Call for Stanley fans to join promotion push
STEFAN JAJECZNYK
FANS are being urged to get behind Accrington Stanley with the high-flying Reds bidding for a historic promotion to League One.
Accrington are currently just four one point off the top spot in League Two and occupy an automatic promotion spot after a run of two wins and two draws in their last five games.
The stewardship of John Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell has seen the Reds recover from near collapse in 2009.
And veteran Sky broadcaster and cricket legend David Lloyd, famously a Stanley fan, says the club’s current success is largely down to the owners, with effective management at the top having a knock-on effect on the rest of the club. He said: “We were on the brink, just about keeping our head above the water and [owner] Andy Holt - Stanley has done an absolutely fantastic job. “He’s given the manager the tools to do his job and they’ve spruced the ground up. “The bottom line is that it’s so important that the c o mmu - nity has a football team, and one they can be proud of.” David, who says he follows Stanley on Twitter whenever he works abroad, says the community should support their team, adding that the style of play under the current management is great value and wellworth the price of a ticket. He said: “I’ve been involved in professional sport for many years, and you can tell the players are trying - the effort is there, and it’s great to watch.”
He added that playing for Stanley is a great place for any young, aspiring professional to progress their career.
He said: “If I was a footballer, I would see the club as a real stepping stone.”
Peter Leatham, chairman of the Official Accrington Stanley Supporters’ Club, said that Stanley have been good value this season, and that people in the town need to get behind their club.
He said promotion would bring valuable financial benefits for the club.
He said: “The team are playing really nice football, and sometimes they’ve not been getting the luck that the team deserve - it’s an even division, but we’ve certainly nothing to fear. Promotion would be a massive boost for us. League Two is quite southern-centric, and, if we go up, we’ll play a few more northern teams who should bring more away fans.”
The Observer’s Blackburn Rovers columnist ‘Blueyedboy’, says that, despite his allegiances, he is pleased that Stanley and Burnley are having the success they are.
He said: “My admiration for John Coleman and Jimmy Bell at Stanley is undimmed.
“I really think they deserve far more recognition and Stanley deserve far better attendances.”