Accrington Stanley F.C.
Full name | Accrington Stanley Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The 'Owd Reds | ||
Founded | October 1968 | ||
Ground | Crown Ground | ||
Capacity | 5,450 (3,100 seated)[1] | ||
Owner | Andy Holt | ||
Manager | John Doolan | ||
League | EFL League Two | ||
2022–23 | EFL League One, 23rd of 24 (relegated) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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Accrington Stanley Football Club is a professional
The current club was formed in 1968, two years after the collapse of the original Accrington Stanley, which played in the Football League from 1921 to 1962 after initially competing in the Lancashire Combination. The town's original club, named simply Accrington, were founder members of the Football League in 1888, though folded just six years later. The current incarnation of the club entered the Lancashire Combination and moved on to the Cheshire County League after winning the Combination title in 1977–78. Stanley won Division Two of the Cheshire County League in 1980–81 and became founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982, before being placed in Division One of the Northern Premier League five years later. They were promoted to the Premier Division in 1990–91, though were relegated in 1999.
The early 21st century saw the club win three promotions over the course of seven seasons under the stewardship of John Coleman to gain a place in the Football League. They won three divisional titles in each of their three promotions: Northern Premier League Division One (1999–2000), Northern Premier League Premier Division (2002–03) and the Conference National (2005–06). They then spent 12 seasons mostly in the bottom half of the table in League Two, though did also lose two play-off semi-finals, before Coleman led them to promotion into League One as League Two champions in 2017–18.
History
This article appears to be slanted towards recent events. (June 2021) |
Re-formation (1968–2003)
Accrington had been without a football team following the collapse of the original Accrington Stanley in 1966. The original team had been formed in 1891 and played in the Football League from 1921 to March 1962, but had spent its final four seasons in the Lancashire Combination. At a meeting at Bold Street Working Men's Club in 1968 the revival was initiated, and in August 1970 the new club played at a new ground, the Crown Ground.[2] Eric Whalley, a local businessman, took control of the club in 1995 and began the development of the club's ground. After the club was relegated in 1999, Whalley appointed John Coleman as manager.
The club's rise to the Football League is attributed in part to the windfall of hundreds of thousands of pounds reaped by the sell-on clause in the December 2001 transfer of former Stanley star Brett Ormerod to Southampton, which paid Blackpool over a million pounds for his contract. Stanley had taken £50,000 from Blackpool in 1997, with the agreement that Blackpool would pay Accrington a quarter of what it might have received if it in turn transferred Ormerod to another team. The 2002–03 championship of the Northern Premier League followed quickly on Accrington getting the cash.
Conference years (2003–2006)
In May 2003, the club was promoted for the first time in history to the
In 2004, Accrington Stanley turned professional. The following 2004–05 season, Stanley yet again achieved a final position of 10th placed, with Stanley legend Paul Mullin amongst the top goal scorers yet again, adding another 20 to his tally.
Stanley's stay in the Conference didn't last long, with the club returning to
Return to the Football League (2006–present)
The club's first Football League game took place on 5 August 2006 away to
Highlights of that first season back included the club's first-ever
The 2007–08 season produced more of the same, with the club involved in another relegation battle with strugglers
Performance during the 2008–09 season improved, with the club achieving a modest 16th-place finish in
The 2009–10 season was far better, with the club pushing for a play-off place at the turn of the year. A run of 9 wins in 10 League games saw the club with a chance of making the play-offs, only for this to fade in March/April. The emergence of the
.The club reached the
2011–12 was a season of transition for the club. The loss of no less than six of the playoff-chasing side of the previous season was a tough act to follow. Following a shaky start to the season the arrival of
Andy Holt's stewardship (2015–present)
On 28 October 2015, the board of Accrington Stanley voted to approve local businessman Andy Holt's takeover of the club. Holt, whose company What More UK sponsored, and still sponsor, Stanley's Wham Stadium, attained a majority share of 75% in Accrington Stanley, in return for clearing the club's £1.2m debt as well as providing the club with further funds of £600,000. Stanley's chairman, Peter Marsden, remained as chairman whilst five new people joined the club's board.[3] At the time of the takeover, Stanley had been on the verge of folding due to crippling debts and its inability to fund day-to-day running costs, including wages and its suppliers.[4] Due to its precarious financial situation, the club had been accepting sponsorship deals at a value lower than what should have been demanded.
