Stuart Ripley
Encyclopedia
Stuart Edward Ripley is a retired English
footballer, who played as a winger.
With speed as his main asset, he also scored numerous goals, especially in his early career at 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 (then known as the Rumbelows Cup). They also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup losing in a replay to Portsmouth. 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.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
.
In 1998, aged almost 31, he moved to Southampton
teaming up with legendary Matthew Le Tissier
, and retiring four years later. He scored one goal for Southampton against Derby County on 4 October 1999. He also served loan spells at Barnsley
(twice) - scoring in his debut, a 1-2 home loss to former side Blackburn - and Sheffield Wednesday
, where he scored once against Crystal Palace.
He was capped twice by England as a full international; once in 1993 and again in 1997.
ped twice by England
whilst at Blackburn, 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.
His son, Connor Ripley
, is a goalkeeper and plays for Middlesbrough.
In 2010 Ripley became a qualified solicitor.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer, who played as a winger.
With speed as his main asset, he also scored numerous goals, especially in his early career at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
Football career
Ripley first made his name with MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in the late 1980s, before achieving success in a £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
1.3 million move to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, helping them to the league title in the 1994-95 season
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
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 (then known as the Rumbelows Cup). They also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup losing in a replay to Portsmouth. During the summer of 1992, Ripley was signed by Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
who had achieved promotion along with Boro. He was briefly their record signing until later in July they signed Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team...
for £3.3million.On his debut for Blackburn, he scored the club's first Premier League goal, opening their scoring a 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
.
In 1998, aged almost 31, he moved to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
teaming up with legendary Matthew Le Tissier
Matthew Le Tissier
Matthew "Matt" Le Tissier is a retired English footballer who played for Southampton and England.An attacking midfielder with exceptional technical skills, Le Tissier is the second-highest ever scorer for Southampton behind Mick Channon and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1990. He was...
, and retiring four years later. He scored one goal for Southampton against Derby County on 4 October 1999. He also served loan spells at Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
(twice) - scoring in his debut, a 1-2 home loss to former side Blackburn - and Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, where he scored once against Crystal Palace.
He was capped twice by England as a full international; once in 1993 and again in 1997.
Life outside football
After finishing his playing career, having been capCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
ped twice by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
whilst at Blackburn, Ripley set up the Castleford
Castleford
Castleford is the largest of the "five towns" district in the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, England. It is near Pontefract, and has a population of 37,525 according to the 2001 Census, but has seen a rise in recent years and is now around 45-50,000. To the north...
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
University of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
in 2007, with a first class combined honours degree in Law and French.
His son, Connor Ripley
Connor Ripley
Connor James Ripley is an English professional footballer who plays for Middlesbrough, as a goalkeeper.-Early and personal life:Born in Middlesbrough, Ripley is the son of former player Stuart Ripley.-Club career:...
, is a goalkeeper and plays for Middlesbrough.
In 2010 Ripley became a qualified solicitor.
Honours
- MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
:- Zenith Data Systems CupFull Members CupThe Full Members Cup was an association football cup competition held in English football from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems Cup from 1989 to 1992....
: Runner-up 1989-90
- Zenith Data Systems Cup
- Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
:- Premier League: 1994–95