Saturday, May 13, 2023

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.

9 comments:

Marls said...

Whitney’s ringtone on my phone is the theme to the Rockford files.

rob said...

odds of a celtics/lakers nba final are +230. that's clearly what the nba wants, no?

rootsminer said...

This is lovely.

My ringtone for all of youse is the leadoff track of meddle.

Donna said...

This is a sad and great story. I’m a fan now of this team!
Thanks for asking —patient is doing remarkably well. We’re home. She’s sleeping lots and on the good pain drugs, but also moving/walking/stairs even…it’s quite amazing. She’s 2 inches taller, too!
I’m exhausted after (not) sleeping in the hospital 3 nights. Still an awesome hospital!
For your road-trip —choices:
More South along 64 to I-40, thru Memphis, Okie, Texas Pan, to NM (Santa Fe —nice!), and then North to CO.
OR, I-70 right, thru KY, bluegrass/L’vile, StL (arch/Busch), KC, and into CO.
OR farther North and go to Yellowstone/Tetons and drop down.
How much time you got?

zman said...

Happy Mother’s Day to all who observe it.

rootsminer said...

I observed it by taking brunch to my mom's house, then procuring the lp collection of my former bandmate. He sold it to me for a ludicrously low sum in order to be rid of all of them at once. I got goodies for years, most of 'em right up my alley.

rob said...

eagerly anticipating rootsy’s sampling era

rob said...

go find the clip of darrell griffith talking about denny crum during the latter's memorial service. great stoof.

rob said...

senior night for the girls soccer team at the school i coach at. one of the kids lost her mom to cancer on saturday night. she scored in overtime to help the team to a 3-1 win. sometimes fairytale endings do happen. and, obviously, fuck cancer.