Stephen Bywater

Football player infobox
playername = Stephen Bywater


fullname = Stephen Michael Bywater
height = height|metres=1.90
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|6|7
cityofbirth = Manchester
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Derby County
clubnumber = 13
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears = ????–1997
youthclubs = Rochdale
years = 1997–1998
1998–2006
1999
1999–2000
2001
2002
2005
2006
2006–
2008
clubs = Rochdale
West Ham United
→ Wycombe Wanderers (loan)
→ Hull City (loan)
→ Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)
→ Cardiff City (loan)
→ Coventry City (loan)
→ Derby County (loan)
Derby County
→ Ipswich Town (loan)
caps(goals) = 00 (0)
59 (0)
02 (0)
04 (0)
00 (0)
00 (0)
14 (0)
02 (0)
53 (0)
17 (0)
nationalyears = 2001–2003
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 06 (0)
pcupdate = 17:05, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 13:16, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Stephen Michael Bywater, [cite web | title = Bywater's full name | publisher = Player History | url= http://www.playerhistory.com/Default.aspx?page=player_details&playerID=1764 | accessdate = 2007-09-13 ] , (born June 7 1981 in Manchester) is an English professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Derby County. He has made appearances for seven clubs, most notably West Ham United, where he spent eight seasons and made over 60 appearance, and Derby County, where he has made over 50 appearances. He is also a former England Under-21 international.

Club career

West Ham United

Bywater attended the Blue Coat School in Oldham as a boy and started his career in August 1997 with Rochdale. His only first team appearance was against Carlisle United -in an Autoglass Trophy game which Rochdale lost 7-1. He was brought to West Ham as a 17 year old by Harry Redknapp in February 1998 for £250,000, rising to £1.75m depending on performances and achievements. He graduated through the youth set-up and featured in West Ham's 1999 winning team along with Joe Cole and Michael Carrick. [cite news |last=Barber |first=David | title =The class of '99 | publisher = TheFA.com | date = 2006-01-01 | url= http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFAYouthCup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/02/FAYouthCup_WestHam.htm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ]

He spent the next two seasons learning from former Manchester United, Aston Villa and Coventry City goalkeeper Les Sealey and sitting in the pecking order behind Craig Forrest, Bernard Lama and Shaka Hislop. With first team opportunities limited, Bywater joined Wycombe Wanderers on loan in September 1999, making two appearances, and then went to Hull City on loan in November 1999, making four appearances.cite web | title = Stephen Bywater | work = Soccerbase | publisher = Racing Post | url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=12359 | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] A broken leg for Shaka Hislop meant a debut for Bywater at the age of 19 against Bradford City in February 2000, in a game that saw Bradford score four times but which West Ham eventually won 5-4. [cite news | title =Flair and farce in equal measures | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2000-06-29 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/777148.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] Bywater also appeared in the final three games of the 1999-00 season, against Arsenal, Sunderland and Leeds United and made a single appearance in the following season against Bradford in February 2001.

Wolves signed Bywater on loan in July 2001 to ease a goalkeeping crisis [cite news | title =Wolves turn to Bywater | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2001-07-14 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/1438681.stm | accessdate = 2007-07-06 ] but he returned to West Ham the following month having not made an appearance for Wolves other than on the bench in the opening game of the season against Portsmouth. [cite news | title =Wolves 2-2 Portsmouth | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2001-08-11 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1482485.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] His chances to move up the pecking order were limited with the club signing David James in July 2001 and the retention of Shaka Hislop as James was injured on international duty in August 2001, [cite news | title =England duo face fitness wait | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2001-08-16 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1494727.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] and he did not make a single appearance for West Ham in the 2001/02 season nor in the 2002/03 season. He joined Cardiff City on a one-month loan at the end of March 2003 but made no appearance there.

