Jimmy Stephen

Who was Jimmy Stephen?

James Findlay "Jimmy" Stephen was a Scotland international footballer who played as a defender. At club level, he played in the Football League for Bradford Park Avenue and Portsmouth.

Stephen signed for Bradford when he left school in 1938, and turned professional the following year. During the Second World War he made guest appearances for clubs including Halifax Town, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town. He left Bradford for Portsmouth in 1949, although National Service in the RAF meant he was restricted to a solitary appearance in the Portsmouth team that won the 1949–50 League title. He finished his career in non-league football with Yeovil Town.

Stephen made his international debut as captain in the first competitive match Scotland played after the war, a 3–1 defeat to Wales on 19 October 1946 in the British Home Championship. His second and last cap came a year later, also against Wales. Stephen also represented Scotland in five wartime internationals against England.