| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1984-07-13)13 July 1984 (age 41) | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2001 | Aberdeen | ||
| 2001–2002 | Alloa Athletic | ||
| 2002 | Mallorca (trial) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2003 | Alloa Athletic | 2 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Mallorca B | 8 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | Alloa Athletic | 79 | (13) |
| 2006–2009 | Greenock Morton | 58 | (10) |
| 2008 | →Alloa Athletic (loan) | 16 | (2) |
| 2009 | →East Stirlingshire (loan) | 15 | (4) |
| 2009–2010 | East Stirlingshire | 49 | (15) |
| 2010–2012 | Airdrie United | 58 | (7) |
| 2012–2014 | Cowdenbeath | 53 | (10) |
| 2014–2020 | Peterhead | 173 | (19) |
| 2020–2021 | Kelty Hearts | 12 | (2) |
| 2021–2022 | East Kilbride | ||
| 2022–2023 | Berwick Rangers | 40 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:40, 10 December 2023 (UTC) | |||
James Stevenson (born 13 July 1984) is aScottishfootballer who plays as afull back ormidfielder.
After spending a year in Spain with thereserve team ofReal Mallorca as a teenager, he spent all of his career in the lower divisions of Scottish football, playing for various clubs includingAlloa Athletic (three spells),Greenock Morton,East Stirlingshire,Airdrie United,Cowdenbeath,Peterhead, andKelty Hearts.
Stevenson began his career withScottish Premier League clubAberdeen. He was released because they believed he was too small to make the grade in professional football. From there he dropped down the leagues and joinedAlloa Athletic while training to become amechanic.
It was after just two first team appearances with the club that Stevenson's life was turned upside down. In what has been described as a 'Roy of the Rovers' moment he was spotted playing a game of football with his uncle on the Spanish island ofMajorca.[2] A scout from SpanishLa Liga sideReal Mallorca approached Stevenson and offered him a trial.[2] Stevenson made such an impression in this trial that he was offered a 3-year contract.
Stevenson only lasted just over a year at theSon Moix stadium; in his time in Spain he did not make a first team appearance but was a regular in the B side, for whom he scored a goal on his debut.[3] Real Mallorca were keen to hold on to Stevenson and part of his release stated that he could only return to his former club Alloa, which he did in February 2004.
In season 2005–06 he was a star man for Alloa Athletic almost single-handedly keeping them in theSecond Division via the end of season 2nd Division/3rd Division playoffs. His form alerted several larger clubs but to many people's surprise he chose to sign a pre-contract agreement withGreenock Morton, a club who were in the same division as Alloa. Morton agreed to pay Alloa a nominal sum believed to be in the region of £16,000.[4]
In July 2008, he moved to Alloa Athletic for a third spell after joining the second division club on loan from Morton.[5] On Hogmanay 2008 his loan spell expired, so he returned to Morton with only six-months to earn himself a new contract at the club.
In the January 2009 transfer window, Stevenson rejoinedJim McInally at his new clubEast Stirlingshire on loan until the end of the season. It was announced that Stevenson would be released after the end of the 2008–09 season, this was confirmed byDavie Irons on 8 May in theGreenock Telegraph.[6]
On 9 July 2009, Stevenson signed permanently forthe Shire.[7] He was released at the end of the 2009–10 season but re-signed on a one-month short-term contract at the start of the following season. There was talk of Stevenson joining up with ex-MortondefenderRyan Harding again on theMediterranean island ofMalta to play for league championsBirkirkara[8] – this however did not materialise.
On 16 September 2010, he signed on a contract withAirdrie United until the end of the season.[9] Following the expiry of his contract atAirdrie United he went on trial at SPL clubInverness Caledonian Thistle however he remained unsigned and returned to Airdrie in August 2011.[citation needed]
In June 2012, Stevenson signed forCowdenbeath to play in theFirst Division.[10] After two seasons with Cowdenbeath, he signed forPeterhead.[11]
Kelty Hearts announced the signing of Stevenson on 5 September 2020.[12]
Stevenson signed withEast Kilbride on 9 June 2021.[13]