[1] Stanley started his career with Chelsea, where he turned professional in 1971 and made his league debut at the age of 21, on 16 August 1975 in a 2–1 defeat away to Sunderland in the Second Division.
[3] He helped the club to promotion to the First Division in the 1976–77 season, and remained with Chelsea until their relegation in 1979, when, after a summer in the NASL with Fort Lauderdale Strikers, he joined Everton for a fee of £300,000.
[2][4] He failed to show his Chelsea form with Everton, and moved on to Swansea City two years later for £150,000.
[5] Stanley won the Welsh Cup twice with Swansea, in 1982 and 1983, before spending two years with Portsmouth and three seasons in the MISL with the Wichita Wings.
[1][4] He returned to England in 1988 and spent a season with Bristol City before moving into non-league football with Waterlooville.