Dean Sturridge
Encyclopedia
Dean Constantine Sturridge (born 26 July 1973 in Birmingham
, England
) is an English
former footballer
who played as a striker.
, and worked his way through the ranks to make his first team debut on 11 January 1992 in a 1-0 defeat at Southend United
.
He gained more first team action over the next years, particularly at lowly Torquay United
during a loan spell in the 1994-95 season, where he gained many admirers for his performances. He then returned to score 20 goals that fired Derby to the Premier League. His first year in the top flight was also successful, scoring 11 league goals, including one of the goals of the season against Arsenal
, and the club's very first in the Premier League when they drew 3-3 at home to Leeds United
in an opening day thriller at the Baseball Ground
(from which they relocated to the new Pride Park Stadium
12 months later). Leeds had been 2-0 up when Sturridge found the net for the Rams in the 77th minute, before Paul Simpson
pulled them level a minute later. Lee Bowyer
sent Leeds back ahead in the 85th minute, before Sturridge scored again in the 87th minute to rescue the game for his team.
He played five seasons in the Premier League for the club, and is their record goalscorer in the Premier League era (32 Premier League goals). After nearly a decade with the Rams, he left for local rivals Leicester City
in January 2001 for £375,000.
saw his place often under threat. He scored 7 goals during 25 appearances in total before being loaned to First Division
Wolverhampton Wanderers
in November 2001, just 10 months after his arrival at Filbert Street
.
His goalscoring form continued throughout the season, and he finished as the club's leading goalscorer with 21 goals in total, which took them to the play-offs. The following season saw him notch another 11 which again helped the team achieve a play-off finish, where they won promotion to the Premier League after a 3-0 final win over Sheffield United
.
The striker didn't enjoy much of the team's top flight season as a combination of injuries and new arrivals sidelined him for all but 5 games, and he was loaned out to Sheffield United
.
He was unable to put his injury problems behind him though and never regained a regular starting place for Wolves again. He moved on to Queens Park Rangers
on a free transfer in March 2005.
on a one-year deal along with former Tamworth
goalkeeper
Scott Bevan, possibly becoming the biggest name player the club have ever signed.
Sturridge's time at Kidderminster
didn't work out well, despite initially earning praise from his new manager Mark Yates
over his positive attitude. He featured in six matches without finding the net, before suffering an Achilles tendon
injury which ended his season prematurely.
He was not offered a new contract at the end of season.
attempted to call up Sturridge for international duty with the Jamaica national football team
for the 1998 World Cup
but the offer was rejected.
, following the sudden departure of Ted McMinn
after the first match of the 2007-08 season
. In this role he co-commentates, alongside Ross Fletcher, on all games played by his old club, Derby County. However on the last game of the season, he revealed that he would not be returning to this role for the 2008-09 season as he wanted to focus on his coaching work.
, was also a professional footballer, most notably playing for Birmingham City
and Stoke City
. His nephew, Daniel
, is a striker currently playing for Chelsea FC.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played as a striker.
Derby County
Sturridge began his career as a trainee at Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, and worked his way through the ranks to make his first team debut on 11 January 1992 in a 1-0 defeat at Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
.
He gained more first team action over the next years, particularly at lowly Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
during a loan spell in the 1994-95 season, where he gained many admirers for his performances. He then returned to score 20 goals that fired Derby to the Premier League. His first year in the top flight was also successful, scoring 11 league goals, including one of the goals of the season against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, and the club's very first in the Premier League when they drew 3-3 at home to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in an opening day thriller at the Baseball Ground
Baseball Ground
The Baseball Ground was a stadium in Derby, England. It was first used for baseball as the home of Derby County Baseball Club from 1890 until 1898 and then for football as the home of Derby County from 1895 until 1997. It was commonly referred to as the "BBG".As the name suggests, the stadium was...
(from which they relocated to the new Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium is an all-seater football stadium located on the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is the current home of Football League Championship club Derby County, who moved to the stadium from the Baseball Ground upon its opening in 1997...
12 months later). Leeds had been 2-0 up when Sturridge found the net for the Rams in the 77th minute, before Paul Simpson
Paul Simpson
Paul Simpson is a musician, vocalist, lyricist and writer from Liverpool, England. His vocal and lyrical styles have been described as "haunting" and "doomed romantic", respectively. Musically, his contributions have crossed the genres of Synthpop, Post-punk, Neo-psychedelia, New Wave and Ambient...
pulled them level a minute later. Lee Bowyer
Lee Bowyer
Lee David Bowyer is an English professional footballer born in Canning Town, London, who plays as a midfielder for Ipswich Town of the Football League Championship....
sent Leeds back ahead in the 85th minute, before Sturridge scored again in the 87th minute to rescue the game for his team.
