Accrington Stanley FC is a professional football club from the former textile town of the same name in east Lancashire. A famous name in the history of the game, the current Stanley are the third incarnation of a professional club in the town when formed in October 1968.
The original Accrington FC was formed at a meeting in a local pub in 1876, choosing the Accrington Cricket Club ground at Thorneyholme Road as their home ground. The club became founder members of the Football League in 1888.
The ‘Owd Reds’ best performance came in 1889-90 when they finished in sixth position. At the end of the 1892-93 season the team finished bottom and lost a ‘Test Match’ to Sheffield United which led to the team resigning from the competition.
Accrington joined the Lancashire League as financial problems hindered the club, before they moved to the Lancashire Combination for the 1895-96 campaign; in which they withdrew mid-season and folded after a 12-0 defeat to Darwen in the Lancashire Cup.
A team called Stanley Villa, because they were based at the Stanley Arms pub in Stanley Street, changed their name to Accrington Stanley in 1896 and joined the Lancashire Combination for the 1900-01 season playing at Peel Park.
Stanley won the Combination title in 1902-03 and 1905-06 before securing a position in the Football League as founder members of Division Three North in 1921. Runners-up places without promotion were achieved in 1954-55 and 1957-58.
Financial worries blighted Stanley despite relative success on the pitch. The building of the new Burnley Road Stand was in hindsight a step too far as the team were relegated to Division Four as the structure went up in the 1959-60 season.
On 12 February 1962 Edwin Slinger, the chairman resigned from his post as he revealed the club owed up to £8,000. He persuaded the other directors to also resign as he worked to get the Burnley chairman Bob Lord involved in buying their shares and saving the club.
Stanley lost 4-0 away to Crewe Alexandra on 2nd March 1962 and a couple of days later it was revealed that the club also had a further £40,000 of unsecured creditors. Lord and Sam Pilkington decided enough was enough, so they tendered the clubs' resignation to the Football League.
Their secretary Alan Hardaker accepted so Stanley left the League on 11th March with their results expunged. Stanley continued at Peel Park for four seasons in the Lancashire Combination before they called it a day with dwindling attendances and large debts during the 1965-66 season.
In 1968 a meeting at the town library led by Stanley Wotherington began the revival and the rebirth of Stanley. The club were admitted to the Lancashire Combination in 1970-71, moving into a new home; The Crown Ground on Whalley Road behind The Crown pub.
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| Peel Park in 2011 |
Stanley’s first league match against Formby saw 620 fans in attendance. A few games were played at Peel Park, owing to the poor pitch at The Crown, but a permanent return was not to be.
Combination league titles followed in 1973-74 and 1977-78 before the club moved to Division Two of the Cheshire League. Stanley were crowned champions in 1980-81 to win promotion to Division One.
In 1982-83 Stanley became founder members of the North West Counties League as a sizeable amount of money was spent on their pitch. Around this time the club found fame through a Milk Marketing Board advert. To view it, click here:
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| The Town End of Peel Park in 2011 |
In 1985 floodlights were installed as the club moved into the newly formed second tier of the Northern Premier League. In 1990-91 Stanley were promoted to the Premier Division following the resignation of South Liverpool, as attendances grew at the Crown Ground.
In 1994 Eric Whalley who had a previous spell at Stanley, returned first as team boss and then general manager to move the club forward. The ground was continually improved and in 1997 Stanley received a huge boost with the transfer of Brett Ormerod to Blackpool for £50,000.
A few different managers tried to push Stanley on to the next level, before Liverpudlian schoolteacher John Coleman was appointed after they suffered their first ever relegation back to Division One in 1998-99.
Coleman succeeded in his first season as promotion back to the Premier Division was achieved as the manager began to introduce many youngsters into the side as crowds continued to improve along with the development of the Crown Ground.
In 2002-03 Stanley lifted the Northern Premier League title to join the Football Conference. In their first season they reached the FA Cup third round before going down to Colchester United after a replay.
The team consolidated in the league with two consecutive tenth place finishes until the 2005-06 season saw Stanley run away with the championship; with League football returning to the town after a gap of forty-six years.
The goals of Paul Mullin along with starring performances from Rob Elliot and Gary Roberts along with Ormerod’s sell on fee from Blackpool to Southampton assisted greatly to the success.
On its return to the League there were some memorable occasions for the club such as defeating Nottingham Forest at the Crown Ground in the League Cup, but generally the team struggled initially. Coleman's side gradually found their feet with more youngsters getting their opportunity.
