IAN STONEBRIDGE

Born: 30 August 1981

Came from: Tottenham Hotspur   Went to: Wycombe Wanderers

First game: 07 August 1999   Last game: 01 May 2004

Appearances: 201 (147/54)   Goals: 45

Born in Lewisham, in London, 'Stoney' began his career as a trainee with Tottenham Hotspur, joining Argyle on a free transfer after failing to break into the first team squad at White Hart Lane.

He made an immediate impact at Home Park, despite his age, and his form led to an England under-18 international call-up, less than a month after making his first-team debut. He went on to be capped four times in total, all during the qualifying rounds of the UEFA under-18 European Championships, scoring two goals for the Three Lions.

He was also the club's top scorer in 2000-01 and his second season, and played a vital role in the Division Three title win a year later under Paul Sturrock. Stonebridge also played an important part in the following two campaigns, culminating in the Division Two championship. Despite the success, he was allowed to leave on a free transfer when Argyle were promoted and moved to Wycombe Wanderers after finding out he may not be a regular at the higher level.

He did become a regular in his first season at Wycombe, but moved to Torquay United on loan after losing his place the following year. In total he played 74 times for the Chairboys, scoring six goals and played just three times for Torquay, without scoring in his 2007 loan spell. That was cut short due to injury and he struggled to regain full fitness over the next 18 months, eventually being forced to retire at just 25, due to a persistent joint injury named reactive arthropathy.

He went on to play briefly for non-league Truro City in 2008, scoring three goals in six appearances in the Southern League before calling time on playing.

Since retiring fully, he has gained a degree in Applied Sport Science and Coaching at Plymouth Marjon University and an MSc in Sport Coaching at Loughborough University. He completed his PhD at Loughborough University in 2023, studying coach identity from a post-structural perspective, no less!

Ian is now a lecturer in Sports Coaching at Plymouth Marjon University for courses including BA (Hons) Sport, Coaching and Physical Education and BA (Hons) Football Development and Coaching and is also a regular studio guest on matchdays, for Argyle TV.

Note: Ian's father, Alan was a successful non-league player, playing for Bromley before their arrival into the Football League, and was a key figure in the memoir and 2018 'feelgood' film The Bromley Boys, based on the book of the same name by Dave Roberts. Stonebridge (senior) scored for Bromley on his debut in 1968 in a 5-0 win against Corinthian Casuals, which is represented in the film.