Simon Andrew Sturridge (born 9 December 1969) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He made more than 250 appearances in the Football League for Birmingham City, Stoke City, Blackpool, Northampton Town and Shrewsbury Town.
Career Sturridge was born in Birmingham and joined home-town club Birmingham City as a trainee in 1985 and turned professional in 1988. He played 186 games in all competitions for the club and scored the first goal of the 1991 Football League Trophy Final in which Birmingham beat Tranmere Rovers 3–2. After helping Birmingham gain promotion 1991–92 he joined Stoke City in September 1993.
Sturridge had to wait before he could become a regular in the Stoke first team as he made 20 appearances in 1993–94 of which he started nine and played in just 11 matches in 1994–95 meaning that he was rarely seen at the Victoria Ground. However his fortunes improved considerably in 1995–96 after manager Lou Macari brought in Mike Sheron and played him alongside Sturridge. The pair scored a combined 29 goals which saw Stoke reach the play-offs where they lost 1–0 to Leicester City. He suffered a serious injury at the start of the 1996–97 and after making fleeting appearances in the next two years he left for Northampton Town, having spent a short time out on loan at Blackpool. He played 19 times for the Cobblers helping them gain promotion in 1999–2000 and ended his career with an 11-game spell on loan at Shrewsbury Town.
Personal life He is the brother of footballer Dean Sturridge and the uncle of footballer Daniel Sturridge, and is of Jamaican descent.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBirmingham City1988–89Second Division2130010102331989–90Third Division311041301039111990–91Third Division38621208350101991–92Third Division401010710048111992–93First Division201101042263Total150308214114518638Stoke City1993–94First Division1303010302001994–95First Division811000201111995–96First Division411221104048131996–97First Division50000000501997–98First Division10001000201998–99Second Division3010101060Total711371401009214Blackpool (loan)1998–99Second Division5100000051Northampton Town1999–2000Third Division181100000191Shrewsbury Town (loan)1999–2000Third Division111000000111Career Total2554716318124531356
Honours Birmingham City Football League Third Division runner-up: 1991–92 Associate Members' Cup: 1990–91
Northampton Town Football League Third Division third-place promotion: 1999–2000
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