# Stuart Sinclair

Stuart Robert Sinclair (born 19 November 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

## Career
### Bristol Rovers

Sinclair joined newly relegated Conference Premier club Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2014. During the 2014–15 season, he helped the club to gain an instant promotion back to the Football League. On 8 August 2015, Sinclair made his Football League debut in a 1–0 home defeat to Northampton Town. During Sinclair's third Football League appearance, he netted a late winner against Luton Town on 18 August 2015. Sinclair continued to perform well, picking up various Man of the Match awards. His second and final goal of the season was during a 1–1 draw away to Exeter City. After picking up an injury which required surgery and saw him out of action for over six weeks, he missed the end of the 2015–16 season, including a dramatic match against Dagenham & Redbridge on the final day, which ended in a 2–1 win, after a 92nd-minute winner earned Sinclair and the club back to back promotions.
Sinclair made his first appearance of 2016–17 on the opening day of the season in a 3–1 defeat away to Scunthorpe United. His first goal of the season came in a 2–0 victory away to Oxford United on 4 March 2017. Sinclair was sent off in a 3–0 defeat away to Bury on 14 March after being booked twice for simulation.
Sinclair was released when his contract expired at the end of the 2018–19 season having become a strong fan-favourite during his time with the club, earning cult hero status.

### Walsall

Sinclair signed for Walsall, who were newly relegated to League Two, on 21 May 2019 on a contract of undisclosed length, effective from 1 July. He made his debut on the opening day of the 2019–20 season as Walsall won 1–0 away to Northampton Town.
Towards the end of the 2020–21 season, with Walsall having a limited backroom coaching staff, Sinclair stepped up to help coach some of the younger players in the squad. At the end of the season, after two seasons at the club, Sinclair was one of eight players to not be offered a new contract and would leave Walsall upon the expiration of his contract.

### Retirement

Following his departure from Walsall, Sinclair moved to Canada. In 2023, during a short spell back in England, he joined Spartan South Midlands Division One club Real Bedford, managed by brother Rob.

## Personal life

Sinclair's brother, Rob Sinclair, also became a professional footballer.

## Career statistics

    As of end of 2022–23 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Arlesey Town | 2009–10 | Southern League Division One Midlands | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 3 | 53 | 4 |
| Arlesey Town | 2010–11 | Southern League Division One Central | 41 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | 53 | 3 |
| Arlesey Town | 2011–12 | Southern League Premier Division | 20 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Arlesey Town | Total | Total | 99 | 4 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 3 | 134 | 7 |
| Salisbury City | 2011–12 | Conference South | 21 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 2 |
| Salisbury City | 2012–13 | Conference South | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 32 | 4 |
| Salisbury City | 2013–14 | Conference Premier | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| Salisbury City | Total | Total | 87 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 92 | 6 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2014–15 | Conference Premier | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2015–16 | League Two | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 2 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2016–17 | League One | 38 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2017–18 | League One | 29 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 3 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2018–19 | League One | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Bristol Rovers | Total | Total | 142 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 162 | 8 |
| Walsall | 2019–20 | League Two | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 |
| Walsall | 2020–21 | League Two | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Walsall | Total | Total | 43 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 2 |
| Real Bedford | 2022–23 | Spartan South Midlands Division One | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 376 | 19 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 3 | 440 | 23 |
* ↑ Seven appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, three appearances and one goal in Southern League Cup, three appearances and one goal in Bedfordshire Senior Cup
* ↑ One appearance in Bedfordshire Premier Cup, five in FA Trophy, one in Southern League Cup, two in Bedfordshire Senior Cup
* ↑ One appearance in Southern League Cup, one in FA Trophy, one in Bedfordshire Senior Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearance in FA Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in Football League Trophy
* 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

## Honours

Arlesey Town
* Southern League Division One Central: 2010–11
Salisbury City
* Conference South play-offs: 2012–13
Bristol Rovers
* Conference Premier runner-up: 2014–15
* Conference Premier play-offs: 2014–15