Graham Stuart (footballer)

For other people named Graham Stuart, see Graham Stuart (disambiguation).

Graham Charles Stuart (born 24 October 1970) is an English former professional footballer and sports commentator.

Graham Stuart

Personal information
Full name	Graham Charles Stuart[1]
Date of birth	(1970-10-24) 24 October 1970 (age 54)[1]
Place of birth	Tooting, England[1]
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder / Forward
Youth career
0000–1989	Chelsea
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1993	Chelsea	87	(14)
1993–1997	Everton	136	(22)
1997–1999	Sheffield United	53	(11)
1999–2005	Charlton Athletic	148	(21)
2005	Norwich City	8	(0)
Total		432	(68)
International career
1990–1991	England U21	5	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

As a player, he was an attacking midfielder and forward from 1989 until 2005. He spent the majority of his career in the Premier League, playing in the top tier of English football for Chelsea, Everton, Charlton Athletic and Norwich City. He also had a two-year spell with Sheffield United, and was capped 5 times, scoring twice for England U21.

Playing career

Stuart had spells at Everton, Chelsea, Sheffield United and Charlton Athletic. At Chelsea he was part of a new young midfield, he played mainly wide right, with Graeme Le Saux on the left. Stuart spent the majority of his Everton career playing as a right midfielder, but did also spend time playing as a centre-forward (including the victories in the 1995 FA Cup semi-final and final). During his time he won the FA Cup in 1995, beating Manchester United 1–0 in the final at Wembley; his shot from inside the penalty area hit the bar, but Paul Rideout headed the ball into the empty net.^[3]

Nicknamed 'Diamond' during this time at Everton, Stuart's most famous moment in a blue shirt came on 7 May 1994. He scored two goals as Mike Walker's Everton defeated Wimbledon at Goodison Park on the final day of the season to escape relegation by the slimmest of margins. He scored the winning goal nine minutes from time, completing a comeback after the Blues had fallen 2–0 down in the game.^[4]

Stuart joined Norwich City in 2005. He played eight games for the club before being forced to retire due to injury.^[5]

After football

Since his retirement from professional football in August 2005, at the age of 34, Stuart has done occasional television work for Sky Sports and worked at a financial management company which represents the interests of other sportspeople. He works as an Everton club ambassador and as a commentator for Everton.^[5]

Honours

Everton

• FA Cup: 1995

Career statistics

Source: Graham Stuart at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Chelsea	1989–90	First Division	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
	1990–91	First Division	19	4	1	0	5	1	2[a]	1	27	6
	1991–92	First Division	27	0	5	1	0	0	3[a]	0	35	1
	1992–93	Premier League	39	9	1	0	6	1	—		46	10
	Total		87	14	7	1	11	2	5	1	110	18
Everton	1993–94	Premier League	30	3	2	0	2	0	—		34	3
	1994–95	Premier League	28	3	5	2	2	1	—		35	6
	1995–96	Premier League	29	9	4	3	1	1	3[b]	1	37	14
	1996–97	Premier League	35	5	2	0	1	0	—		38	5
	1997–98	Premier League	14	2	—		3	1	—		17	3
	Total		136	22	13	5	9	3	3	1	161	31
Sheffield United	1997–98	First Division	28	5	6	0	—		1[c]	0	35	5
	1998–99	First Division	25	6	5	1	4	0	—		34	7
	Total		53	11	11	1	4	0	1	0	69	12
Charlton Athletic	1998–99	Premier League	9	3	—		—		—		9	3
	1999–2000	First Division	37	7	3	0	2	0	—		42	7
	2000–01	Premier League	35	5	2	0	0	0	—		37	5
	2001–02	Premier League	31	3	2	2	2	0	—		35	5
	2002–03	Premier League	4	0	0	0	0	0	—		4	0
	2003–04	Premier League	28	3	1	0	2	0	—		31	3
	2004–05	Premier League	4	0	0	0	2	0	—		6	0
	Total		148	21	8	2	8	0	—		164	23
Norwich City	2004–05	Premier League	8	0	—		—		—		8	0
Career total			432	68	39	9	32	5	9	2	512	84

1. Appearances in Full Members' Cup
2. Appearances in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
3. Appearances in First Division play-offs