Stan Risdon was born in 1913 in Exeter. He played minor football for Tipton St John and St Mary Majors before joining Exeter City, initially as an amateur, in 1933. Playing at inside right and then at right half, Stan made 35 appearances in the Third Division South by the end of the 1935–36 season, but refused the offer of another season, and signed for division rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.
Never a regular in Albion’s league side, Stan made only 23 first-team appearances, mainly playing as a defender, before the Second World War put a stop to competitive football. He was able to play regularly for the club throughout the war, and made his final appearances for the first team in the 1946–47 season.
Stan joined the newly formed Southern League club Hastings United in 1948. He remained with Hastings United for six years, before becoming player-coach of Sussex County League club Bexhill Town Athletic.