EXPERIENCED goalkeeper Stephen Bywater made his 400th career appearance on Saturday when the Brewers drew 0-0 with Ipswich Town.
The 36-year-old started his career at Rochdale but didn't make a single appearance for them. He was brought to West Ham as a 16-year-old by Harry Redknapp in February 1998 for £250,000, rising to £1.75 million depending on performances and achievements. He graduated through the youth set-up and featured in West Ham's 1999 FA Youth Cup winning team along with Joe Cole and Michael Carrick.
Hi next permanent move came in the form of Derby County. Bywater joined Derby in August 2006 on an initial emergency loan deal for two weeks and signed a permanent three-year deal two weeks later for a fee of £225,000.
On 20 September 2011, Bywater joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan for 3 months due to an injury picked up by first choice 'keeper Nicky Weaver. Bywater's loan spell proved to be very successful, with Wednesday losing just 1 of his 12 games and keeping six clean sheets, moving boss Gary Megson to state his intention to make Bywater's move permanent, with then-Derby manager Nigel Clough confirming talks with Wednesday over a potential transfer. On 31 December 2011, Bywater signed for Wednesday on a permanent transfer, with a contract until the end of the 2011–2012 season.
In June 2013 Bywater signed a two-year contract with Millwall, becoming manager, Steve Lomas' first signing for the club. He made his Millwall debut on 6 August 2013 in the first round of the League Cup in a 2-1 home win against AFC Wimbledon.
In January 2015 Bywater signed a six-month contract with League One side Doncaster Rovers. He made his first appearance for Doncaster against Barnsley on 17 January in a 1–0 win. He was released by the club at the end of the 2014–15 season.
Bywater spent a few months in India with Kerala Blaster before Nigel Clough snapped up the experienced goalkeeper.
In his 400 career appearances he has kept 131 clean sheets of which 248 have come in the Championship, 41 in the top flight, 66 in League One, 12 in the Indian Super League and he's also made 6 play-off appearances.