Around The Grounds for Stanno

Really excited and proud to advertise this monumental effort that Adam Wright, a Hereford United fan is undertaking to raise money for the Foundation. Adam is currently a driver down for this task. If you feel you would like to be a part of this or would be able to help out in any way please get in touch at enquiries@adamstansfieldfoundation.com Any help would be greatly appreciated and thanks again to Adam and the guys for attempting this mammoth task. Below is Adam's take on what the team are doing

Around the grounds in 80 hours

Like so many others, we were deeply sadden to learn of the passing of Adam Stansfield last august. A hero and work horse on the pitch, and a gentleman off it, although never having known him, we felt like we had lost a brother. As a Hereford United fan, it is easy to imagine the league football we have enjoyed these past 4 seasons would not have been possible without Adams contribution. 25 goals in 2 seasons, and the most sublime of crosses for the equaliser during the playoff final, as well as yet another tireless shift, propelled the club back into the football league. I kept a loose eye on his time at Exeter also, and was impressed, (though not surprised) by the love he quickly earned from the St James faithful. His death made us think. He gave us so much, what could we give back.

We quickly learned of the Adam Stansfield Foundations formation, and it inspired us. Myself and my Bristol City supporting Step-father Steve concocted a plan. Steve had been reading the literary classic "around the world in 80 days", and from there, we developed the concept of "around the grounds in 80 hours". Like Ronseal - we wanted to do exactly that. Visit all 92 Barclays Premier and N-Power football league clubs in an 80 hour period. Had it been done before? Who knows. Google showed us a group that had done it in 5 days, and even a group that did it in 92 hours. We may even be unique in what we are attempting, but we cant prove it.

Our mission plan was simple. Visit each ground, pull up, take a photograph and then depart. We thought we would let every club know what we were doing, as a courteous way of asking for permission. As a fan of the Bulls, i decided to let Hereford United know first. I was most pleasantly surprised when one evening i returned home to find an email from HUFC vice chairman Tim Russon, offering us full support and signed merchandise to raffle for the cause. This got us thinking about just what we could actually achieve, and a further 91 emails were sent out. Many clubs have responded, offering us shirts, balls tickets and many other things, and we will hold several auctions after we have collected everything.

In homage to the original Jules Verne Novel, and to keep a theme, we are going to both start and finish at Edgar Street, Hereford. We are departing at 4.00 am from Hereford on Wednesday march the 9Th, and heading immediately to Swansea. We are hitting the 2 welsh clubs, following which we are diving into Bristol, and heading south to Exeter. We will hit the southern clubs from here, and travel along the cost, before circling around and entering London. From there we are into Essex and Norfolk, before coming into the East Midlands. Then we head north into Yorkshire, before hitting the North East, Carlisle, and then dropping down into Lancashire and Mersyside. We will then enter the West Midlands before circling down to Oxford, Swindon Cheltenham before finally arriving in Hereford, where we intend to attend the HUFC v Barnet home league match. We aim to be in Hereford by 10am Saturday march 12Th. If anyone would like to meet us on route at their clubs ground, we are happy to arrange this with you.

We currently only have a 3 man team, 2 of which are driving. Therefore, we have a space for a spare driver should anyone be interested. Requirements are that you have a full license, and can insure yourself to drive, as well as contribute to fuel and food costs. For more information please email aroundthegroundsin80hours@hotmail.co.uk

Should anyone wish to sponsor us (and please do) then email a pledged amount to aroundthegroundsin80hours@hotmail.co.uk FAO Adam. We will then send out details of how you can get the money to us and the foundation. A small contribution will also be made to Peterborough charity the free kicks foundation for their wonderful help and support in this venture.

Adam Wright

Website Launched

Very proud that as of 1pm today the Official Foundation website was launched. Cannot thank Chris McClenaghan enough for all his efforts on this. There have been plenty of late nights and we have been truly blessed to have such a talented individual working on this. The website will continue to grow as the foundation grows over time and we feel sure that it will be an invaluable tool to keep you up to date with any Foundation news. We hope you like it and here is the official press release that has gone out today:

Adam Stansfield Foundation – Website Kicks-Off

After several months careful planning and preparation the Trustees who include several members of Adams family of the ‘Adam Stansfield Foundation’ are pleased to announce that the eagerly awaited website will go live from 1pm on Friday 4th February 2011. Andy Cole chairman of the Foundation said “We are all very proud and excited by the development of this site and we would also like to thank Chris McClenaghan who has worked so hard with Adams brother Wayne on producing such a professional and high quality website. Along with our Facebook page we will now be able to communicate much easier with our supporters and Adams fans plus we can also get the very important message out to people about bowel cancer”. Patron of the foundation and Premiership Referee Mark Halsey added “This is another step forward for the Foundation; cancer awareness is being promoted through the Foundation whilst offering support to young people playing football”.

The unprecedented support following Adam’s death in August 2010, led to the creation of the Adam Stansfield Foundation. Chosen specifically to recognise aspects of Adam’s life, football and to raise awareness on bowel cancer related issues the aims of the foundation are to help give young people the unique opportunity to develop life skills through the power of football and to assist them in their goals of living the dream. Adams brother Wayne Stansfield who had the initial idea of the Foundation said “Working with Chris and the Trustees has given me a great deal of purpose, being able to focus on this website and the content has allowed me the chance to try and make sense of what happened. The journey to today has had its testing times; I found writing the biography and testimonials very hard. With the launch of this site we can really start to drive things forward and making the foundation work to support youth football and if through promoting bowel cancer awareness we are able to help save one life then we will have achieved something very special”.

