Gary Stanley (born 4 March 1954) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Chelsea, Everton, Swansea City, Portsmouth and Bristol City.[1] He also played in the North American Soccer League with Fort Lauderdale Strikers[2] and in the Major Indoor Soccer League with Wichita Wings.[1]
Stanley started his career with Chelsea, where he turned professional in 1971 and made his league debut at the age of 21, on 16 August 1975 in a 2–1 defeat away to Sunderland in the Second Division.[3] He helped the club to promotion to the First Division in the 1976–77 season, and remained with Chelsea until their relegation in 1979, when, after a summer in the NASL with Fort Lauderdale Strikers, he joined Everton for a fee of £300,000.[2][4] He failed to show his Chelsea form with Everton, and moved on to Swansea City two years later for £150,000.[5] Stanley won the Welsh Cup twice with Swansea, in 1982 and 1983, before spending two years with Portsmouth and three seasons in the MISL with the Wichita Wings.[1][4] He returned to England in 1988 and spent a season with Bristol City before moving into non-league football with Waterlooville.[1] After retiring as a player he worked for NTI Communications.[4]