Holt's involvement with Stanley began in July 2015, when Holt attended Stanley's pre-season friendly at home against local rivals Burnley, which they won 4–2. It was during this game that Holt got an insight into the dire state of Stanley, having discovered that the club's bar was unable to serve spectators as a result of its failure to pay its suppliers.[5] In his first season as owner of the club, the 2015–16 Football League Two season, the club narrowly missed out on promotion to League One on the final day of the season, having been held to a 0–0 draw with Stevenage. Stanley were then defeated in the semi-final of the League Two play-offs, losing 3–2 on aggregate to AFC Wimbledon, with Wimbledon going on to defeat Plymouth Argyle 2–0 in the play-off final. At the end of the season, Stanley lost several of its players who had helped spur them on a promotion push, such as Tom Davies, Ross Etheridge and Josh Windass, who had agreed contracts with clubs in a position to offer higher wages than Stanley had been able to. With Windass and Crooks being under-24, Stanley received £120,000 for the duo's transfer to Rangers.[6]
During the 2016–17 pre-season, Stanley made several improvements to the facilities on offer at the Crown Ground, including the replacement of vendors with its own in-house service. It was also during the 2016–17 pre-season that Stanley's chairman, Marsden, stepped down after a decade at the helm of the club.[7] Marsden was replaced by Holt in the position. In the following 2016–17 season, Stanley finished mid-table in 13th position, having struggled to replicate its promotion push from the season before. The club had, however, enjoyed a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup, with a 1–0 defeat away to Middlesbrough putting an end to their cup campaign.[8]
At the end of the 2017–18 season, Stanley won the League Two, with their 2–0 win over Yeovil Town on 17 April 2018 sealing promotion.[9][10] In their first season in League One finished the season in 14th place.[9]
In January 2020, Stanley icon Billy Kee announced his retirement from professional football,[11] having battled with mental health issues that had seen Kee last appear for Stanley the previous season. In honour of the forward, Stanley announced that they were to retire Kee's 29 shirt number.[12]
Stanley were relegated to League Two in 2022–23 after finishing second from bottom in League One.[9] In March 2024, John Coleman was sacked as manager after nine and a half years in the role.[13]
Name
The original town club,
Stadium
Since leaving Peel Park, the club has played at the Crown Ground, currently known as the Wham Stadium as part of a three-year £200,000 sponsorship deal with What More UK Ltd.[15]
Prior to Holt's takeover of Stanley, the Crown Ground had a reputation for being one of the poorest grounds within the top four leagues of English football. However, Holt's stewardship of the club lead to changes at the Crown Ground, with initial changes including improved match day facilities before the construction of a new Whinney Hill Stand, which was built and completed in late-2018.[16]
The following season, Stanley invested around £300,000 in a new playing field, a move which saw new draining and a levelled pitch installed to overcome the club's issue with recurring floods towards the Coppice End.[17]
In January 2021, work begun on the construction of a new and improved Jack Barrett Stand, work which will see a new bar and hospitality area provided as part of the plans.[18]
Rivalries
According to a survey conducted in August 2019, Stanley supporters consider traditional Lancashire clubs Rochdale, Morecambe and Bury to be their biggest rivals, with near neighbours Blackburn Rovers and Burnley following.[19]
Television advertisement
In the 1980s, the club was mentioned in a British advert for milk, which briefly brought the club to the attention of the general public.[20][21] The advertisement featured two boys in Liverpool replica shirts played by young actors Carl Rice and Kevin Staine. It made reference to Accrington Stanley's obscurity in comparison to Liverpool's success at the time.
Boy 1: "Milk! Urghh!"
Boy 2: "It's what Ian Rush drinks."
Boy 1: "Ian Rush?"
Boy 2: "Yeah. And he said if I didn't drink lots of milk, when I grow up, I'll only be good enough to play for Accrington Stanley."
