G.O.A.T. - Chester City

Stuart Alan Rimmer was born on the 12th of October 1964, in Southport and initially came through the ranks at Everton before a lack of first team opportunities saw him join Chester City on loan in January 1985.

There was to be a dramatic start to his career with Chester, as he struck a hat–trick against Southend United in a 5–1 win on the 26th of January 1985. "I scored one on my left foot, one on my right foot and a header" the young, goal-hungry striker told The Chester Chronicle in an interview in 2007. "I've got all the hat-trick balls I was given but I don't know which ones are which. I never got them autographed or dated or anything like that. They're in the garage!" He adapted quickly to life in the old Division Four and said his early years as a trainee with Everton stood him in good stead. "I didn't know what to expect after playing for Everton's reserves, but I found I had a lot more time," he said. "I had been used to playing against defenders who played first division football, so I found I had more space and, luckily, everything clicked."

By the end of the season Stuart had comfortably finished as the club's top scorer with 14 goals that had helped City to mid–table safety. The following season also began in explosive fashion, with Stuart scoring 21 times in their first 23 League and Cup games as Chester shot to the top of Division Four. However, he was injured the following month and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Stuart scoring a diving header during Chester's 4-0 home win over Colchester in 1985

 

He finally returned to action the following season as a substitute on the 4th of October 1986 but it wasn't until the following February that he scored again from open play and he ended the season with 13 goals to his name. Back to his prolific best in the 1987-88 season prompted the return of scouts from leading clubs to Sealand Road. He had scored 24 times in the league (27 in total) by the time Watford signed him in March 1988 for £210,000 (with half of the fee going to Everton).

Chester made him their record when he made the shock but welcome return to them in August 1991. He scored 15 goals during that season as Chester bravely avoided relegation and his tally rose to 20 goals the following campaign with Chester finishing bottom of Division Two. He broke the Chester City Football League goal scoring record, a record previously held by Gary Talbot, with his 84th such strike coming in a 2–1 home defeat to Mansfield Town.

His final game for the club appropriately saw him have the final word, netting a late equaliser in a 1–1 home draw with Scarborough on 2 May 1998. Despite Rimmer scoring in his last three home games for the club, manager Kevin Ratcliffe opted not to renew his Chester contract.

 

His departure brought to an end his long–running partnership with fellow forward Gary Bennet, who he first played up front with at Chester in 1985, with the pair enjoying three separate spells as team–mates at the club. He is Chester's all-time leading scorer, bagging 185 goals in 361 appearances during his two spells with the club.

Upon retirement at the age of 34 and, with no contract on the table, Stuart took work delivering milk in his hometown of Southport with Bates Dairy. He was inducted into the Chester Football Club Hall of Fame in March 2011 at a home game v Salford City, confirming his legendary status amongst the 'supporter owned' clubs fans.