Stuart Ripley

Club career

Middlesbrough Ripley first made his name with Middlesbrough in the late 1980s, before achieving success in a £1.3 million move to Blackburn Rovers, helping them to the league title in the 1994–95 season and becoming a cult hero. In the 1991–1992 season he helped Middlesbrough achieve promotion to the newly founded Premier League, as well as playing an important role in Middlesbrough getting through to the League Cup semi-final. They also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup losing in a replay to Portsmouth.

Blackburn Rovers During the summer of 1992, Ripley was signed by Blackburn Rovers who had achieved promotion along with Middlesbrough. He was briefly their record signing until later in July they signed Alan Shearer for £3.3million. On his debut for Blackburn, he scored the club's first Premier League goal, opening their scoring a 3–3 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Southampton In 1998, aged almost 31, he moved to Southampton, and retiring four years later. He scored one goal for Southampton against Derby County on 4 October 1999. He also served loan spells at Barnsley (twice ) – scoring in his debut, a 1–2 home loss to former side Blackburn – and Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored once against Crystal Palace.

International career He was capped twice by England as a full international; against San Marino on 17 November 1993 and against Moldova on 10 September 1997.

Personal life After finishing his playing career, Ripley set up the Castleford Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic, providing physiotherapy to nearby rugby league teams, as well as local football teams. He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in 2007, with a first class combined honours degree in Law and French.

His son, Connor Ripley, is a goalkeeper and plays for Swindon Town.

In 2010 Ripley became a qualified solicitor. He is a member of FA's Judicial Panel hearing cases relating to matters such as doping, safeguarding, agent activity and discrimination.

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1984–85 Second Division

1985–86 Second Division

1986–87 Third Division

1987–88 Second Division

1988–89 First Division

1989–90 Second Division

1990–91 Second Division

1991–92 Second Division

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1992–93 Premier League

1993–94 Premier League

1994–95 Premier League

1995–96 Premier League

1996–97 Premier League

1997–98 Premier League

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1998–99 Premier League

1999-2000 Premier League

2000–01 Premier League

2001–02 Premier League

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Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2000–01 First Division

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Honours Middlesbrough Full Members' Cup runner-up: 1989–90

Blackburn Rovers Premier League: 1994–95