Stamford A.F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Stamford


fullname = Stamford Association Football Club
nickname = The Daniels
Kit Sponsor = HPC Homes
founded = 1894
dissolved =
ground = Vic Couzens Stadium
Stamford
Lincolnshire
capacity = 2000
chairman = flagicon|England Bob Feetham
Kit Sponsor= HPC Homes
manager = flagicon|Scotland Dougie Keast
league = Northern Premier League
Division One South
season = 2007-08
position = NPL Premier Division, 20th (relegated) | pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=FF0000|socks1=FF0000| |

pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=|body2=|rightarm2=|shorts2=|socks2=
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=191970|body2=191970|rightarm2=191970|shorts2=191970|socks2=191970

Stamford Association Football Club are an English association football team based in Stamford, Lincolnshire formed in 1894. They are currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They play at the Vic Couzens Stadium which has capacity of 2000.Their nickname is The Daniels, in reference to Daniel Lambert, the reputed fattest man in English history, who is buried in St Martins churchyard close to the ground.

Recent history

In 2003-04, under the guidance of Billy Jeffrey, Stamford gained promotion to the Southern Premier League after finishing 7th in the Dr Martins League Eastern Division (as formerly known) However, their stay in the top flight was short lived after accumulating only 6 wins and 17 draws they were relegated back to the Eastern Division. However they reached the 5th round of the FA Trophy bowing out to Exeter City of the Conference 1-0 watched in front of 1,058 supporters. At the end of the season Jeffery resigned and Graham Drury was hired as his successor for the 2005-06 campaign from Harrowby Town. Stamford finished the season in 4th place after an unbeaten record on home soil and beat Wivenhoe F.C. 2-1 in the playoff final, were immediately promoted back to the Southern Premier League. The Daniels return to the Premier Division was much more successful and ended up finishing in 8th place despite being top on New Years Day. Stamford also finished the season with a trophy beating Brigg Town 1-0 in the Lincolnshire Shield Final. At the end of the 2006-07 season, a re-shuffle of the non-leagues took place, Stamford were again moved from the Southern Premier Division but were this time moved into the Northern Premier Division. Unfortunately their defence of the Lincolnshire Shield didn't go so well and lost 4-0 to Lincoln United in the quarter final stage. In January 2008, Drury decided to call it time at the club and moved to local rivals Corby Town a few days later. Stamford soon hired former Hibernian man Dougie Keast to take the club on. However, after picking up only 10 points from the last 14 games, The Daniels plummeted down the table and eventually finished 20th, meaning relegation to the Unibond Division 1 South.The 2008/2009 season started brigthly after a flurry of new signings, Stamford reached the Lincs Senior Shiled Final for the second time in three seasons beating Gainsborough Trinity and local rivals Grantham Town 4-3 and 0-1 respectively.

Current squad

The club's squad includes the following players as of July 2008

2008/2009

Unibond Division One South

Stamford endured an indifferent start to their maiden campainge in the Unibond League Division One South. After what seemed a credible draw at home to Shepshed Dynamo, they endured a 2-1 to Glapwell and then squandered a 2 goal lead to Stocksbridge Park Steele. The first win of the season came away to Brigg Town with a 3-1 after fighting back from 1-0 down. An appaling 4-1 defeat away to Quorn was again followed up by squandering a 2 goal lead at home to Carlton. Stamford recorded a second win over Brigg with a 2-1 victory snatching a 90th minute winner, however, Stamford couldn't follow up this good result and followed it with another poor performance with a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield. Stamford followed up this poor result with a 1-0 win against local rivals Spalding United then kept a second consecutive clean sheet with a 2-0 win over Willenhall.

UniBond League Challenge Cup

A cracking game saw Stamford recover from 2-0 down to beat Lincoln United 6-4 after extra time.

Notable Past Players

The following players had moved on to play in the Football League
*Keith Alexander to Grimsby Town
*Andy Tillson to Grimsby Town
*Darren Edey to Peterborough United
*Brett McNamara to Northampton Town

Honours

*FA Vase: (1)
**Winners 1979-80: Runners Up 1975-76 and 1983-84
*United Counties Football League Premier Division Champions: (7)
**1975-76, 1977-78, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1996-97, 1997-98
*United Counties League Knockout Cup Winners: (5)
**1951-52, 1975-76, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1985-86
*United Counties League Benevolent Cup Winners: (1)
**1997-98
*United Counties League Reserve Knockout Cup Winners: (1)
**1983-84
*Lincolnshire Senior Cup: (1)
**2000-2001
*Lincolnshire Senior 'A' Cup Winners: (3)
**1978-79, 1982-83, 1997-98
*Lincolnshire Senior 'B' Cup Winners: (2)
**1951-52, 1953-54
*Lincolnshire Shield (1)
** 2006-07
*Northamptonshire League Champions: (1)
**1911-12
*Hinchingbrooke Cup Winners: (3)
**1906-07, 1907-08, 1997-98
*Unibond Programme of the Year: (1)
** 2007-08

Club Records

Best Seasons
*League: Southern League Premier Division 8th 2006-07
*FA Cup: 5th Qualifying Round 1913-14
*FA Trophy: 5th Round 2005-06
*FA Vase: Winners 1980

Attendance
* 4,200 v Kettering 1953

Goal Scorer
* Bert Knighten 235

Appearances
* George Clark 400 (First player to reach milestone)

Victory
* 13-0 v Peterborough Reserves

Defeat
* 17-0 v Rothwell 1927 FA Cup replay

External links

* [http://www.stamfordafc.net/ Official Site]

Ground Guide

* [http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/stamford.html]