{{short description|English footballer and caretaker manager}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Steve Stoutt | image = | caption = | fullname = Stephen Paul Stoutt | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|4|5|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]], England | height = 5 ft 8 in<ref>{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=400 |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5}}</ref> | position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]] | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = | clubs1 = Bradley Rangers | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1984–1985 | clubs2 = [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] | caps2 = 6 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1985–1988 | clubs3 = [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] | caps3 = 94 | goals3 = 5 | years4 = 1988–1990 | clubs4 = [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]] | caps4 = 3 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 1990–1991 | clubs5 = [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]] | caps5 = 46 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 1991–1993 | clubs6 = [[Boston United F.C.|Boston United]] | caps6 = 64 | goals6 = 10 | years7 = 1995–1996 | clubs7 = [[Grantham Town F.C.|Grantham Town]] | caps7 = | goals7 = | manageryears1 = 1996 | managerclubs1 = [[Grantham Town F.C.|Grantham Town]] (caretaker manager) }} '''Stephen Paul Stoutt''' (born 6 April 1964) is an English former professional [[association football|footballer]] who made 149 appearances in [[the Football League]] playing as a [[defender (association football)|defender]] for [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/huddersfield/huddersfield.html |title=Huddersfield Town : 1946/47–2008/09 |work=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref> [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/wolves/wolves.html |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers : 1946/47–2008/09 |work=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref> [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/grimsby/grimsby.html |title=Grimsby Town : 1946/47–2008/09 |work=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref> and [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]. He went on to play [[non-league football]] for [[Boston United F.C.|Boston United]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/lincoln/lincoln.html |title=Lincoln City : 1946/47–1986/87 & 1988/89–2008/09 |work=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref> and [[Grantham Town F.C.|Grantham Town]], where he was briefly [[caretaker manager]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thegingerbreads.co.uk/site/article.php?query=era&story=20061229140915832 |title=Barnwell returns to Town |publisher=Grantham Town F.C |accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref>
==Career==
===Huddersfield Town===
Stoutt joined [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] at the age of 13, the club he had supported as a schoolboy but was not taken on as a pro, instead taking a non-contact and only being paid as and when he was required. Stoutt turned out regularly for the reserves but had been allowed very few chances in a first team that included players like [[Sam Allardyce]] and [[Steve Kindon]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolves Heroes » Blog Archive » A Dash Of Stoutt |url=https://www.wolvesheroes.com/2011/03/16/a-dash-of-stoutt/ |access-date=2023-01-19}}</ref>
Two of these first team matches in the 1984/85 season were against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.]] who signed Stoutt that following summer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Huddersfield Town (H) 1984/85 FAC |url=https://wolvescompletehistory.co.uk/huddersfield-town-h-1984-85-fac/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Wolverhampton Wanderers |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Wolverhampton Wanderers===
Stoutt joined from Huddersfield on 1 August 1985,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transfers S |url=https://wolvescompletehistory.co.uk/transfers-s-3/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Wolverhampton Wanderers |language=en-US}}</ref> joining Wolves whilst they were playing in the English 3rd Division. This is a poignant time in Wolves history as the club found themselves in a period of downward trajectory from topflight football towards the fourth tier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - short history and facts |url=https://www.footballhistory.org/club/wolverhampton-wanderers.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=www.footballhistory.org}}</ref>
Stoutt made his club debut on the bench during the opening day of the 1985/86 season clash away at [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] alongside follow debutants [[Nicky Clarke (footballer)|Nicky Clarke]], Johnny Morrissey, [[Jon Purdie]] and Neil Edwards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berry |first=Paul |title=From non-league to Wolves first team in a week |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2022/01/20/from-non-league-to-wolves-first-team-in-a-week/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=www.expressandstar.com |language=en}}</ref>
The Wolves squad, which contained teenager [[Tim Flowers]] in goal, was further bolstered by the addition of [[Andy Mutch]] mid-season but this was not enough to see Wolves fortunes change and an eventual 23rd place finish saw the club relegated for the third consecutive season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=30 years ago: Wolves sign Andy Mutch |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2016/02/22/wolves-and-andy-mutch-30-years-on/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=www.expressandstar.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - short history and facts |url=https://www.footballhistory.org/club/wolverhampton-wanderers.html |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=www.footballhistory.org}}</ref>
The following season saw a degree of stabilisation for the club with a 4th place finish in Division 4 with Stoutt starting 44 league matches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appearances & Scorers 1986/87 |url=https://wolvescompletehistory.co.uk/appearances-scorers-1986-87/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Wolverhampton Wanderers |language=en-US}}</ref>
