Stewart Talbot
Encyclopedia
Stewart Dean Talbot is an English
former footballer who played as a midfielder
. He made over 300 appearances in the Football League in an eleven years professional career.
Starting his career with non-league Moor Green
, he was signed by Port Vale
in 1994. After six years at Vale Park
he moved on to Rotherham United
, where he spent four years. He played over 100 league games for each club. He then played over fifty games for Brentford
before leaving the Football League
in 2005 to join Boston United
. He spent four years at Boston before finishing his career at Kidsgrove Athletic
.
, also having a brief time with Doncaster Rovers
. He entered the Football League
with Port Vale
of the First Division
in August 1994. At the age of 21, he entered professional football at a late stage and was one of numerous players who owed their careers to John Rudge
.
His debut came on 29 April 1995, in a 1–1 draw with Charlton Athletic
at The Valley. He played in the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup Final
, as Vale lost 5–2 to Genoa
.
By 1996–97
the club had reached its peak
, before a slow but steady decline. The club finished eighth in the second tier, Talbot played in 34 of these games, including two Potteries derby
clashes.
He was in even greater demand the next season
, making 45 appearances, justifying his reputation as a hard working player. He also racked up thirteen yellow cards and six goals.
In 1998–99
he played 35 games, though didn't find the scoresheet. He was at the club for the dismissal of "Rudgie"
– the end of an era. Talbot still found himself in the first team with new man Brian Horton
though, the club barely surviving relegation
. On 27 April, in a 2–1 defeat by Watford
at Vale Park
, he was stretchered with a broken
leg off after 33 minutes, following a challenge by Paul Robinson. The injury resulted in ten months out of action, needing a breakthrough motion fixation treatment to speed up the recovery process. It took ten months for him to regain match fitness. Four years later he successfully sued Robinson and Watford F.C., settling out of court for "a substantial six-figure sum".
The team fell well short in 1999–2000
however, going down in 23rd place. Talbot made it onto the pitch just six times following recovery from his injury, Vale salvaging just one point of a possible eighteen. His association with the Burslem
club was over, after six seasons at Vale Park
he moved on to Second Division
new boys Rotherham United
in July 2000.
United won their second successive promotion in 2000–01, again finishing runners-up. Talbot played 43 games of the campaign, picking up seven yellow cards as well as straight red along the way.
Talbot was no stranger to the First Division of course, though the Millers were. After another 40+ games season for Talbot, United finished above relegated Crewe Alexandra
thanks to their superior goal difference and despite a 2–0 defeat at Gresty Road
in late April.
After a couple of runs in the 2002 half of the season, broken up by a persistent knee injury, Ronnie Moore
dropped Talbot. In February he joined Shrewsbury Town
of the Third Division
on a one month loan, playing seven games. On his return to the Don Valley Stadium
he was expected to re-join the Shrews in their battle to avoid the Conference National
, but instead he found himself back in first team contention with Rotherham, playing five games before the end of the season.
In 2003–04 he made 28 appearances, in which he was booked seven times and sent off once, including a run of four yellow cards in four games. By January time he was dropped yet again, in February he dropped down a division, joining Brentford
on loan until the end of the season. He impressed the London
club in his fifteen games spell and signed a permanent deal in the summer.
Talbot's 37 League One
appearances helped his new club to the play-off
places in 2004–05, though they were bettered by Sheffield Wednesday
in the semi-finals.
Talbot told manager Martin Allen
that he wanted to return to the North
, he joined League Two
Boston United
on a free transfer in June 2005. By now a veteran, he played 36 games in 2005–06.
In 2006–07 Boston lost their Football League status, Talbot making twenty appearances in his final season in the Football League. Only Talbot and Paul Ellender
stayed beyond the summer.
In 2007–08, the club were played in the Conference North
because of their financial difficulties. They were promptly kicked out of that division at the end of the season, leaving them with an intolerable fall from grace – effectively three relegations in just two seasons.
So they started the 2008–09 season in the Northern Premier League
. Talbot briefly managed United for one game against Nantwich Town
on 5 January after manager Steve Welsh
became ill. The team capitulated 5–0, spelling doom for Talbot. Welsh released Talbot soon after, and the player signed for Kidsgrove Athletic
(one level below in the Division One South). He left Kidsgrove in the summer of 2009.
in North Staffordshire
.
with Rotherham United
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer who played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He made over 300 appearances in the Football League in an eleven years professional career.
