Bournemouth Poppies have re-signed veteran defender Craig Stanley.
The Poppies lost the defender recently to Wessex Premier division side Downton FC but the 41-year-old has returned in time for their next league game against Fareham Town.
The absence of Stanley saw the Wessex league side win just one game in their last 6, with a shaky defence allowing 15 goals past them in the process.
Returning to the Dorset side, Stanley is clear on his intentions with the Poppies:
“Coming back is definitely not a financial decision. It’s a good club with good people.”
Stanley has years of experience under his belt prior to his first tenure at the Bournemouth Poppies, making 174 appearances for Morecambe in which he helped to promote them to League 2.
Spells at the likes of Lincoln City and Bristol Rovers boast great experience from the defender, experience that he will be looking to guide the younger players in the squad:
“I want the young players to have the sort of career that I have had, so if I can give a little percentage of what I can give them, hopefully that can help.”
Stanley has joined until the end of the season and will be looking to replicate the form that pushed the Poppies to sixth place this season before his departure:
“I’ll be trying my best, and hopefully I can play as well as I did at the start of the season.”
Bournemouth Poppies will face Fareham Town this Saturday on the 25th January in Craig Stanley’s first game back.
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