Today (Friday 2. November) our young player, Jake Standbridge, was laid to rest after his recent untimely death.
Eccleshall players and officials joined Jake’s parents Brian and Karen, sister Lauren and girlfriend Ciera, relatives, friends and other mourners at a celebration of Jake’s life prior to a private family cremation.
Jake was a battling, terrier type central midfielder who joined Eccleshall at the beginning of the 2017/18 season – the type of player most teams need. He signed for the Eagles together with some other young players who were formerly with Newcastle Town Reserves. They, along with Jake, took time to adjust to the men's level of football in the Hallmark Security League. His style of play inevitably brought him into conflict with referees and, over the season, earned him twelve cautions and a sending off.
The ‘edge’ in Jake’s game was something we know would have changed with maturity and we were working together to manage this and give him the chance to show the younger players coming in the qualities and true competitive nature he had. We were having a measure of success with this but he picked up two ‘yellows’ against Wythenshawe Town and his final game for us was against Abbey Hulton United. He was back in training after injury on the Thursday night and named in the squad for the game against Wythenshawe Amateurs on the Saturday when we received the sad news.
A popular player at the club, there was more to Jake than an edgy style of play on the field. Off the pitch, he joined other players pre-season in helping with ground maintenance – painting the perimeter fence to smarten the appearance of the place. He also helped with our stall at Eccleshall Festival aimed at increasing the club’s profile in the local community and trying to attract additional support for the club through the gate. We believe that he enjoyed being part of Eccleshall Football Club just as much as we loved having him here. The photo on social media of him making a heart around the club badge on his tracksuit was quite apt. His presence around Pershall Park, particularly on match days, is going to be sorely missed.
Jake’s family would like to thank the numerous clubs in our ‘football family’, who pull together in times like this, for their many messages of condolence and pre-match tributes in his memory, all of which have helped them over this difficult period.

Rest in Peace Jake – your memory will always be part of Eccleshall Football Club.

Jake Standbridge
1996 -2018