Members’ Newsletter – May 2024

At Least One More Season in the League…

It wasn’t what we could call a classic season. Fortunately it ended with a real bang against Tranmere, but disappointing performances on the pitch were combined with serious unrest off the field. However, Andy Holt has continued his remarkable support of the club, and anyone who thinks we would have achieved what we have, on and off the pitch, in the last few years without him is deluded. He is the hero and saviour of Stanley and his contribution to our legacy must never be underestimated.

Unfortunately, the other great 21st century Stanley hero, John Coleman, came to the end of his unparalleled tenure at the club. It’s particularly sad that such a glorious period should end in bitter recriminations and finger-pointing, but sometimes that’s the way it goes. The departure of John and his ever-present lieutenant, Jimmy Bell, upset many fans and it’s likely some will never recover from it. However, John Doolan, another long-term servant of the club – and another scouser – has taken over and will continue to guide the club forward, and it behoves all fans to get behind him and cheer the team on.

The club has spent all of its history at the Crown Ground, which, despite our claim to be descended from one of the founders of the Football League, makes Stanley one of the younger professional football clubs in England. It’s only 54 years since we started playing at the Crown, and even though John and Jimmy were in charge for over 20 of those, we need to look at the much longer term and see the future through the eyes of our youngest fans and our young academy players. The past means nothing, the future is everything and Accrington Stanley is the best club in the world. On Stanley ON.

Please enjoy reading the latest edition of the OASST Newsletter, I hope you will find some items of interest.
If you would like to comment on anything included here, or, even better, would like to contribute to future editions, please contact editor@onstanleyon.com

Mike Procter, editor.

End of term report

by Peter Leatham, OASST Chairman

Well that was the season that was!

Probably one that will live long in the memories but probably not particularly for events that took place on the pitch. It’s also a season that probably couldn’t end quickly enough once our league two place was secured for next season.

It was always badged as being a season of consolidation following the relegation of last season with the primary objective to ensure we didn’t fall through the trap door into the National League. A cost of the relegation was a budget more suited to League Two and the quality probably suffered accordingly. As the season developed, the trend of last season, multi major injuries, unfortunately continued with key players missing for large chunks of the season.

The knock on effect saw the introduction of a number of loan players who probably enjoyed more game time than they may have initially bargained for and also some of our home grown talent finding their feet in league action. This mix with plenty of inexperience showed glimpses of what could have been but also displayed a certain amount of youthful naivety which in turn resulted in the shipping of a few goals too many, especially against the big spending top sides.

However the experience gained should stand us well in the coming season providing we can secure a forward who remains fit and provides that much needed target. It also must be hoped that some of the players offered contracts choose to remain with Stanley especially top scorer Jack Nolan who proved to be a revelation this season. A new influx of loan players will no doubt grace Whamberley and hopefully they soon settle and perform to their potential.

Enough has been said about the changes in team management and all will be eager to see what our new management team are able to deliver given their head. Plenty to look forward to in what should be an interesting summer with no doubt a plethora of comings and goings.

Off the pitch we were delighted to reinstate our end of season player awards and the full details can be found here.

We are also busy trying to re-launch our monthly Club1968 draw with £1500 of prizes and currently around 220 monthly players, you do the odds calculation! We are currently migrating members away from our “old” bank and into our new bank via the Gocardless platform. If you are still paying via your original standing orders then please mail us at chair@onstanleyon.com to find out how to change in 2 simple steps.

It’s still only £10 per month if you wish to sign up and join in – click here for more information.

We were pleased to host a great fans forum with owner Andy Holt and 1st team manager John Doolan and a video recording of the event can be found here

All that it remains for me to say is enjoy your summer and don’t forget your membership is due for renewal from the 1st July and we’ll see you all for the start of a brand new shiny season in August

OASST Board News

Following our recent appeal for board member applications we are delighted to confirm that Alex Crook, Yvonne Wilson, Alwyn Savage and Adrian Rudley have put themselves forward, and have been co-opted onto our Trust board.

• Alwyn will be helping Robert Houseman with all matters Equality and Inclusivity
• Alex will help Josh Adcroft with Club1968 and membership drives.
• Adrian will be setting up a new Trust Instagram page and continuing his great work in the shop.
• Yvonne will continue with the garden and will look at some fundraising ideas.
• Longstanding Board member, Andy Buckel, has also assumed the new role as our Health & Safety supremo.

