Stewart calls it a day

Former Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart has hung his boots up following a very illustrious career.

Exeter’s away fixture at Bristol Rovers, the club Stewart started out at, was his final appearance of a phenomenal 19 year career.

Both sets of fans gave Stewart a well deserved standing ovation and guard of honour at full time as he left the pitch for the final time at the Memorial Stadium.

Stewart signed for Sunderland in 2002 on the same day as the then record signing Tore Andre Flo for over £3 million, and proved to be a more influential player than the big Norwegian.

Stewart bagged 31 goals in 102 appearances in his time at the Stadium Of Light, most of them coming in The Championship winning season under Mick McCarthy. This adds to his tally of 254 goals in 783 games across eight clubs.

His time at Ipswich Town will without a doubt be his biggest playing stint. Stewart helped fire the Tractor Boys into the Premiership and then earn them an unbelievable fifth place finish in their first season in the big time. Stewart finished second top scorer with 19 goals and the club also made it into the UEFA cup, but suffered relegation in their second season.

The striker then made the move to Wearside, where he is remembered by many for the goal he scored away at Wigan in the opening five minutes to send Sunderland to the top of the Championship.

He is also regarded as one of the ‘Mr Nice Guys’ of football, and humbly chose to leave the club following their promotion in 2005 as he felt he wasn’t a Premiership player.

“There are six games to go and I’m not fighting for a contract next season so I’m better off giving someone else a chance whether that’s a young lad or someone whose contract is up,” he said before the curtain closer.

“I am proud of my career and I am going out not chasing anything, I’m not chasing another title or another goal.”

Huddersfield Town, Ipswich, Bristol Rovers and of course Sunderland will regard Stewart as a legend as his magnificent playing career comes to a close.

Now aged 38, Stewart has been a delight to play with for many across the 8 clubs that have been proud to have him as a player. And this isn’t the end of his career in football, Stewart will stay on at the real St James Park until the end of the season to train as a coach, and hopefully pass on his bags of experience onto a younger generation.