For BN's third article in memory of Adam Stansfield we look back to his time at Exeter.
Adam made his debut for Exeter in a goal-less draw against York City on August 12th 2006.
His first goal for the Grecians came three days later in their 1-0 win over Forest Green. But by the end of September he had failed to add to his talley.
On October 14th he found his shooting boots with a goal against Morecambe and another a week later against Stafford. Another goal came against Dagenham after four games without scoring.
In February 2007 Adam spoke about his season to date after being dropped.
"I was very disappointed to have been left out of the squad altogether, I want to be involved every week and if you are not lucky enough to play, then at least you want to be on the bench.
"It has been a stop-start season and there has been no real chance to get any consistency. I have probably only scored about half the goals I wanted to at this stage of the season, but then again I have only played half the amount of games I would have liked to have played. At the minute it is all about getting back into the team and starting to score again."
Exeter were in the Conference play-offs and defeated Oxford United but lost to Morecambe in the final.
'Former Hereford United striker Adam Stansfield came off the bench and scored the vital goal for the Grecians that kept them in the game which then went to extra time and penalties.'
In his second season at Exeter, Adam opened his talley in their second game of the campaign, a win over Crawley. But it was a month before he scored his second.
He wasn't a regular starter but in January he scored two goals in a televised game against Oxford.
'Stansfield was only in the side after Jamie Mackie was dropped after handing in a transfer request'
His seventh goal of the season came against Grays. And news that his contract would be extended for a further season came in mid-March. Two more goals for Adam in April against Aldershot and Burton respectively.
In the 2008/09 season points of note included two goals for Adam at Macclesfield on September 27th and another two against Gillingham a week later.
In March he scored against both Luton and Accrington. Later that month he partnered Stuart Fleetwood for the first time since playing for Hereford at Canvey Island in the Conference.
The following season 2009/10, Adam was out with an injury for a spell early in the season but two goals against Tranmere on September 19th showed he was back in form. Further goals followed including ones against Millwall, MK Dons, and Southend.
Then in the new year Adam was booked in two games, firstly against MK Dons and then Southampton.
An injury to Adam in February resulted in surgery for a cartilage problem.
"Adam is a quick healer, and fingers crossed he will be back as soon as possible," said manager Paul Tisdale.
"He is in a rich vein of form, so let's hope he gets back to playing at that level when he returns."
However by the end of March Adam was in hospital with a 'mystery abdominal complaint'.
And on April 7th came the tragic news that Adam had cancer.
'As reported a few days ago Adam Stansfield, the club's all-action striker, has now received the outcome of the tests carried out to investigate his mystery stomach illness.
The results unfortunately inform that he has bowel cancer.
The cancer is localised and Stanno, as you might expect, is upbeat, positive and has asked for the operation to be brought forward to Friday week.'
The operation was deemed a success but Adam faced six months of chemotherapy
"Stanno was up when we visited this afternoon and looking happy but tired. He was even cracking a few jokes!" said Exeter director Julian Tagg.
Adam was involved in the first day's training of the new season in early July.
"He has got a long drawn out six months ahead of him but it was lovely to see him on the first day back," said Tisdale.
"He was so desperate to be here that he put his chemotherapy back a day to be here. He wants to keep as active as he can."
But then on August 10th the awful news that Adam had died aged just 31.