Junior Stanislas

Born in Kidbrooke, London,[5] Stanislas first joined West Ham United as a schoolboy at the age of 10.[6] In May 2006, Stanislas signed a three-year academy scholarship. He made his Premier Academy League debut in a 3–2 defeat to Watford on 8 April 2006, at the age of 16.[5] He became a regular for the Academy in the 2006–07 season, appearing 26 times and scoring 9 goals as West Ham finished as runners-up to Arsenal.[5] He carried his goalscoring form into the 2007–08 season, scoring 10 goals in 24 appearances. He made his Premier Reserve League debut on 29 August 2007, in a 2–1 defeat to Aston Villa. His first goals came in the 8–0 rout over Derby County, as he netted a brace.[5] He was part of the first-team squad that travelled to North America in the summer of 2008 for the pre-season tour.[7] He started the 2008–09 season in the reserves, scoring his first goal of the season on 21 October 2008, in a 1–0 home win over Arsenal.[5]

On 27 November 2008, Stanislas joined League One club Southend United on loan for six weeks.[8] He made an immediate impact on his professional debut, scoring a brace, including a spectacular free kick, against Luton Town in the FA Cup second round on 29 November.[9] His league debut came on 6 December in a 3–0 defeat, away at Leicester City.[10] His first goal for Southend came on 26 December as he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Northampton Town, which brought to end a run of seven league games without victory.[11] He was part of the side that earned a memorable 1–1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup third round.[12] However, Southend could not repeat their heroics at Roots Hall as the Shrimpers lost 4–1 in the replay. Stanislas returned to West Ham on 19 January 2009, after a 3–1 defeat to Stockport County at Edgeley Park.[13] He made a total of nine appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals.

Stanislas made his West Ham and Premier League debut on 16 March 2009 against bottom of the table West Bromwich Albion, replacing Savio Nsereko in the second half.[14] He scored his first goal on his first start for the club, in a 2–0 home win against Sunderland on 4 April.[15] On 9 April, he signed his first professional contract, a long-term four-and-a-half-year deal, lasting until the summer of 2013.[16] He had an extended run in the first-team when first choice midfielders Valon Behrami and Jack Collison were both out injured. On 24 May, the last game of the season, Stanislas scored the winner in the 2–1 win over Middlesbrough, which sealed Boro's relegation to the Championship.[17] He made a total of 9 appearances for West Ham, scoring 2 goals in the 2008–09 season.

Stanislas with West Ham in January 2010

Stanislas started the 2009–10 season as a first team regular featuring in the first 5 games, including a 2–0 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. He also scored a brace in West Ham's 3–1 League Cup second round victory over arch-rivals Millwall in August 2009. The first goal came three minutes from time before scoring a penalty kick winner in extra time. However, the game was marred by the 2009 Upton Park riot which included pitch invasions after both of Stanislas' goals.[18] His second goal of the season came on 4 October 2009, when he came off the bench to score a last minute equaliser in a 2–2 draw with Fulham.[5] His final goal of the season was on 28 November 2009, scoring the second goal in a 5–3 win over Burnley.[5] He remained a first-team player until the end of the season featuring heavily in the run-in as West Ham secured their Premier League safety. Stanislas made a total of 28 appearances in all competitions, scoring 4 goals in the 2009–10 season.[5]

In the summer of 2010, Gianfranco Zola was replaced by Avram Grant as manager and Stanislas found himself down the pecking order at Upton Park. His first appearance of the season was on 24 August 2010, in a 1–0 win over Oxford United in the League Cup.[5] He had a prolonged spell in the first team during November and December, making 5 appearances. On 18 December 2010, he scored the equalising goal against Blackburn Rovers in a 1–1 draw at Ewood Park, after coming on as a substitute for Pablo Barrera in the second half.[19] His final game of the season was on 1 January 2011, in a 2–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. In January 2011, he was ruled out until the end of the season after undergoing hernia surgery.[5] After four months out, he made his comeback for the reserves on 11 May, playing 30 minutes in a 3–2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.[20] He made a total of 8 appearances in all competitions, scoring 1 goal in the 2010–11 season as West Ham were relegated to the Championship.[5]

The summer again brought a change of manager with Sam Allardyce replacing the departed Avram Grant. His first game of the season was in the league game against Doncaster Rovers on 13 August 2011, coming on as a late substitute for Herita Ilunga in a 1–0 victory.[21] On 24 August 2011, he scored his first goal of the season in what proved to be his final appearance for the Hammers, in their 2–1 League Cup defeat to Aldershot Town.[22]

On 31 August 2011, Stanislas joined fellow Championship club Burnley on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, becoming the club's seventh summer signing.[23] He stated the main reason for leaving West Ham was due to lack of game time.[24] His debut for the Clarets came on 10 September, in a 2–0 defeat to Middlesbrough at Turf Moor, coming on as a second-half substitute for Keith Treacy.[25] His first start for the club came on 24 September, in a 1–1 draw with Southampton.[26] He provided two assists 3 days later for Jay Rodriguez in the 5–1 drubbing of Nottingham Forest.[27] On 3 December, he returned to his old club as Burnley secured a 2–1 victory, with Stanislas providing the assist for the Chris McCann equaliser.[28] In January 2012, he sustained a hamstring injury against Middlesbrough which kept him sidelined for two months.[29] His return came on 10 March 2012, in a 1–1 home draw with Crystal Palace, coming on in the final few minutes for Martin Paterson. His final appearance of the season was in the 1–1 draw with Bristol City as Burnley finished mid-table.[30] Stanislas made a total of 32 appearances in his debut season for Burnley, scoring no goals. In his second season at Turf Moor, Stanislas was again a regular first-teamer; appearing in all but 11 league matches and scoring 5 goals.

On 26 June 2014, Stanislas joined AFC Bournemouth. He had been offered a new contract at Turf Moor, but this was turned down in favour of reuniting with former manager Eddie Howe.[31]

He made his debut for the Cherries on 9 August, coming on in added time for Marc Pugh as they began the season with a 4–0 win at Huddersfield Town.[32] A week later, six minutes after coming off the bench, he finished Ryan Fraser's cross for the only goal at Dean Court against Brentford;[33] this was his only goal in 13 appearances as Bournemouth won the title, earning their first promotion to the Premier League. On 3 January 2015, in the third round of the FA Cup, Stanislas put Bournemouth in the lead as they came from behind to win 5–1 at Rotherham United.[34]

On 25 August 2015, Stanislas scored in each half as Bournemouth defeated Hartlepool United 4–0 at the Victoria Ground in the second round of the League Cup.[35] His first Premier League goals for the club came on 28 November, two late strikes to seal a 3–3 home draw against Everton.[36] Two weeks later, Stanislas opened the scoring in the second minute of an eventual 2–1 win over Manchester United, netting directly from a corner kick.[37]