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| Adam Stansfield |
In this article BN looks back to his first season with Hereford.
25 year old Adam joined Hereford United on a free transfer from Yeovil on Monday June 14 2004.
25 year old Adam joined Hereford United on a free transfer from Yeovil on Monday June 14 2004.
"I think he has a decent record, and if we supply him with chances he is more than capable of finishing them off," said manager Graham Turner.
"He just impressed me at Yeovil. He scored goals, around 16 in 30 games, which is better than 1 in 2, but he was unfortunate in his second session when he broke his leg.
"However, he started in seven games, and went on about 29 or 30 times, and he will score goals. He's got a bit of pace, and he is very, very mobile."
Yeovil manager Gary Johnson said letting Adam go 'was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made.'
"Adam called and asked my advice and it was a difficult decision for me to make. He's a great lad who trains 100% and plays 100%, but I had to make room to bring one or two in and I beleive Hereford are a club who play the sort of football that he could thrive on. I just hope this doesn't come back to haunt me and make me look an idiot for letting him go."
Adam nearly scored on his debut, a friendly at Ludlow.
'It took the Bulls just eight minutes to get the ball into the net from debutant Adam Stansfield, but he was in an offside position when he followed up a blocked shot from the impressive Danny Williams.'
However Adam scored two goals at Evesham a week later. And another two against a strong West Brom side on August 4th.
Adam was given the number 9 shirt. He made his Conference League debut for the Bulls in their 3-1 win over Farnborough but wasn't on the scoring sheet. Three days later at Crawley he opend his account.
'Four minutes later, United got a deserved goal. Travis got the ball on the right from Stanley and crossed to the near post where Stansfield was on hand to head across goal and into the far bottom corner.'
Two more goals for Adam at Northwich.
'Hereford took a fourteenth minute lead thanks to attacker Adam Stansfield. Pitman split the defence with a through ball to Brown with the outside of his boot, and then Brown layed the ball off to his strike partner to finish low into the net from eight yards. Stansfield doubled Hereford's lead three minutes later with a powerful header from Travis' left wing cross.'
Speaking afterwards Adam described his goals.
"The ball came across from Pitman and I managed to strike it first time and it just squirmed underneath the keeper's dive," was how Stansfield described his first goal to BBC Hereford and Worcester.
"The second one was good work from Simon Travis down the wing. He checked back and whipped the cross in and I got my head on it over the keeper."
Adam was demoted to the bench for a couple of games but came on at Leigh and scored twice.
"Adam has been unfortunate as he has been out of the side for the last three games but he's come on today and done a job," said fellow striker Lee Mills.
Adam was voted Conference Player of the Month for September. But he wasn't starting every game.
"Adam must wonder what he has to do to get a starting place but I think that in the build up play at Accrington both David Brown and Lee Mills did very well," said Turner.
"Adam is more of a finisher and can improve on his combination play with other players"
A goal at Woking helped Adam cement his place in the team.
"Ten minutes before half time Stansfield doubled the Bull's advantage. The attacker won a free kick on the left that man of the match Purdie crossed in. The ball found it's way back to Purdie who crossed for a second time. Jalal missed the ball and it hit Stansfield on the shins and rolled into an unguarded net.''
A thigh strain picked up against Doncaster hampered Adam.
"He went into the (Barnet) game not quite fit. We almost brought him off at half-time," said coach John Trewick.
Two goals for Adam at Southport helped Hereford into the second round of the FA Cup. However the second wasn't clear cut.
'Mills set up Stansfield with a cross from the left in the fifty eighth minute as Hereford started to cruise. Stansfield slotted the ball over the line at the far post. Despite a desperate attempt by the goalie to push the ball from behind the line the assistant referee signalled a goal and the Whites celebrated.'
Another two goals at Canvey Island and one at Edgar Street against Forest Green. Half way through the season and Adam was top scorer with eleven.
Adam's goal on New Years Day wasn't enough against Exeter in the League. But his goal early in the game helped Hereford dump Accrington out of the FA Trophy.
'Danny Williams was the provider a few minutes later and it was Stansfield who managed to get goal side of his marker, and unleash a powerful shot across goal and into the far top corner from the left of the penalty area.'
Meanwhile Weymouth manager Steve, brother of Gary at Yeovil, Johnson had his eyes on Adam.
"I put a substantial offer in for Adam but Hereford boss Graham Turner turned me down," Johnson told the Weymouth website.
"It's a shame because Stansfield would be an excellent signing but he is one of their leading scorers and naturally don't want to lose him."
A clash of heads during a home game against Dagenham led to Adam having to go to hospital with concussion. For several games afterwards Adam wasn't a regular starter. There was a lot of competition at Edgar Street at this time with Lee Mills and Danny Carey-Bertram sometimes preferred.
However Adam was back amidst the goals in a 6-0 win over Farnborough on March 25th.
'Boro may have been relieved when they saw that Carey-Bertram was being withdrawn, but his replacement, Adam Stansfield, got straight in on the act and scored having been on the pitch for only three minutes. He met Pitman's cross with a powerful header for six yards and beat the helpless Petterson for United's fourth.'
Three days later, back in the starting eleven, Adam scored against Northwich.
'Purdie raced past three players on the left before crossing for Stansfield, who opened the scoring just after the half hour mark. His first touch took him neatly around his marker before he fired into the roof of the net at the near post.'
And then a very important goal against promotion rivals Stevenage on April 2nd.
'Play was switched to the left, where Purdie fired a low left footed cross along the six yard line for Stansfield to run onto and knock into the back of the net for the only goal of the game.'
"I had a couple of chances," said Adam afterwards.
"One was cleared off the line, one the keeper saved, then a great break down the wing from Rob Purdie and he put a great ball in. The defenders all left it for the keeper and I got it in from six yards."
Two more goals for Adam in the 3-1 win at Forest Green.
'With almost twenty minutes gone the Bulls finally got their break and Stansfield opened the scoring. Robinson blasted a shot to the near post after his first corner was cleared, and thanks to a touch around the post from the 'keeper he got a second attempt. Stansfield rose at the near post unchallenged and headed in, much to the delight of the 1,386 away following.'
Hereford were in the Conference Play-Offs pitched against Stevenage. The first leg ended 1-1, the second at Edgar Street was won by Stevenage.
Adam had chances in the second leg.
'Stansfield got the better of Barry Laker in the air just before half time and then hit a first time shot that flew inches over the bar.'
'Carey-Bertram broke down the right and found the run of Stansfield towards the byeline. He crossed and the ball hit a defenders arm but referee G. Sutton waved it away.'
Adam was top scorer with 25 goals in all competitions. A good return.
On Friday May 20th it was revealed Adam had signed to stay with Hereford for another 12 months.