Stuart Ian Nicholson (born 3 February 1987) is a former professional footballer, currently playing in Melbourne, Australia, for Springvale City FC. Stuart was also a former England Under-19 international Career West Bromwich Albion Nicholson, made his debut for West Bromwich Albion on 17 January 2006, coming on as an extra-time substitute in a 3–2 FA Cup defeat away at Reading. He made his Premiership debut four days later in the 1–0 loss against Sunderland at The Hawthorns, when he replaced Nathan Ellington, whom he describes as his childhood hero. He won the West Bromwich Albion Young Player of the Year award for 2005–06 and earned the nickname "The Knife" for his sharpness in front of goal. He was given a place in the first team squad for the 2006–07 season, and marked his first start with a goal against Leyton Orient on 24 August in the first round of the League Cup. Bristol Rovers Nicholson joined Bristol Rovers on loan in November 2006. Unusually for someone born in the north-east of England, he has been a fan of the club since being given a Bristol Rovers shirt as a present when he was 14. The loan was due to last three months, but Nicholson was recalled four weeks early by West Brom, before returning to Bristol Rovers for a second loan spell during the same season. He scored a brace on 17 March 2007 against Notts County and followed it up with the winner against Stockport County on 20 March, both games at the Memorial Stadium. A stomach injury then kept him out of the team, and his loan spell was cut short in April when he returned to West Brom to have a hernia operation. Shrewsbury Town In August 2007 Nicholson joined Shrewsbury Town on a scheduled season-long loan. However, Nicholson did not see eye to eye with Gary Peters and by December he had found the net just once for the Shrews in 14 league appearances. On 18 December it was announced that he had returned to Albion due to an ongoing "personal problem", with his loan spell at Shrewsbury set to be officially ended in January. Wrexham On 18 January 2008 Nicholson joined Wrexham on a three-month loan deal. In April Albion confirmed that they would release the player in the summer when his existing contract expires. Newcastle Blue Star He signed with Newcastle Blue Star in