As a youngster he once scored 7 goals from outside left with Flixborough Town. West Bromwich Albion signed Stanley, then a Solicitors Clark, from Midland League side Scunthorpe United who freed him as they thought him ‘too small’.

During the war his career developed. He guested for Southport on more than 100 occasions while serving in the RAF. He also assisted Bolton Wanderers, Notts County and Liverpool.

He was a member of the Bolton side which beat Manchester United in the final of the League North Cup in 1945. It was from his centre in the last minute of extra time at Malcolm Barrass scored the winning goal.

He was unable to do himself justice when signed on a two-month trial at the beginning of 1947-48 due to an old injury to his thigh. He played in the first four games of the season scoring at Bradford city.

On finishing his career he worked in the CWS bank in Scunthorpe and later the Appleby-Frodingham steelworks, whose team he coached for a number of years.