Stanley were defeated in the 2010-11 play-off semi-finals by Stevenage Borough thanks to the forward partnership of Michael Symes and Bobby Grant. In January the following season Coleman left the club as more promising players were sold to make ends meet.
Local businessman Ilyas Khan had saved the club from potential closure and continued to look for ways to make the club self-sufficient. Paul Cook and then Leam Richardson had spells in charge of team affairs.
Khan departed before James Beattie took over as manager in the summer of 2013; remaining at the helm before being dismissed and replaced by a returning Coleman in September 2014.
The 2015-15 saw another play-off appearance aided by regulars Matty Pearson and Sean McConville while Billy Kee banged in the goals. AFC Wimbledon ended any dreams of Wembley and promotion on aggregate.
In August 2015 the Crown Ground was renamed the Wham Stadium in a sponsorship deal before the company owner and local man Andy Holt became Stanley’s new owner in October 2015.
The 2015-16 season saw a mid-table league finish, but the team progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup before going out away to Middlesbrough with Kee’s continued goals being assisted by those of Shay McCartan.
Coleman’s team were crowned as EFL League Two champions in 2017-18. Kee, Kayden Jackson and McConville scored the goals while keeper Aaron Chapman was an ever present.
The start of the 2019-20
campaign saw huge improvements to the Crown with a new stand and work on the
playing surface. Coleman’s
side finished around halfway in their 2020-21 League One campaign. Stability
and shrewd signings consolidated that position, but the 2022-23 saw Stanley go
back down to League Two.
Owner Holt eventually decided to dispense with the long-term management team following an interview on local radio given by the pair. John Doolan was appointed as the new team boss in March 2024.
Accrington
Stanley FC will compete in EFL League Two in the 2024-25 season.
My visits
Accrington Stanley 1 Rotherham United 1 (Tuesday 13th September 2011) Football League Two (att: 1,486)
I had a couple of days off work after my night shifts so I decided to plan an expedition away from London. After checking out the fixture list and the cost of trains and hotels I plumped to head to East Lancashire.
The plan was to go to watch Stanley, visit clubs in the area during the day on Wednesday and then find a game that evening, with Manchester City v Napoli my preferred choice. I arrived in Accrington around 5.30pm after changing trains from London at Preston and set out to see some of the town.
I was staying in Burnley that evening, but rather than book in first and return to the game, I wanted to visit the site of Peel Park in daylight. It quickly became obvious that the town centre was in a dip as I climbed through the many similar terraced streets, including Stanley Street where I went past the Stanley Working Men's Club.
A few minutes later I was in Turkey Street behind where the Main Stand once stood. It was a wierd feeling, despite there being no real evidence that there was ever a decent sized stadium there, although the shape remained.
A pitch was marked out so the signs were it still got used on occasions. I retired to the Peel Park Hotel for a top class pint of Tetley's and enjoyed a warm welcome and the assorted sporting memoribilia adorning the walls. The locals were in full conversation about the issues of the day in that lovely rich local dialect.
I set off to find the Crown Ground using my pre printed map. En route I came across a sign for Accrington Cricket Club, the home of David 'Bumble' Lloyd and where Shane Warne was a young club professional once upon a time. I went down the path at the end of Thorneyholme Road for a quick look and to take a couple of photos.
I continued through the post war housing estate and soon found myself on Livingstone Road by the stadium entrance, just as a coach full of Rotherham fans and their team coach arrived. I bought a programme from the young seller who asked me as to the form of The Millers.
I explained I was a Scarborough Athletic fan there to watch Stanley. He seemed overjoyed at the news and hoped I enjoyed the game. It's little things such as this that make the day out that bit more special and more was to come.
Some steps behind the stand led up to the clubs' own pub, The Crown. I was aware in advance that they didn't have handpumps on, but I made do with Newcastle Brown. It was a smashing pub with plentiful helpful staff and lots of seating, plus the football club got the money.
Even better, it served warm pies! I programme from a 1949 clash between Hull City and Stanley at Boothferry Park caught my eye, along with lots of other Stanley mementos. Pennants and scarves of some visiting clubs were also on display.
I got chatting to some knowledgeable away fans about all manner of the game and then some very dry local gents who were a comedy show waiting to happen in between passing on their views of the club.
I went past the programme seller who said hello once again and paid my £16 for the home end. The Crown Ground was not the greatest venue ever to stage League football, but has obviously been built when finances have allowed.
I was in the Whalley Road or Sophia Kahn Stand. This was originally an open terrace before a roof was added, and then seats at the front to meet regulations. To the right there was the main seating, which looks like one stand but is actually two; the Main and Thwaites Stands, with a roof joining them.