Eventually, after the club was relegated in 2002-03 and David James moved to Manchester City in January 2004, [cite news | title =James seals Man City deal | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-01-14 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/3394151.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] Bywater became a regular starter in the first-team, making 23 appearances as West Ham reached the First Division play-off final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace. [cite news | title =Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-05-29 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3750773.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] He signed a three-year contract extension in June 2004, saying "I am very pleased to have signed on for another three years at West Ham. We were very unlucky last year and I am sure that we will start next season with a squad capable of challenging for promotion again. The club have invested a lot in my career and the manager showed great faith in me last season. I am determined to repay everyone at the club by helping the team back into the Premiership." [cite news | title =Bywater nets new deal | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-06-23 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/3833669.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ]

He soon had to share the role of the club's primary keeper with Jimmy Walker who was brought in from Walsall in June 2004 to provide competition for Bywater. [cite news | title =Walker sad to leave Walsall | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-06-12 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/3800673.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] Bywater made 39 league and cup appearances in the 2004-05 season for West Ham as the club were promoted to the Premiership, and appeared in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in May 2005, coming on as a late substitute for the injured Jimmy Walker in the 1-0 victory over Preston North End. [cite news | title =West Ham 1-0 Preston | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2005-05-30 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4573799.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-12 ]

The signing of Roy Carroll in June 2005 [cite news | title =Carroll completes West Ham move | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2005-06-15 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/4087430.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] and the re-signing of Shaka Hislop on a one-year contract in July 2005 [cite news | title =Keeper Hislop signs for West Ham | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2005-07-29 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/4727451.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] once again limited Bywater's first-team opportunities and he joined Coventry City in August 2005, on loan until the end of the year, [cite news | title =Bywater seals Coventry loan move | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2005-08-03 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/4743351.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] where he made 14 appearances. An injury to Carroll however led to Bywater being recalled from Coventry in October 2005. [cite news | title =Hammers recall Bywater from loan | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2005-10-20 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/4361106.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] He made a single appearance for West Ham in the remainder of the 2005/06 season, against West Bromwich Albion in November 2005.

Derby County

Bywater joined Derby County in August 2006 on an initial emergency loan deal for two weeks and signed a permanent three-year deal two weeks later for a fee of £225,000.cite news | title =Derby capture goalkeeper Bywater | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2005-08-12 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/4786901.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ] He wears the number 43 shirt at Derby as a tribute to his mentor and former goalkeeping coach Les Sealey, who died at the age of 43 in 2001, saying, "Les looked after me most of the time. He took me to training every day, coached me and advised me on life. I know he is watching over me and that he wants me to do well, so that was for him." [cite news | title =Bywater eyes top-flight return | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2007-02-27 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/6396755.stm | accessdate = 2007-07-07 ] Bywater made 43 league and cup appearances in the 2006/07 season as Derby reached the Championship play-off final, where they beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 to secure a place in the Premier League. [cite news | title =Derby 1-0 West Brom | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2007-05-28 | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/6689971.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-12 ]

In June 2007, Bywater reiterated his desire to play for England and his hopes to be noticed in the 2007-08 season, saying "I grew up with a few of the lads like Paul Robinson, Rob Green and Chris Kirkland and they are good but I don't think they are anything special. I do believe if I play well and have a good season, I will be up there in contention. I am confident but not cocky." [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/6710683.stm |title=Friday's gossip column |accessdate=2007-06-01 |date=June 1 2007 |work= |publisher=BBC Sport] After a first half of the season that saw Derby County rooted to the foot of the Premier League, Bywater joined Ipswich Town on loan in January 2008 for the rest of the season.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/7220147.stm|title=Bywater and Colgan join Ipswich |date=2008-01-31|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-05-11] Jim Magilton, manager of Ipswich Town, described him as, "...a young, ambitious keeper who knows what is needed to win promotion from this division." He made his debut for Ipswich Town against Sheffield Wednesday in February 2008 and made 17 appearances in the remainder of the 2007–08 season as Ipswich finished below the play-off places. [cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=12359&seasonid=137|title=Games played by Stephen Bywater in 2007/2008|work=Soccerbase|publisher=Racing Post|accessdate=2008-05-11]

International career

Bywater made his England U19 debut during 1999 and rotated in the role with both Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland. He later progressed to the U21 team with the same group of players though by that time both Kirkland and Robinson had become established league players. Injuries had limited his opportunities with both a broken finger and later on a fractured wrist holding up his development and limiting his opportunities. He made six appearances for the U21 team. [cite web | title = England U21 Caps, 1976-present | publisher = Football Association | url = http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/01/AllTime_Caps.htm | accessdate =2007-08-12 ]

References

External links

*soccerbase|12359|Stephen Bywater
* [http://www.dcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Squad/Profiles/0,,10270~6063,00.html Official Derby County Profile]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/players/b/bywater_33491.stm Profile on BBC website]

Persondata
NAME=Bywater, Stephen Michael
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Bywater, Stephen
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Football (soccer) player
DATE OF BIRTH=June 17 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH=Manchester, Greater Manchester, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=