PILGRIMS IN PROFILE: Stuart Douglas

Christian James looks back at the career of a Boston United cult hero...
Stuart Douglas was a cult hero at York Street.Stuart Douglas was a cult hero at York Street.
Stuart Douglas was a cult hero at York Street.

This week's Pilgrim in Profile is a popular 5’10’ striker who lists Luton Town amongst his former clubs. As Ricky Miller has already featured... it must be Stuart Douglas.

Douglas’ youth career played out with the Hatters and he progressed into the first team, making almost 150 appearances between 1996 and 2002. The latter stages of his Kenilworth Road career had seen him largely reduced to reserves action, ending 2001-2002 on loan at Oxford United, then Rushden & Diamonds in Division Three. He was released in the summer and spent pre-season on trial at Gillingham.

Boston soon came calling and Douglas became United’s second in-season signing (after Mark Greaves).

Brought in on non-contract terms by Neil Thompson on the penultimate day in August 2002 ahead of a home game against Bury, Douglas was Introduced early in the second half to complement the previous season's Conference top goalscorer Daryl Clare.

Douglas impressed on his debut as the Pilgrims equalised late on for a 1-1 draw.

Having done enough to start the following week at Kidderminster, Douglas’ early days at the Pilgrims saw him enjoy his longest run of starts (six), the fifth of those brining his maiden Boston goal - a spectacular overhead kick against Carlisle in a 4-2 defeat at Brunton Park.

Injury the following week against Cambridge ended his uninterrupted run in the side.

Going aerial against Cardiff City.Going aerial against Cardiff City.
Going aerial against Cardiff City.

Speaking in the club's matchday programme in October 2002, Douglas addressed his lack-of-goals.

“As a forward you can have a bad 90 minutes but if you get a goal people think you’ve done your job. I like to contribute as well but I would like to reach double figures, maybe score 15 goals (this season),” he said.

Signed on non-contract terms, Douglas played down the long-term concerns this can bring players, adding: "I’m quite a laid-back character and my mum is more the worrier.

"I believe that if I give 100 per cent I’ll get my rewards eventually. It’s great to play regularly and I’m enjoying myself… I want to stay but I don’t get involved in the politics of football- I’ve got an agent for that.”

Douglas going for goal.Douglas going for goal.
Douglas going for goal.

One start in 13 followed as Douglas returned from injury, although eight substitute appearances included a late result-securing goal at home to Rochdale (3-1).

Late November saw forward Richard Logan arrive from Ipswich Town, initially on loan, and a fine partnership developed between the two forwards, wearing numbers 30 and 31.

With Logan scoring in each of his first five, his form rubbed off on Douglas who scored three in two home games either side of Christmas.

Douglas scored the fourth in the 6-0 thumping of Shrewsbury Town then starred in a 3-0 win over play-off placed York City on Boxing Day, taking the man of the match champagne in the process.

A high boot against Oxford United.A high boot against Oxford United.
A high boot against Oxford United.

As the 2002-2003 season came to an end, Douglas’ involvement was mainly off the bench. Of his final 10 appearances that campaign only two were from the start. Not quite reaching his target of double figures, Douglas’s sixth and seventh goals both came as a substitute at Exeter (2-0) and Oxford (1-2).

Three days after his final goal of the season, Douglas’ 81st minute red card reduced Boston to nine men at Swansea City’s Vetch Field as the Pilgrims collected seven yellow cards and a valuable away point.

Douglas’ dismissal came about after he had fouled current Belgium manager Roberto Martinez for a second booking.

He ended 2002-2003 with a record of 15 starts, 17 substitute appearances and seven goals.

Thompson elected to retain Douglas for the following campaign (2003-04) alongside Logan, and Douglas featured in each of the first 11 games of the season, just two of them wins.

Eight appearances in the next 21 games saw Douglas start just twice between late September and early February as he added his eighth and final Boston goal in a 3-1 win over Macclesfield Town.

... which earned him a booking.... which earned him a booking.
... which earned him a booking.

His introduction in Thompson’s final game in charge began an run of seven straight substitute outings as caretaker boss Jim Rodwell then re-instated manager Steve Evans looked to turn United’s form around as the side slipped as low as 21st.

Evans liked what he saw in Douglas and rewarded his forward with starts in the next five before a hamstring injury against Darlington in April 2004 ended his season and ultimately his United career.

With the signings of Jason Lee and Martin Carruthers to come, Evans released Douglas alongside another seven players in May 2004. Douglas’ Boston record stood at 30 starts, 33 substitute appearances, eight goals.

Before 2004 was out the forward had played for two more clubs: first Rovaniemen Palloseura in Finland before returning to these shores with Dagenham & Redbridge.

He later represented Crawley, Weymouth, Bath, Newport County, Dorchester and Poole. He’d scored a hat-trick for Bath at Newport weeks before signing for County on loan, receiving a standing ovation from his future supporters.

In 2009, 31-year-old Douglas faced surgery after prolapsed discs in his spine left him in serious pain. Douglas told the South Wales Argus a year later: “I was told that the only way I could play on was to have an operation to put titanium plates in my neck.”

By then he had qualified as a physiotherapist and, after retiring, found work with Woking. He then took the first team physiotherapist role at AFC Wimbledon in 2013, where he still works now.

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