Stuart Eccleston

Stuart Ian Eccleston (born 4 October 1961) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender who played in the Football League for Hull City.

Career

Eccleston was born in Stoke-on-Trent and joined Stoke City as a youth player in the late 1970s. He played for the club's reserve side but did not make a first-team appearance and was released in January 1981. He subsequently joined Hull City under manager Mike Smith, with the club struggling near the bottom of the Third Division despite the investment that had accompanied Smith's appointment. Eccleston made his Hull debut in mid-March 1981 alongside centre-back Steve Richards. Hull's poor form continued and they were relegated to the Fourth Division at the end of the season. He retained his place at the beginning of the 1981–82 campaign, missing only two matches during his first three months. He lost his place in November, however, and apart from a substitute appearance in Smith's final match as manager, he did not play for Hull again. Eccleston left the club at the end of the season.

In July 1982, Eccleston returned to the Potteries by joining Hull's Fourth Division rivals Port Vale. He was unable to establish himself in their first team, bringing his Football League career to an end later that year. After a brief spell with Conference National club Stafford Rangers, Eccleston retired from playing at the age of 21 and began working in the building industry. He suffered a broken leg in a building-site accident in 1988 but subsequently established his own building contracting business in the Stoke area.

Career statistics

References