Remembering Stanno
Saturday 10th August 2013 marks three years since the untimely passing of Exeter City’s number 9 Adam Stansfield, who sadly lost his life to bowel cancer at the age of 31.
Stanno was a hugely popular character during his four years as an Exeter City player, with his work-rate, commitment, effort and amiable personality endearing him to the fans at St James Park without exception.
He is also remembered fondly at Hereford United and Yeovil Town – the other two clubs he represented as a professional. The Glovers gave Stansfield a fitting tribute in the seventh minute as they faced Brentford at Wembley in May, signifying the number 7 shirt that he wore at Huish Park.
The main stand at Horsdon Park, the home of Elmore, was also renamed in memory of Adam Stansfield in in March 2011. It was with the Eagles that Stanno really began to show his ability before turning pro with Yeovil.
Following his death in 2010, Exeter City retired the number 9 shirt in his memory. He left behind his wife Marie and their three children.
The Adam Stansfield Foundation was set up soon after Adam’s passing, to support youth football in a number of ways across the three parts of England that he plied his trade as a professional. The Foundation has raised tens of thousands of pounds in the past three years, and just last weekend Adam’s younger brother Paul ran 76 miles from the Memorial Stadium to St James Park with City fan Nick Bryant to raise funds for the Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support. Thanks must be passed to all those that keep Adam’s memory alive for the benefit of others.
City fans will be taking the commemorative Adam Stansfield banner to Mansfield Town’s One Call Stadium for the Sky Bet League 2 fixture, and will be paying tribute in particular in the ninth minute.
As always, our thoughts are with Adam’s family and friends.