WHO ARE THEY?
The truth is nobody can be sure where the Stanley name first came from, but the best evidence suggests that patrons of the Stanley Arms on Stanley Street in Accrington formed a club called Stanley Villa in the early 1890s.
At this time, Football League founder members Accrington FC were struggling and ultimately resigned from the league in August 1893.
A number of local amateur teams, including Stanley Villa, took up the town name and Accrington Stanley was born.
Initially the newly-named club operated in the Accrington & District League before joining the Lancashire Combination in 1900, winning the title for the first time in 1903 and in the process becoming the first non-league side to do so.
Under the management of John Haworth the Reds enjoyed early success, becoming the most prominent semi-professional club in the area.
By 1910, Haworth’s success was recognised and he was handed the manager’s job at Burnley. He went on to win promotion, the FA Cup and the League Championship with the Clarets.Football after the First World War resumed in 1919 and there followed big changes for Stanley.
In 1920 the club moved to Peel Park, with Haworth bringing his Burnley side to the new ground for one of the opening games. A year later the Reds were one of the clubs involved in the expansion of the Football League and accepted an invitation to take a place in the new Third Division North.
33 years after Accrington had been a pioneer of league football, the town was back on the map.
LAST TIME OUT
For the Cobblers it was a bad day out in the FA Cup as the Cobblers lost 2-1 to Non League side Oxford City in a very poor game for the Cobblers. Sam Hoskins getting the only Cobblers goal.
Accrington was away to Barrow in the Papa Johns Trophy, Accrington started the game well as Mansell scored the one and only goal of the game in the fourth minute.
LAST TIME WE MET
Northampton Town ended Accrington Stanley’s seven-game unbeaten run in League Two with a narrow victory.
Sean McConville hit the crossbar with Stanley’s first chance, but the Cobblers responded with striker Marc Richards volleying wide.
Accrington’s Josh Windass fired off target and had a close-range effort saved before Richards headed in Ricky Holmes’ cross to put Northampton ahead.
Matt Crooks had a late chance for Stanley, but the home side held on
HEAD TO HEAD
Games won: 8
Games drawn: 3
Games lost: 3
CLASSIC MATCH
Summer signing Steve Guinan ended Northampton’s 493 minute goal droughtas Stanley missed a late penalty.
Guinan rifled the ball into the top of the net from Ryan Gilligan’s pass and Adebayo Akinfenwa soon added a second.
Phil Edwards had brought the striker down and he duly sent Alan Martin the wrong way from the spot. Jimmy Ryan and Edwards hit the woodwork as Stanley pressed but substitute Billy McKay scored with a low shot and Ryan hit a penalty wide at the death.
Northampton manager Stuart Gray told BBC Radio Northampton:
“It’s three points and now my mind is focussed on getting a home win for the home fans.
“I’ve been in the game long enough to know it’s a results business and the results haven’t been good enough.
“The players deserve all the credit for the result tonight and when they don’t get the good results the manager gets it in the neck as well.”
Quiz
[qsm quiz=1]
Match Officials
Name: Kevin Johnson
Born: 1977
Birthplace: Weston-super-Mare.
Background:
This is 42 year old Johnson’s seventh season as a Football League referee.
The former Bristol Evening Post newspaper printer, now property maintenance officer, was promoted to the Football League National panel of referees at the start of the 2014/15 season, having spent six seasons been an official in the National Conference.
He began officiating during his late teens in the Bristol and Suburban and Gloucestershire County Leagues before taking charge of Western League and Southern League fixtures.
Cobblers Facts:
Mr Johnson last Cobblers game game was the 3-1 Cup tie at Swansea City last season. His last visit to Sixfields was on Good Friday 2019 for the 3-1 win over Macclesfield Town.
On This Day / PLAYED FOR BOTH
Each Cobblers program i contribute two articles this week my played for both focus is Matt Crooks. I also look back in detail at 3 matches that have happened on the 14th November.
WHERE TO WATCH
