Steve Stacey (footballer)

Stephen Darrow Stacey (born 27 August 1944 in Bristol, England),[1] is an English 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]

Steve Stacey
Personal information
Full name Stephen Darrow Stacey
Date of birth (1944-08-27) 27 August 1944
Place of birth Bristol, England
Playing 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 ? (?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Personal life

Stacey 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.[4]

In 1974, he emigrated to Western Australia, where he spent four seasons in the first division with Floreat Athena and Rockingham City.[5]

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
  1. Hugman, Barry (1981). Football League Players Records (1946–1981). Aylesbury: Rothmans Publications. p. 317. ISBN 0-907574-08-4.
  2. "Steve Stacey". Neil Brown. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  3. "Steve Stacey". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. "The colourful life of a football pioneer". The Professional Footballers Association. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  5. "Hall of Merit for Players". Football WA. Retrieved 21 November 2013.


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