Olphert Stanfield

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Olphert Stanfield
Personal information
Full name Olphert Martin Stanfield
Date of birth February 26 1869
Place of birth    unknown town / city, Ireland
Playing position Centre Forward
Youth clubs
188x-86 Genoa FC
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1886-98 Distillery    
National team
1887-1897 Ireland 30 (11)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Olphert Martin Stanfield ( born February 26, 1869) also referred to as Olphie Stanfield or Ollie Stanfield was an Irish footballer who played for Distillery and Ireland during the 1880s and 1890s. Stanfield, a prolific and strong centre forward was the most capped international footballer during the 1800s, Ireland’s record goalscorer during the 1800s and remains the most capped Distillery player of all time.

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[edit] Distillery

Stanfield joined Distillery in 1886 from Genoa FC and by the end of the decade had scored over 90 goals. During the 1889-89 season he scored hat-tricks in four consecutive games and helped Distillery win an Irish Cup/County Antrim Shield double. During the 1890s Stanfield became a Distillery legend, making 147 competitive appearances and scoring at least 105 goals. He scored at least seven hat-tricks during the 1890s and scored the winner in the 1894 Irish Cup final. He also scored the winner in a play-off for Irish League title in 1896, helping Distillery win a treble.

[edit] Irish International

Stanfield made his international debut for Ireland on February 5 1887, aged 17 years and 344 days, in a 7-0 defeat to England at Bramall Lane in Sheffield. On February 7 1891 he scored 4 goals in a 7-2 win over Wales. Among his team mates that day was fellow Distillery legend Jack Reynolds. During the 1894 British Home Championship, Stanfield scored three goals in successive internationals. The highlight of the three came on March 3 1894 at the Solitude Ground in Belfast, when after thirteen attempts Ireland finally avoided defeat to England. Against an England team that included Fred Spiksley and Jack Reynolds, who had switched allegiances, Stanfield’s goal inspired Ireland to come back from 2-0 down to gain a 2-2 draw.

[edit] Honours

Distillery

[edit] External links