 Staniforth in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gordon Staniforth[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1957-03-23)23 March 1957 (age 67)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Hull, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–1974 | Hull City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1974–1976 | Hull City | 12 | (2) |
| 1976–1979 | York City | 128 | (33) |
| 1979–1983 | Carlisle United | 126 | (33) |
| 1983–1985 | Plymouth Argyle | 91 | (19) |
| 1985–1987 | Newport County | 87 | (13) |
| 1987–1988 | York City | 19 | (1) |
| 1988–1989 | North Ferriby United | ||
| Total | 463 | (101) | |
| International career | |||
| 1972 | England Schoolboys | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2013–2014 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gordon Staniforth (born 23 March 1957) is an Englishfootballcoach and former player. He played in theFootball League forHull City,York City (two separate spells),Carlisle United,Plymouth Argyle andNewport County. He also played forEngland at schoolboy international level. From November 2013 to October 2014 Staniforth was head coach ofFA WSL 2 clubDoncaster Rovers Belles.
Born inHull,East Riding of Yorkshire to Sidney Staniforth and Marian (Hardey), Staniforth attended Greatfield High School.[2] He began his career as an apprentice withHull City and he signed a professional contract with the club in April 1974.[2] He made hisfirst team debut in a 1–0 defeat toSwindon Town on 15 April.[3] He joinedYork City on a one-monthloan in December 1976, making his debut in a 3–2 defeat atSheffield Wednesday on 27 December.[1][2] He signed for York permanently in January 1977 for a fee of £7,500.[2] He scored 33 times in 128 league games, also becomingClubman of the Year in consecutive seasons, the first player to ever do so.
He moved toCarlisle United in October 1979 for a fee of £120,000.[2] He joinedPlymouth Argyle in March 1983 in a player exchange withMike McCartney plus £5,000 and was part of the side that reached anFA Cup semi-final.[2][4] In August 1985 he moved toNewport County in a player exchange withSteve Cooper plus £15,000.[2] He returned to York in October 1987 on non-contract terms to end his professional career.[2] He finished his career innon-League football withNorth Ferriby United, whom he signed for in July 1988 and departed in September 1989.[2]
After retiring, he worked as Community Officer at York from 1989 to December 1996, when he became a North Regional coach for theProfessional Footballers' Association.[2] He was appointed youth coach atLeeds United in October 1997 before being sacked in May 1998 after just seven months of a three-year contract.[5]
He then worked as co-ordinator ofYork College's Football Development Centre, alongside former York City goalkeeperAndy Leaning. The centre was awarded FA Charter status in 2005.
On 6 November 2013 Staniforth was announced asFA WSL clubDoncaster Rovers Belles's new head coach. He would work underdirector of football Julie Chipchase, who said the appointment was made only after "a rigorous interview and practical coaching assignment".[6] Staniforth led the team to five straight wins in his first five league games in charge and theBelles lost only one league match all season but finished behindSunderland. On 30 October 2014, he resigned as Head Coach at the club,[7] disgruntled at scything cuts to the club's playing budget.
Staniforth's son Tom (1980–2001) was also a footballer. He was a professional with Sheffield Wednesday, but never played a competitive first team game. He was however a first team substitute on six occasions, including games againstManchester United andArsenal. He died inYork on the night of 20 August 2001, aged 20, having collapsed in the street after complaining of headaches.[8] On 31 January 2002, a local man—and former York City youth team goalkeeper—was charged with supplyingecstasy to Tom Staniforth. The man was later acquitted on this charge after the prosecution failed to offer any evidence against him. Since his son's death, Gordon Staniforth has been involved in anti-drug campaigning.[9]
His daughter,Lucy Staniforth, plays in the FA WSL forAston Villa and is also anEngland international who featured in the2019 Women's World Cup in France.[10] Lucy wears number 37—Tom's old Sheffield Wednesday squad number.[11] After hitting the first goal in Lincoln Ladies' 3–0WSL win at Doncaster Rovers Belles, Lucy revealed a T-shirt paying tribute to Tom on the tenth anniversary of his death.[12]
| Club | From | To | Record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Doncaster Rovers Belles | 6 November 2013 | 30 October 2014 | 26 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 069.23 | ||
