Stephen David James Torpey (born 8 December 1970) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Playing career Born in Islington, London, Torpey had played for a number of clubs, before signing for Scunthorpe United from Bristol City in February 2000. He was Scunthorpe's record transfer signing, costing £175,000. Torpey broke the ten goal barrier in each of his first five seasons at Scunthorpe and represented the club over 250 times.

He was released at the end of the 2006–07 season, after only playing a small part in the club's promotion to the Championship. He subsequently signed for League Two side Lincoln City on a one-year contract on 27 June 2007, but was loaned out to Conference Premier side Farsley Celtic on 20 November until 7 January 2008. He was released by Lincoln on this date and joined Farsley on a permanent contract. He later joined the backroom staff at the club. He found himself consigned to the bench at the start of the 2008–09 season and, after making just two substitute appearances, moved on to North Ferriby United of the Northern Premier League Premier Division. He made his Ferriby debut as a substitute in a 2–1 home defeat to Kendal Town on 6 September 2008. With Ferriby he made 23 appearances and scored five goals in all competitions.

Coaching career Torpey was appointed as youth-team coach at York City on 15 December 2008 on a part-time basis, as this would allow him to continue training apprentices at Hull City. He offered his services as a player for York in April 2009 and he came on as a 79th-minute substitute in a 1–0 victory over Eastbourne Borough on 18 April. He started the last game of the Conference Premier season, a 1–1 draw at Lewes on 26 April 2009, which was his last appearance as a player. He resumed his playing career after being registered by York on 3 September 2010. Following Martin Foyle's resignation on 24 September 2010 Torpey took over as assistant to caretaker manager Andy Porter, before becoming caretaker manager on 8 October following Porter's departure. His first and only game in charge came the following day with a 4–0 defeat away at Newport County, and his tenure ended on 13 October 2010 when Tamworth manager Gary Mills was appointed.

After Nigel Worthington was appointed manager, Torpey was given the position of first-team coach on 5 March 2013, and after Worthington signed a new contract as manager on 3 May, Torpey was promoted to the position of assistant manager. After Worthington resigned as manager of York on 13 October 2014 Torpey took over as caretaker manager, but resumed his role as assistant manager after his former Scunthorpe teammate Russ Wilcox was appointed manager on 16 October 2014. He parted company with York on 11 May 2015, but returned to the club as youth-team coach on 17 December. On 29 March 2018, it was announced that he was leaving as he had accepted a post with the Professional Footballers' Association as a coach educator.

Career statistics

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMillwall1989–90First Division7000100080Bradford City1990–91Third Division29700003Appearances in Associate Members Cup332101991–92Third Division431020402251121992–93Third Division24510203Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy1306Total962230608611328Swansea City1993–94Second Division40922417153131994–95Second Division411152103250151995–96Second Division421510213148171996–97Third Division39921205Two appearances in Football League Trophy, three appearances and one goal in Third Division play-offs14811Total162441059218519956Bristol City1997–98Second Division2981020203481998–99First Division21410——2241999–2000Second Division201103120262Total70133051408214Notts County (loan)1998–99Second Division61—21—82Scunthorpe United1999–2000Second Division151———1512000–01Third Division401141210046132001–02Third Division391230003245142002–03Third Division281243113One appearance and one goal in Football League Trophy, two appearances in Third Division play-offs136172003–04Third Division431153204154152004–05League Two341220001137132005–06League One2611010102912006–07League One141101120182Total239612077314528076Lincoln City2007–08League Two130001000140Farsley Celtic2007–08Conference Premier223——5Four appearances in FA Trophy, one in Conference League Cup02732008–09Conference North20———20Total243——50293North Ferriby United2008–09NPL Premier Division15232—5Four appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance and one goal in East Riding Senior Cup1235York City2008–09Conference Premier20———20Career total63414639143175417758184

Managerial statistics

+ Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordYork City (caretaker)8 October 201013 October 2010York City (caretaker)13 October 201415 October 2014Total—

Honours Swansea City Football League Trophy: 1993–94

Scunthorpe United Football League One: 2006–07

References

External links

(to 2007–08) (2008–09)