The 1986/87 season was the first season to have the inclusion of [[Playoffs]] for the final promotion places and was introduced across the various tiers of the [[English Football League]]. Having finished 4th, Wolves went into the playoffs as favourites and reached the final where they would play [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]] across two legs. Stoutt would feature at right back for both fixtures which would finish [[1987 Football League Fourth Division play-off final|Aldershot 3-0 Wolves]] on aggregate across the two legs, seeing Aldershot, who had finished 9 points behind Wolves in the league promoted at the expense of Wolves.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Charlton, Swindon and Aldershot triumphed in the first play-offs in 1987 {{!}} Soccer {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2015/may/22/first-football-league-play-offs-1987-charlton-swindon-aldershot |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aldershot (a) 1986/87 PO |url=https://wolvescompletehistory.co.uk/aldershot-a-198687-po/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Wolverhampton Wanderers |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aldershot (H) 1986/87 PO |url=https://wolvescompletehistory.co.uk/aldershot-h-198687-po/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Wolverhampton Wanderers |language=en-US}}</ref>
This season also coincided with the arrival of [[Steve Bull]] and [[Andy Thompson (footballer, born 1967)|Andy Thompson]] who would both prove to become pivotal signings in the history for the club who joined in November 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |title=On This Day: November Edition |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/on-this-day-november-edition/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=www.wolves.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> However Stoutt was clearly a fan favourite at the time and managed to eclipse these two Wolves legends by being voted the 1987 Wolves Player of the Year. Stoutt was noted for his strong defensive displays and key goals versus [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] and his native [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolves Heroes » Player of the Year |url=https://www.wolvesheroes.com/player-of-the-year/ |access-date=2023-01-19}}</ref>
1987/88 saw Wolves push on and start their recovery, with progression back towards the top tier beginning here with Wolves securing automatic promotion to Division 3 as league champions scoring 90 points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1987/88 Football League Division 4 - League tables - The Posh Supporters Trust |url=https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/league-tables/1987-88-football-league-division-4 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=www.theposhtrust.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> Stoutt remained a key figure in the squad starting 21 league matches this season, but this was half that of the previous campaign. This was due to increased competition for places after Wolves made the signing of [[Gary Bellamy]] who operated in a similar position.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appearances & Scorers 1987/88 |url=https://wolvescompletehistory.co.uk/appearances-scorers-1987-88/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Wolverhampton Wanderers |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sky is Blue - The Chesterfield FC history resource |url=https://www.cfchistory.com/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Sky is Blue - The Chesterfield FC history resource}}</ref>
Only a few weeks had passed since Wolves had been crowned 87/88 Division 4 Champions and they would be celebrating again, this time due to defeating Burnley at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] to win the [[1988 Associate Members' Cup Final|Sherpa Van Trophy Final]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Long read {{!}} The time Fourth Division Wolves took 50,000 fans to Wembley |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/features/long-read-the-time-fourth-division-wolves-took-50-000-fans-to-wembley?isNative=true |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=www.wolves.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> however Stoutt would not feature in the squad for the famous trip to Wembley and was released 48 hours after the final victory alongside [[Jon Purdie]], [[Micky Holmes]] and Matt Forman.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolves Heroes » Blog Archive » A Dash Of Stoutt |url=https://www.wolvesheroes.com/2011/03/16/a-dash-of-stoutt/ |access-date=2023-01-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolves Heroes » Blog Archive » Straight From The Heart |url=https://www.wolvesheroes.com/2016/04/07/straight-from-the-heart/ |access-date=2023-01-21}}</ref>
===Grimsby Town===
Stoutt joined [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby]] in July 1988 but made very few appearances due to a knee injury and was sold to [[Lincoln City F.C.]] for £9000 in 1989. '''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolves Statto Pack |url=https://thefishy.co.uk/story.php?id=8083081 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=thefishy.co.uk}}</ref>'''
==Post Football==
After Football, Stoutt returned to his Milk Round he had enjoyed at a younger age and served on his route as a [[Milk delivery|Milkman]] for over 14 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolves Heroes » Blog Archive » A Dash Of Stoutt |url=https://www.wolvesheroes.com/2011/03/16/a-dash-of-stoutt/ |access-date=2023-01-19}}</ref>
==Honours== ;Wolverhampton Wanderers * Wolves Player of the Season: 1986 <ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolves Heroes » Player of the Year |url=https://www.wolvesheroes.com/player-of-the-year/ |access-date=2023-01-19}}</ref> * [[Football League Fourth Division]] Champions: [[1987–88 in English football|1987–88]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=1987/88 Football League Division 4 - League tables - The Posh Supporters Trust |url=https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/league-tables/1987-88-football-league-division-4 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=www.theposhtrust.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> * [[Football League Trophy]] Winners: 1988 <ref>{{Cite journal |date=2005-02-01 |title=Foodtech 2004 took place 3-4 November 2004 at Wembley Exhibition Centre |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2005.01735aab.008 |journal=Nutrition & Food Science |volume=35 |issue=1 |doi=10.1108/nfs.2005.01735aab.008 |issn=0034-6659|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoutt, Steve}} [[Category:1964 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Footballers from Halifax, West Yorkshire]] [[Category:English men's footballers]] [[Category:Men's association football defenders]] [[Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players]] [[Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players]] [[Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players]] [[Category:Lincoln City F.C. players]] [[Category:Boston United F.C. players]] [[Category:Grantham Town F.C. players]] [[Category:English Football League players]] [[Category:English football managers]] [[Category:Grantham Town F.C. managers]]