Stan Risdon Explained

Stan Risdon
Fullname:Stanley William Risdon
Birth Date:13 August 1913
Birth Place:Exeter, England
Death Place:Hove, England
Position:Utility player
Clubs1:Tipton St John
Clubs2:St Mary's Majors
Years3:1933–1936
Caps3:35
Goals3:1
Years4:1936–1948
Caps4:23
Goals4:0
Years5:1948–1954
Clubs5:Hastings United
Years6:1954–19??
Clubs6:Bexhill Town Athletic (player-coach)

Stanley William Risdon (13 August 1913 – 2 August 1979) was an English professional footballer who played in a variety of positions in the Football League for Exeter City and Brighton & Hove Albion.[1]

Life and career

Risdon was born in 1913 in Exeter, Devon. He played minor football for Tipton St John and St Mary Majors before joining Exeter City, initially as an amateur, in 1933. Playing at inside right and then at right half, Risdon made 35 appearances in the Third Division South by the end of the 1935–36 season,[1] but refused the offer of another season, and signed for division rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.[2]

Never a regular in Albion's league side, Risdon made only 23 first-team appearances, mainly playing as a defender, before the Second World War put a stop to competitive football. He was able to play regularly for the club throughout the war, and made his final appearances for the first team in the 1946–47 season. As a benefit, the proceeds of three league matches in 1948 and 1949 were shared between Risdon and four other long-serving players, Len Darling, Ernie Marriott, Bert Stephens and Joe Wilson.[3]

Risdon joined the newly formed Southern League club Hastings United in 1948. He remained with Hastings United for six years, and received a benefit from them as well, before becoming player-coach of Sussex County League club Bexhill Town Athletic.[4]

He died in Hove, Sussex, in 1979 at the age of 65.[5]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brighton & Hove Albion1936–37Third Division South30001040
1937–38Third Division South1700011181
1938–39Third Division South10000010
1945–469090
1946–47Third Division South201030
1947–48Third Division South000000
Total23010021351
Career total23010021351

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . SoccerData . Nottingham . 2004 . 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. News: Exeter half-back for Brighton . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 4 August 1936 . 11.
  3. Book: Tim . Carder . Roger . Harris . Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. . 347.
  4. News: Carr was the hero of Lewes victory . Sussex Express & County Herald . 17 December 1954 . 7.
  5. Book: Tim . Carder . Roger . Harris . Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. . Goldstone Books . Hove . 1997 . 203–204 . 978-0-9521337-1-1.