Wareham to wear Exeter's number 9 shirt
Jayden Wareham joined Exeter in June after two years at Reading
- Published
Summer signing Jayden Wareham will wear Exeter City's number 9 shirt this season after receiving the blessing of the Stansfield family.
The shirt number was retired for nine seasons as a mark of respect after club legend Adam Stansfield died of bowel cancer in August 2010, aged just 31.
It has been worn only twice since in what manager Gary Caldwell called "special circumstances" - by academy youngster Ben Seymour in 2020/21 and, poignantly, Stansfield's son Jay during his loan spell at Exeter from Fulham in 2022/23.
Now the number will return to service following consultation with Stansfield's family.
Wareham's shirt will also have the late Stansfield's nickname - Stanno - embroidered onto inside collar.
Exeter retired the number 9 shirt following Adam Stansfield's passing in August 2010
Wareham told Exeter's website:, external "It's an incredible honour to wear the number 9 shirt at Exeter City.
"I'm fully aware of what it represents. It's not just a number, but a tribute to Adam Stansfield and everything he gave to this club and community.
"The shirt was retired for nine years out of respect, and to be entrusted with it now is something I won't take lightly.
"I'll do everything I can to wear it with pride, play with the passion Adam showed, and make the fans proud."
Jay Stansfield wore Exeter's number 9 shirt during his 2022/23 loan spell
Wareham joined Exeter from Reading for an undisclosed fee in June.
Caldwell said: "In our discussions with Jayden Wareham about joining the club, he expressed a real desire to wear the number 9 shirt.
"I explained that this wasn't a decision we could make alone, it would need to be agreed by the Stansfield family, in particular Adam's mum Gig and his son Jay.
"Both were supportive of the idea, and we all believe this could be a powerful way to honour Adam's legacy by seeing the number 9 scoring goals again at St James Park, just like he did so many times.
"It's a big responsibility, but one I believe Jayden will carry with pride, playing for the team, for the supporters, and in memory of Adam."