Stuart Ripley

Age : 32                                        Date of birth : 20.11.1967

Place of birth : Middlesbrough         Nationality : English  

Position : Midfielder                        Squad number : 14

Height : 5ft 0ins                            Weight : 13st 0lb

Signed : 6.7.1998

      The direct winger arrived at The Dell in July 1998 from Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £1.5M and had a stop-start first season on the south coast. Ripley started his career with Middlesbrough and made 311 appearances for his home-town club scoring 31 goals. Early on in his Boro career, Ripley had a short spell on loan at Bolton, scoring one goal on six games. The right-sided player transferred to Blackburn in the summer of 1992 for £1.3M and had a massive impact at Ewood Park, winning a Premiership title in 1995. He also forced his way into the England squad with his dynamic wing play. Following 259 appearances for Rovers and 16 goals, Ripley switched to Southampton. Last season he made a total of 24 appearances, a number which was restricted by niggling injuries. Last season Ripley figured in 19 games scoring 1 goal but damaged himself just before the end of the season leaving his season on a low note.