Stewart Christopher Littlewood (7 January 1905 â 2 February 1977) was an English footballer who played as a centre-forward for Holmfield Mission, Hardwich Colliery, Chesterfield, Matlock Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Luton Town, Port Vale, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, and Altrincham.
Littlewood played for Holmfield Mission and Hardwich Colliery before he joined the Chesterfield Third Division North in January 1924. Having failed to make a first-team appearance for the "Spireites", he returned to non-League football with Matlock Town. He gained another chance in the English Football League with Second Division side Sheffield Wednesday in January 1925. Still, he left Hillsborough at the end of the 1924âÂÂ25 season without featuring in a first-team game. He signed with Luton Town in July 1925 and scored two goals in six Third Division South games before his release at the end of the 1925âÂÂ26 season. He had a trial at Alfreton Town in October 1926.
Littlewood signed with Port Vale following a trial period in November 1926. He scored a brace on his debut at Clapton Orient on Christmas Day 1926, but only made one further Second Division appearance in the 1926âÂÂ27 campaign. He scored 55 in goals in 33 reserve team games in the 1927âÂÂ28 season. However, he had to battle out-of-form club legend Wilf Kirkham for a first-team place, and was limited to just seven first-team games despite scoring a hat-trick past Fulham. He hit nine goals in ten appearances at the start of the 1928âÂÂ29 campaign, including a hat-trick past Millwall.
Littlewood was transferred to Second Division side Oldham Athletic, in exchange for Albert Pynegar and ã1,300, in January 1929. He finished as the "Latics" top-scorer in 1928âÂÂ29 and 1929âÂÂ30 with 12 and 30 goals respectively, helping the Boundary Park club to finish just two points off the promotion places in 1929âÂÂ30.
He was re-signed by new Port Vale manager Tom Morgan for a then-club record fee of ã1,550, and scored twice in ten appearances towards the end of the 1930âÂÂ31 season. He was limited to 13 games in the 1931âÂÂ32 campaign, scoring five goals. He scored ten goals in 13 games in 1932âÂÂ33, with his contribution limited after he was forced to undergo surgery to repair cartilage damage on a twisted knee. A club record six of his goals came in one match on 24 September, in a 9âÂÂ1 thrashing of Chesterfield at the Old Recreation Ground.
He was transferred to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic of the Third Division South in July 1933. Injury restricted him to 18 league games, during which he scored 11 goals, and he was released from Dean Court at the end of the 1933âÂÂ34 season. He signed with Cheshire County League side Altrincham in July 1934. His injuries restricted his mobility, but he scored 100 goals in 111 league and cup appearances. During his three seasons at Moss Lane he scored seven goals in a 9âÂÂ0 FA Cup win over Moulton Verdon, hit four goals in games against Buxton, Tranmere Rovers Reserves, Nantwich Town and Hyde United, and scored hat-tricks past Ashton National, Prescot Cables, Willaston and Winsford United. After leaving the "Robins", he had one final injury-plagued season with Northwich Victoria.
Littlewood was a centre-forward with pace and excellent finishing skills, equally adept with both feet.