David Rhys Remington Stephens (born 8 October 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender. Stephens has previously played for Norwich City, Lincoln City and Hibernian. He has represented Wales at youth international levels up to and including the Wales under-21 team.
Club career
Youth team at Norwich City Born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Stephens joined Norwich City's Academy as a 13-year-old. He was initially preferred in a central midfield role, but is now primarily thought of as a central defender.
Professional career Stephens signed a professional contract with Norwich in June 2009. His first team debut came on 6 October 2009, as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Gillingham in the Football League Trophy. On 19 March 2010, Stephens joined Football League Two side Lincoln City on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.
Stephens signed for Scottish Premier League team Hibernian on a three-year deal in July 2010. Stephens made his debut for Hibs as a substitute in the opening day 3–2 win at Motherwell on 15 August. He made 29 appearances in just over two years with Hibs.
Stephens left Hibs on 31 August 2012 and signed for Football League Two club Barnet. Stephens played regularly for Barnet, forming several different centre back partnerships throughout the course of the 2012–13 season. Stephens was voted Barnet's Player of the Season by supporters in 2012–13 and again in 2013–14. He is known to be both superstitious and a fan of Engelbert Humperdinck. Stephens stated in an interview that he listened to Humperdinck's 1969 hit The Way It Used to Be before every game and believed he would have a bad game without it. He cited Humperdinck as a major factor in him winning Barnet's player of the year award in consecutive seasons. After promotion in 2014–15, Stephens rejected a new deal at Barnet and left the club on 1 July 2015. In October of that year, Stephens joined Boreham Wood. In March 2023, Stephens joined National League South club Dulwich Hamlet on loan until the end of the season. Stephens left Boreham Wood during the 2023–24 season. In total, he made 257 appearances for Wood, scoring seven goals.
International career Stephens made his debut for the Wales under-17 side on 27 August 2007 in a 2–1 friendly win over Belgium, before scoring his first goal for the side two days later as a substitute during a second 2–1 victory over Belgium. Having established himself in the team, he featured in all three matches of the first qualifying round as well as in two matches of the elite round of qualifying for the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, scoring his second under-17 goal in a 1–1 draw with Slovenia. He made his final appearance at under-17 level on 19 July 2008 in a 1–0 defeat to Sweden.
Three months later, Stephen moved up to the Wales under-19 squad, being handed his debut in a 0–0 draw with Montenegro on 30 September 2008. He was also part of the unsuccessful under-19 squads for the qualifying rounds of both the 2009 and 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, scoring his first goal at under-19 level on 8 November 2009 in a 3–1 win over Macedonia. He made his debut at under-21 level on 10 August 2010 in a 1–1 draw with Malta.
Career statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNorwich City2009–10League One0000001Appearances in Football League Trophy010Lincoln City (loan)2009–10League Two3000000030Hibernian2010–11Scottish Premier League1000000001002011–12Scottish Premier League1600010001702012–13Scottish Premier League1000000010Total270001000280Barnet2012–13League Two4211000104412013–14Conference Premier46120—2Appearances in FA Trophy05012014–15Conference Premier42031—00451Total13026100301393Boreham Wood2015–16National League18130—102212016–17National League21110—502712017–18National League41130—5Two appearances in FA Trophy, three appearances in National League play-offs04512018–19National League36210—3Two appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup04022019–20National League30110—103212020–21National League12040—101702021–22National League34050—304202022–23National League12031—001512023–24National League12010—00130Total2166221—1902577Dulwich Hamlet (loan)2022–23National League South7000—0070Career total38382821023043510
Honours Barnet Conference Premier: 2014–15
References
External links