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Stephen Wearne (English footballer)

Stephen Wearne
Personal information
Full name Stephen Christopher Wearne[1]
Date of birth (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth Stockton-on-Tees, England
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Milton Keynes Dons
Number 11
Youth career
0000–2017 Newcastle United
2017–2019 Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Middlesbrough 0 (0)
2020–2022 Sunderland 0 (0)
2022 → Torquay United (loan) 14 (3)
2022–2023 Grimsby Town 8 (0)
2022–2023 → Torquay United (loan) 9 (0)
2023–2024 Gateshead 34 (12)
2024– Milton Keynes Dons 17 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:00, 27 April 2024 (UTC)

Stephen Christopher Wearne (born 16 December 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons.

Wearne came through the youth academies of Newcastle United and Middlesbrough before signing professional terms with Sunderland. His previous clubs include Gateshead and Grimsby Town and Torquay United.

Playing career

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Early career

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A youth product of Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, he signed his first professional contact with Middlesbrough on 15 April 2019.[2]

Sunderland

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He transferred to Sunderland on 9 September 2020.[3] He made his professional debut with Sunderland in a 2–1 EFL Trophy win over Lincoln City on 5 October 2021, scoring the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute.[4]

On 7 January 2022, Wearne joined National League side Torquay United on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[5] He returned to Sunderland, and was later released following the clubs promotion to the EFL Championship.[6]

Grimsby Town

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On 27 June 2022, Wearne signed for EFL League Two side Grimsby Town on a one-year deal.[7] Upon signing, Wearne said he was convinced to sign for Grimsby when he was on holiday in Cancun, Mexico with his girlfriend. "Other managers were pressuring me to make a decision. I said to her - I need a sign. I went to bed that night, next morning, I came out of the lift and the first guy I see has a Grimsby top on. And I just said, 'That's the sign'. It's done".[8]

On 9 August, Wearne scored his first goal for The Mariners in a 4–0 win over Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Cup first round.[9]

On 1 November 2022, Wearne returned to National League side Torquay United on a one-month loan.[10] Wearne played his first game back later that day and assisted the fourth goal in a 6–1 win over Aldershot Town.[11] His loan was extended for a further month on 2 December 2022.[12]

Gateshead

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On 24 March 2023, Wearne signed for Gateshead on a free transfer until the end of the 2022-23 season.[13] Wearne scored his first Gateshead goal against Scunthorpe United in a 2–0 win on 7 April 2023.[14] On 27 May 2023, signed a two-year contract with Gateshead.[15] He was awarded the National League Player of the Month award for November 2023 having scored five goals in four matches.[16]

Milton Keynes Dons

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On 6 January 2024, Wearne returned to the EFL with a permanent transfer to League Two club Milton Keynes Dons, signing for an undisclosed fee and reuniting with former Gateshead head coach Mike Williamson.[17] Having joined the club with a slight injury, Wearne made his debut on 27 January 2024 as a 76th-minute substitute. He went on to make an assist just twelve minutes later for the winning goal in a 2–1 home win over Gillingham.[18]

Career statistics

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As of 11 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Gateshead 2022–23[19] National League 11 1 0 0 — 0 0 11 1
2023–24[20] National League 23 11 1 0 — 0 0 24 11
Total 34 12 1 0 — 0 0 35 12
Milton Keynes Dons 2023–24[20] League Two 17 4 — — 2[a] 0 19 4
Career total 51 16 1 0 0 0 2 0 54 16
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in 2023–24 League Two play-offs

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ "EFL Professional retain list 2019–20" (PDF). EFL.com. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Pro Contracts For Academy Graduates | Middlesbrough FC". www.mfc.co.uk.
  3. ^ Hunter, James (September 9, 2020). "Sunderland sign attacking midfielder to strengthen their U23 side". ChronicleLive.
  4. ^ "Story of the night as SAFC win at Lincoln to begin Papa John's Trophy title defence". www.sunderlandecho.com.
  5. ^ "Stephen Wearne joins United on loan". Torquay United FC. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Retained list confirmed". 25 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Grimsby Town announce signing of Stephen Wearne following Sunderland release". Grimsbylive. 27 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Holidaying Grimsby fan prompted Wearne's move". BBC Sport.
  9. ^ "Grimsby Town 4–0 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport.
  10. ^ "Wearne Joins Torquay on-Loan - Grimsby Town Football Club". November 2022.
  11. ^ "Six of the best as Torquay United hammer Aldershot". November 2022.
  12. ^ "Wearne Extends Loan - Grimsby Town Football Club". 2 December 2022.
  13. ^ McGraghan, Jack (24 March 2023). "Stephen Wearne signs". Gateshead FC. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Gateshead 2-0 Scunthorpe United". Gateshead FC.
  15. ^ McGraghan, Jack (May 27, 2023). "Stephen Wearne signs contract extension". Gateshead FC.
  16. ^ a b "It's A Wearne And Widdrington Show As Awards Are Dished Out!". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Stephen Wearne: MK Dons sign Gateshead midfielder". BBC. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Milton Keynes Dons 2-1 Gillingham". BBC. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Games played by Stephen Wearne in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Games played by Stephen Wearne in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
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