Stuart Sharratt Explained

Stuart Sharratt
Fullname:Stuart Edgar Sharratt
Birth Date:26 February 1942
Birth Place:Leek, Staffordshire, England
Height:[1]
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Ball Haye Green
Youthclubs2:Padgate Teacher Training College
Clubs1:West Bromwich Albion
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Clubs2:Nantwich Town
Clubs3:Oswestry Town
Years4:1966–1972
Clubs4:Port Vale
Caps4:143
Goals4:0

Stuart Edgar Sharratt (born 26 February 1942) is an English former football goalkeeper who made 152 league and cup appearances for Port Vale between 1966 and 1972. He previously played for West Bromwich Albion, Nantwich Town, and Oswestry Town.

Career

Stuart played for Ball Haye Green, Padgate Teacher Training College, West Bromwich Albion, Nantwich Town and Oswestry Town, before joining Jackie Mudie's Port Vale for £2,000 in March 1966.[2] He was favoured ahead of the ageing Jimmy O'Neill and the inexperienced David Ikin, and played 15 Fourth Division games at the end of the 1965–66 season.[2] He played 49 of the club's 50 games in the 1966–67 campaign, beating off competition from young hopeful Billy McNulty.[2] Sharrat was an ever-present during the 49 game 1967–68 season.[2] In March 1968, manager Stanley Matthews arranged a £15,000 transfer to Huddersfield Town, however, Sharratt refused the move.[3] However, injury struck on 14 August 1968 as he cracked a kneecap in a 2–0 defeat at Wrexham in the first round of the League Cup, later contracting a virus in his blood.[2] Upon his recovery he became a part-time player and barely got a game, though he did play instead of Keith Ball in 18 Third Division games in the 1970–71 season, and went on to feature 18 times in the 1971–72 season.[2] His contract was terminated by manager Gordon Lee in May 1972 because he was unable to get released from his work as a college lecturer to play in a testimonial match.[2] He appealed and the club were forced by the Football League to honour his contract to 30 June 1972.[2]

Post-retirement

Stuart has increasingly attended Vale matches as a supporter since 1986. In 2015, he underwent surgery to treat a brain tumor.[4]

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale1965–66Fourth Division1500000150
1966–67Fourth Division4503010490
1967–68Fourth Division4601020490
1968–69Fourth Division40001050
1969–70Fourth Division00000000
1970–71Third Division1800000180
1971–72Third Division1501000160
Total143050401520

Notes and References

  1. News: Portsmouth v Port Vale, 1967 . 4 June 2020 . onevalefan.co.uk . 29 April 2015.
  2. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 262. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  3. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. December 1991. 228. 0-9508981-6-3.
  4. News: Baggaley. Mike. Fans send support to Stuart Sharratt after brain surgery. 6 June 2015. The Sentinel. 5 June 2015.