After scoring 13 times during a season-long loan spell in 2023/24, Blues’ untimely return to the third tier for the first time in 29 years rendered any chance of him pulling on the famous royal blue again unreasonable.

Yet, following a close season of speculation, amidst the Club adding other high-quality acquisitions to their ranks and the player even returning to St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park for a Carabao Cup Round Two tie, where inevitably he scored for his parent club, a deal was finally brokered between Blues and the Cottagers.

To celebrate Stansfield’s return, BCFC.com looks back at the story so far.

Birmingham City’s routine pre-match press conference, for the upcoming hosting of Plymouth Argyle, might have drawn more of a crowd had they known the Men’s First Team’s newest hero was being kept under wraps at the Birmingham City Elite Performance and Innovation Centre.

Summer 2023’s first loan arrival, effective as an out-and-out frontman and as foil to offensive players was, from the outside, viewed as an addition rather than the soon-to-be fulcrum of Blues’ attack.

But with the ink of his signature having dried just two days earlier, he left another indelible mark on the Club’s history. With the hosting of Plymouth winding down to a point apiece, Devon-born Stansfield, a son of Exeter and formerly of the Pilgrim’s bitter county rivals, thundered home a 96th-minute winner in front of an instantly adoring Tilton.

There was a snappy bite to his play style that made him the scourge of opponents. There was a goalscorer that excited supporters. And there was an insatiable appetite to work that impressed his new dressing room.

Seven days after opening his goal account, the tally was doubled when, with Millwall leading and digging their heals in, he slipped the Lions’ defenders and delivered a textbook finish across the goalkeeper.

Not reliant on home comforts, Stansfield made his mark on the road. Crisp right-footed finishes at Preston North End and Southampton deserved more than just being the footnotes of match reports, his effort at Deepdale leaving a defender flummoxed before the goalkeeper grabbed nothing but Autumn Lancashire air.

Early winter struggles were not for a lack of trying from Blues’ no.28 and when he did return to the scoresheet, he again haunted Plymouth. His instinctive header was not well received at Home Park, but spread some early festive cheer to the hordes of Bluenoses who had sidestepped last-minute Christmas shopping for a trip South.

Three days on he slammed in a consolation against Stoke City, but less than a month later he was scoring a far more valuable goal against the Potters. Stealing a yard on the backline, the only surprise was that his celebration – a kneeslide-salute combo – was somehow more impressive than the strike itself.

However, away from Stansfield’s stellar individual output, picking up points was becoming an intermittent feature of the season and another netbuster versus Southampton would still not put him on the winning side.

April had a win-or-bust feel about it and Stansfield ensured the party was in full swing before UB40’s historic performance at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, showing ice-cold composure to carry the ball some 50 yards and then stroke the ball home. A different type of goal, grafted out rather than created, summed up his never-say-die attitude but a Foxes haymaker proved fatal at Leicester City.

They say, ‘You can’t keep a good man down’. How about a good striker? After a midweek disappointment to Cardiff City, Stansfield led the charge in an all-West-Midlands affair, firmly putting the game to bed when he caressed the ball in. He then plundered home at Rotherham, a goal that would have put Blues safely above the dreaded, dashed line, only for a 50-50 offside call to curtail the wild celebrations.

And, just like that, it was over – or so it seemed. Going out with a fizzle rather than a bang. A clean sweep of five prizes at the end-of-season awards would have been, humbling, yet scant consolation for the truest team player.

His respect for Blues and the supporters was abundantly clear when, having stepped back in B9 wearing Fulham colours, just days ago, his goalscoring contribution was met with a muted non-celebration. The goal and his Man of the Match Award were seemingly a cruel reminder of what, until now, could have been.