In 1999, an ambitious Chairman by the name of Eric Whalley took a chance on a management duo hailing from Kirkby, Merseyside. With extensive careers in Non-League Football, John Coleman and Jimmy Bell had spent two seasons in charge of Ashton United and caught Eric’s eye. Enticing them to Accrington wasn’t difficult at the time. Relegated from the Northern Premier League in the 1998-1999 season, Stanley would now be a big fish in a small pond as they looked to bounce back immediately and gain promotion.
Coley and Jimmy did not disappoint, and successfully guided the team to the Unibond League Championship and back to the Northern Premier League. This first title started a love affair that no one could have foreseen, with the duo delivering 3 promotions in total, all of which were as league winners (adding Northern Premier League 2002 – 2003 and Conference 2005 – 2006.) In clinching the Conference title on that fateful day at Woking, John and Jimmy, together with Eric, delivered Accrington Stanley back to the promised land of the football league after 4 decades. What this has meant to us, the fans, the club and the town is immeasurable. However, it is perhaps more impressive that the club was then able to stay there in those first few years, against the financial odds, that kept Reds everywhere proud. John and Jimmy managed to build sides capable of punching well above their weight in the football league, consistently working in conditions where they relied on one-year contracts, wages not being paid on time, and the threat of a winding up order towards the end of the 2010’s. Despite all of this noise, John and Jimmy kept on delivering results for Accrington year on year.
After nearly 13 years in charge and becoming the clubs longest serving manager, the two took an opportunity at nearby Rochdale AFC, at the time, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were the only managers in England who had served their clubs longer. After spells at Southport and Sligo, Coley and Jimmy returned home in September 2014 for their second, glorious spell with us. Their brand of attacking, exciting football brought the reds into the League Two play-offs in 2016 and the League Two Championship in 2018, again, all against the odds.
They have brought us cup success along the way, most notably defeating Premier League neighbours Burnley and Preston North End. They again became the longest serving management duo purely in the English Football League after almost 10 years. To try and detail their achievements is impossible and would take too long. We all know the days that have meant most to us on that terrace, we will never forget singing together, dancing together, crying together. They have given us everything we could have ever wanted and so much more.
To understand the emotions of being an Accrington Stanley fan, is to understand what football is really all about. There are a number of us that have grown up together watching their teams. Many of us that fell back in love with the game and many brought into football fandom because of what this club offered, most of which was spearheaded by John and Jimmy. Our friendships forged on long coach journeys up and down the country, early rises and into the small hours to show a small bit of pride in our team and where we come from. The gratitude we feel to John and Jimmy for enabling us to do this can never be measured. Because it is their doing. They took over a team at the same level as Radcliffe and Bamber Bridge and delivered us to be on equal footing with Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers.
They allowed us to say who we supported with pride, in the school yard, the canteens, bars, restaurants, holidays, funerals and everywhere inbetween. No longer a milk advert punchline, we are now an established Football League outfit. To John and Jimmy, we would like to highlight that you delivered on the pitch for Accrington. But, perhaps more importantly, it is the friendships, relationships, countless hours of singing, dancing, joking and laughing on our coaches that is the real legacy you now leave behind. We don’t think it is possible to put into words what that has meant to us. Fans of other clubs possibly won’t be able to understand that. But the trust and belief we have always had in you raises emotions that we can’t begin to put down into words. You’ve given us more than we could ever want from our team, our town, our community. We just want you to know how grateful we will always be of that. Your legacy will outlast us all in Accrington, and you have done more than anyone in putting us back on the footballing map, where we belong.
Accrington FC were a founding member of the Football League; Accrington Stanley FC has been truly moulded in the image of John Coleman and Jimmy Bell.
Last Weekend, this duo who have given two decades of service to our club and town were sacked by text and given two sentences of coverage on the club’s website.
What has come since, we feel, has simply been unacceptable and a stain on the achievements detailed above.
We would like to place on record as a collective of fans our hurt and displeasure at the way this situation has been handled in the past week. From Sunday’s “statement” to now, the level of professionalism, or lack thereof, leaves us to question the leadership of the football club. For us, the circus hasn’t been befitting of Accrington Stanley and the club we know and all love. Ultimately, it still leaves us with more questions than answers. We are frustrated, angry, and disappointed.
To John and Jimmy, thank you for everything.
Up the Reds.
Stanley Ultras & Raw Milk.
Industry and Prudence Conquer