Up the Stannos

Adam Stansfield was a journeyman professional soccer player, making a living in the lowest rungs of England's professional pyramid. A striker, he helped Yeovil Town and Hereford United earn promotion into League One, and then did the same with Exeter City in 2006. He played 142 of his 259 professional matches with The Grecians (Exeter, dontchaknow) and has a stand in St. James Park, their home ground.

Stanno died of bowel cancer in 2010 at the age of 31, just six months after being diagnosed. He left behind three young sons. His oldest, Jay, was just seven at the time.

As the years passed, Jay Stansfield became a player of some ability. After a strong youth career with his father's Exeter City, Jay was signed to a professional contract by Fulham in 2019 at the age of 16. He's made eight appearances with the Cottagers' senior squad in league and cup play, and represented England at the U18 and U20 levels.

This season, the younger Stansfield played at Exeter City on loan. He wore his father's number nine jersey after the club unretired it. At the time, he said, "It means a lot to be wearing number nine. I know the pressure will be high, but it felt the right thing to do. I will be proud to wear it and follow in his footsteps and beyond."

Last weekend, he led the line for The Grecians for the final time. He had a good season in Exeter, and he's in Fulham's plans going forward. I'd tell you he had a Hollywood ending at St. James Park, but the suits out in LaLa Land would've rejected this story as too unlikely. Young Jay, now 20, scored three times in Exeter City's 3-2 win over Morecambe before being substituted off in the 74th minute. Said the Exeter City Twitter account, "Not a dry eye in the house, including Jay himself. It's straight to the Stansfield Stand again, where he points up to his Dad's name. Oh Jay, he'd be so proud of you."

Adam Stansfield's family set up a foundation in his name to carry on his legacy as a footballer and community stalwart. And it sure looks like his eldest son plans to carry that legacy forward in a different way. 

One of the coolest stories in all of sport this year. Up the Stansfields.