# Stuart Thurgood > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stuart_Thurgood > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stuart_Thurgood.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Thurgood > Source revision: 1267149305 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Stuart Anthony Thurgood** (born 4 November 1981) is an English convicted criminal and former professional [footballer](/source/Association_football). He played professionally for clubs including [Southend United](/source/Southend_United_F.C.) and [Gillingham](/source/Gillingham_F.C.). In 2021 he was convicted of drugs smuggling offences and sentenced to eight years in prison. ## Career Born in [Enfield](/source/London_Borough_of_Enfield), London, Thurgood made his debut for [Gillingham](/source/Gillingham_F.C.) in the 2–1 home win over [Hartlepool United](/source/Hartlepool_United_F.C.) 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](/source/Grays_Athletic_F.C.) on 13 March 2008 on [loan](/source/Loan_(football)) until the end of the [2007–08](/source/2007%E2%80%9308_in_English_football) season.[4] He signed for Grays for a third time on 19 August 2008, on loan until the end of the [2008–09](/source/2008%E2%80%9309_in_English_football) 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](/source/Football_League_Two) team [Dagenham & Redbridge](/source/Dagenham_%26_Redbridge_F.C.) 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](/source/Isthmian_League) Division One club on 11 October 2011.[9] In November 2011, Thurgood signed for [Conference South](/source/Conference_South) club [Thurrock](/source/Thurrock_F.C.),[10][11] where he would return for another spell in March 2017. During the 2013-14 season, he played for [East Thurrock United](/source/East_Thurrock_United_F.C.)[12] and [VCD Athletic](/source/VCD_Athletic_F.C.).[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](/source/Cocaine) into the United Kingdom and distributed it to [county lines](/source/County_lines_drug_trafficking) gangs in Essex and surrounding areas.[14] ## Honours - [FA Trophy](/source/FA_Trophy): 2005, 2006 - [Conference South](/source/Conference_South) (VI): 2005 ## References 1. Hugman, Barry J. (ed.) (2008). *The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09*. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8. 1. *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 1. ["Exclusive: Contract Update On Four Gills Stars"](http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10416~1214676,00.html). gillinghamfootballclub.co.uk. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2008. 1. ["Player News"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080517060819/http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/archives/002447.html). greysathletic.co.uk. 19 March 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/archives/002447.html) on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2008. 1. ["Thurgood Back Again"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110809152242/http://graysathletic.co.uk/news/archives/002674.html). greysathletic.co.uk. 19 August 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/archives/002674.html) on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2008. 1. ["Thurgood leaves Gills"](http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_4838912,00.html). Sky Sports. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009. 1. ["Daggers sign Thurgood from Grays"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dagenham_and_redbridge/8064156.stm). BBC Sport. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009. 1. ["Thurgood forced to retire at 28"](http://www.daggers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10692~2159793,00.html). *daggers.co.uk*. [Dagenham & Redbridge](/source/Dagenham_%26_Redbridge_F.C.). 20 September 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2010. 1. ["New signings"](http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/new-signings-402249.html). Grays Athletic F.C. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011. 1. ["Thurrock sign Thurgood"](http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=5818). Football Conference. 5 November 2011. 1. ["England - S. Thurgood - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway"](https://uk.soccerway.com/players/stuart-thurgood/84173/) 1. ["East Thurrock United | Appearances | Stuart Thurgood | 2013-2014 | Football Web Pages"](https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/east-thurrock-united/appearances/2013-2014/stuart-thurgood/18671) 1. ["East Thurrock United | Appearances | Stuart Thurgood | 2013-2014 | Football Web Pages"](https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/east-thurrock-united/appearances/2013-2014/stuart-thurgood/18671) 1. Whitehouse, Ellis (31 May 2021). ["Former Blues player Stuart Thurgood jailed for cocaine smuggling"](https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk/news/south_essex_news/19340062.essex-drugs-gang-locked-combined-total-40-years/). *Maldon Standard*. Retrieved 5 June 2021. ## External links - [Stuart Thurgood player profile](http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10416~9022,00.html) at gillinghamfootballclub.com --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Stuart Thurgood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Thurgood) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Thurgood?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.