Stu Riddle
Encyclopedia
Stu Riddle is a New Zealand football (soccer) player.
, Riddle shot to prominence after a high-scoring debut season with Wellington United
in the New Zealand Superclub competition.
At the age of 19 Riddle was the youngest member of Bobby Clark's 1996 New Zealand Olympic Team where he made four appearances including one as a substitute in a 1–0 victory over then Oceania rivals Australia where ex Fulham midfielder Simon Elliott
scored the only goal of the game at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium
.
After brief stints with several clubs including Chelmsford City in the UK, Riddle turned to the US college system and spent two successful years with the Myrtle Beach-based Coastal Carolina University
before being snapped up by Kiwi football icon Wynton Rufer
for the Football Kingz debut season in the National Soccer League
in 1999.
Although he signed a two-year contract, Riddle struggled to regularly feature in the Kingz side and only managed 9 appearances with a return of 2 goals, both of which came away from home against Adelaide United and Brisbane Strikers
.
Better form would be found in the lower United States leagues with Riddle being a mainstay of the Laurie Calloway
-coached Des Moines Menace
side that would achieve an undefeated season in the 2002 USL Premier Development League
competition.
Riddle turned to the UK again in the hope of being signed by a Football League side but again struggled with the higher level of play and had short spells at Oxford City and Greenock Morton before being re-united with former Kingz teammates Marcus Stergiopoulos
and Levent Osman
at the Melbourne
-based Altona Magic
in the Victorian Premier League
.
Despite a good scoring record he fell out of favour with the management of the Macedonian flavoured club and returned to the United States.
when he accepted a player-coach
ing job with Kalamazoo Kingdom
in the USL Premier Development League
, United States elite development league.
In 2008 he served as the head coach for the Kalamazoo Outrage
in the USL Premier Development League
, United States elite development league team in the franchises inaugural year. On July 13, 2008 the Kalamazoo Outrage qualified for the 2008 USL Premier Development League
play offs in their inaugural year.
Riddle guided his side to 2nd place in the Central Conferences Midwest Division narrowly finishing behind the Chicago Fire Premier
in the regular season standings. His side would get their revenge eliminating the Chicago Fire Premier
from the 2008 play offs by virtue of a 2-0 victory at Toyota Park
on July 22.
Their fairy tale run would continue under Riddle and they defeated perennial USL Premier Development League
powerhouse the Michigan Bucks
on July 26 to advance to the national quarter finals where the Thunder Bay Chill
would end the Outrage's season.
Riddle became the 6th Head Coach of Western Michigan University
when he was named the men's soccer coach on January 30, 2009. With this announcement he became the first New Zealander to be a head men's soccer coach at NCAA Division 1 level.
Playing career
Less than a year after leaving high school at Wellington's Scots CollegeScots College, Wellington
Scots College is a private boys' primary and secondary school located in the suburb of Strathmore Wellington, New Zealand. The College comprises both the primary and secondary institutions - the primary school section is typically referred to as the Preparatory School and has its own Head Teacher...
, Riddle shot to prominence after a high-scoring debut season with Wellington United
Wellington United
Wellington United AFC is an association football club in Wellington, New Zealand competing in the Capital Premier League.-Wellington Diamond United:Wellington Diamond United was the result of the merger of Diamond and Zealandia/Wellington United in 1968....
in the New Zealand Superclub competition.
At the age of 19 Riddle was the youngest member of Bobby Clark's 1996 New Zealand Olympic Team where he made four appearances including one as a substitute in a 1–0 victory over then Oceania rivals Australia where ex Fulham midfielder Simon Elliott
Simon Elliott
Simon John Elliott is a New Zealand International footballer who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Semi-Professional & College career:...
scored the only goal of the game at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
.
After brief stints with several clubs including Chelmsford City in the UK, Riddle turned to the US college system and spent two successful years with the Myrtle Beach-based Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
before being snapped up by Kiwi football icon Wynton Rufer
Wynton Rufer
Wynton Alan Whai Rufer, CNZM, , is a retired New Zealand footballer, who played as a striker. He spent most of his professional career in Germany with Werder Bremen, winning a total of six titles. He also appeared for the New Zealand national team in its first FIFA World Cup participation, in 1982...
for the Football Kingz debut season in the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
in 1999.
Although he signed a two-year contract, Riddle struggled to regularly feature in the Kingz side and only managed 9 appearances with a return of 2 goals, both of which came away from home against Adelaide United and Brisbane Strikers
Brisbane Strikers
The Brisbane Strikers are an Australian football club from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia who play in the Queensland State League.-National Soccer League:...
.
Better form would be found in the lower United States leagues with Riddle being a mainstay of the Laurie Calloway
Laurie Calloway
Laurence John "Laurie" Calloway is a retired English-U.S. soccer defender who spent thirteen years in the English leagues and six years in the North American Soccer League....
-coached Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at Valley...
side that would achieve an undefeated season in the 2002 USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
competition.
Riddle turned to the UK again in the hope of being signed by a Football League side but again struggled with the higher level of play and had short spells at Oxford City and Greenock Morton before being re-united with former Kingz teammates Marcus Stergiopoulos
Marcus Stergiopoulos
Marcus Stergiopoulos is an Australian of ethnic Greek descent. He is a football player who plays as a midfielder.-External links:** at...
and Levent Osman
Levent Osman
Levent Osman is a Turkish Australian football player. He plays as a defender.He has previously played for Trabzonspor in Turkey, FCU Politehnica Timişoara in Romania, Tampere United in Finland as well as South Melbourne, Auckland Kingz in and Gippsland Falcons in the Australian NSL.He has...
at the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
-based Altona Magic
Altona Magic
Altona Magic Soccer Club is a football team based in Altona North, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They currently play in the Victorian State League Division 1.-History:...
in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
.
Despite a good scoring record he fell out of favour with the management of the Macedonian flavoured club and returned to the United States.
Management career
In 2006 he became a coach in the United Soccer LeaguesUnited Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
when he accepted a player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
ing job with Kalamazoo Kingdom
Kalamazoo Kingdom
Kalamazoo Kingdom were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Kingdom folded their...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, United States elite development league.
In 2008 he served as the head coach for the Kalamazoo Outrage
Kalamazoo Outrage
Kalamazoo Outrage was an American soccer team based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 2007, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, United States elite development league team in the franchises inaugural year. On July 13, 2008 the Kalamazoo Outrage qualified for the 2008 USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
play offs in their inaugural year.
Riddle guided his side to 2nd place in the Central Conferences Midwest Division narrowly finishing behind the Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at...
in the regular season standings. His side would get their revenge eliminating the Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at...
from the 2008 play offs by virtue of a 2-0 victory at Toyota Park
Toyota Park (Bridgeview)
Toyota Park is a soccer-specific stadium located at 71st Street and Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, Illinois. It is the home stadium of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, members of Major League Soccer . Toyota Park was developed at a cost of around $100 million. The facility opened June 11, 2006...
on July 22.
Their fairy tale run would continue under Riddle and they defeated perennial USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
powerhouse the Michigan Bucks
Michigan Bucks
Michigan Bucks is an American soccer team based in Pontiac, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the...
on July 26 to advance to the national quarter finals where the Thunder Bay Chill
Thunder Bay Chill
Thunder Bay Chill is a Canadian soccer team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2000, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American and Canadian soccer pyramids, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games...
would end the Outrage's season.
Riddle became the 6th Head Coach of Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
when he was named the men's soccer coach on January 30, 2009. With this announcement he became the first New Zealander to be a head men's soccer coach at NCAA Division 1 level.