Playing Career
Having previously played for non-league Ford United (now Redbridge), Stannard began his professional career with Fulham but managed only 41 Football League appearances for the Craven Cottage club in five years, during which he was also loaned out to Southend United and Charlton Athletic. In 1985 Southend signed him on a permanent basis and he made over 100 appearances before being sold back to Fulham in 1987.
For the next eight years he was Fulham's first-choice keeper, making nearly 350 appearances and even managing to score one goal. In 1995 manager Tony Pulis made him one of his first signings for Gillingham and, despite the fans' initial reservations about his age and burly build, Stannard proved instrumental in the Kent club's promotion from Division Three as he let in just 20 goals all season, a record for a 46-match league season. He also kept 29 clean sheets.
Read more about this topic: Jim Stannard
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