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George Marshall Stevenson, played as an Amateur for Hull FC, York and Bridlington, Front Row Forward
Hull F C and a Character George M Stevenson
On Saturday 28th January 1909 it was reported that Hull were to play the touring Australian team.
Hull had not lost a home match and The unbeaten home record will not be broken by the Australians, So say the Hull players. In training for the important event at the Boulevard on Saturday, every man is displaying such a grim earnestness and care in all his work that one might reasonably infer they were to play for their lives.
Sprinting, skipping, dribbling, passing and re-passing the ball form the chief items in their programme and on the score of fitness Hull will not be found deficient. Greater enthusiasm in training has not been found in the players this season.
Competition for places particularly in the forward has never been keener and the team will use every endeavour to gain success by playing their best football. George Marshall Stevenson Hulls amateur, is showing the Boulevardiers a fine example by strict attention he is devoting systematic training.
Mr. Stevenson who was by no means fit when he signed for Hull eight days ago is looking and feeling in fine trim. Of splendid physique, this powerfully built player will soon become a typical forward and was selected to play his first game for Hull FC against the Australians.
Australians SIXPENNY GATE AT HULL
Several matches will have a lively interest for local followers to the game. The visit of the Australians to Hull ought to bring some grist to the Kangaroos mill, for there is no other football event of importance in the seaport to-morrow and justifies the six pence entry fee. The men at the Boulevard are capable of great deeds when put to the test.
Saturday 30 January 1909 at 3. 15 10000 fans packed the ground to see their team play against the Australian tourist. It was a fine cold afternoon the duel between the Kangaroos and Hull FC began and the Colonials soon took advantage with Messenger the Aussie captain and Rosenfeldt the Aussie winger taking advantage. The speed of the Australians bewildered the Hull backs with their rapid passing and Rosenfeldt scored a try, Messenger with ease converted. The Half time score
Hull-: 1 goal 2 point
Australia-: 1 goal, 1try 5 points
Resuming the second half Hull played a brighter game. Twice they had the Colonials line in jeopardy, Hull gained a penalty under the sticks when Hedley the Aussie fullback failed to play the ball correctly. Ned Rodgers had an easy kick for 2 points, the score was now 5 points to Hulls 4 points.
The Australians scored another try to give them 8 points It seemed that the game was over and in the last few minutes a wonderful move started with Holder passing to Stevenson who rampaged through the opposing forwards and passing to Boylen back to Stevenson who put Holder through to score a try, it was now up to Rodgers, he added a goal to put Hull in front and the final score and a very good win to Hull 9 point to Australia 8. Mr. G M Stevenson played his part as an amateur.
Tragic announcement
It was announced in the Hull Daily Mail on the 23 Aug 1933 that G M Stevenson had been shot and died in the garden of this home in Nairobi, Kenya he was the head of the Nairobi Fire Service.
Behind this announcement is hidden the story of a highly interesting personality who has enjoyed a picturesque and exciting career in various parts of the world.
He started life at sea and served an exacting apprenticeship before the mast until 1900, where he had risen to the position of third mate. There after he joined the British India Line, in which he rose to be chief officer in one of the company vessels.
While on a voyage to the East he purchased a ticket for the Calcutta sweep obtained from one of the members of the crew, who it is understood deserted his ship.
Some time afterwards Stevenson learned that he had won a prize of 10,000 pounds with the ticket. With the money he set up a business as timber merchant in Hull, having an office on the old Queens Dock estate near to the old North Bridge.
When war broke out in 1914 he joined the East Yorkshire Regiment and was a Captain in the 11th Battalion of the regiment, with which he served in Egypt and later was transferred to the Gloucester Regiment, with which he served with distinction in Persia, Mesopotamia and Iraq. He was promoted to Major and was awarded the Distinguish Service Order D S O. After the war he returned to Hull and later emigrated to Kenya in1926. Because of his business connections in England Stevenson was a regular visitor to the city and always called in to see his playing friend at Hull FC, York and Bridlington.
He will be remembered quite well as a keen sportsman with Hull FC, York and Bridlington. Major Stevenson founded the Bridlington Rugby Union Club and was very popular with the players and others interested with the club.
In the years just prior to the outbreak of the war Major Stevenson played as an amateur forward for the Hull Football Club and was one of best-liked players in the club when at a time the senior team was at its best.
In the 1908-09 seasons he played in twelve matches for the club and kicked a couple of goals. During the following season he assisted the club on ten occasions and was awarded his club cap. It was in this season that the team reached the final of the Northern Union Cup for the third time in successive seasons thus establishing a Northern Union record. In the course of their progress they were called upon to play a difficult tie away from home and Stevenson laid a 1 pound bet to a penny with each player that they would not win. The whole of the players accepted the bet and played such a strong game that they won. Stevenson paid out his 13 pounds very cheerfully.
He was captain of the A team for a season and in 1911 played for York Club both in Hull and in Bridlington he was very well liked for his pleasant sportsmanlike demeanour.
