Stuart Storer

Infobox Football biography
playername = "Stuart Storer"
fullname = Stuart John Storer
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1967|01|16
cityofbirth = Rugby
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=5|in=11
position = Defender
currentclub = Hinckley United
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1983-1984
1984
1984-1987
1987
1987
1987-1993
1993-1995
1995-1999
1999
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-
clubs = Mansfield Town
→VS Rugby "(loan)"
Birmingham City
Everton
→Wigan Athletic "(loan)"
Bolton Wanderers
Exeter City
Brighton and Hove Albion
Atherstone United
Kettering Town
Chesham United
Hinckley United
caps(goals) = 00100(0)
00?00(?)
00900(0)
00000(0)
01600(0)
1650(15)
0920(10)
1520(14)
00?00(?)
00700(0)
00?00(?)
30300(1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Stuart Storer (born January 1967 in Rugby, Warwickshire, England) is a footballer, currently playing for Conference North side Hinckley United, where he plays as a defender.

Playing career

The early years

Storer's early career saw him move around a bit not settling anywhere for very long. He started as a Youth Team player at Mansfield Town in 1983 and was also loaned out to his local team VS Rugby. Birmingham City signed him in July 1984 but only made 9 appearances for the (old)Division 2 club in his three years there. He was then signed by (old)Division 1 Everton in March 1987 during the season they won the championship, but was loaned out to (old)Division 3 Wigan Athletic.

Bolton Wanderers

Storer moved to Bolton Wanderers in December 1987 for a fee of £25000. Bolton were struggling in (old)Division 3 at the time and finished the season relegated to (old)Division 4 after losing a relegation play off to Aldershot Town. Better times were to come for Storer as during the seven seasons he was at Bolton, they recovered and won promotion back to (old)Division 3 in 1988. Then won the Sherpa Van Trophy in 1989 beating Torquay United 4-1 [cite web|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jeremy.hicks/flt/flt8889.html|title=Jeremy Hicks Football Trophy Records] . in the final. In 1992 (old)Division 3 was rebranded Division 2 and Bolton Wanderers were runners up that season. Storer was transferred towards the end of this season, so missed out on that promotion.

Exeter City

March 1993 saw Storer transferred to Exeter City for another £25000. However two disastrous seasons saw Exeter relegated from Division 2 and then finish bottom of Division 3. Storer was transferred out before the end of the second season.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Storer was again transferred in March 1995 to Brighton and Hove Albion. He didn't realise at the time, but he would become part of Brighton folklore and his name would become permanently linked with the Goldstone Ground. Brighton paid £15000 for him, but he couldn't stop them being relegated from Division 2 that season. Further developments at the club revealed that major shareholder Bill Archer had sold Brighton's Goldstone Ground and the club would soon be homeless. With active unrest and understandable protests amongst the fans, the football club was also failing on the pitch. Brighton went into the last two games in April 1997 bottom of the league and facing demotion out of the Football League itself. For the last ever game at the Goldstone Ground Brighton would play Doncaster Rovers and needed to win to have any chance of survival. The ground was full to capacity as 11500 Brighton fans wanted to be there for the last ever match, and in the 68th minute they were given what they wanted. Storer saw his initial shot blocked on the line and Mark Morris saw his follow up header rebound off the bar. The ball fell back to Storer and he volleyed in at the far post to send the ground into wild celebration. Brighton held on to win the game 1-0 and Storer scored the last ever game at the Goldstone Ground. A draw on the last day of the season meant that Brighton survived demotion. Brighton again struggled for the next few season as they had to play their home games at Gillingham. Storer spent 4 seasons at Brighton but will always be remembered for that goal.

Into Non League

At the age of 32 Storer retired from the professional game and returned to non league football. After leaving Brighton he moved back to the Midlands and signed for Atherstone United in August 1999, then playing in the Southern League Premier Division. He was only there for two months before moving to Vauxhall Conference side Kettering Town. Kettering were runners up in the Vauxhall Conference that season, but Storer didn't make that many appearances and moved on again in May 2000. He signed for Chesham United playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. After another single season for Chesham he moved closer to home and signed for Hinckley United.

Hinckley United

Storer joined Hinckley United in March 2001 and was started in the team as a sweeper. He made enough appearances to qualify for a medal as Hinckley United won the Southern League Midland/West Division Championship in May 2001. As the club moved forward into the Southern League Premier Division Storer was made club captain, and 3 seasons later qualified for the newly formed Conference North. As Storer approached his late 30's he also began to help out behind the scenes taking a coaching role at the club, but also was kept on the playing staff. At the age of 40 Storer was a member of Hinckley United team that achieved their highest ever league position of 4th in the Conference North, qualifying for the play-offs, then reaching the play-off final, only to lose 4-3 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6620221.stm 2007 Conference North Play Off Final details] ] to a last minute penalty. Recently in his eighth season at the club Storer has passed the 300 appearance mark, confirming his great contribution to Hinckley United, playing in positions such as sweeper, right midfield, right wing back, centre defence, centre midfield and even striker once.

Honours

Sherpa Van Trophy winner 1989
Southern League Midlands/West Division Championship 2000/2001

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=7660|name=Stuart Storer
* [http://www.hinckleyunitedfc.co.uk/club/pp/storer_stuart.html Stuart Storer's player profile] at [http://www.hinckleyunitedfc.co.uk Hinckley Independent Website]