Solihull Moors surprise as they sign ex-Leicester, Wolves, Ipswich, Fulham, Sheff Utd, Huddersfield, Derby player Richard Stearman.
He drops down a few leagues after being released by Derby in May 2023 after making 31 appearances over two seasons for the Rams.
As well as playing for his new club Solihull, he will also be helping out with coaching the team’s player ready for the 2023/4 season with the first game at home to Eastleigh on Saturday.
Solihull Moors is delighted to announce the signing of Richard Stearman on a one-year contract.
Welcome to Moors, Stears! 🟡🔵
— Solihull Moors FC (@SolihullMoors) August 3, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
Solihull Moors is delighted to announce the signing of Richard Stearman on a one-year contract subject to League and FA Approval.
Former Premier League defender Richard Stearman has put pen-to-paper on a one-year contract at Moors, adding leadership, experience and strength to Andy Whing’s side.
The 35-year-old has made 77 appearances in the topflight of English football and has played over 450 times in the Football League.
Stearman was most recently at Derby County, offering significant know how both on and off the pitch during a difficult campaign for the Rams. Whilst in the East Midlands, the defender would help the Rams’ coaching staff by taking on defensive sessions as he looked to further develop his coaching skills.
The defender has a huge influence on matchdays, helping with warm-ups and working on the defensive unit and tactical influences if he wasn’t in the team.
The vastly experienced defender helped Sheffield United secure promotion to the Premier League in 2019. Stearman made 44 appearances for the Blades, scoring three times.
Stearman is no stranger to the West Midlands, having played 253 times for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Upon securing the defender, Andy Whing expressed his delight stating: “I’m delighted to get someone in with Richard’s experience. He’s the type of character we’ve been looking for both on and off the pitch, he adds so much to our dressing room.
“He will be a great help on the coaching side of things, helping our younger players develop, putting on individual and group sessions. Richard will be a valuable member to the coaching staff as well as the playing staff.
“He’s played at the highest level for such a long time, I’m delighted we could secure his signature!”
Welcome to Moors, Richard!
HIS CAREER:
Youth career
1998–2004 – Leicester City
Senior career
2004–2008 – Leicester City – 130 games (11 goals)
2008–2015 – Wolverhampton Wanderers – 234 games (6 goals)
2013 → Ipswich Town (loan) – 15 games (0 goals)
2015–2017 – Fulham – 32 games (0 goals)
2016–2017 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) – 19 games (1 goal)
2017–2020 – Sheffield United – 50 games (4 goals)
2020–2021 – Huddersfield Town – 38 games (0 goals)
2021–2023 – Derby County – 31 games (0 goals)
International career
2003 – England U16 – 3 games (0 goals)
2004 – England U17 – 9 games (0 goals)
2005 – England U19 – 1 game (0 goals)
2008–2009 – England U21 – 4 games (0 goals)
Honours
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Football League Championship: 2008–09
Football League One: 2013–14
Sheffield United
EFL Championship runner-up: 2018–19
Individual
Leicester City Player of the Year: 2007–08
Leicester City Players’ Player of the Year: 2007-08
PFA Team of the Year: 2008–09 Championship
Wolverhampton Wanderers Player of the Year: 2014–15
Here’s what fans had to say as Solihull sign ex-Leicester, Wolves, Ipswich, Fulham, Sheff Utd, Huddersfield, Derby player Richard Stearman…
@scott_5254: Fuck me. What a signing that is!! Fair play Wardy.
@su4eranio: Best of success Stears in your next chapter. A true professional and still has more to offer 💪
@smfc_cal: Brings a lot of experience which will help our young squad, I won’t imagine he will play every game this season but the leadership will be seen throughout the season, welcome to the moors Richard
@Nobby0101: Great signing and he’s an absolute gentleman. Had all the time in the world for my kids when they met him.
@TeeGee60518810: how have we pulled this off, stearman and gordon at the back is really good, i didnt think we’d replace howe and gudger
@NebUtd18: Omg what a player
@btpclarkson: Wow! An absolute beast of a signing in the National League. 👏
@AarenCorbett: Yes stears 🙌
@MelMellonie: Great player. Once a 🐏 Stears. Thanks for everything.
@Greg_Jones01: Class signing!
@stintmxram: Good luck Richard. Thanks for your efforts on and off the pitch at DCFC
@stovvy: Good luck @the_stears, get those coaching badges sorted!!
@HartNickhart: Good luck stears sheff United legend on and especially off the pitch. (lad likes to party)
@DeanWSmith79: Welcome to The Moors! Best of luck for the season 💛💙
@Wilfrixd11: Good luck sure you will do well and help them on and off the pitch
@henry_sikora: Top professional and boozer ⚔️
@SimonKerry_: Never let #dcfc down – great reader of the game
@IrishWolvesFans: Go on the Stears! A great professional and a pretty fine pint man too! ⚽️🍺🍻
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