We look forward to continuing to serve our members and wider fanbase in the best way we can.

Player and Goal of the Season

OASST was delighted that so many people wanted to select our Stanley Player of the Season, and also the Goal of the Season. Almost 600 people voted online and through a paper ballot taken at the Crewe game. Seventeen players were nominated, based on those who had appeared at least twenty times for the club during the season.

The atmosphere in Coley’s was somewhat frenzied, and Peter Leatham struggled against technology to get his carefully chosen remarks heard, so here is what he actually said:

“Before we finally draw a veil over the 2023- 24 season, It’s time to reinstate our annual fans awards after the hiatus of last season and where better place than here in Coleys with you, our loyal fans.

It’s been a season that once again has been undermined by a crippling injury list which has also showed in glimpses what could have been but eventually the lack of consistency, and often a recognised striker, took its toll on performances and ultimately results.

That said, maintaining football league status, was what most would have settled for in what was always badged as a season of consolidation.

The well documented events of last February can’t be ignored and nor can the legacy that will be etched in the history of our club in recognition of the achievements of John Coleman and Jimmy Bell.
However we must all now look to the future and unite firmly behind John Doolan and whoever he selects to wear our red shirt. As the saying goes, trust the process and that’s what we must do trust the process.

Players come and go, like mangers and the only constant is us, the fans, and the proud history of Accrington Stanley football club.

So We must thank all the players that have represented the club this season, the efforts on the pitch can never be questioned despite some disappointments along the way. But that’s football, you win some and you lose some and on any given day anyone can pick up the points on offer.
For those who won’t be at Stanley next season then we thank you for your efforts and wish you well in your future careers.

We must also thank all our loan players who hopefully have gained from their experiences with Stanley and learnt that our Fanbase whilst not great in number is massive in heart . We sincerely hope they all gone on to forge successful football league careers wherever their travels take them.

So, onto the awards, each recipient receiving a trophy , bottle of champagne, and some cash to perhaps put behind the bar, you wish !

The first award sees one of our supporters winning a season ticket for next season, or in this case £284 reimbursement as it’s already been bought and paid for.

We had nearly 600 votes cast and each was entered, numbered and a random number generator selected entrant number 50 and that is Wayne Shuttleworth

This season we have purchased a new trophy in recognition of one of our Hall of Fame members, David Hargreaves, who will always be remembered by his remarkable goal scoring feats for Accrington Stanley and I am delighted to invite Dave’s sons Paul & Morgan to come and present their dad’s memorial shield.

Our award for top league goalscorer and the inaugural winner of our new Dave Haggis Hargreaves memorial shield for our top league goalscorer with 17, goes to the owner of a wand of a left foot – Jack Nolan

Onto the goal of the season and I would like to invite a man who won’t be remembered for his spectacular goals just scoring those that mattered, our captain Seamus Conneely.

There were 6 great efforts to choose from. However our winner gained over a third of the votes, for his match winner in the 119th minute against Lincoln City, the award goes to Ros Longelo.

Finally, your player of the season, and I would like to invite our manager John Doolan to present our award.
17 players gained votes and our winner had over 48% of them. A firm favourite with his wholehearted displays with not an inconsiderable amount of ability and we just wish he was ours, your winner is Brad Hills.

That concluded your Supporters Trust awards, enjoy your summer and let’s do it all again starting in August.”

I Shot the Sheriff

Independent Football Regulator

The quest for an independent football regulator seems to have been going on forever, but, even though the prospect of one being established is on the horizon, the Premier League are still trying to have the idea thrown out, or, at the very least, ensure that ‘Independent’ will be just what the regulator isn’t. Below is just one recent column from Private Eye magazine (26th April 2024) outlining some of the tactics the PL is using to nobble the politicians who are likely to be deciding on establishing the regulator.

Membership Reminder

OASST Membership runs from 1st July to 30th June each year, so your current membership will be coming to an end soon. Don’t let your membership lapse, continue to show your support for the greatest football club in the world.

You can find the membership renewal form here it will only cost you a fiver, and you will receive your very own OASST badge. Don’t delay, do it…er…before the end of June.