The website can be found at http://www.adamstansfieldfoundation.com where visitors to the site will be able to access information on Adams life and career, upcoming fundraising events, media and very soon, the ability to donate online.

Elmore FC Rename Stand in Memory of Adam

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

Oliver Holt article in the Daily Mirror

Adam made Oliver Holt's (Daily Mirror Chief Sports Writer) list of 10 most interesting people he met in 2010. He never actualy met Adam but here are the very kind words he wrote:


7) Adam Stansfield

I never actually met Adam Stansfield but I feel like I did. Stansfield was an Exeter City player who died of cancer in September this year. I never saw him play but he was loved by Exeter fans and by fans of all his former clubs because he played with total commitment to the cause.

A few weeks before his death, he turned up for pre-season training with the rest of his team-mates and even though they could tell that he was suffering, he still pushed himself all the way through the session. I saw pictures of the tributes to Stansfield in the papers and took my daughter down to St James's Park to look at them. The Big Bank terrace at the ground was a mass of floral tributes and messages to Stansfield. They were full of stories about how Stansfield had taken time out to perform various kindnesses.

Many fathers wrote that his playing style and his honesty on the pitch made them feel that he was an inspirational figure for their sons. Like I said, I never met Stansfield but I wish I had.

Here is the link to the full article:

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Oliver-Holt-s-10-most-interesting-people-of-the-year-Wally-Downes-Craig-Bellamy-Robbie-Fowler-Andy-Anson-Ian-Holloway-Paul-Stretford-Alan-Shearer-and-more-article660815.html

Team Stanno running for the Foundation...

The family and friends of Exeter's number nine Adam Stansfield are to take part in a run in his memory.

After the popular forward lost his battle with bowel cancer at the age of 31 in August, the Adam Stansfield Foundation, to help young footballers, was subsequently set up in his memory.

Various collections and fund raising activities has seen several thousand pounds raised for it so far. The group of runners, dubbed "Team Stanno", will take part in the run on Sunday, May 1 next year at 9.40am at the Exeter, Arena, Summer Lane, Whipton, Exeter.

Great West Run race director, Peter Ferlie, said: "Like most people, when I heard that Adam had sadly passed away I was very upset and wanted to do something for the foundation.

"I was always impressed when watching Adam with the amount of running he did when playing, so it just seemed a natural thing to do."

Andy Cole, from Exeter City Football Club and chairman of the Adam Stansfield Foundation, said: "Adam always gave 110 per cent in everything he did so what better inspiration could we have to rise to this challenge."

Friends and family of Adam Stansfield will be joined by current Exeter City players, retired players and even Premiership officials to run in the Great West Run events as Team Stanno.

Running in the half marathon are Marie, Adam's wife and Roger, Adam's dad. They will be joined by Andy Marriott, Scott Hiley and Barry McConnell.

Joining Andy in the more leisurely 5km run is patron to the foundation, referee Mark Halsey and the Exeter-based World Cup final assistant referee Mike Mullarkey.

There are still a limited number of free places available on the 5km run so if you would like to join Team Stanno email Andy on andy.cole@exetercity fc.co.uk Full event details can be found at www.thegreat westrun.co.uk

Source www.thisisexeter.co.uk

Express And Echo report on Comemorative Shirt Auction Presentation

The winners of commemorative Adam Stansfield shirts were given a standing ovation by Exeter City fans on Saturday. Those who successfully bid for the shirts – worn during the club's league meeting with Yeovil Town last month – showed off their prizes at half time. More than £6,500 was raised during the eBay auction. The money will be split between the Adam Stansfield Foundation, set up to help young footballers, and a fund to help support Stanno's family after the death of the 31-year-old from bowel cancer. Among those who won the collectors' item was John Burd, of Witheridge, near Tiverton, who paid £567 for Ryan Harley's shirt. He said: "I have been a city fan since I was nine years old and bought the shirt as a present for my niece's 18th birthday. Adam was my favourite player and he gave me a lot of pleasure watching him so it is nice to give something back. "Marc Potter, 23, who bought Daniel Nardiello's shirt for £312, said: "I had trials with Exeter City when I was a youngster and Adam was a player I always looked up to. I am over the moon to have won the shirt and it is going in a frame on my wall." The other winners were Terry Marles who paid £511 for Steve Tully's shirt, Teddy Treece who paid £360 on behalf of Far Eastern Grecians for Troy Archibald-Henville's top, John Allen who bought both David Noble's and Rob Edwards' shirts for a combined £560, and Loren Edgington, who paid £256 for Jake Thompson's top. Dale Andrews paid £215 for Joe Heath's shirt while Bertie Cozic's went to Deborah Percival for £320. Tim Lucas forked out £282 for Scott Golbourne's shirt, Andrew Hutchings paid £315 for Paul Jones' shirt, Daniel Eccleston paid £273 to own the top worn by Artur Krysiak and Liam Sercombe's top was snapped up by Jean Wyatt for £380. The winning bidders for Richard Logan's and James Dunne's shirts wished to remain anonymous. Joining them on the pitch was Adam's dad Roger Stansfield, chairman of the Adam Stansfield Foundation Andy Cole and Barry Sansom, who organised the auction.

Capital Glovers Tribute

The Capital Glovers, a supporters group for Yeovil Town's exiled fans in London and the South East of England are holding an Adam Stansfield tribute night. This will take place on the evening of Thursday 11th November, 2010 at the Blue Anchor pub on London’s Chancery Lane. There will be raffle and auction items up for grabs and for full details check out the Capital Glovers site: http://www.capitalglovers.com/news/