Stephen Melton (born 3 October 1978) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder.
He played as a professional in the Football League from 1996 until 2006, featuring for Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Hull City and Boston United. At Non-League level he has represented Tamworth and King's Lynn before re-joining Boston United and then moving on to Lincoln United, Lincoln Moorlands Railway and Grantham Town.
Career Born in Lincoln, Melton started his career back in 1996 as a trainee with Nottingham Forest. He made his debut for Forest in the Premier League on the last day of the 1998-99 season against Leicester City. Melton only appeared for Forest on three occasions in the league before moving on to Stoke City in February 2000. At Stoke, he made seven appearances in 1999–2000 and was an unused substitute in the 2000 Football League Trophy Final. He joined Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2000. Melton managed to find his way into the starting eleven and played 46 league games in which he scored three goals. In November 2002, he joined Hull City after spending time on loan with the club. Although he never scored in a competitive game for Hull City, he was the first player to score at their Kingston Communications Stadium in a friendly against Sunderland to commemorate the stadium's opening on 18 December 2002.
Melton joined Boston United in March 2004 on a contract until summer 2005. During his time with The Pilgrims, Melton was sent out on loan to Conference National side Tamworth. He was released by Boston United in summer 2006. Melton joined King's Lynn in 2006. He re-signed for Boston United in September 2008, but was released at the end of the season. Melton went on trial with Retford United in July 2009, but subsequently joined Lincoln United alongside former King's Lynn and Boston United teammate Matt O'Halloran. In February 2011 he signed with Lincoln Moorlands Railway. He joined Grantham Town in the summer.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNottingham Forest1998–99Premier League10000000101999–2000First Division2000100030Stoke City1999–2000Second Division5000002070Brighton & Hove Albion2000–01Third Division2810010203112001–02Second Division1020010301422002–03First Division80002000100Hull City2002–03Third Division2500000002502003–04Third Division5000102080Boston United2003–04Third Division2500000002502004–05League Two91000000912005–06League Two3000000030Tamworth2005–06Conference Premier71300000101Career Total12853060901485
A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League play-offs, and Football League Trophy.
Honours Stoke City Football League Trophy: 1999–2000
Brighton & Hove Albion Football League Third Division: 2000–01
References
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