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| Adam Stansfield |
One of Hereford's former players who can not be at Wembley on Sunday is Adam Stansfield.
Ian Entwisle is hopeful that supporters will remember him on the big day.
'Having spoken with several other Bulls supporters the idea
of somehow marking the life of Adam Stansfield on Sunday came to mind. Like a
large number of people we all still hold his memory in great esteem and thought
that it might be a wonderful gesture to remember him at the spiritual home of
football. I understand that some of his family will be there on Sunday.
'I have taken the liberty of writing a couple of paragraphs
which you may wish to use as a basis if you think that this idea would be an
appropriate gesture.
'To so many people Adam represented all that is good about
lower level football. The fact that at every home match there is a banner
bearing his image on proud display in the Blackfriars End demonstrates just how
much of an impact he made during his time at Edgar Street.'
'As you are know this Sunday Hereford FC play at the
home of football.
The
journey to this point has been some 90 years in the making
and one player
who would surely relished the chance of being part of such a
momentous day
would have been Adam Stansfield. Adam was one of those
players who Hereford
fans took to from day one. His winning smile and great
footballing ability
made him hugely popular and he was one of the star players
on the
unforgettable day at Leicester that saw Hereford United
return to the
football league. As many of you will know Adam fought an
incredibly brave
battle against cancer in 2010 and when he passed away his
loss was felt
deeply, not just by his family and the clubs he played for,
but also the
wider footballing community. At his funeral his widow Marie
had the idea of
setting up the Adam Stansfield Foundation which has raised in excess of
£150,000 and strives to promote awareness of bowel cancer.
As a mark of the affection he was held in by Bulls fans
you're invited to
remember and celebrate Adam's life by participating in one
minutes applause
for the ninth minute of Sunday's final. Adam wore the number nine shirt for
Hereford United with huge pride and some of his family will
be at the game
on Sunday. This gesture would seem like a fitting tribute to
the man who
gave so many people so much pleasure, always played with a
smile on his face
and was taken from us far too soon.'