Stephen began his journalistic career in 1973 with the old “Neath Guardian” where his stylish prose was appreciated from Briton Ferry to Banwen and from Skewen to Seven Sisters – especially when it came to rugby football.
He worked on all aspects of local news but covering Neath RFC was his forte. The 1970’s were not the greatest of times for the All Blacks but the experience might have helped give him the essential balance in his writing.
Knowledgeable and measured, he rarely went over the top and managed to avoid hyperbole even when his beloved Neath rose to dominate the Welsh game.
The much-lamented “Neath Guardian” might have been a small, local newspaper but it had a remarkable record when it came to producing top sports writers and broadcasters.
So many went on to great things as did Stephen who completed his solid Welsh rugby apprenticeship across the South Wales rugby ‘belt’ at the “South Wales Evening Post”, the “South Wales Argus” and then the “Western Mail”.
When he moved to the ‘nationals’, Stephen was never slow to remind his colleagues of his love of Neath RFC which remained dear to him as he progressed to become rugby correspondent for the “Independent”, the “Sunday Express”, the “Daily Express” and the “Sunday Times”.
Neath RFC secretary Mike Price said, “I was fortunate to have known Steve from my schooldays when he started with the ‘Guardian’ as he was a team-mate at Neath Cricket Club. He had a depth of rugby knowledge and never forgot his Neath RFC roots.
“It is a pity that he retired as his insight would have been most useful in Welsh rugby’s current predicament. As it was, he worked for some quality newspapers which was only right as he was a quality rugby writer and Neath RFC is saddened by his loss.” MP