Stuart Anthony Thurgood (born 4 November 1981) is an English former professional footballer. He played professionally for clubs including Southend United and Gillingham. In 2021 he was convicted of drugs smuggling offences and sentenced to eight years in prison. Career Born in Enfield, London, Thurgood made his debut for Gillingham in the 2–1 home win over Hartlepool United on 24 November 2007. He signed for Gillingham on a permanent basis in January 2008, keeping him at the club until 2009. Thurgood rejoined Grays Athletic on 13 March 2008 on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season. He signed for Grays for a third time on 19 August 2008, on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season. This was cut short though when he was released by Gillingham on 23 January 2009, at which point he joined Grays permanently again until the end of the season. After the end of the season, in May, he joined League Two team Dagenham & Redbridge on a two-year contract. During November 2009 he sustained an injury which eventually forced him to retire, aged just 28. However, after a successful period with playing for Grays Athletic's reserve team, Thurgood signed for the Isthmian League Division One club on 11 October 2011. In November 2011, Thurgood signed for Conference South club Thurrock, and returned for another spell in March 2017. Imprisonment In 2021, Thurgood was sentenced to eight years in prison for drugs smuggling offences. He was a member of an organised crime group which smuggled cocaine into the United Kingdom and distributed it to county lines gangs in Essex and surrounding areas. Honours FA Trophy: 2005, 2006 Conference South (VI): 2005 References External links Stuart Thurgood player profile at gillinghamfootballclub.com 1981 births Living people Footballers from Enfield, London English footballers Player-coaches England semi-pro international footballers English expatriate footballers Expatriate footballers in Japan Association football midfielders Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players Shimizu S-Pulse players Southend United F.C. players Grays Athletic F.C. players Gillingham F.C. players Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. players Thurrock F.C. players East Thurrock United F.C. players VCD Athletic F.C. players English Football League players National League (English football) players Isthmian League players J1 League players English expatriate sportspeople in Japan