Boy 1: "
Boy 2: "Exactly."
In the former weekly football show, Soccer AM, the phrase "Accrington Stanley, who are they?" is said every time a fixture is read out that has the club in it, referring to the milk advert.
Players
Current squad
- As of 28 August 2023[22]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Retired numbers
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
In a PFA Fans' Favourites survey published by the Professional Footballers' Association in December 2007, Chris Grimshaw was listed as the all-time favourite player amongst Accrington Stanley fans.[24]
Club officials/staff
- Chairman: Andy Holt
- Managing Director: David Burgess
- Directors: Thomas O'Neill/Virginia Hargreaves/David Burgess
- Academy Manager and Head of Youth Development: Duncan Fearnhead
- Manager: John Doolan
- Assistant Manager: Vacant
- First Team GK Coach: Andy Dibble
- Under 18 Manager: John Miles
- Under 18 Assistant Manager: Andy Gray
- Chief Doctor: Joyce Watson
- Head Therapist: Matthew Donnelly
- Kitman: George Quigley
- Physio: Paul Morgan
- Strength and Conditioning: Chris Scholes
- Scout: Ashley Hoskin
- Head of Coaching: Ben King
- Foundation Phase Lead: Stuart Jones
Managerial history
Honours
- Source:[25]
League
- League Two (level 4)
- Champions: 2017–18
- Conference (level 5)
- Champions: 2005–06
- Northern Premier League (level 6)
- Champions: 2002–03
- Northern Premier League Division One
- Champions: 1999–2000
- Lancashire Combination
- Champions: 1973–74, 1977–78
- Cheshire County League Division Two
- Champions: 1980–81
Cup
- Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
- Winners: 2001–02
- Northern Premier League Challenge Shield
- Winners: 2002–03
- Lancashire Combination Cup
- Winners: 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1976–77
- Lancashire Combination League Cup
- Winners: 1971–72
See also
- List of Accrington Stanley F.C. seasons
- List of Accrington Stanley F.C. managers
- List of Accrington Stanley F.C. players
References
- ^ Accrington Stanley Football Ground Guide
- ^ Terry, Philip. "Club History". Accrington Stanley F.C. Archived from the original on 30 December 2005.
- ^ "Stanley takeover to clear £1.2m debt". BBC Sport. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "The team owner who'll tell you all about it on Twitter". ESPN.com. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Andy Holt: 'A Wild Two Years'". www.accringtonstanley.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ Online, Record Sport (20 June 2016). "Rangers and Accrington agree compensation deal for Josh Windass and Matt Crooks". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Wealdstone's Football League ambition". Harrow Times. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Middlesbrough 1–0 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "Accrington Stanley". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Accrington Stanley 2–0 Yeovil Town". BBC Sport. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Health issues prompt Kee retirement". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Billy Kee: Accrington Stanley retire forward's 29 shirt number after emotional farewell". BBC Sport. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Accrington Stanley: John Coleman and Jimmy Bell sacked by League Two club". BBC Sport. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Accrington Stanley? Who are they?". Accrington Stanley FC. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ^ MacPherson, Jon (4 August 2015). "Whambly! Accrington Stanley renames stadium in £200,000 sponsorship deal - Accrington Observer". Accrington Observer. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ^ Jajecznyk, Stefan (10 May 2018). "Works on Accrington Stanley's new £1m stand begins next week". LancsLive. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "How Accrington Stanley's new pitch has proved a real home comfort". Lancashire Telegraph. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "UPDATE: Work begins on new stand". www.accringtonstanley.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs have been revealed". 27 August 2019.
- ^ "Accrington thank milk advert star". BBC. 6 March 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- YouTube
- ^ "First Team Players - Accrington Stanley".
- ^ Stanley retire the number 29 shirt in honour of Billy Kee, 1 Feb 2020 at Acrington Stanley site
- ^ Smith, Martin (19 December 2007). "Best footballers: Shearer a hero on two fronts". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "Accrington History and Honours". Accrington Stanley FC. 21 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
External links
- Official website
- Accrington Stanley News (archived 16 June 2017)
- Accrington Stanley at the Football Club History Database