Starting his career with non-league Moor Green
Moor Green F.C.
Moor Green F.C. was a non-league association football team originally from the Hall Green area of south Birmingham but later based in the town of Solihull, West Midlands, England...
, he was signed by Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in 1994. After six years at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
he moved on to Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, where he spent four years. He played over 100 league games for each club. He then played over fifty games for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
before leaving the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 2005 to join Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
. He spent four years at Boston before finishing his career at Kidsgrove Athletic
Kidsgrove Athletic F.C.
Kidsgrove Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in based in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, England currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
.
Playing career
Talbot played for non-league Moor GreenMoor Green F.C.
Moor Green F.C. was a non-league association football team originally from the Hall Green area of south Birmingham but later based in the town of Solihull, West Midlands, England...
, also having a brief time with Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. He entered the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
of the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in August 1994. At the age of 21, he entered professional football at a late stage and was one of numerous players who owed their careers to John Rudge
John Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
.
His debut came on 29 April 1995, in a 1–1 draw with Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
at The Valley. He played in the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup Final
1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup
The 1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup was the last ever Anglo-Italian Cup competition. The European football competition was played between eight clubs from England and eight clubs from Italy. Italian side Genoa lifted the trophy after beating English side Port Vale 5-2.-Format:For the competition there...
, as Vale lost 5–2 to Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
.
By 1996–97
1996–97 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1996–97 season was Port Vale's eighty-fifth season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in the First Division. John Rudge led the club to its joint-second highest ever league finish, as Vale finished in eighth spot, four points from the play-offs...
the club had reached its peak
History of Port Vale F.C.
The history of Port Vale F.C., an English association football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, began when the club was formed in 1876. In 1884, the club moved to the town of Burslem, changing their name to Burslem Port Vale in the process. The club joined the Football League Second Division upon its...
, before a slow but steady decline. The club finished eighth in the second tier, Talbot played in 34 of these games, including two Potteries derby
Potteries derby
The Potteries derby is the football local derby in Stoke-on-Trent between Port Vale and Stoke City. The fans of each club both consider the other to be their main rivals; this has led to a heated atmosphere at these matches, especially with the rise of football hooliganism and the 'Naughty Forty'...
clashes.
He was in even greater demand the next season
1997–98 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1997–98 season was Port Vale's eighty-sixth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in the First Division. John Rudge managed to mastermind a final day escape from relegation, as rivals Stoke City instead lost their second tier status, leaving Vale as the top...
, making 45 appearances, justifying his reputation as a hard working player. He also racked up thirteen yellow cards and six goals.
In 1998–99
1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1998–99 season was Port Vale's eighty-seventh season of football in the Football League, and fifth successive season in the First Division. It was the end of an era for the club, as manager of sixteen years John Rudge was sacked in January, and was replaced by Brian Horton...
he played 35 games, though didn't find the scoresheet. He was at the club for the dismissal of "Rudgie"
John Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
– the end of an era. Talbot still found himself in the first team with new man Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
though, the club barely surviving relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
. On 27 April, in a 2–1 defeat by Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
, he was stretchered with a broken
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
leg off after 33 minutes, following a challenge by Paul Robinson. The injury resulted in ten months out of action, needing a breakthrough motion fixation treatment to speed up the recovery process. It took ten months for him to regain match fitness. Four years later he successfully sued Robinson and Watford F.C., settling out of court for "a substantial six-figure sum".
The team fell well short in 1999–2000
1999–2000 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1999–2000 season was Port Vale's eighty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and sixth successive season in the First Division. Vale suffered relegation in 23rd place, some thirteen points adrift of safety. They also exited the FA Cup at the Third Round, and were knocked out of the...
however, going down in 23rd place. Talbot made it onto the pitch just six times following recovery from his injury, Vale salvaging just one point of a possible eighteen. His association with the Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
club was over, after six seasons at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
he moved on to Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
new boys Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
in July 2000.