The Club That Wouldn’t Die

A much-loved resource for Accy fans was the now-deleted website, lovingly constructed by Derek Dixon: The Club That Wouldn’t Die. A treasure trove of League Tables and Team Lists from years of Accrington football club teams. Fortunately, we have been able to get a copy of the data that was on the site, thanks to Gary Ravetta, and we’re now in the process of reconstructing it onto this website.

Whatever we eventually manage to scrape together from the data won’t be a patch on the labour of love that was the original, but we hope that at least, once again, it will be possible to check on players and results.

It’s slow going, but we’ve made a start on it, and you can see what there is here.

If you have any comments, suggestions or helpful advice, we would be delighted to receive them, contact editor@onstanleyon.com

Away Travel

by Adam Scarborough

Well that’s it for another season with plenty of away matches enjoyed throughout 2023/24. This was our first back in League 2 and saw us return to some some familiar territories such as Bradford, Grimsby and Crewe. We visited some grounds like Sutton United for the first ever time whilst returning to some places for the first time in a number of years particularly Harrogate, Barrow and Wrexham. 

From our first away day in Gillingham (also our longest journey) to our final short hop to Stockport, our trips are often eventful. From colliding with pheasants on the motorway, tyre blowouts, single track roads (thank you Forest Green…), traffic jams, late postponed games, celebrating away wins, fancy dress there are always plenty of memories to be made. 

We managed to run a coach to all but one of our away fixtures this season and the OASST would like to thank everyone who has travelled with us around the country from Barrow down to Gillingham. A special shout out to Yvonne Wilson and Ray Taylor who have been on every coach journey with us and many others who completed at least 10 trips. Your support is much appreciated and the management and players have often acknowledged the time, effort  and expense our travelling support put in. 

We would also like to say a big thank you to Red Rose Travel for an excellent service as always. 

Let’s see what the next season’s fixture list brings us on Wednesday 26th June. A new venue in Bromley for us to visit and some familiar opposition joining us in League 2. 

In the meantime, have a great summer watching Euro 2024, cricket or whatever keeps you occupied during the close season. 

With best wishes 

Adam

Her Game Too

by Jodie Boast

As the 2023-2024 season comes to an end, I thought it would be good to reflect on everything we have accomplished in the past year with HerGameToo, ASFC, OASST and ASWFC. We appreciate all the support and photos from all players, staff and supporters and hope we have made ASFC a welcoming space for many females who have previously been to games and who are new. 

We continued to provide FREE sanitary wear around the ground with thanks to ASFC, OASST and Sundown. Plenty of selfies in our selfie board raising awareness of the campaign, encouraging females to come down to the game. ASWFC played numerous times at The Wham stadium with fantastic attendance growing with every game. Our dedicated fixture was a hit, again raising awareness of the campaign and showcasing our football club and just how welcoming we all are. We announced player ambassador, Jay Rich Baghuelou for the mens team to work alongside player ambassador, Sanah Mendi for the female team and work with us to support the campaign. Overall, a great positive season, meeting lots of new and old supporters, as well as other HerGameToo representatives from other clubs, listening to how we can improve and what we can do to make a difference. We are looking forward to what we can achieve in the next. 

As always, we are always here if anyone needs to reach out and talk. Football is for everyone. 

Jodie & Rebecca

The OASST Shop

by Adrian Rudley

On the 24 November 2024, The Official Accrington Stanley Supporters Trust opened a new shop within the Arndale, in the centre of town.  This was as a result of the redevelopment of the Market Hall, where the original shop was located. 

The shop, manned by volunteers, has been going from strength to strength. 

Within the shop, we sell Accrington Stanley merchandise, along with items from Wham, such as storage boxes of all sizes, plant pots for the discerning gardener, along with plastic accessories for the bathroom and kitchen. All the Wham items are available at bargain prices. 

At the moment, we also have a special edition Seamus Conneely shirt available in limited numbers in size XL only. You may request (at no extra cost) your shirt to have a hand signed, personal message from Seamus, on the front or the rear of the shirt. The shirts are priced at £100 each.

We also have a testimonial programme available at £7.50.

If you have missed picking a match badge at a home game last season, we have most of the badges available at a bargain price of 50p each. 

So if you are in town, pop in, say hello, and have a look at some of Stanley memorabilia and pick up a bargain. 

The address is: Unit 22, Accrington Arndale Centre, Cornhill, Accrington, BB5 1EX.

