GROUND HISTORY TRAVEL

Accrington Stanley... who are they? Well, indeed. After the town's original club went under during the 1965/6 season, the locals refused to see football leave and immediately formed a club with the same name as its predecessor. After joining the Lancashire Combination in 1970, the club established itself as a dominant force for nearly a decade before joining the Cheshire County League for a few years.

In 1982, they left to help found the North West Counties League, and in 1987 joined the Northern Premier League. From there, the club gained a footholdin which to progress. Despite a blip in 1999, with relegation to Northern Premier League Division One, an immediate return back pushed them back upwards. In 2003, promotion to the Conference acted as a prelude to Football League status.

There have been some rocky rides in recent times, however, as financial difficulties threatened an end to football in Accrington again. Despite legal action initiated by HM Revenue and Customs, Stanley fortunately received the necessary investment needed to safeguard its future. It is a future that looks bright, with qualification for the npower League Two playoffs in 2010/1 signalling loftier ambitions.

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