Jim Stannard

Having previously played for non-league Ford United (now Redbridge), Stannard began his professional career with Fulham making his debut against Swindon Town in 1981 (keeping a clean sheet), but managed only 41 Football League appearances for the Craven Cottage club in his first five years, during which he was 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. Stannard proved instrumental in the Kent club's promotion from Division Three as he let in just 20 goals all season, a then-record for a 46-match league season (since surpassed by Burnley in 2024-25), while keeping 29 clean sheets. Stannard retired in 1999, but came out of retirement to sign for Division Two side Brentford on a non-contract basis in 2003, backing up Alan Julian for two matches during the early months of the 2003–04 season. ==Coaching career==

Stannard was forced to retire in 1999 due to injury and later served as goalkeeping coach at Gillingham and Brentford. the club where he had started his career in 1980, but his reign only lasted until October of the same year. It was announced in July 2007 that he had returned to Gillingham as goalkeeping coach on a part-time basis. Stannard later served as goalkeeping coach for Crystal Palace from January 2008, until he was made redundant in May 2010. After this, he again returned to Gillingham on a part-time basis. Stannard left Gillingham to join Championship club Southampton at the start of the 2011–12 season as first team goalkeeping coach. He was dismissed, along with manager Nigel Adkins, on 18 January 2013. In July 2013, he joined Chelmsford City as goalkeeping coach. In May 2018, following six years working with the club, he departed his role as goalkeeping coach at Dagenham & Redbridge on account of a club reorganisation. Following his departure, he joined fellow National League side Bromley in the same role, a role he held until September 2020. He subsequently joined Maidstone United, working for free at the club. In June 2024, Stannard was appointed goalkeeper coach at National League South side Welling United. ==Honours==

Individual • Gillingham Player of the Season: 1995–96 • Southend Player of the Season: 1986–87 • PFA Team of the Year: Division Three (1995–96), ==References==