Player Profile

Blair STURROCK

Full name
Blair David STURROCK

Date of birth
August 25th, 1981 - Dundee

First joined
December 8th, 2006 [unattached]

First team debut
December 23rd, 2006 vs. Macclesfield Town (Away)

Last match played
March 17th, 2009 vs. Southend United (Home)

Positions

CF
International eligibility
SCOTLAND
No international caps.

The son of Town boss Paul, Sturrock joined Swindon on a non-contract basis early in December 2006, after a period training with the Town's reserves to regain fitness, following a groin injury that prevented him from training since leaving Rochdale in the summer. Sturrock made his debut as a second half substitute in a 2-1 defeat at Macclesfield on 23rd December, his first goal coming in mid-January, when he netted within seconds of coming on to wrap up a 3-1 win at Boston.

After two months of playing without pay, Sturrock was finally awarded a short-term contract in February - days after he secured an undeserved 1-1 draw at Peterborough with an injury time equaliser. Sturrock stayed in and out of the first eleven for the rest of the season - his longest run in the team being at the end of the season, when he started each of the last five games, as the Town secured promotion to League One.

With a severe striker shortage at the start of the 2007/08 season, Sturrock started each of the first six games of the season, netting once - but also he became a target of the boo boys - who though frustrated at the lack of a proven goalscorer, failed to recognise Sturrock's hardworking play. The double signings of Simon Cox and Billy Paynter saw Sturrock restricted to a bit part role from September onwards, and though he netted a consolation against Cheltenham as the Town were dumped out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, his next goal was to have more significance. At the end of a week when his father had resigned as boss to return to Plymouth, ironically Sturrock junior came off the bench to net a late winner against Forest Green Rovers, in a match that the Town had been losing 2-1 with twenty minutes to play. After a run in the side in January, Sturrock remained as a squad player for the rest of the season, netting three more goals to take his total for the season to six.

With six strikers vying for first team places in 2008/09, Sturrock was allowed to leave on loan in September, when he joined Bournemouth for a month. Shortly after his return, Maurice Malpas - the manager who had replaced his father - was sacked, and caretaker boss Dave Byrne began to utilise Sturrock from the bench. When Billy Paynter was sent off at Crewe, Sturrock was chosen as the man to replace him - and his first start of the season was also the first that new manager Danny Wilson watched from the stands, at Leyton Orient on Boxing Day. Though Sturrock also started Wilson's first game in charge two days later, he was replaced firstly by Barry Corr returning from injury, and then when Corr got injured again, Paynter returned to take his place. Though Sturrock remained a regular feature on the bench through to the end of March, he was allowed out on another loan deal - this time to Conference side Torquay, then come the end of the season, he was released as his contract expired.

Playing Record


Senior

Season LEAGUE FA CUP EFL CUP OTHER TOTAL
AppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGls Apps Gls
2008/09 2 (+8) - - - - - - - 2 (+8) -
2007/08 13 (+8) 3 3 (+1) 2 1 - 1 1 18 (+9) 6
2006/07 7 (+12) 3 0 (+1) - - - - - 7 (+13) 3
TOTAL 22 (+28) 6 3 (+2) 2 1 - 1 1 27 (+30) 9

Reserve and Youth Team Appearances

Note that appearance data for reserve and youth teams may not be complete. Expand for more information.

Season RES. LGE TOTAL
AppsGls Apps Gls
2008/09 - - - -
2007/08 2 1 2 1
2006/07 4 - 4 -
TOTAL 6 1 6 1

Career details


Club Details
Dundee United

Dundee United
 (youth)
September 1999 (signed professional contract)
Brechin City

Brechin
rptd August 11th, 2000 (loan)
Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth Argyle
October 26th, 2001 
Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers
November 2004 (trial)
Swansea City

Swansea City
November 2004 (trial)
Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe Wanderers
December 2004 (trial)
Kidderminster Harriers

Kidderminster Harriers
December 24th, 2004 
Rochdale

Rochdale
August 5th, 2005 ; released
Wrexham

Wrexham
July 19th, 2006 (trial)
Swindon Town

Swindon
December 8th, 2006 (unattached); released (rptd May 5th, 2009)
AFC Bournemouth

Bournemouth
September 26th, 2008 (loan); expired (rptd October 23rd, 2008)
Torquay United

Torquay United
March 26th, 2009 (loan); expired (rptd May 5th, 2009)
Torquay United

Torquay United
July 22nd, 2009 (trial)
Walsall

Walsall
July 2009 (trial)
Mansfield Town

Mansfield Town
September 1st, 2009 (unattached)
Truro City

Truro
July 2010 (trial)
Southend United

Southend United
July 16th, 2010 (unattached); released (rptd May 18th, 2012)
Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford
rptd October 16th, 2012 (unattached)
Basildon United

Basildon United
March 2013 (player-assistant manager)
Victoria Highlanders

Victoria Highlanders
rptd April 30th, 2013 (player-coach)
Vancouver Whitecaps

Vancouver Whitecaps
September 2015 (academy coach)
Vic West

Vic West
2015 
Vancouver Island Wave

Vancouver Island Wave
 (player-coach)
Lakehill

Lakehill
cs 2018