He was very much on this blog's mind as the last decade ended, and now we read that Stuart Elliott has been released by Doncaster Rovers after barely appearing on the radar there for two years.
The finest goalscorer Hull City had in the last ten years never settled at Doncaster, even though it was the geographically-convenient move he needed when Phil Brown made it clear in January 2008 that he could go. Elliott duly went to the Keepmoat Stadium on loan and made the move permanent that summer after his Tigers contract expired - an event sadly under-reported as City were celebrating promotion to the Premier League at the time.
Elliott's specific requirements as a Christian meant that he has only chosen to join clubs that has a branch of his church nearby, hence why Motherwell and Hull were both ideal for him after he left Northern Ireland. He has now ventured back to Scotland to play for Hamilton Academical until the end of the season and everyone wishes him well.
People remember the complex character that Elliott exuded during his six years with the Tigers. On the pitch he was a marauding left winger who actually didn't have great pace or exceptional crossing ability, but what he could do was shoot. From anywhere. Some of his goals were truly phenomenal - a chip from the touchline at Plymouth Argyle in 2005/6 leaps to mind - while plenty more were crucial. Not a big chap either, he yet had a springing leap which allowed him to get plenty with his head. And almost all of his goals were followed by a rather bobbins cartwheel celebration which became part of his charm.
Off the pitch he was a softly spoken chap, devoted to his family and God and evidently the type of player who regarded bonding sessions with his team-mates as some kind of occupational hazard. He had a problem with reflux when Phil Parkinson was in charge, leading to concerns that his Tigers career was over during the turbulent 2006/7 season, though he recovered from Parkinson closing the door on him to score some crucial goals as City battled on - a double in the last five minutes against a nasty QPR side proving a particular highlight.
Elliott found himself shut out by Brown afterwards, and in his final season only got one goal, albeit a typically spectacular one which beat Wigan Athletic in the Carling Cup. The last straw for Brown came when Elliott played poorly at Plymouth in the FA Cup third round, a week after what proved to be his last League appearance, when he came on as a sub in a 1-1 draw with Stoke City on New Year's Day 2008.
Elliott's limitations as a team player have obviously been exposed by his time at Doncaster. Yet with the Tigers, those limitations were tolerated and even encouraged because, as an individual, he could do the most ridiculous, unexpected, flamboyant things. He is an icon of our club and always will be.
When he left City, someone had the kindness and time to concoct a tribute to the Northern Ireland international and put it online. For your viewing pleasure, here it is...
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