The Express And Echo have today reported the following news:
A STAND will be renamed in honour of Adam Stansfield to show the popular forward will never be forgotten at the club where he made his name.
Exeter City’s number nine has always been held up by his former club Elmore as an inspiration that childhood dreams can be realised.
He spent several years at the Tiverton club before being spotted by Yeovil Town, aged 21, and subsequently carving out a successful professional career before his untimely death from bowel cancer last August.
Now future generations of players running out for Elmore hoping to emulate his success will have a permanent reminder of what can be achieved.
The side of the stand will feature the four-foot-high tribute that includes a full-length picture of a youthful Adam in his Elmore kit several years before he went on to become a hero to thousands of Exeter City fans.
His family, many of whom live in Tiverton, are said to be thrilled at the gesture and an official opening of the stand is expected to be held shortly. Elmore chairman Jed Hewitt said: “We have done this to show respect to Adam and his family, not just for what he did as a player but all the other things he got involved in.
“He was a fantastic player for us. But off the pitch whenever we called on him to do something he was always accommodating. Even after he left and went onto greater things he would come back and help as much as he could and he never forgot his roots.
“A lot of local players knew him and he obviously went on to achieve his goal. In doing so he set the standard for other people of what can be achieved if they work hard.
Mr Hewitt said the idea was agreed by the club’s committee some time ago and Adam’s family were fully behind it.
He said: “I spoke to his sister Andrea and she was over the moon. Not just because we have named the stand after Adam but it was important for them to know that people are still thinking about him at the club. Adam will never be forgotten here.
“It is something we have thought about doing for some time but we have been trying to find the right picture. The one we have picked was up on the wall at his wake.
“It will be put up on the side of the stand so anyone walking towards it will be able to see it.”
Signage is being provided by Tiverton company Ken White Signs and will be given to the club in the next few days. Ben White, general manager of the company, played with Adam when he was at Elmore.
He said: “The main thing I remember about playing with Adam was he was always far too good for the level. He is still the player they all talk about at Elmore. For what he represents for the club and what he went on to achieve, it is a fitting tribute.
“We were approached about two weeks ago to ask if we could do the panel and straight away said we were happy to help and would not charge for it. We felt strongly that it was something we wanted to do.”
Source: http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/Permanent-reminder-football-legend-stand-named-Stansfield/article-3163329-detail/article.html
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