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Stuart Alan Rimmer (born 12 October 1964) is an English former footballer who is Chester City's record goalscorer. He scored 134 Football League goals in two spells for Chester, and also represented seven other clubs during his professional career.
He was to make just one more appearance for Everton, in a 3–0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 27 December 1983 but with his first team chances not increasing he asked for his name to be circulated to other clubs.
The following season began in explosive fashion, with Rimmer scoring 21 times in the first 23 league and cup games as Chester shot to the top of Division Four.Sumner (1997), stats section This spell included four goals at Preston North End on his 21st birthday in a 6–3 win. However, he was injured the following month when scoring against Orient, as he collided with goalkeeper Peter Wells and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Rimmer finally returned to action as a late substitute against Doncaster Rovers on 4 October 1986.Sumner (1997), p. 103 He scored two penalties later in the month but it wasn't until the following February that he scored again from open play. He ended the season with 13 goals to his name and was back to his prolific best in 1987–88, prompting the return of scouts from leading clubs to Sealand Road.Sumner (1997), p. 104 He had struck 24 times in the league (27 in total) by the time top-flight side Watford signed him for £210,000 (with half of the fee going to Everton)Sumner (1997), p. 105 early in March 1988. Rimmer's final goals for Chester had come in a dramatic 3–1 win over Gillingham on 2 March 1988, when he scored three times in the last 10 minutes to turn the match on its head.
The 1993–94 season ended in promotion for Chester as runners–up in Division Three but produced a mere eight goals for Rimmer as he played second fiddle to loan man Graham Lancashire in the closing stages of the campaign. The following season was even worse, as Chester were again relegated and Rimmer struggled to command a regular place under Mike Pejic and spent time on loan with Rochdale and Preston. But Pejic's departure in January 1995 and the appointment of new boss Derek Mann led to Rimmer becoming involved in first–team duties again.Sumner (1997), p. 120
The final three seasons of Rimmer's league career (1995–98) were all spent with Chester in Division Three, scoring 13, four and eight league goals respectively in the three campaigns. 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.Sumner (1999), p. 2
In March 2007, Rimmer was guest of honour at the Bescot Stadium as Walsall beat Chester 1–0.
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