, at Anfield, from Peter Cormack was stunning.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 11:39 pm

Bop wrote:I was at Rotherham when he started against us. As usual the large and very vocal following of Clarets gave him one of the best welcomes I've ever seen for a former player. Fully deserved. Despite his latter day performances he was a great keeper & a wonderful 'servant' as they used to say about loyal players.

The players had warmed up with Rotherham down at the far end. When they swapped ends before kick off Stevo had to run all the way from the far end to the goals just in front of us. I think the applause started just as he left the penalty box at the other end and just got louder and louder. I rank it as one of the best two welcomes we've ever given a former player, the other being Dobbo at Bury in the League Cup two seasons later when he came on as a substitute.

Two great servants of the club who made over 1,000 first team appearances between them.

RammyClaret61 · Post by **RammyClaret61** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 12:52 am

ElectroClaret wrote:Talking of Joe Corrigan, there was a game on the Turf in the Seventies when we
beat City, think it was 4-1 and nearly every goal was JCs fault.

Anyone recall that? Score might not be accurate.

This one?

I think it was 3-0.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 2:47 am

Love that photo.
And the dugouts on the Longside.

Claret&Green · Post by **Claret&Green** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:39 am

Buxtonclaret wrote:Love that photo.
And the dugouts on the Longside.

Weren't those dugouts put there while Bob Lord Stand was being rebuilt, and kept and used by St Johns Ambulance until the end of The alongside?

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 9:18 am

RammyClaret61 wrote:This one?

I think it was 3-0.

Yes, that's probably the one, Rammy. Great photo.Ive never seen that one.
Corrigan had a mare. I think the dug outs were used by the SJA, Claret &Green.

Jesus, just look how packed the Long Side is.
Brilliant.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 9:53 am

Claret&Green wrote:Weren't those dugouts put there while Bob Lord Stand was being rebuilt, and kept and used by St Johns Ambulance until the end of The alongside?

Yes. They were.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 9:59 am

ElectroClaret wrote:Yes, that's probably the one, Rammy. Great photo.Ive never seen that one.
Corrigan had a mare. I think the dug outs were used by the SJA, Claret &Green.

Jesus, just look how packed the Long Side is.
Brilliant.

Just before the segregation fences went up.
I got there early for that game & could get into the Longside because the City fans had 'Taken' it.
They kept it until about 10 minutes before kick off.
Then every Burnley fan in the world, excuse the exaggeration, seemed to turn up.
They got dispersed or, chased to the far end and, I resumed my usual place in there.

ecc · Post by **ecc** » Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:35 am

I loved Stevo. Although he hadn't come through the ranks at TM he always seemed like he had to me ie "one of ours".

Shilton was an exceptional keeper and I always thought he was considerably better than Clemence.

Phil Parkes (QPR) was a very good keeper but I suspect playing in London helped him get a cap unlike Stevo.

I think Tom is better than Stevo though and that is some achievement.

Great photo. Never seen it before.

Cajun · Post by **Cajun** » Sun Oct 01, 2017 2:53 am

That is a great pic of Fletch scoring against City. As I recall from my spot on that packed Longside, Corrigan had just done a wonderful impression of a man trying to catch a bar of soap in the shower after he lost his grip on the ball when attempting to dummy around Fletch, who was standing in front of him, to drop kick the ball and Fletch just got a toe on it and sent it trickling toward the goal. I have another pic in an old scrapbook taken from right behind the goal maybe a second or so later than that one as the ball crosses the line and Fletch is wheeling away to celebrate. Think it was the third goal?

Cajun · Post by **Cajun** » Sun Oct 01, 2017 3:04 am

Oh, and while thinking about that goal, forgot to say that I think Stevo at his peak was a fantastic, agile keeper who always gave me great confidence, and always used to love the "Oh Alan Alan....." chant before the start of games as he loped to the other end of the pitch and waved to the Longside.