Post by JamesB on Mar 1, 2013 14:01:37 GMT
History
The current incarnation of Accrington Stanley was formed in 1968 but the history of football in the former industrial Lancashire town goes back much further. Accrington FC was founded in 1876 and became founder members of the Football League in 1888. In 1893 they resigned after finishing 15th (above only Newton Heath) and losing what would now be termed a relegation play-off against Sheffield United. They folded 3 years later.
Accrington Stanley were a separate entity who were in fact briefly rivals of Accrington, having been founded in 1891 as Stanley Villa. They renamed themselves Accrington Stanley after the other club's demise. They were founder members of the Third Division North in 1921, a level at which they remained until 1960, when they were relegated from the Third Division to the Fourth after finishing bottom; they had earlier finished runner-up in the Third Division North twice, leading to them moving into the Third Division on the Football League's reorganisation. The club spent only one and a half seasons in the Fourth Division before resigning their membership on 11th March 1962 - they were replaced the following season by Oxford United. Four years later, the club collapsed altogether.
It was a further two years before the club was reborn. The club made its new home at a brand new ground, the Crown Ground, replacing Peel Park. It would be a long slog to climb through the non-league divisions - it wasn't until 2003 that promotion to the Conference was achieved, after winning the Northern Premier League. The club spent 3 years there before finally returning to the Football League with the pyramid trophy in hand. Ironically they replaced relegated Oxford United, who had replaced them 38 years previously.
That Stanley have survived this long in League Two, with such a small stadium and fanbase, is largely a testament to former chairman Ilyas Khan, who saved the club from going under in 2009, and long-serving manager John Coleman, who was appointed in 1999 and remained in charge until January 2012, by which time he had become the third-longest serving manager in the top 4 divisions. Rumours currently abound that after his dismissal by Rochdale, Coleman is set to return to help out inexperienced player-manager Leam Richardson as they bid to try and retain their Football League status.
The opposition
- Accrington's win over Rochdale on Tuesday was their first since January 1st, after a 7-game winless run. Their form has pretty dire generally in recent months, particularly since Coleman's successor as manager Paul Cook left for Chesterfield in October
- Stanley's January dealings saw them trying to find experience and quality. Nicky Hunt and Laurence Wilson came in from Rotherham, goalkeeper Paul Rachubka arrived from Leeds on emergency loan, and defenders Mark Hughes and Tom Aldred (briefly a loanee at Torquay) arrived from Bury and Colchester respectively. Top scorer is Benin international Romauld Boco, but the big name at the club is England international striker James Beattie
- Team vs Rochdale: Rachubka; Liddle, Hughes, Winnard, Hunt; Murphy, Joyce, Gray, Wilson; Beattie, Boco
Head-to-head
- In the 10 matches between Torquay and Accrington Stanley, Accrington currently lead with 5 wins to 3, with 1 draw in 2010 at Plainmoor
- 1 of Torquay's 3 wins came in October at Plainmoor. Rene Howe gave the Gulls an early lead with a 5th minute penalty, and despite an equaliser from Padraig Amond, Billy Bodin and Lee Mansell helped fire the home side to a 3-1 win
- Our last visit to Accrington ended with the same score, albeit to Stanley. Rene Howe and Luke Joyce were both sent off as Bryan Hughes, Jayden Stockley and Kevin Long gave Accrington a 3-0 lead, with Chris McPhee scoring a 90th minute consolation
- According to Soccerbase, Torquay have not won in Accrington since an FA Cup tie on 13th December 1930. We have lost on every single trip to the Crown Ground. There won't be a better time to end that run than tomorrow...
The current incarnation of Accrington Stanley was formed in 1968 but the history of football in the former industrial Lancashire town goes back much further. Accrington FC was founded in 1876 and became founder members of the Football League in 1888. In 1893 they resigned after finishing 15th (above only Newton Heath) and losing what would now be termed a relegation play-off against Sheffield United. They folded 3 years later.
Accrington Stanley were a separate entity who were in fact briefly rivals of Accrington, having been founded in 1891 as Stanley Villa. They renamed themselves Accrington Stanley after the other club's demise. They were founder members of the Third Division North in 1921, a level at which they remained until 1960, when they were relegated from the Third Division to the Fourth after finishing bottom; they had earlier finished runner-up in the Third Division North twice, leading to them moving into the Third Division on the Football League's reorganisation. The club spent only one and a half seasons in the Fourth Division before resigning their membership on 11th March 1962 - they were replaced the following season by Oxford United. Four years later, the club collapsed altogether.
It was a further two years before the club was reborn. The club made its new home at a brand new ground, the Crown Ground, replacing Peel Park. It would be a long slog to climb through the non-league divisions - it wasn't until 2003 that promotion to the Conference was achieved, after winning the Northern Premier League. The club spent 3 years there before finally returning to the Football League with the pyramid trophy in hand. Ironically they replaced relegated Oxford United, who had replaced them 38 years previously.
That Stanley have survived this long in League Two, with such a small stadium and fanbase, is largely a testament to former chairman Ilyas Khan, who saved the club from going under in 2009, and long-serving manager John Coleman, who was appointed in 1999 and remained in charge until January 2012, by which time he had become the third-longest serving manager in the top 4 divisions. Rumours currently abound that after his dismissal by Rochdale, Coleman is set to return to help out inexperienced player-manager Leam Richardson as they bid to try and retain their Football League status.
The opposition
- Accrington's win over Rochdale on Tuesday was their first since January 1st, after a 7-game winless run. Their form has pretty dire generally in recent months, particularly since Coleman's successor as manager Paul Cook left for Chesterfield in October
- Stanley's January dealings saw them trying to find experience and quality. Nicky Hunt and Laurence Wilson came in from Rotherham, goalkeeper Paul Rachubka arrived from Leeds on emergency loan, and defenders Mark Hughes and Tom Aldred (briefly a loanee at Torquay) arrived from Bury and Colchester respectively. Top scorer is Benin international Romauld Boco, but the big name at the club is England international striker James Beattie
- Team vs Rochdale: Rachubka; Liddle, Hughes, Winnard, Hunt; Murphy, Joyce, Gray, Wilson; Beattie, Boco
Head-to-head
- In the 10 matches between Torquay and Accrington Stanley, Accrington currently lead with 5 wins to 3, with 1 draw in 2010 at Plainmoor
- 1 of Torquay's 3 wins came in October at Plainmoor. Rene Howe gave the Gulls an early lead with a 5th minute penalty, and despite an equaliser from Padraig Amond, Billy Bodin and Lee Mansell helped fire the home side to a 3-1 win
- Our last visit to Accrington ended with the same score, albeit to Stanley. Rene Howe and Luke Joyce were both sent off as Bryan Hughes, Jayden Stockley and Kevin Long gave Accrington a 3-0 lead, with Chris McPhee scoring a 90th minute consolation
- According to Soccerbase, Torquay have not won in Accrington since an FA Cup tie on 13th December 1930. We have lost on every single trip to the Crown Ground. There won't be a better time to end that run than tomorrow...
