Alex Stanley was a former Reading defender who was on trial at the start of 2003. He had been with the academy at Southampton from the age of 10 to 16.

He went on to play the non-league game at a high level for most of his career, including at Weston-Super-Mare, Farnborough (during their Conference days) and Yeading, where he won back to back promotions ending in the Conference South and was also in their side that faced Newcastle United in a televised tie in the FA Cup Third Round.

He later went on to play at Chippenham Town, Yate, Cirencester Town, Swindon Supermarine and Didcot Town where he ended his playing career in 2013.

He then went into football management.