Stuart Ripley

Stuart Edward Ripley (born 20 November 1967) is an English former professional footballer, who played as a winger from 1985 until 2002, notably for Blackburn Rovers where he won the Premier League in 1995.

Stuart Ripley
Personal information
Full name Stuart Edward Ripley
Date of birth (1967-11-20) 20 November 1967
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1992 Middlesbrough 249 (26)
1986 → Bolton Wanderers (loan) 5 (1)
1992–1998 Blackburn Rovers 189 (13)
1998–2002 Southampton 53 (1)
2000–2001 → Barnsley (loan) 10 (1)
2001 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 6 (1)
Total 512 (43)
National team
1988–1989 England U21 8 (1)
1993–1997 England 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He also played in England's top flight for Southampton as well as playing in the Football League for Middlesbrough, Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday. He earned two national caps for England.

Ripley retired from professional football in 2002 and is now working as a solicitor.[1]

Club career

Middlesbrough

Ripley first made his name with Middlesbrough in the late 1980s, before achieving success in a £1.3 million move to Blackburn Rovers, helping them to the league title in the 1994–95 season and becoming a cult hero. In the 1991–1992 season he helped Middlesbrough achieve promotion to the newly founded Premier League, as well as playing an important role in Middlesbrough getting through to the League Cup semi-final. They also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup losing in a replay to Portsmouth.

Blackburn Rovers

During the summer of 1992, Ripley was signed by Blackburn Rovers who had achieved promotion along with Boro. He was briefly their record signing until later in July they signed Alan Shearer for £3.3million.[2] On his debut for Blackburn, he scored the club's first Premier League goal, opening their scoring a 3–3 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.[3]

Southampton

In 1998, aged almost 31, he moved to Southampton, and retiring four years later. He scored one goal for Southampton against Derby County on 4 October 1999.[4] He also served loan spells at Barnsley (twice[5]) – scoring in his debut, a 1–2 home loss to former side Blackburn[6] – and Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored once against Crystal Palace.[7]

International career

He was capped twice by England as a full international; against San Marino on 17 November 1993 and against Moldova on 10 September 1997.[8]

Post-football

After finishing his playing career, Ripley set up the Castleford Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic, providing physiotherapy to nearby rugby league teams, as well as local football teams. He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in 2007, with a first class combined honours degree in Law and French.[9]

His son, Connor Ripley, is a goalkeeper and plays for Preston North End.[10]

In 2010 Ripley became a qualified solicitor.[11][12] He is a member of FA's Judicial Panel hearing cases relating to matters such as doping, safeguarding, agent activity and discrimination.[12]

Honours

Middlesbrough

Blackburn Rovers

References
  1. "Fan 'completes' 1996 Premier League sticker album". BBC News. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  2. "Boom and bust the Blackburn way". BBC Sport. 13 May 1999. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  3. "Crystal Palace vs Blackburn". www.statbunker.com. 15 August 1992. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  4. Brodkin, Jon (4 October 1999). "Beck late on the draw for Derby". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  5. "Ripley loan deal extended". BBC Sport. 12 December 2000. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  6. "Barnsley 1 – 2 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 8 November 2000. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  7. "Sheff Wed 4 – 1 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. 14 April 2001. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. "Stuart Edward Ripley". England career details. www.englandstats.com. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  9. "Former Premiership footballer graduates from UCLan with law degree". University of Central Lancashire. 18 July 2008. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  10. "Connor Ripley". Senior squad. Middlesbrough FC. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  11. Cosgrove, David (28 August 2015). "Life after the final whistle has gone". Express & Star. Wolverhampton.
  12. "Stuart Ripley solicitor". Brabners Chaffe Street. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  13. "Stuart Ripley: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
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