The seats were cleverly angled to give patrons the best possible view. The away fans were on the far open Coppice Terrace with the players entrance in the corner. The final side was the narrow Whinney Hill Stand, which also had seats fitted to comply with League standards, with open terracing either side.
Rotherham looked the better side throughout the first half without finding a breakthrough. The bloke in front of me was nearly bursting with his constant advice of "make a tackle McIntyre" aimed at the nervy Stanley full back, and "you are a clown liner" towards the near side linesman or assistant referee as they became ludicrously titled.
Everyone gave 100% support to their side in my section. Men, women and children gave it their all. A drummer banged away constantly with the singers around him attempted to raise their troops.
Just before half time United took the lead when skipper Ryan Cresswell headed home unmarked from a corner. I decided to beat the rush and enjoyed a 'meat n tatie' pie and a Bovril as the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's continued to whirl around the hills.
Rotherham continued to boss but gradually the tide changed. Roared on attacking our end Stanley, with their mix of loanees, free transfers and kids filed forward. They got more and more of the ball and began to pressurise the defenders. I had to laugh when a bloke beside me gave the 'liner' and all the opposition players real hell in a rich local accent. I turned to see a man I would have marked down as Indian!
The home side got a free kick about twenty five yards out with seven minutes remaining. Veteran Sean Hessey got permission to take the kick quickly from the referee and while Rotherham were lining up a wall and generally wasting time the ball was plonked into the bottom corner of the net, much to the annoyance and protests of the South Yorkshiremen.
Stanley continued top press but couldn't find a winner, while United also missed a late sitter. A draw was just about the right result.
I walked back down into town in time for the 10pm train to Burnley Central where I checked into the low budget but friendly Keirby Park Hotel and enjoy a couple of pints in The Boot to read the programme and reflect on my visit.
I had heard and read of football fans who have no time for Stanley. They claimed they'd pinched a history that isn't there's and get by with a romantic notion about themselves. They say they shouldn't be allowed in the League with their ground and lack of finances, and that the loyal John Coleman's teams are a bunch of cloggers who play horrible football. Well I must disagree vehemently.
Fans make a football club. There are still fans at The Crown who were at Peel Park. They kept the flame alive in the same way fans of Scarborough Athletic, AFC Wimbledon, Berkhamsted and many more clubs fans continued to promote football in their respective towns.
It's how the fans feel that matters and not someone with no connection with the club. Stanley fans are some of the friendliest, loyalist and most partisan I've ever come across. It's just there's not many of them, but who knows in time? Maybe if Blackburn or Burnley have slumps, the locals, especially the youth of tomorrow will choose their local club?
The Crown was no Old Trafford, but it met every criteria demanded by the Football League and John Coleman consistently continued to produce a competitive team on a ridiculously low budget, giving many youngsters a further opportunity to move to bigger clubs and progress.
Good luck to Accrington Stanley and all of its supporters. I had a lovely time and wish them well.
Sunday 23rd June 2019
A trip to visit my cricketing pal Keith ‘Kes’ Roscoe for the weekend allowed me the opportunity of another look at the Crown; or the Wham Stadium as it had been renamed after sponsorship.
Kes was skippering his Rawtenstall cricket side at Enfield in the Lancashire League; whose ground was located half a mile or so away from Stanley. As we’d had quite a long session on the pop the previous day, I jumped out in town for a welcomed walk.
A display was on show in the centre, with banners commemorating the ‘Accrington Pals’; a group of brave young men who volunteered and lost their lives on the fields of France during World War One; thus, decimating the town’s male population.
This history lesson certainly gave me food for thought as I started the walk up the hills towards the football ground. A parade was coming the other way with locals watching and cheering from the pavements.
There was certainly a sense of local pride and it put a smile on my face. The walk definitely blew away the cobwebs and I wasn’t upset to reach level ground as I saw the Crown pub on the right hand side ahead of me.
Unfortunately, the gates to the stadium were locked. However, gaps in the fences and gates allowed me to take photos. A couple of ladies were working at the club bar and stood outside with their cuppas.
They commented with pride how beautiful the pitch looked after its work through the summer in an effort to resolve the notorious troublesome playing surface. It did indeed look a picture; as did the new seated stand down the far side.
The open terracing for away fans had also been extended with half a dozen metal steps placed at the back of the previous area. All perimeter fencing had been either improved or replaced. New floodlights and a scoreboard had also been installed.
In good form I continued to try and find a shop selling the Non-League Paper and to grab some snacks before heading to Enfield CC where I had a cracking afternoon out among more good people as my mate had an afternoon to remember on the pitch.
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