Accrington Stanley, who are they? A bit of history there. Maybe a blast from the past for the more mature individuals out there. This famous slogan was used in an advert by the Milk Marketing Board in the 1980’s, putting Stanley on the map. This season however, it seems manager John Coleman is looking to create a bit of history of his own.
His side have made a blistering start to the season and find themselves second in League Two chasing automatic promotion to League One for the first time in the club’s history. The Lancashire side have been League Two ever-presents for the last decade, securing play-off finishes in 2010-11 and 2015-16. Sadly, they lost in the semi-finals on both occasions.
If you go to the WHAM stadium - formerly as the Crown Ground prior to a bumper £200,000 sponsorship deal in 2015 - you will see the motto ‘This is Stanley, The Club That Wouldn’t Die’, plastered around the ground. Most notably, you will see the motto above the players entrance to the pitch. Why? Well because Accrington are considered as one of the miracles of the Football League.
The original Accrington Stanley were part of the twelve-member clubs from the Midlands and the North of England who formally created the Football League in 1888. However, in 1962 the club were rocked by bankruptcy and collapsed. The current club was formed in 1968 and were eventually promoted to the Football League after winning the Football Conference in 2005-06. The promotion was masterminded by current manager John Coleman in his first spell at the club which spanned 587 games from 1999 to 2012.
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He returned to the club in 2014 following spells at Southport, Sligo Rovers and most notably Rochdale. He clocked up his 760th game in charge of Accrington Stanley in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Cambridge United. It was an unsatisfying result for Coleman and his team as victory against the U’s would have put them top of League Two, with League leaders Notts County only managing a 1-1 draw away at Stevenage.
Coleman took issue with some of the decisions of referee Graham Horwood and felt his side should have been awarded two penalties in the match, both of which included Kayden Jackson and Greg Taylor. “Kayden Jackson has gone clean through, he has got no need to go over,” the Accrington boss said. ‘’The lad knows he is in trouble, he has fouled him, and he should get the requisite punishment, which is a sending-off. He has made no attempt for the ball. The second one, he has checked back, he’s done him’’.
Accrington were bolstered by the return of striker Billy Kee this season. The prolific 26-year-old walked away from the game last season after suffering with depression. But with the help of the club and Coleman, Kee is back and scoring goals. The striker has 10 league goals so far this season.
Despite his frustrations following Saturday’s result, Coleman will be thrilled with his side’s start and indeed their second-place position in the table. His side are only 16 games into a gruelling 46-game season, but historically the second half of the season is good for his side. Accrington went 16 games unbeaten in the second half of last season. A repeat of that, complimented by a great start to this season, and ‘The Club That Wouldn’t Die’ will be dreaming of football in England’s third tier.
