Accrington Stanley? Who are they? Oh, the old ones are often the best. If the question was a genuine one, however, we got you. The club are, first and foremost, one of those teams who came up to the Conference after us and went into the Football League before us; promoted in 2003 and then up again in 2006. It did feel a little annoying, we won’t lie. But, to be fair, they weren’t the only ones to do so.
On the flip side, our 2010-1 League Two playoff win saw them stay down as we went up. Then we denied them automatic promotion to League One with a draw at their place on the last day of the 2015-6 season. Oops. Not that it slowed them down too much; Stanley promoted to the third tier and more than holding their own against sides with more money and resources to throw at it. Love ’em or loathe ’em, they are well run…
Accrington Stanley: Who Are They? (Intentional gag… Ed.)
The Club That Wouldn’t Die (TM) is the town’s third football club. First came Accrington FC in 1878; a founder member of the Football League and a true trailblazer in naming terms. That club went under in 1898, quitting the League in a strop five years before that because they didn’t want to play in the Second Division. They did have a change of heart after one season in the Lancashire League. Their re-election bid was not successful.
The ‘second’ club was already in existence by the time Accrington FC succumbed to money problems. Stanley Villa was the name and had been around since 1891. With the name ‘Accrington’ now unclaimed, Stanley took the town name for themselves. It took around 25 years and two Lancashire Combination titles, but the town’s place in the Football League was restored in 1921 as founder members of Division Three North.
In the mid-1950s, *that* Accy got into their stride; finishing second, third, second and third again in Div Three North. Promotion eluded them, however. From runners-up in 1958 to 19th in 1959 and bottom the year later; money problems started to mount and – in March ’62 – the ‘Owd Reds found themselves quitting the League. For three more years, the club continued in the Lancashire Combination but couldn’t see out the fourth.
How to get to Accrington Stanley – Travel Information – Distance: 210 miles
By Road
The Crown Ground is situated on the A680, just off the M65 around Manchester. There are two ways off approaching it, so you may wish to check up on roadworks nearer the time to decide which route is best.
You can either head up the M6 to J29 and join the M65. Or you can travel all the way up the M1 to the M62 and head East towards Manchester. At Junction 18 head up the M66, which then becomes the A56 and leads up to the M65 at J8.
Turn off the M65 at J7 and take the exit North (Clayton-Le-Moors). Turn right at the first set of traffic lights opposite Clayton Business Park, following the A678. Follow the road over the canal bridge to the next set of lights.
Turn right again going over the motorway bridge and towards Accrington on the A680. After around half a mile, turn left down Livingstone Road. This is 50 yards on past the Crown Hotel on the left. And that should do you right.
You’ll find plenty of parking in the streets around the stadium. With no resident schemes in place, Accy do ask that you still park responsibly all the same.
By Rail
Station: ACCRINGTON
Services to: LEEDS (for STEVENAGE, LONDON KINGS CROSS)
From the station, the ground is a 20-minute walk – most of it is uphill! Turn right out of the station (North side) and follow the viaduct; staying on the left hand side. Go on up the hill to the left, before taking the main road that crosses it once over the hill. Around a mile up on the right hand side will be the ground.
