Stuart Myall

Stuart Thomas Myall (born 12 November 1974) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. He began his career in the Football League at Brighton & Hove Albion and after an unsuccessful spell at Brentford, he dropped into non-League football.

Early life
Myall grew up in Eastbourne, East Sussex and was head boy at Cavendish School in the town.

Brighton & Hove Albion
Born in Eastbourne, Myall joined the Brighton & Hove Albion's Centre Of Excellence at age 11. He progressed into the first team squad as a full back, but injury and weight problems led to him being transfer-listed by manager Liam Brady in September 1994. Myall worked to improve his fitness and under manager Jimmy Case, he proved to be "a revelation in a midfield anchor role" during the 1995–96 season and earned "a reputation for being a neat passer". He made 93 appearances, scoring four goals, prior to his release at the end of the 1995–96 season. In 2002, Myall recalled that he "had a great time at Brighton. It was what I always wanted to do and I was at the Albion from a very young age. I had a really fantastic time and I was disappointed when I was released in 1996 because I had played quite a few games for the club. But we got relegated and Jimmy Case wanted to bring in his own players".

Brentford
Myall signed a two-year contract with Second Division club Brentford on a free transfer during the 1996 off-season. He failed to win a call into the first team squad during the 1996–97 season under manager David Webb and instead played for the club's reserve team, scoring six goals in 20 appearances. Under new manager Eddie May for the 1997–98 season, Myall had to wait until 1 November 1997 to make his debut, with a starting appearance in a 0–0 draw at AFC Bournemouth. Following May's sacking and the appointment of Micky Adams, Myall failed to make any further appearances and he departed the club in January 1998, having negotiated a settlement on his contract.

Hastings United
Myall transferred to Southern League Premier Division club Hastings Town prior to the start of the 1998–99 season, having previously had a spell on loan at the club during the 1996–97 season. The club resigned from the Southern League in 1999 after a fifth-place finish, but was reinstated to the Southern League First Division East for the 1999–00 season. Myall won the first silverware of his career during the 2001–02 season, when he helped Hastings to the Southern League First Division East title. Myall suffered an injury hit 2002–03 season and his woes were compounded by the club (now renamed Hastings United) being relegated straight back to the Southern League First Division East. He made 17 appearances and scored three goals during the 2002–03 season. Myall left Hastings in February 2004, after making 19 appearances and scoring four goals during the 2003–04 season. Myall made over 250 appearances during his time with the Arrows.

Eastbourne Borough
Myall transferred to Southern League Premier Division club Eastbourne Borough in February 2004 and made eight appearances during what remained of the 2003–04 season. Despite an 11th-place finish, the club was elevated to the new Conference South for the 2004–05 season. He made only 9 appearances prior to his departure in February 2005.

Folkestone Invicta
Myall transferred to Isthmian League Premier Division club Folkestone Invicta on 12 February 2005. He made 9 appearances and scored one goal during what remained of the 2004–05 season. Myall was a virtual ever-present during the 2005–06 season and made 41 appearances, scoring three goals. He made six appearances during the early part of the 2006–07 season, before leaving the club in September 2006. Myall made 56 appearances and scored four goals during his time with the Seasiders.

Horsham
Myall transferred to Isthmian League Premier Division club Horsham in September 2006 and made 31 appearances and scored one goal during the 2006–07 season. Myall left Horsham at the end of the 2007–08 season, after making 33 appearances over the course of the campaign. He made 64 appearances and scored one goal during his time with the Hornets.

Eastbourne United Association
Myall transferred to Sussex County League Second Division club Eastbourne United Association in December 2012.

Late career
While resident in Malaysia, Myall played for Kuala Lumpur Expat & Veterans League club KL International. After moving to Hong Kong, he played for veterans' club Discovery Bay, which finished as champions of the Legal League in the 2014–15 season.

Coaching and managerial career
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Myall spent time in the US, coaching children in Atlanta and Chicago. As of April 2022, he was manager of Eastbourne Town Vets.

Personal life
During a Q&A for a Brentford matchday programme in September 1997, Myall revealed he supported Liverpool as a boy. Myall worked office jobs in the early 2000s, including as a computer retail salesman in London. He was inspired to become a PE teacher and enrolled on a course at Brighton University in 2002, from which he graduated with a PE degree in 2005. He worked as a Head of department at a state school in Lambeth and later emigrated to Kuala Lumpur. Myall moved from Kuala Lumpur to take up the position of Head of Secondary Physical Education at the Discovery Bay International School in Hong Kong. He moved back to Britain in 2015 to become a Head of Section and teacher of sport at Gildredge House Free School in his hometown, Eastbourne.

Career statistics


Honours
Discovery Bay
 * Hastings United
 * Southern League First Division East: 2001–02
 * Legal League: 2014–15