The opening hours are:
Monday and Tuesday – 9.00am until 16.00pm
Wednesday – Closed
Thursday and Friday – 9.00am until 16.00pm
Saturday – 09.00am – 14.00  Matchdays early closing at 12.30
Sunday – Closed

The Seamus & Sean Testimonial Masters

• This is a pairs event – entry fee £40 per pair
• 4 Ball better ball Stableford format
• 85% of handicap (Maximum playing Handicap will be 24)
• Select your preferred tee time
• Clubhouse Refreshments available
• Total prize money – £1200
  • 1st prize £300 each
  • 2nd prize £150 each
  • 3rd prize £100 each
  • 4th prize £75 each
    
• All prizes in golf shop vouchers

• ALL proceeds are split between the Seamus Conneely & Sean McConville 2023/4 Testimonial Funds.

With thanks to Accrington & District Golf Club for their magnificent support for the event.

This event is no longer open

Accrington Stanley – Football Phoenix (Documentary)

Here’s a video from 1993 to keep you entertained during the bleak days of football-less summer…

Club 1968

Started in late 2020, building on the runaway success of the lockdown on-line 50/50 draw, Club 1968 has been a remarkable accomplishment of fund-raising for the club, and prizes for people you know. To date, there has been over £40,000 given back in prizes, with a similar amount raised for the club.

All winners can be seen by visiting the Club 1968 page

To make it even easier for fans to join in, Club 1968 has set up a new method of signing up, to read more about Club 1968, and to be in with a chance every month of winning £1000, please visit the Club 1968 page by following this link.

Recent Winners

March Draw

April Draw

High Quality Souvenirs

The Seamus Conneely Testimonial team have produced two luxury souvenir items which would be the perfect thing to spend any leftover Christmas present money on!

Seamus Conneely Testimonial Souvenir Brochure

We are delighted to bring you this A4 52-page glossy full colour brochure, detailing Seamus’s career journey to East Lancashire.

It’s packed with features including his early days at Newcastle in Galway, his time at Mervue United before joining Galway United and Sligo Rovers.

There are many tributes from friends and family as well as many former team mates and the fans at Accrington Stanley.

How to get your copy

In person: Copies are now available in the OASST Arndale shop in Accrington, from the Accrington Stanley Club shop at the Wham Stadium and also from the OASST tables on match days in Coleys and on the Fanzone.

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Limited Edition Seamus Conneely Shirt

This is your unique opportunity to own one of these Limited Edition (Edition of 100 – numbered inside the collar) Seamus Conneely testimonial shirts.

All shirts are this season’s Macron home shirt and are all one size, XL, for display purposes.

You may also request (at no extra cost) your shirt to have a hand signed, personal message from Seamus, on the front or the rear of the shirt.

The shirts are priced at £100 each plus postage, which is calculated geographically.

Concerns, Ideas, Comments & Questions

The Supporters’ Trust is you, the fans’, voice and body to get things done with our football club.

We welcome your thoughts and ideas as well as any concerns (off the pitch) you may have regarding the running and day to day operations within Accrington Stanley.

We welcome suggestions as to how we make things better, either as a fan experience, or in growing our overall fanbase.

We will then take these on board and respond accordingly.

We meet at least once a quarter with our club and discuss a wide range of topics but are always happy to add to our agenda.

It’s your trust and club!

Have your say

Supporters’ Chaplain

by Deb Phillips

Well another season is over. Our last away match was at newly-crowned Stockport County and they were worthy winners 4-2, in my opinion the strongest team by far in League 2. Seeing our Stanley players forming a guard of honour before kick-off brought back memories for those of us who travelled down to Swindon in our famous 17/18 league winning season. Back then it was a tear-jerking moment seeing Swindon form the guard of honour for our Stanley boys and being on the opposite end this time at Stockport made me crave for us to become Champions of League 2 once again – maybe next season! 

PS thank you to the supporter on the coach (you know who you are) who gave me the bunny costume to wear at this match – much to the dismay of my husband Michael. I was lovely and warm though on what was a chilly afternoon but it was a bit of a fight when I went to the Ladies at half-time!!!

Our last home match vs Tranmere saw us (members of the Trust Board) receive the King’s Award on the pitch at half-time from the High Sheriff of Lancashire (Helen Bingley OBE DL JP}.  She joined some of us too, along with her son and grandson in The Gallery hospitality lounge. Also in attendance were the directors of Tranmere with whom she also engaged in conversation. She was very easy to talk to with no airs and graces and had done her homework on individuals’ roles in the Trust and showed a great interest with her questions. Personal thanks to Murray Dawson for his great hosting and directing of this occasion – Murray is a wonderful asset to the OASTT and also to ASFC.

