Born: Harold Hill, 6 October 1962
Position: Goalkeeper
Signed: 5 June 1980; 14 August 1987 from Southend United (£50,000)
Fulham debut: Fulham 2-0 Swindon Town, 31 January 1981
Fulham appearances: 446
Fulham goals: 1
Sold: 4 August 1995 to Gillingham (free transfer)
Cult hero Jim Stannard signed from South East Counties side Ford United in 1980 and kept a clean sheet against Swindon Town on his debut in January 1981 after replacing the injured Gerry Peyton. Stannard eventually became disheartened at playing for Fulham’s reserves and signed for Southend United in 1985 after a successful loan stint. Ray Lewington brought Stannard back to the Cottage in 1987 and the goalkeeper insists he scored a famous goal from a long kick at Crewe Alexandra in 1989 even though Andy Sayer claimed it.
He made only 14 first-team fixtures in eight years but Ian Branfoot brutally released the long-standing number one after nearly 450 appearances. Stannard kept a Football League record of 29 clean sheets as he won promotion with his new club Gillingham, where he was voted player of the year. He made more than a hundred appearances for the Gills before retiring in 1999 – briefly coming back as a back-up goalkeeper for Brentford.