He played five seasons in the Premier League for the club, and is their record goalscorer in the Premier League era (32 Premier League goals). After nearly a decade with the Rams, he left for local rivals Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in January 2001 for £375,000.
Leicester City
Sturridge's time at Leicester was far less successful than at Derby, and the subsequent big money (£5million) buy of Ade AkinbiyiAde Akinbiyi
Adeola Peter Oluwatoyin "Ade" Akinbiyi is a professional footballer.Akinbiyi has had a much-travelled career with many different clubs with transfer fees totalling more than £11.5 million during his career, including being Leicester City's record signing .Born in England, Akinbiyi qualifies to...
saw his place often under threat. He scored 7 goals during 25 appearances in total before being loaned to First Division
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in November 2001, just 10 months after his arrival at Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
His time at Wolves started brightly as he netted four times in his opening two games. This convinced the club to make the loan permanent after the initial month and he signed for £350,000 on Christmas Eve 2001.His goalscoring form continued throughout the season, and he finished as the club's leading goalscorer with 21 goals in total, which took them to the play-offs. The following season saw him notch another 11 which again helped the team achieve a play-off finish, where they won promotion to the Premier League after a 3-0 final win over Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
.
The striker didn't enjoy much of the team's top flight season as a combination of injuries and new arrivals sidelined him for all but 5 games, and he was loaned out to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
.
He was unable to put his injury problems behind him though and never regained a regular starting place for Wolves again. He moved on to Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on a free transfer in March 2005.
Queens Park Rangers
Here, his injury problems continued and he was only able to appear in 11 matches for the team, and never scored for them. In December 2005, it was announced that he would be leaving the club.Kidderminster Harriers
On 26 June 2006 Sturridge joined Kidderminster HarriersKidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
on a one-year deal along with former Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
Scott Bevan, possibly becoming the biggest name player the club have ever signed.
Sturridge's time at Kidderminster
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
didn't work out well, despite initially earning praise from his new manager Mark Yates
Mark Yates (footballer)
Mark Jason Yates is an English football manager and former player, currently managing Cheltenham Town. As a player he played primarily in a central midfield role.-Playing career:...
over his positive attitude. He featured in six matches without finding the net, before suffering an Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury which ended his season prematurely.
He was not offered a new contract at the end of season.
International
In 1998 René SimõesRenê Simões
René Rodrigues Simões is a Brazilian football head coach and former footballer.- Coaching career :Born in Rio de Janeiro, he guided Jamaica to the World Cup in France in 1998...
attempted to call up Sturridge for international duty with the Jamaica national football team
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
for the 1998 World Cup
1998 World Cup
1998 World Cup may refer to:*1998 IAAF World Cup*1998 Men's Hockey World Cup*1998 Women's Hockey World Cup*1998 FIFA World Cup*1998 Alpine Skiing World Cup...
but the offer was rejected.
BBC Radio Derby
Sturridge was acting as match summariser for BBC Radio DerbyBBC Radio Derby
BBC Radio Derby is the BBC Local Radio station for the English county of Derbyshire, covering all but the northern tip of the county, and also serves eastern Staffordshire, mainly Uttoxeter and Burton upon Trent. The station broadcasts from its studios in Derby on 104.5, 95.3 and 96.0 FM and 1116...
, following the sudden departure of Ted McMinn
Ted McMinn
Kevin Clifton "Ted" McMinn is a Scottish former association footballer who played as a winger. His nickname is The Tin Man.-Early years:...
after the first match of the 2007-08 season
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
. In this role he co-commentates, alongside Ross Fletcher, on all games played by his old club, Derby County. However on the last game of the season, he revealed that he would not be returning to this role for the 2008-09 season as he wanted to focus on his coaching work.
Personal life
His brother, SimonSimon Sturridge
Simon Andrew Sturridge is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He made more than 250 appearances in the Football League.-Career:...
, was also a professional footballer, most notably playing for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
. His nephew, Daniel
Daniel Sturridge
Daniel Andre Sturridge is an English footballer who plays for Chelsea and the England national team. He is primarily a forward, but has been used on the right flank as a winger for Chelsea...
, is a striker currently playing for Chelsea FC.