Stuart Nicholson
Encyclopedia
Stuart Ian Nicholson is a former professional footballer, currently playing for Northern League side Hebburn Town
, where he has played as a striker
since joining them from Birtley Town
in October 2010.
Stuart was also a former England Under-19 international.
on 17 January 2006, coming on as an extra-time substitute in a 3–2 FA Cup defeat away at Reading
. He made his Premiership debut four days later in the 1–0 loss against Sunderland
at The Hawthorns
, when he replaced Nathan Ellington
, whom he describes as his childhood hero. He won the West Bromwich Albion Young Player of the Year award for 2005–06 and earned the nickname "The Knife" for his sharpness in front of goal. He was given a place in the first team squad for the 2006-07 season, and marked his first start with a goal against Leyton Orient
on 24 August in the first round of the League Cup
.
He scored a brace on 17 March 2007 against Notts County and followed it up with the winner against Stockport County on 20 March, both games at the Memorial Stadium
. A stomach injury then kept him out of the team, and his loan spell was cut short in April when he returned to West Brom to have a hernia
operation.
On 7 November Nicholson joined A.F.C. Bournemouth
on a week's trial,Bournemouth could not meet the asking price having been made available for transfer by Newcastle Blue Star
after making five substitute appearances scoring in all up to that point in the 2008–09
season. After having been released by Blue Star midway through the 2008–09
season, Nicholson trained with Blyth Spartans
side Tamworth
in January, 2009. Stuart made his debut for Tamworth
on 27 January 2009 against King's Lynn
in a home Conference North
fixture in a year that Tamworth won promotion to the Conference National
. On 11 September 2009 Nicholson joined AFC Telford United of the Conference North
on a one month loan.
Hebburn Town F.C.
Hebburn Town F.C. is an English football club based in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear. The club are currently members of Division Two of the Northern League and play at the Hebburn Sports & Social Ground.-History:...
, where he has played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
since joining them from Birtley Town
Birtley Town F.C.
Birtley Town F.C. is a football club based in Birtley, in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England.-History:Although a side from Birtley competed in the inaugural season of the Northern League in 1889–90, the current team were only founded in 1993, when they joined the Wearside League...
in October 2010.
Stuart was also a former England Under-19 international.
West Bromwich Albion
Nicholson, made his debut for West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 17 January 2006, coming on as an extra-time substitute in a 3–2 FA Cup defeat away at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. He made his Premiership debut four days later in the 1–0 loss against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
, when he replaced Nathan Ellington
Nathan Ellington
Nathan Levi Fontaine Ellington is an English footballer who plays a striker for Championship side Ipswich Town.-Non-league and Bristol Rovers:...
, whom he describes as his childhood hero. He won the West Bromwich Albion Young Player of the Year award for 2005–06 and earned the nickname "The Knife" for his sharpness in front of goal. He was given a place in the first team squad for the 2006-07 season, and marked his first start with a goal against Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
on 24 August in the first round of the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
.
Bristol Rovers
Nicholson joined Bristol Rovers on loan in November 2006. Unusually for someone born in the north-east of England, he has been a fan of the club since being given a Bristol Rovers shirt as a present when he was 14. The loan was due to last three months, but Nicholson was recalled four weeks early by West Brom, before returning to Bristol Rovers for a second loan spell during the same season.He scored a brace on 17 March 2007 against Notts County and followed it up with the winner against Stockport County on 20 March, both games at the Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Bristol)
The Memorial Stadium, also commonly known by its previous name of The Memorial Ground, is a sports ground in Bristol, England, dedicated to the memory of the rugby union players of the city killed during World War I...
. A stomach injury then kept him out of the team, and his loan spell was cut short in April when he returned to West Brom to have a hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
operation.
Shrewsbury Town
In August 2007 Nicholson joined Shrewsbury Town on a scheduled season-long loan. However, by December he had found the net just once for the Shrews in 14 league appearances. On 18 December it was announced that he had returned to Albion due to an ongoing "personal problem", with his loan spell at Shrewsbury set to be officially ended in January.Wrexham
On 18 January 2008 Nicholson joined Wrexham on a three month loan deal. In April Albion confirmed that they would release the player in the summer when his existing contract expires.Newcastle Blue Star
He signed with Newcastle Blue Star in August 2008.On 7 November Nicholson joined A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
on a week's trial,Bournemouth could not meet the asking price having been made available for transfer by Newcastle Blue Star
Newcastle Blue Star F.C.
Newcastle Blue Star F.C. was a football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was established in 1930 and joined the Wearside League in 1973. In 1978, it won the FA Vase. Having won promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the end of the 2008/09 season via the...
after making five substitute appearances scoring in all up to that point in the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season. After having been released by Blue Star midway through the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season, Nicholson trained with Blyth Spartans
Blyth Spartans A.F.C.
Blyth Spartans A.F.C. are a professional football club who play in the Conference North, and are based in the town of Blyth, Northumberland, England. They are often the most Northerly team in whichever league or cup they are playing in. They are managed by former Spartans player Steve Cuggy.They...
Tamworth
Nicholson's next move was a return to the midlands to team up with Conference NorthConference 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...
side Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
in January, 2009. Stuart made his debut for Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
on 27 January 2009 against King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
in a home 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...
fixture in a year that Tamworth won promotion to 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...
. On 11 September 2009 Nicholson joined AFC Telford United of 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...
on a one month loan.