# Stephen Mallon

Stephen Anthony Mallon (born 7 February 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left winger for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers.

## Club career

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Mallon started his football career at St Oliver Plunkett FC 1969 before he moved to Sheffield United.
Mallon progressed the club's youth system, first starting out with the U18 side. By March 2016, he progressed to playing for the U21 side. By November 2016, Mallon progressed to playing for the U23 side.
Following his loan spell at Central Coast Mariners came to an end, Mallon resumed playing for Sheffield United's U23 side.

### Loan spells from Sheffield United

Mallon joined A-League side Central Coast Mariners on loan from Sheffield United in January 2019. He made his debut for the club, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute, in a 2–0 loss against Western Sydney Wanderers on 9 February 2019. In a follow–up match, Mallon started the match in the left wing-back and helped Central Coast Mariners drew 1–1 against third-placed Sydney to move five points adrift at the foot of the table. He then scored his first goal for the club, in a 8–2 loss against Wellington Phoenix on 9 March 2019. Mallon went on to make eight appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
On 10 January 2020, Mallon signed for League of Ireland Premier Division side Derry City on loan. He made his league debut, coming on as a late substitute, in a 1–0 loss against Dundalk in the opening game of the season. Fallon then scored his first league goal against Bohemians at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, winning 2–0 on 28 February 2020. One week after his first goal for the club, on Friday 6 March he scored again, losing 2–1 against Waterford away at the RSC. Once the season resumed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his loan was extended until the end of the League of Ireland Premier Division season in July. On 29 August 2020, Mallon scored his third goal for the club, in a 2–0 win against Drogheda United in the second round of the FAI Cup. Since the start of the 2020 season, he was a first team regular for Derry City. Mallon returned to Sheffield United after making 17 appearances and scoring 3 goals in all competitions for Derry City.

### Bohemians

On 12 January 2021, Mallon departed Sheffield United, joining League of Ireland Premier Division side Bohemians on a permanent basis. He rejected a move return to Derry City, stating that "the team’s ‘style of play’ simply didn't suit him."
However, Mallon missed the start of the season when he suffered a metatarsal injury. Mallon made his debut for the club, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute, in a 3–0 win against Waterford on 29 May 2021. However, his return was short–lived when he suffered another injury that kept him out for three weeks. Mallon made his return from injury, coming on as a 80th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 win against Sligo Rovers on 15 August 2021. However, his return was short–lived when he suffered another injury that kept him out for three months. It wasn't until on 12 November 2021 when Mallon returned from injury, coming on as a 80th-minute substitute, in a 3–1 win against Shamrock Rovers. On 28 November 2021, he came on as a 86th-minute substitute for Bohemians in the 2021 FAI Cup Final against St Patrick's Athletic in front of a record FAI Cup Final crowd of 37,126 at the Aviva Stadium and then successfully converted the penalty on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time, as the club went on to lose 4–3. At the end of the 2021 season, Mallon went on to make seven appearances in all competitions.
The start of the 2022 season saw Mallon score his first goal for Bohemians, in a 1–0 win against St Patrick's Athletic. However, he continued to be plagued with injuries throughout his second season at the club.

### Cliftonville

On 2 July 2022, Mallon returned to Northern Ireland to sign for NIFL Premiership side Cliftonville.
He played in both leg for the club's UEFA Conference League matches against Dunajská Streda, as Cliftonville lost 5–1 on aggregate. However, during the match against Ballymena United, Mallon suffered an injury and was substituted in the 53rd minute, as the club won 2–1. After the match, it was revealed that he suffered a muscle injury that required him to have a surgery. Following a surgery, it was announced that Mallon would be out for the rest of the 2022–23 season. At the end of the 2022–23 season, he went on to make three appearances in all competitions.
The start of the 2023–24 season saw Mallon continuing to recover from his muscle injury. It wasn't until on 30 September 2023 when he made his return from injury, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Loughgall. In a follow–up match, Mallon scored his first goal for Cliftonville, in a 3–0 win against Institute in the Irish League Cup. Following his return from injury, he regained his first team place for the club. Mallon then scored his second goal for Cliftonville, and set up one of the goals, in a 3–0 win against Carrick Rangers on 19 November 2023. His third goal for the club came on 20 April 2024 against Glentoran, winning 2–0. Mallon came on as a 72nd-minute substitute in the Irish Cup final against Linfield and helped Cliftonville win 3–1 to end their 45 years drought. At the end of the 2023–24 season, he went on to make twenty–seven appearances and scoring three times in all competitions. Following this, Mallon left the club.

