Needing a striker who could find the net on a regular basis, Boro’ gaffer Graham Westley signed Darryn Stamp in January 2005. We were eyeing up a promotion bid in the second half of the 2004-5 campaign and Stampy had fallen out of favour at Chester City. A move was in the interests of both parties – and we felt the benefit on the striker’s debut; a brace helping us to a 3-1 win against Farnborough.

Earlier on during the 2004-5 season, Stamp spent time on loan at Kidderminster Harriers. Then came his move to Broadhall Way. And it was a signing that Chester fans met with a not-so-happy reaction. But that’s not really our problem, to be fair. The forward went onto score eight goals in 19 starts by the end of his first term with us. And that form continued into the 2005-6 campaign too. Ending up as our top scorer on 13 goals, it sadly wasn’t to be enough for us to make the playoffs again.

Having been retained for the 2006-7 season, there was belief in Stamp’s abilities to keep leading the line. He soon found himself at York City on loan, however; the forward falling out of favour with new gaffer Mark Stimson. Eventually, he’d leave us in January 2007; a chance to make the permanent switch to Halifax Town coming his way. His eventual goal return of 21 in 62 outings hardly the worst record you’ll find.

Darryn Stamp: After Boro’

Stamp didn’t last more than a season at The Shay; a loan move to Northwich Victoria in March 2008 laying the foundations for a permanent switch to the Vics after the Shaymen were relegated. In a similar situation, however, he was loaned out during the second half of his first season at the Vics to Gateshead. This time, it didn’t end in a permanent move. And so he moved to Gainsborough Trinity to start the next chapter.