We start with a classic example of someone who was introduced to the first team too soon, was let go and flourished at a higher level. Joe Stapleton came to Hayes from Southall in 1950, introduced by another transferee, Harry Tillyer, having previously played for Uxbridge. Hayes were drawn away to Hendon in the 2nd qualifying round of the FA Cup – but the date clashed with an international trial at Romford, for which John Gregory (father of the later Aston Villa manager) was selected. Hayes generously allowed him to play at Romford, although two Hendon players who had been selected declined. Team coach George Wilkins, a former professional, sought and was granted FA permission to play, but, out of deference to the Athenian League, the club decided to promote Stapleton from the reserves for his debut. In the match, Stapleton was clearly out of his depth, missing a golden opportunity to score, and Hayes lost 2-0. Afterwards, the press accused the club of mismanagement, playing a debutant when experienced players, in the shape of Reg Bickley and Pony Moore, were both available. Stapleton played only once more, curiously at Hendon in a Charity Cup match. He then joined Fulham, where he was a regular selection throughout the 1950s.

Born at Coatbridge in Scotland, where he played for Forth Wanderers, John Stephen came south to work for EMI as a computer programmer. He joined Hayes in 1988 and took three seasons to fit into the first team. A tall and fast forward, he had a knack of rising to the big occasion. In 1991, after scoring the only goal in the 4th qualifying round FA Cup tie against Dorchester, he notched the second in Hayes’ momentous victory at Craven Cottage against Fulham. Over a period of six seasons, before he retired in 1993, he made 94+40 appearances and scored 20 goals. Harrow Borough coaxed him out of retirement in October 1993 and he played a season with them.

One of the few players who stood out over the last two seasons of Hayes’ membership of the Conference National was centre-back Dominic Sterling. He was bought by Terry Brown from Wealdstone for £1,500 in the summer of 2000, but he was no stranger to Church Road. He had played there for Ruislip Manor in September 1993 at the age of 17 in an Allied Counties match, and had played once for Hayes against Cockfosters in a Middlesex Senior Cup tie in 1995. His impact on rejoining Hayes was enormous; he was voted Player of the Year for 2000-1 and held the defence together during the prolonged absence of Jason Goodliffe. Once again, in 2001-2, he was the one strength in a shaky defence, but could not prevent relegation. Far too good for the Isthmian League, it was a surprise when he joined Aldershot Town in 2002, but Terry Brown had obviously persuaded him of the Shots’ upward mobility. He was as successful at Aldershot as he had been at Hayes. However, when Aldershot decided to go full-time in 2004, Dominic did not want to leave his Civil Service post and elected to join Canvey Island, newly promoted to the Conference, instead. During his time at Hayes he made a total of 82+3 appearances and scored four goals.

Charles Sterry is a name which will not be familiar to most Hayes supporters. When the club was elected into the Athenian League in 1930 and regular goalkeeper Wally Walter announced that he would be taking a year off from football (he never came back), Sterry was recruited from Wimbledon to replace him. He was the first of the contingent of five players whom Mortimer Miller persuaded to make the journey from Wimbledon, but the only one not to become a regular at Hayes.  He joined Hayes on the back of a tour to Germany which he had made with Ilford, who provided Hayes’ opening opponents for the 1930-1 in a friendly match. Ilford won 7-1 and Sterry immediately took the place of the unfortunate guardian for that game and played in the opening FA Cup and league matches. But when Tom Holding returned to Hayes from Southall and Egham, Sterry made way and did not add to the four appearances which he had already made. He later played for Hayesco, the works team of the Hayes Cocoa Company (later Nestlé) until their demise in 1936, and was appointed Hayes’ 2nd team manager in 1937. 

The first of four players of that name, Bobby Stevens had a degree in Chemistry from Southampton University, when he joined Hayes at the age of 26 in the summer of 1969 from Slough Town, where had represented Berks & Bucks. Although he had started as a centre- or wing-half, his greatest asset was his speed and he played in every forward position for Hayes. While at Hayes he was selected for the Athenian League team and for an FA XI. He made 46 appearances and scored seven goals before suddenly joining Maidenhead United in August 1970, after playing for Hayes in pre-season matches.

When Hayes were drawn away to Dulwich Hamlet in the FA Cup in October 1999, its defence was hard pressed to keep out the combination of twin strikers Dave Stevens and Colin McEwen. Two months later Terry Brown signed Stevens for a five figure fee. He immediately fitted in with Lee Charles and the two of them scored the goals which enabled Hayes to steer clear of relegation. His chief assets were his speed, enthusiasm and self-confidence. But when Charles left, Stevens was a shadow of his former self. As at Dulwich, he needed someone to feed off. The goals dried up, the enthusiasm went, and he lost his place. He was allowed to return to Dulwich in autumn 2002 on a free transfer, having played 60+8 games and scored 19 goals. He later played for Crawley Town and then Leatherhead.

Mike Stevens had already played in goal for Yiewsley and Maidenhead United in the Corinthian League and completed his National Service when he joined Hayes in December 1959 at the age of 23. But his time coincided with the excellent form of Joe Lewis and he returned to Yiewsley and went straight into their Southern League team. When Lewis joined Redhill in 1960, Stevens came back to Hayes, but was soon found to be too adventurous in coming out of his 6-yard box. He made only five appearances. He played for the 3Rs works team in the final of the United Workers National Cup at Honeycroft in 1963 and later played for Chesham United against Hayes in 1965.

Nothing can be more frustrating for a manager than to recognise a player with real talent, but not be able to harness it. Neal Stevens joined from Brook House in 1991. He had a very individual style, which could be mistaken as lackadaisical or carefree. But he could turn matches on their head – none more so than Hayes’ game at Aylesbury United in April 1996, when almost single-handedly he converted a position of being a goal down in the 90th minute into a 3-1 win. His talents should have been able to flourish in the Conference, but, after being unavailable owing to injury, he made only two appearances as a substitute, before returning to Brook House in 1997. He seemed lacking in self-confidence and ambition. Over seven seasons, he made 159+28 appearances as an attacking midfielder and scored 34 goals.

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