Exeter City can confirm that the number nine shirt belonging to our much-loved former striker Adam Stansfield will come back into use this season.
After much consideration and feedback from fans, the number nine shirt, which was retired for nine seasons following Adam’s passing in 2010, will be worn again in City colours from the start of the new campaign.
Exeter City have been in close communications with Adam’s family with regards to this matter and, along with them, the decision has been taken that the number nine shirt will be worn by a ‘home-grown’ player to further underline both Exeter City FC’s and the Adam Stansfield Foundation’s dedication to the promotion of young footballers.
Speaking about the decision, manager Matt Taylor said: “This shirt means so much to all associated with the football club and will forever be significant as the shirt worn by Adam during his time at the football club.
“The remembrance and recognition of Adam will never pass, and the way he played the game will be embroidered in teammates and fans’ memories for years to come.
“It feels fitting that the shirt should go to a home-grown player as we know how much this club meant to Adam and how highly the fans hold him in their memories. The club will continue to support Adam’s family and the foundation, alongside closely following the career of Adam’s son, Jay, who joined Fulham from Exeter in 2019.”
Marie Stansfield said: “We would like to thank the club and supporters for all the love they have shown, and continue to show, to Adam and our family. Adam was extremely proud to wear the number nine shirt and Exeter City was very close to his heart. Therefore, we feel, as the Adam Stansfield Foundation was created with the aim of helping to give young people the unique opportunity to develop life skills through the power of football, that it is a fitting tribute that the number nine shirt goes to a homegrown player.”
Nick Hawker, chairman of Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, said: “Adam is rightly an iconic figure at Exeter City and is celebrated at St James Park and at the Clifford Hill Training Ground. The club did the right thing in retiring the number nine shirt for the period that they did and continue to do the right thing in awarding the coveted jersey to ‘one of our own’ – a fitting and appropriate tribute.”