Internationally, he played for the England amateur team and competed for Great Britain at the 1908 Summer Olympics, where he scored six goals.

He then played for Woodford Town, where he was made captain,[3] before signing for West Ham United, then of the Southern League,[4] on 28 September 1905.

[5] Stapley made his West Ham debut against Portsmouth on 23 December 1905 and scored the only goal of the game.

He spent three seasons at Upton Park and was the Irons' top scorer in all three, even though his job as a schoolteacher prevented him from traveling to certain midweek away games.

[9] In 1908, he was a member of the English amateur team that represented Great Britain at the 1908 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in the football tournament.