Stan Harland made 87 appearances for the club between June 1964 and August 1966. In that time he managed to score 7 goals, despite the fact that his trade was as a defender.

The understanding forged between himself, Peter McConnell and Tommy Passmoor in the 1964/65 season gave United one of the meanest defensive records in Third Division, and brought deserved success.

Born in Liverpool on 19th June 1940, Stan grew up in an atmosphere where football was a religion. He represented Liverpool City schools at all levels before signing amateur forms with Burnley. It was in 1959, at the age of 19, that Harland was given the opportunity to turn professional. The young Everton fan was delighted to be offered terms by the club he had followed as a boy, and he took his place at Goodison Park.

He worked hard in 'The Toffees' reserves, but never made the break through to the first team, and was quick to accept a move to Bradford City in June 1961. He spent three years at Valley Parade as a first team regular, twice just missing out on promotion to Division Three. By the summer of 1964 Stan was ready for another challenge. He had been handed the captain's armband, but was frustrated with Fourth Division football and submitted a transfer request. Carlisle United had gained promotion to Division Three, by grabbing second spot, and Alan Ashman was on the prowl for new players. Stan Harland fitted in to his plans perfectly. Harland signed in June 1964 on a two year contract.

Stan played every game of the 1964/65 season, with his 51 appearances bringing him 3 goals. His assuredness at the back, the accuracy of his left footed passing, and the exciting forages forward made this particular player stand out and he soon became a favourite. United conceded only 53 League goals that season - one of the best records in the Division. To top it all, Harland scored the goal against Bristol City at Brunton Park on 16th April 1965 that earned a 1-1 draw and all but clinched the Third Division Championship for The Cumbrians. They did indeed manage to finish that season as Champions for the first time in their history, and won promotion to Division Two.

A solid, uninspiring season followed in 1965/66, with United settling in to higher Division football by finishing 14th in League. Injury sidelined Harland for much of the second half of the campaign, but his 36 appearances still brought 4 goals. A summer of '66 dispute between Harland and Ashman (believed to be over contractual matters) brought the departure of the popular scouser when a compromise could not be reached. So, in August 1966, Harland moved to Swindon Town. He spent five seasons in total at the County Ground and he enjoyed his most successful period in football whilst there. Swindon won promotion to Division Two in the 1968/69 season and delighted the whole country by beating Arsenal in the 1969 League Cup Final, in front of a Wembley crowd of 100,000. Later that year they completed an amazing double by beating a very strong Roma side in the Anglo-Italian Trophy Final.

At the age of 31 Harland agreed to one more career move and he joined Birmingham City for £15,000 in December 1971. He was again given the captain's armband and he duly led his team to the FA Cup Semi-Final. In December 1972 a combination of injuries forced him in to a decision to retire and he left the professional game having made 472 League appearances and having scored 33 goals.

He went on to manage Yeovil Town and Gravesend & Northfleet, and he enjoyed a short spell as assistant manager with Portsmouth. He finally settled in Yeovil where he and his wife ran a small business (it is interesting to note that his wife Joyce was a former British Ice Skating Champion). The sad news of his death was broken on Thursday 30th August 2001 and Stan was buried in Yeovil on 6th September 2001.