Stuart graduated through the ranks at Leicester, and in four years as a pro with the Foxes, he made a total of 37 league appearances In addition, he played two games for Birmingham City during a loan spell at St Andrews in March 2000.

At the beginning of the 2000/01 season he joined Grimsby, on loan, and remained at Blundell Park for the entire season.

In July 2001 he signed a permanent deal with the Mariners and remained at Grimsby for another three years. A first team regular throughout his time with the club, Stuart made a total of 117 league appearances and scored 10 goals.

Stuart moved to the Memorial Stadium in the summer of 2004, though injury restricted him to just 26 league appearances during his first season with the club.

Fully recovered, he played an important part in the first team squad during 2005/06 and appeared in a total of 38 league games. He scored his first goal for the club in a

3-2 win at Rushden & Diamonds on 2nd January 2006.

He was outstanding in a central midfield role in 2006/07 and didn't look back after being handed the captaincy. He led the side out in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final at the Millennium Stadium and in the play off final at Wembley.

One of the side's most consistent performers during that season his goal against Lincoln, in the play off semi final, will be talked about by Gasheads for years to come.

Another consistent season saw Stuart pick up the Supporters Club Player of the Year Award for the 2007/08. He was runner up to top scorer Rickie Lambert in 2008/09 and won the award again at the end of last season.

One of the club's most consistent performers, he passed the 200 league game milestone early last season and before the end of the campaign signed a new two year contract which keeps him at the Memorial Stadium until 2012.

Now the club's longest serving player, he has one eye on the future and is currently taking his Level 2 coaching badge.

A skilful and determined player, he doesn't score as many goals as his midfield colleagues, but he often plays the holding role, sitting just in front of the back four, and still finds time to take most of the set pieces and creates on a host of chances for his colleagues.

Stuart has won 15 caps for Scotland at U-21 level.

When former manager Dave Penney was dismissed on Monday 7th March 2011, Stuart was asked to take over, in a caretaker capacity, until the end of the season. His first game in charge was on 8th January, a game that ended in a 1-0 win for Rovers.

He reached a personal milestone in that game, making his 250th start in a league match for the club