It was a great party atmosphere for this match and we finished as 4-1 winners with Jack Nolan scoring twice to make him the player who would come out on top of the scoring table for the  2023/4 season. The party atmosphere continued in Coleys after with a short trophy presentation, recognising some of the talent on the pitch. It was also lovely to see John Doolan engaging with our younger fans who were stood at the front, making sure he high-fived every one of them – well done John.

The following week saw a good crowd of fans for our Questions & Answers evening with Andy Holt and John Doolan in Coleys. I think exciting times are ahead with players on their radar ready to sign shortly. Those of us who attended were grateful to Andy and John for their honesty in answering some very challenging questions about the future of Accrington Stanley Football Club.

As always at the end of any season it is sad to see the loan players returning to their home clubs. We will miss these players immensely but will feel that their time at Stanley will have enriched their onward playing careers. We also think of the players who have been released without offering them another contract. We need to remember that football is their career and not only affects them personally but also affects their families as well. I hope and pray that they find new careers in football in the not too distant future. I know that John Doolan (and now Ged) won’t find these decisions easy and will have battled with pros and cons for each player. We need to offer them our support as well and to give them wisdom on the players they will be signing over the coming months.

On Sunday May 5th, saw the return of the what will now be an annual event – the Lee, Ibby and Phil Memorial match which was held at Shawbridge ground, Clitheroe. A lot of hard work behind the scenes, months in advance, by Damien, Keil and a small group of friends saw an amazing amount of money being raised for East Lancashire Hospice and British Heart Foundation – around £6,300 which is double what was raised last year. I’m sure that this occasion gives a lot of comfort to Lee, Ibby and Phil’s families and it is always lovely to sample the home-made food prepared by Ibby’s family (yummy). Stephen Lowe was commentator for the match and added some great humour – we need you on Sky Sports Stephen to add a bit of spice! Seeing some of the ex-players dusting off their boots to play was great but boy do they go in with the tackles (ouch). Paul Beck and Colin Hendry lasting the full match just shows how fit they still are too. Although Jamie Speare said after the match that he had an hour and a half drive to get home and might struggle getting out of his car at the other end!!! Ah well we are all getting older and our bodies keep telling us! Jimmy Bell had the easier job of being manager of one of the teams – no muscle strains there! It was also nice to have a catch up with Jimmy and how he was looking forward to his next stage of his managing career at Clitheroe next season.

Our Memorial Garden is looking superb as always and is kept in tip-top condition with planting by Yvonne (who has been welcomed as a new member of the Trust Board). She often tries to educate me with the names of the plants and to be honest if they look nice then I like them. If a weed had a fantastic head or flower then I would love it! Also thanks to Simon (Smith’s Garden Maintenance) for his diligent and respectful work he does with the grassy areas.

With the football season finished please take the opportunity to take advantage of the peacefulness that can be found in the garden – its nice to just sit quietly and reflect on people we have loved and lost. If you do visit the garden you will notice that a new plaque is now in place and that there is a special area for the scattering of loved ones’ ashes. I have already conducted a short ceremony for an ex-player’s family who wished for his final resting place to be at his beloved Stanley. However it is important that anybody wishing to do this must get in touch with me in order for it to be done in an appropriate way. I will be very happy to guide any family who think this may be something they would like to do.

As we have a couple of months off now before training resumes and friendlies are played before the 24/25 season let’s try and keep in contact with one another and as I always finish by saying “Let’s look out for one another”

Deb chaplain@onstanleyon.com

Help

Useful numbers of some organizations:

Lancashiremind Local Mental Health Support 0800 953 0110

Samaritans Call 116 123 24hrs

Papyrus (Suicide prevention for under 35s) Hopeline UK 0800 068 4141 Mon-Fri 10am-10pm Sat-Sun 12 noon-12 midnight

Childline 0800 1111

Carers’ helpline (run by people with experience in care for people with MH issues) 0333 103 9747

Maundy Relief Counselling Service 01254 233 457 counselling@maundyrelief.org.uk

Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline-Refuge 0808 2000 247 (24hrs)