Dewsbury Rams’ South Stand was officially renamed the ‘Mike Stephenson MBE Stand’ on Saturday, ahead of their Betfred Championship fixture against Toulouse.
Known as one of the most recognisable personalities in rugby league and one of the greatest players in the history of Dewsbury RLFC, ‘Stevo’ was joined by his family, friends, and former team-mates for the unveiling of the newly-named stand.
Stevo joined Dewsbury from Shaw Cross in 1966 and played 220 games over an eight-year-period. Arguably his finest moment with the club came when he captained the side to victory in the 1973 Championship Final against Leeds at Odsal, a game in which he scored two tries and secured the Harry Sunderland Trophy.
He was also a Great Britain international and a member of the 1972 World Cup-winning squad who were victorious over Australia in Lyon, scoring the try that levelled the scores in the final and ultimately help to lift the trophy.
Following on from the 1973 success, Stevo departed for Australia and joined Penrith for what was at the time, a world-record fee and played for the New South Wales club for five seasons before finishing playing in 1978 and taking up a career working in the media.
To most fans of rugby league, Stevo is probably best known for his twenty-six-year association with Sky Sports and their coverage of Super League alongside Eddie Hemmings (with whom he currently hosts the Eddie & Stevo Podcast) cementing his legacy as one of the greatest personalities in the sport.
On the renaming of the South Stand, Stevo said: “I feel truly honoured that the club are re-naming the stand after me, it’s one of the nicest things that I’ve been awarded in rugby league including the Championship in 1973 and the World Cup in 1972.
"It's so special to have something like this at my hometown club and I'd like to thank everybody that has been involved in making this happen.
"But it's worth saying that although it's my name on the stand, I want all the supporters to remember every member of the team that won the league in 1973 when they see it."
He added: "I can't forget to say a huge thank you to all of my family and friends, without their support I wouldn't have achieved everything I have done. Finally, I'd just like to say thanks to the fans of Dewsbury, who have been so supportive throughout my whole career.
“I believe it’s so important to keep rugby league thriving in this area, it’s birthplace, it’s one of the reasons I helped to setup the Rugby League Museum at the George Hotel in Huddersfield, it’s sad what has happened to that, but I’m hoping that it’s something we can recreate again in the near future.”
Rams Chairman, Mark Sawyer commented: "When I was first approached regarding the possibilty of naming the South Stand in honour of Stevo, I have to admit it came as a surprise. However, I immediately thought that this would be a fantastic way to honour one of our real heroes and the person that led us to that incredible Championship Final win over Leeds in 1973.
“While Stevo’s exploits are well known to our older supporters his name is also known to our younger ones as the face of Sky Sports coverage of rugby league for many seasons.
“He still actively follows the game live whenever we can and is a superb advocate for how a junior player from Shaw Cross can make it to captain their local club to glory, gain international honours, bring to the club the benefit of a what was then record transfer fee and to become such a widely known and respected media personality.
“We are honoured as a club to be able to celebrate these achievements by naming the stand in his name and I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard behind the scenes to make this possible.”
Neil Fahey, former Rams Director and close friend said: “I’m delighted that Dewsbury Rams have honoured Stevo by naming the stand in his honour. Mike is proud of his Dewsbury heritage and upbringing.
“To become captain of his hometown team was a great achievement at such a young age, recognising his teammates as a group of talented, committed and professional players moulded into such a fine squad by their inspirational and visionary coach Tommy Smales.”
Photo Credit: TCF Photography
