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Jay Stansfield’s father, the late Adam Stansfield, was given a heartwarming tribute by Jeff Stelling that has lived on in football fans’ minds for the past three years.
Former Sky Sports Soccer Saturday host Stelling would always say ‘Lisa will be pleased’ every time Adam Stansfield scored during his career, a much-loved humorous one-liner that referenced British singer and actress Lisa Stansfield.
Tragically, Stansfield died of bowel cancer in 2010, leaving behind three sons – including Birmingham City ace Jay Stansfield. Following in his Dad’s footsteps as a striker, he returned to boyhood club Exeter City – the side his father became a legend at – on loan from Fulham in 2022.
It was before Stansfield’s League One debut at St James Park that Stelling, a supporter of The Adam Stansfield Foundation, gave a special tribute to the late former Grecians icon.
Jay Stansfield wore his late Dad Adam’s retired no.9 shirt at Exeter City
Speaking on Soccer Saturday, Stelling said: “12 years ago, Adam Stansfield lost his fight against cancer at just 31 years of age. He played at Yeovil and Hereford and was a real star at Exeter City and he was still on their books when he died.
“Every time he scored a goal – and he scored plenty of them – on this programme I would always say ‘Lisa would be proud’. Now, not the greatest of gags necessarily but I know Adam liked it, and his family liked it as well.
“After he passed away, Exeter named a stand at his St James Park ground after him. They retired the no.9 shirt that he wore for nine years. He was an absolute inspiration to kids in that area.
“The reason we show you these goals, is that yesterday, Adam’s son, 19-year-old Jay Stansfield joined Exeter City on loan from Fulham.
“So today, against MK Dons, assuming he starts, he will run out for the club that his Dad graced, he’ll play in the shadow of the stand named after his Dad, and he will wear the no.9 shirt that had been retired, the shirt that his Dad graced. It is just a brilliant story, and it does give you goose bumps.”
Stansfield did play for Exeter that afternoon, coming on in the 79th minute to an emotional reception from the home fans.
His fellow academy graduate Cheick Diabate scored just before his substitution, securing a 1-0 win for the Grecians to make it a perfect homecoming for Stansfield.
Jay Stansfield flying high at Birmingham City
Stansfield made 39 appearances for his Dad’s club, scoring nine goals and grabbing eight assists. He signed off fittingly with a first senior career hat-trick against Morecambe on the final game of the season.
The striker then earned a move to Championship Birmingham on loan the following campaign, netting 13 times as the Blues were relegated to League One.
However, Stansfield was well loved by the St Andrew’s faithful, and after an American takeover involving NFL legend Tom Brady, he signed permanently for the club for an initial £15million in the summer window of 2024, breaking the transfer record in the third tier.
He was a key cog in Chris Davies’ record-breaking League One title winning side last term, and has continued to fire goals in for Birmingham in the Championship.