Paul Stancliffe

Paul Stancliffe
Personal information
Full name Paul Ian Stancliffe
Date of birth (1958-05-05) 5 May 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth Sheffield, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position(s) Central defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1982 Rotherham United 285 (7)
1983–1990 Sheffield United 278 (12)
1990Rotherham United (loan) 5 (0)
1990 Wolverhampton Wanderers 17 (0)
1991–1994 York City 89 (3)
Total 674 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Ian Stancliffe (born 5 May 1958) is a former footballer who played in the position of central defender.

Career

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Stancliffe was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire. He first made his way in the game as a Rotherham United apprentice. He made his league debut for Rotherham at Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening day of the 1975–76 season, and immediately won himself a regular place in the side. He scarcely missed a game for seven years, and in 1981 he won a Third Division championship medal.

After holding an ever-present record in his first campaign in the Second Division, he was injured in one of the early matches of the 1982–83 season and missed much of the remaining campaign, but returned towards the end of the season.

During the close-season he was transferred to hometown club Sheffield United after making 285 league appearances for Rotherham. He made his debut for United against Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium on 27 August 1983, and missed only three games as Sheffield United clinched promotion to the Second Division.

Stancliffe, usually referred to as just Stan by the fans, played for several seasons with distinction at United and was captain for much of his time at Bramall Lane. Stancliffe notably captained United to two successive promotions from the old Third Division, through to the old First Division in 1990. However Stancliffe was now 32 and was released by Dave Bassett, and after a brief spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers joined York City and captained City to promotion at Wembley in 1993. Stancliffe stayed at York, initially as Assistant Manager and then as a youth development officer.[2] He left in April 2005 to take up a role as Doncaster Rovers Under 18 coach.[3]

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 324. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ^ "Paul Stancliffe".
  3. ^ "Doncaster Rovers Under 18 coach".
  4. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 149.
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