Stuart Tomlinson

Stuart Charles Tomlinson (born 22 May 1985) is an English former professional wrestler and professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

As a footballer, Tomlinson progressed from the Crewe Alexandra youth team to turn professional in 2003.

Having graduated through the club's youth academy, Tomlinson made his senior debut for Crewe Alexandra in a Second Division clash with Oldham Athletic on 25 January 2003, replacing Danny Milosevic on 51 minutes after the Australian suffered an injury.

He conceded a goal to Chris Armstrong after his view was obscured by a group of players, though Crewe ran out 3–1 winners at Boundary Park.

At the end of the season he signed his first professional contract, and Crewe were promoted into the First Division as runners up in the Second Division.

He spent the next six years with the club, spending part of 2004 on loan at Stafford Rangers, and playing once on loan for Burton Albion in 2008.

His second game came on 17 March 2004 at the Boleyn Ground; he replaced Clayton Ince after 86 minutes with the score 4–2 to West Ham United, after Ince was stretchered off with a knee injury.

The eighteen-year-old held his nerve in front of over 30,000 spectators and no goals were scored in the brief period he was on the pitch.

Later in the year he had a loan spell at local non-League side Stafford Rangers.

After recovering from a twisted ankle, Tomlinson's next senior game was at Sincil Bank on 23 August 2005, where he replaced loanee Ben Williams at half-time.

Lincoln City knocked the "Railwaymen" out of the League Cup, putting two past Williams and three past Tomlinson for a 5–2 victory.

His first start came in the FA Cup Third Round clash at Deepdale on 7 January 2006, the home side coming out 2–1 winners.

He played his first Championship game on 28 January, replacing Ross Turnbull at half-time; Watford put two past each men for a 4–1 win.

After signing a one-year contract extension in March, Tomlinson got his first league start on 30 April, as Crewe beat Millwall 4–2, Ben May scoring both of the "Lions" goals.

In May 2006, Burton Albion put in a request to sign Tomlinson to a season-long loan.

The move was delayed after Tomlinson picked up a calf injury, before he managed to join Burton in time for a pre-season friendly with Sheffield Wednesday.

However, Crewe reconsidered the loan deal and so Nigel Clough instead signed aged veteran Kevin Poole.

Clough was still keen to sign Tomlinson, with the saga continuing well into the season, though no deal was made.

Tomlinson picked up his first senior clean sheet on 22 August 2006, during a 3–0 win at Grimsby Town's Blundell Park in the League Cup First Round.

The Crewe website described a "heroic effort" from Tomlinson in the Football League Trophy tie with Rochdale on 31 October, as he managed to three of Rochdale's four penalties (the penalty he did not save was a miss).

Dario Gradi said: "Stuart is outstanding on penalties because he is positive and doesn't flop over".

He went on to play seven League One games, and also made one appearance in the FA Cup.

However, he did not play in the 2007 end of the season, partly due to a tore groin that kept him out of action for a number of weeks.

In the summer there was once again talk of a possible loan move to Burton.

He was only used by Steve Holland once throughout the 2007–08 season, playing in a 1–1 draw with Chester City in the Football League Trophy on 4 September; Chester won the game 4–3 on penalties.

Not long after this he was on the sidelines with a broken thumb.

In February, Tomlinson finally joined Conference club Burton Albion on a one-month loan.

He played 90 minutes for "Brewers" in a 3–1 defeat to Histon on 1 March, and was forced to make numerous saves.

He played no further part of Burton's season after he sustained an injury to his cruciate ligaments.

After six months of rehab he recovered earlier than expected.

His 2008–09 season started on 25 November, as Gradi gave him a start at the Walkers Stadium, where Leicester City won 2–1.

The next month he played six games, keeping four clean sheets (against Carlisle United, Cheltenham Town, Swindon Town and Millwall ).

However, he attracted criticism from his manager at the end of January following heavy defeats to Northampton Town and Peterborough United, and was subsequently dropped.

He spent the 2009–10 campaign at Conference club Barrow, where he shared goalkeeping responsibilities with Tim Deasy.

He then signed with Port Vale, and was favoured ahead of Chris Martin for the 2010–11 and 2011–12 campaigns, before choosing to leave the club in July 2012.

He signed with Burton Albion in September 2012, but retired through injury in July 2013.

In December 2013, Tomlinson began training as a professional wrestler on a developmental contract with WWE.

In November 2014, he made his debut at a NXT live event, under the ring name Hugo Knox.

In September 2016, he was released from his contract.

In March 2017, Tomlinson briefly returned to football to play for Altrincham.