Ex-Wales defender Stevenson dies

Former Wales international defender Byron Stevenson has died from throat cancer at the age of 50.

Llanelli-born Stevenson played for his country 15 times between 1978 and 1982, adding to his Wales youth and U21 caps.

He was probably best remembered for his controversial sending off in Turkey in 1979 where he allegedly fractured opponent Buyak Mustafa's cheekbone.

Wales' European Championship ambitions were over and Stevenson was given a four-and-a-half year European ban.

The suspension and injury ended his Wales career, but he certainly ended it in style, swapping shirts with a certain Michel Platini, arguably the world's greatest player at that time.

Stevenson started his career at Leeds United in 1972, who were then one of the forces in European club football.

He made his debut in 1975 and went on to establish himself in the side making 95 appearances before being sold to Birmingham in 1981, where he played over 100 times.

He later joined Bristol Rovers in 1985, but decided to retire the following summer aged 29, after struggling with injuries.

Stevenson made his Wales debut at the Racecourse in the 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in the British Championship in May 1978.