Stuart Thurgood
FullnameStuart Anthony Thurgood[1]
Birth date4 November 1981 (age 44)[1]
Birth placeEnfield, England
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
PositionMidfielder
Youthclubs 1Tottenham Hotspur
Years 11998–1999
Years 22000
Years 32001–2003
Years 42003–2008
Years 52007–2008
Years 62008–2009
Years 72008
Years 82008–2009
Years 92009
Years 102009–2010
Years 112011
Years 122011–2012
Years 132013–2014
Years 142014
Years 152016–2017
Years 162017
Clubs 1Tottenham Hotspur
Clubs 2Shimizu S-Pulse
Clubs 3Southend United
Clubs 4Grays Athletic
Clubs 5→ Gillingham (loan)
Clubs 6Gillingham
Clubs 7→ Grays Athletic (loan)
Clubs 8→ Grays Athletic (loan)
Clubs 9Grays Athletic
Clubs 10Dagenham & Redbridge
Clubs 11Grays Athletic
Clubs 12Thurrock
Clubs 13East Thurrock United
Clubs 14VCD Athletic
Clubs 15Grays Athletic
Clubs 16Thurrock
Caps 10
Goals 10
Caps 20
Goals 20[2]
Caps 379
Goals 31
Caps 4157
Goals 426
Caps 55
Goals 50
Caps 67
Goals 60
Caps 713
Goals 70
Caps 827
Goals 82
Caps 917
Goals 91
Caps 1017
Goals 100
Caps 112
Goals 110
Caps 1226
Goals 120
Caps 1320
Goals 132
Caps 147
Goals 141
Caps 150
Goals 150
Caps 160
Goals 160
Totalcaps377
Totalgoals33
Nationalyears 12004–2006
Nationalteam 1England C
Nationalcaps 15
Nationalgoals 11

Stuart Anthony Thurgood (born 4 November 1981) is an English convicted criminal and former professional footballer. He played professionally for clubs including Southend United and Gillingham. In 2021 he was convicted of drugs smuggling offences and sentenced to eight years in prison.

Career

Born in Enfield, London, Thurgood made his debut for Gillingham in the 2–1 home win over Hartlepool United on 24 November 2007. He signed for Gillingham on a permanent basis in January 2008, keeping him at the club until 2009.[3]

Thurgood rejoined Grays Athletic on 13 March 2008 on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season.[4] He signed for Grays for a third time on 19 August 2008, on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season.[5] This was cut short though when he was released by Gillingham on 23 January 2009, at which point he joined Grays permanently again until the end of the season.[6] After the end of the season, in May, he joined League Two team Dagenham & Redbridge on a two-year contract.[7]

During November 2009 he sustained an injury; in September 2010, he retired aged 28.[8]

However, after a successful period with playing for Grays Athletic's reserve team, Thurgood signed for the Isthmian League Division One club on 11 October 2011.[9]

In November 2011, Thurgood signed for Conference South club Thurrock,[10][11] where he would return for another spell in March 2017.

During the 2013-14 season, he played for East Thurrock United[12] and VCD Athletic.[13]

Imprisonment

In 2021, Thurgood was sentenced to eight years in prison for drugs smuggling offences. He was a member of an organised crime group which smuggled cocaine into the United Kingdom and distributed it to county lines gangs in Essex and surrounding areas.[14]

Honours

References

  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J. (ed.) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. ^ J.LEAGUE YEARBOOK 2001 – Jリーグ公式記録集2001, J.League (J.League Enterprise, 2001) ISBN 978-4-88752-103-2
  3. ^ "Exclusive: Contract Update On Four Gills Stars". gillinghamfootballclub.co.uk. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  4. ^ "Player News". greysathletic.co.uk. 19 March 2008. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Thurgood Back Again". greysathletic.co.uk. 19 August 2008. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Thurgood leaves Gills". Sky Sports. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Daggers sign Thurgood from Grays". BBC Sport. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  8. ^ "Thurgood forced to retire at 28". daggers.co.uk. Dagenham & Redbridge. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  9. ^ "New signings". Grays Athletic F.C. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  10. ^ "Thurrock sign Thurgood". Football Conference. 5 November 2011.
  11. ^ "England - S. Thurgood - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway"
  12. ^ "East Thurrock United | Appearances | Stuart Thurgood | 2013-2014 | Football Web Pages"
  13. ^ "East Thurrock United | Appearances | Stuart Thurgood | 2013-2014 | Football Web Pages"
  14. ^ Whitehouse, Ellis (31 May 2021). "Former Blues player Stuart Thurgood jailed for cocaine smuggling". Maldon Standard. Retrieved 5 June 2021.