United won their second successive promotion in 2000–01, again finishing runners-up. Talbot played 43 games of the campaign, picking up seven yellow cards as well as straight red along the way.
Talbot was no stranger to the First Division of course, though the Millers were. After another 40+ games season for Talbot, United finished above relegated Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
thanks to their superior goal difference and despite a 2–0 defeat at Gresty Road
Alexandra Stadium
The Alexandra Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Crewe, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Crewe Alexandra...
in late April.
After a couple of runs in the 2002 half of the season, broken up by a persistent knee injury, Ronnie Moore
Ronnie Moore
Ronald David "Ronnie" Moore is an English football manager and former player. He is considered one of the greatest Rotherham United players of all time, and is also considered the best manager Rotherham United have ever had, becoming a club legend. and went on to manage the Millers for seven years...
dropped Talbot. In February he joined Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
of the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
on a one month loan, playing seven games. On his return to the Don Valley Stadium
Don Valley Stadium
The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by...
he was expected to re-join the Shrews in their battle to avoid the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, but instead he found himself back in first team contention with Rotherham, playing five games before the end of the season.
In 2003–04 he made 28 appearances, in which he was booked seven times and sent off once, including a run of four yellow cards in four games. By January time he was dropped yet again, in February he dropped down a division, joining Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on loan until the end of the season. He impressed the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
club in his fifteen games spell and signed a permanent deal in the summer.
Talbot's 37 League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
appearances helped his new club to the play-off
Football League One play-offs
The Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
places in 2004–05, though they were bettered by 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...
in the semi-finals.
Talbot told manager Martin Allen
Martin Allen
Martin James Allen is a former football player and current manager of Notts County. He played more than 100 games for each Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United before finishing his playing career with Portsmouth and Southend United. Five years later, he took his first job in management, at...
that he wanted to return to the North
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
, he joined League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
on a free transfer in June 2005. By now a veteran, he played 36 games in 2005–06.
In 2006–07 Boston lost their Football League status, Talbot making twenty appearances in his final season in the Football League. Only Talbot and Paul Ellender
Paul Ellender
Paul Ellender is an English footballer who plays as a defender. He played in the Football League for Boston United and Chester City.-Career:...
stayed beyond the summer.
In 2007–08, the club were played in the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
because of their financial difficulties. They were promptly kicked out of that division at the end of the season, leaving them with an intolerable fall from grace – effectively three relegations in just two seasons.
So they started the 2008–09 season in the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
. Talbot briefly managed United for one game against Nantwich Town
Nantwich Town F.C.
Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
on 5 January after manager Steve Welsh
Steve Welsh
Steven George Welsh is a former professional footballer and currently Head of Youth Development at Boston United. He joined the Pilgrims in October 2005 and acted as manager from 18 December 2008 until the end of the 2008-2009 season...
became ill. The team capitulated 5–0, spelling doom for Talbot. Welsh released Talbot soon after, and the player signed for Kidsgrove Athletic
Kidsgrove Athletic F.C.
Kidsgrove Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in based in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, England currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
(one level below in the Division One South). He left Kidsgrove in the summer of 2009.
Post-retirement
Since leaving the professional game, Talbot took up a position in childcareChildcare
Child care means caring for and supervising child/children usually from 0–13 years of age. In the United States child care is increasingly referred to as early childhood education due to the understanding of the impact of early experiences of the developing child...
in North Staffordshire
North Staffordshire
North Staffordshire describes an area of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It contains the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands and the City of Stoke-on-Trent. The Stoke and Newcastle areas make up The Potteries Urban Area, whilst the Moorlands are largely...
.
Honours
with Port Vale- Anglo-Italian CupAnglo-Italian CupThe Anglo-Italian Cup is a defunct European football competition that was played intermittently between 1970 and 1996 between clubs from England and Italy. Founded by Gigi Peronace in 1970, following the success of the Anglo-Italian League Cup, it was played as a professional tournament until 1973...
runner-up: 19961995–96 Anglo-Italian CupThe 1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup was the last ever Anglo-Italian Cup competition. The European football competition was played between eight clubs from England and eight clubs from Italy. Italian side Genoa lifted the trophy after beating English side Port Vale 5-2.-Format:For the competition there...
with Rotherham United
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
runners-up: 2000–01