Jayden Wareham will wear the prestigious No.9 shirt this season with the blessing of the Stansfield Family.
Since the tragic death of Adam Stansfield in 2010 aged just 31, the shirt number was retired for nine seasons a mark of respect for a player who gave everything on and off the pitch. The shirt has since only been worn by an academy product - Ben Seymour in 2020/21 and then Jay Stansfield himself when he joined the club on loan in 2022/23. The Stansfield Family have now given their blessing for the shirt number to be returned to service and be worn by Jayden.
Adam’s memory remains deeply woven into the fabric of the club. To ensure that he is still with us wherever we go, the no.9 shirt that is worn by Jayden will feature ‘Stanno’ under the inside collar thanks to ProDirect. As the song states: “you'll always be, At City with me.”
Manager Gary Caldwell said: “The number 9 shirt is always a big shirt in football, but at Exeter City, it means even more. It was retired following the heartbreaking loss of Adam Stansfield, a player who embodied everything this club stands for. Since then, we’ve only brought it back in special circumstances, for a young academy player, and for Adam’s son Jay. Both with the blessing of the Stansfield family.
“In our discussions with Jayden Wareham about joining the club, he expressed a real desire to wear the number 9 shirt. I explained that this wasn’t a decision we could make alone, it would need to be agreed by the Stansfield family, in particular Adam’s mum Gig and his son Jay. Both were supportive of the idea, and we all believe this could be a powerful way to honour Adam’s legacy by seeing the number 9 scoring goals again at St James Park, just like he did so many times.
“It’s a big responsibility, but one I believe Jayden will carry with pride, playing for the team, for the supporters, and in memory of Adam.”
Speaking with pride about wearing the no.9 shirt, Jayden said: “It’s an incredible honour to wear the number 9 shirt at Exeter City. I’m fully aware of what it represents. It’s not just a number, but a tribute to Adam Stansfield and everything he gave to this club and community.
“The shirt was retired for nine years out of respect, and to be entrusted with it now is something I won’t take lightly. I’ll do everything I can to wear it with pride, play with the passion Adam showed, and make the fans proud."
Exeter City would like to reaffirm its ongoing support of the Adam Stansfield Foundation, which continues to do incredible work promoting youth football, healthy living, and awareness of bowel cancer. Click here to find out more about the Adam Stansfield Foundation.
As the new season approaches, Exeter City supporters can look forward to seeing the No.9 back on the pitch - a powerful reminder of Adam’s legacy, the club’s history, its heart, and its hopes for the future.