### Sligo Rovers

Mallon signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers on 4 June 2024, with his contract due to begin from 1 July.
He made his debut for the club, starting a match, in a 2–1 win against Derry City on 4 July 2024. In a follow–up match, Mallon was sent–off for a second bookable offence, in a 2–0 win against Bohemians. After serving a one match ban, he returned to the starting line–up, in a 3–2 loss against St Patrick's Athletic on 4 July 2024. However, his return was short–lived when Mallon suffered an injury that saw him out for one match. After just 8 appearances for the club, he suffered a hip injury in a 4–0 loss away to Shamrock Rovers on 13 September 2024 that would rule him out for the rest of the season.

## International career

Mallon represented Northern Ireland at youth level, starting out with Northern Ireland U15 where he played four times. Mallon was then called up for the Northern Ireland U16 in April 2015.
Mallon then switched allegiances to play for the Republic of Ireland's youth teams, starting with the Republic of Ireland U17. He made his debut for the U17 side, starting a match, in a 1–0 win against Finland U17 on 24 September 2015. Mallon then scored his goal for Republic of Ireland U17, in a 3–0 win against Montenegro U17 on 30 March 2016. He came on as a 64th-minute substitute, as the U17 side went on to lose 4–3 on penalties against Poland U17 following a 0–0 draw. Mallon went on to make six appearances and scoring once for Republic of Ireland U17.
In November 2016, Mallon was called up to the Republic of Ireland U18 squad. He made his debut for the U18 side, starting the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against Netherlands U18 on 11 November 2016. Mallon went on to make two appearances for Republic of Ireland U18. In March 2017, he was called up to the Republic of Ireland U19 for the first time. Mallon had to wait until on 24 March 2018 to make his debut for the U19 side, starting the match, in a 3–0 win against Kosovo U19.
In March 2019, Mallon was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 for the first time, but he appeared as an unused substitute. Two months later, Mallon was called up to the squad for the Toulon Tournament. He made his debut for the U21 squad, starting the match, in a 2–0 loss against Brazil U23 on 12 June 2019 in the semi–finals of the Toulon Tournament. Mallon made his second appearance for the Republic of Ireland U21 against Mexico U23 in the third place playoff, as the U21 loss 4–3 on penalties. In September 2020, he announced his intention to switch allegiances back to Northern Ireland.

## Personal life

In an interview with the Derry Journal, Mallon opened up his relationship with his father, whom he had a strain relationship with, revealed that his father died of COVID-19. Three years later, he lost his older brother, Ciaran.

## Career Statistics

    As of match played 15 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sheffield United | 2018-19 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sheffield United | 2019-20 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sheffield United | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Central Coast Mariners (loan) | 2018-19 | A-League | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 |
| Derry City (loan) | 2020 | LOI Premier Division | 14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 3 |
| Bohemians | 2021 | LOI Premier Division | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Bohemians | 2022 | LOI Premier Division | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| Bohemians | Total | Total | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 |
| Cliftonville | 2022-23 | NIFL Premiership | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Cliftonville | 2023-24 | NIFL Premiership | 21 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 2 |
| Cliftonville | Total | Total | 24 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
| Sligo Rovers | 2024 | LOI Premier Division | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Sligo Rovers | 2025 | LOI Premier Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Sligo Rovers | Total | Total | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 69 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 7 |
* ↑ Includes FA Cup, Australia Cup, FAI Cup & Irish Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup & Irish League Cup
* ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League

## Honours

Bohemians
* FAI Cup runner-up: 2021
Cliftonville
* Irish Cup: 2023-24