Back Home!
The first fixture with fans present, in over a year, a friendly against Preston, went without a hitch, and the glorious feeling of being back where we belong infected everyone with a proper carnival atmosphere…
“Top of the table clash”
Welcome to the September 2021 edition of the Stanley fans’ Newsletter; Coley and the lads have certainly got the season off to a promising start and, on September 11th, five coaches of Accrington fans (including two from the Ultras) went to the Stadium of Light to watch the two top teams in League One do battle.
Even though the result didn’t go our way, no-one is complaining about the way we played and we’re still relishing the fact that our beloved ‘tinpot’ club was riding as high as any of us have ever known.
Of course, it’s insanity to read anything into League positions this early in the season, but, so far, we have plenty to celebrate and a lot to look forward to. Seemingly against all expectations, not only are we playing a regular fixture list with unrestricted spectators, we’re also back to arranging away travel, too. For the time being anyway, we are ‘back to normal’, and doesn’t it feel grand?
Off the pitch, the new stadium developments are continuing – and Andy Holt regularly shares updates on his Twitter feed.
After 18 months of doubt and uncertainty, football is back, the fans are back and the future of Stanley is looking as bright as it has ever done. On Stanley On!
Annual Jack Barrett Memorial Walk
Following on from the successful Jack Barrett Memorial Walk last year, there will be a second annual walk in October. There’s still time to get involved and definitely time to donate, follow the link below to read all about it.
LINK: Annual Jack Barrett Memorial Walk
Membership
The membership year runs from 1st July to 30th June, so it’s well past time to renew your membership and support the work the Trust does for Accy Stanley fans. It costs only £5 for annual membership, which includes the new badge, illustrated above.
A big thanks to the 500 or so who have either renewed or joined anew; your support is very much appreciated.
To new your membership, please click on the link below and renew online. Alternatively, you can join at the Market Hall shop or behind the Clayton End on match days.
LINK: OASST Membership – Join Here
Club 1968
Every month £1500 of prizes are given out, with a top prize of £1000! Click on the links below to see the winners of the two most recent draws.
LINK: Club 1968 Draw Results – September 2021
LINK: Club 1968 Winners August 2021
LINK: Club 1968 Membership – more details here
Away Travel
The Supporters’ Trust is delighted to be able to offer coach travel once more to away fixtures; to read more about forthcoming fixtures, follow the link below.
LINK: Away Travel
Memorandum of Understanding Meeting
Senior Officers of the Trust held a meeting with the club’s Managing Director to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding, the minutes of the meeting may be read by following the link below.
LINK: Memorandum of Understanding Meeting
Players Q&A / Buzzer
A very entertaining evening was organised as our first ‘live’ event since lockdown in the temporary marquee on the Clayton End car park. Three players: Seamus Conneely, Michael Nottingham and Harry Pell answered questions from the audience and took part in a light-hearted quiz.
The evening was also an opportunity to make a presentation to Buzzer Cook who has left Stanley after fourteen years’ service. Videos of the evening and a gallery of photos can be seen by following the link below.
LINK: Players Q&A
Willie McInnes
Former Stanley goalie, Willie McInnes, was our guest of honour in August. He took part in the Club 1968 draw, examined his Hall of Fame entry and enjoyed a pint or two at the bar. He obviously enjoyed himself because he was back again for the next match. I think we all hope we’re doing as well as him when we’re 90! To read more, click on the link below.
LINK: Willie Comes to the Match
Jamie Speare
Another legendary goalie, Jamie Speare also honoured us recently when he visited on match day. To read more, click on the link below.
LINK: The Return of A(nother) Legend
Trust AGM – Advance Notice
The Trust AGM will be on Thursday 16th December 2021.
In accordance with the Trust rules and regulations 2 directors on the trust board of directors are required to resign at our next AGM in December 2021 we are therefore inviting any trust member interested in serving on the board to email membership@onstanleyon.com following which a nomination form will be issued.
The 2 directors to resign will be chosen by lot in accordance with our rules and will be eligible to stand for re-election alongside any other interested members.
Please note that to serve as a director you must be over the age of 16
Members’ Monthly Draw
July winner Michael Anthony Davis member number 899
August winner Peter Warburton member number LM012
(Peter is going to get a home shirt with his winnings – kit man George is going to get all the players to sign it and then we will auction it for club funds and/or charity.)
The Supporters’ Chaplain
The Board of the Supporters’ Trust was delighted recently to approve the appointment of a Supporters’ Chaplain and to invite her to join the Board. She is Debra Phillips, and here she introduces herself.
“Amongst the obvious passions in my life I have two which sometimes goes hand in hand – My passion for football and my passion for faith and Church.
Read more…
“My Uncle first took me to an Accrington Stanley match in the mid 1970s at the age of ten. Things were quite different back then as you can imagine. No internet and on matchdays in the winter months often saw me having to go to the phone box to ring the ground to see if the match was on! However, later in life when I got married and started a family things changed as sometimes they do when you get involved in your children’s activities. Both my children started swimming lessons at a local swimming club, where I started training as a swimming instructor. Unfortunately for my hobby of football I missed out as I taught swimming on a Saturday afternoon.
“Years later and after missing Accrington Stanley getting back into the Football League I decided that the time had come for me to retire from teaching swimming and saw me back at the Crown Ground as it was known then. I always missed the camaraderie of Saturday afternoons and knew that once I came back I would not leave this time.
“Which moves me on to my other passion:
“I am a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church in the West Pennine Moors Circuit which includes the areas of Accrington, Haslingden, Oswaldtwistle, Darwen and Blackburn. I lead worship in churches within this area and sometimes have ventured out of Lancashire as a result of being invited to lead special services. Last year I had the honour of leading a Thanksgiving service of a life of a lady from our church in which I liased with the family. It was such a humbling occasion.
“Before lockdown I felt called that my faith could run alongside my love of football. I have made many friends who sometimes unload their burdens (usually at half-time), feeling the need to talk to someone who wouldn’t judge how they were feeling and what decisions they were faced with. I feel that I’ve leant a sympathetic ear, sometimes just listening and not saying anything – just being there for them.
“This also has happened on the away travel on the coach. I’m sure you agree that we live in a community in Accrington where people are hurting and many times going to football/Accrington Stanley is their only means of escape from the stress and pressure that can be felt in many people’s lives. We only have to think about our beloved Billy Kee and all the mental health issues he has been faced with. I think football especially is doing a great job publicising this – the charity MIND is a prominent charity in my heart.
“As we are emerging from lockdown and hopefully will once again be able to come together at our family-friendly Club it is envisaged for me to be working alongside and being supported by Sports Chaplaincy UK as well as my home church of Antley Methodist Church in Accrington.
“I will have responsibility of the Memorial Garden, liaising with relatives and hope to give some comforting words to them. This is where I will be found on match days between 2 – 2.30pm before I mingle around the ground. If you see me please stop and have a chat – UP THE REDS!”
Something to while away the long winter evenings
Roger Holmes of thefootballtables.com has produced a booklet showing every post-war league table for Stanley (and other clubs). It only costs £3 + postage and sales support the charity Fareshare, which rescues and distributes surplus food. Essential purchase for the anorak committed fan!
& Finally…Questions for the Trust
If you have a question, either for the Trust, or for us to raise in our meetings with the club, you can ask them by clicking on the link below. This link is also permanently in the centre of the home page of our website onstanleyon.com
LINK: Questions for the Trust
2 thoughts on “Members’ Newsletter – September 2021”
Really excellent newsletter. Well done.
Cheers, Ken.