Editing Accrington Stanley F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in England}}
{{about|the current club founded in 1968|the predecessor dissolved in 1966|Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891)}}
{{Distinguish|Accrington F.C.}}
{{Redirect|ASFC|the agency abbreviated as AFSC in French|Canada Border Services Agency}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| nickname = {{ubl|
*Stanley<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2024 |title=REPORT: Fleetwood Town 1 Stanley 1 |url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2024/december/16/report-fleetwood-town-v-stanley/ |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=www.accringtonstanley.co.uk}}</ref>
*Accy Stanley<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accrington Stanley - Accrington Web |url=https://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f93/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=www.accringtonweb.com}}</ref>
*The Reds<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 August 2019 |title=Mike Ferguson 1943–2019 |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/1AdAVUwD3i |access-date=20 December 2024 |website=[[Facebook]] |publisher=Accrington Stanley}}</ref>
*The 'Owd Reds
}}
| ground = [[Crown Ground]]
| capacity = 5,450 (3,100 seated)<ref>[https://www.footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/league-one/crown-ground-accrington-stanley.html Accrington Stanley] Football Ground Guide</ref>
| current = 2024–25 Accrington Stanley F.C. season
| clubname = Accrington Stanley
| image = Accrington Stanley F.C. logo.svg
| upright = 0.8
| fullname = Accrington Stanley Football Club
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1968|10}}
| owner = [[Andy Holt (businessman)|Andy Holt]]
| manager = [[John Doolan (footballer, born 1968)|John Doolan]]
| league = {{English football updater|AccringS}}
| season = {{English football updater|AccringS2}}
| position = {{English football updater|AccringS3}}
| website = {{URL|http://accringtonstanley.co.uk}}
| pattern_la1 = _accrington2324h
| pattern_b1 = _accrington2324h
| pattern_ra1 = _accrington2324h
| pattern_sh1 = _accrington2324h
| pattern_so1 = 
| leftarm1 = FF0000
| body1 = FF0000
| rightarm1 = FF0000
| shorts1 = FF0000
| socks1 = FF0000
| pattern_la2 = _macron19wb
| pattern_b2 = _accrington2324a
| pattern_ra2 = _macron19wb
| pattern_sh2 = _accrington2324a
| pattern_so2 = 
| leftarm2 = ffffff
| body2 = 30A6F3
| rightarm2 = ffffff
| shorts2 = ffffff
| socks2 = FFFFFF
| pattern_la3 = 
| pattern_b3 = 
| pattern_ra3 = 
| pattern_sh3 = 
| pattern_so3 = 
| leftarm3 = 
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}}
'''Accrington Stanley Football Club''' is a professional [[association football]] club based in [[Accrington]], [[Lancashire]], England, that compete in the {{English football updater|AccringS}}, the fourth level of the [[English football league system]]. They have spent their entire history playing at the [[Crown Ground]] and traditionally play in red shirts, most often also with red shorts and socks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Accrington_Stanley_2/Accrington_Stanley_2.htm|title=Accrington Stanley|publisher=Historical Football Kits|access-date=29 March 2025}}</ref> The club is known as '''Accrington Stanley''', '''Stanley''' or just '''Accrington'''. 

The club came to national prominence in 1989 due to the [[Milk Marketing Board]]'s popular television advert that featured the slogan ''[[Accrington Stanley, who are they?]]''

The current club was formed in 1968, two years after the collapse of the original [[Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891)|Accrington Stanley]]. The original club was founded in 1891 and played in the [[English Football League|Football League]] from 1921 to 1962 after initially competing in the [[Lancashire Combination]]. The town's original club, named simply [[Accrington F.C.|Accrington]], were founder members of the Football League in 1888, but folded six years later. The current incarnation of the club entered the Lancashire Combination and moved on to the [[Cheshire County League]] after winning the Combination title in 1977–78. Stanley won Division Two of the Cheshire County League in 1980–81 and became founder members of the [[North West Counties Football League|North West Counties League]] in 1982, before being placed in Division One of the [[Northern Premier League]] five years later. After promotion to the Premier Division in 1990–91, Stanley were relegated in 1999.

The early 21st century saw the club win three promotions in seven seasons under the stewardship of [[John Coleman (footballer, born 1962)|John Coleman]] to gain a place in the Football League. They won three divisional titles in each of their three promotions: Northern Premier League Division One (1999–2000), Northern Premier League Premier Division (2002–03) and the [[National League (division)|Conference National]] (2005–06). This marked the return of Accrington to the professional league system after 44 years. They then spent 12 seasons mostly in the bottom half of the table in [[EFL League Two|League Two]], though did also lose two play-off semi-finals, before Coleman led them to promotion to League One as League Two champions in 2017–18. The club was relegated to League Two in [[2022–23 Accrington Stanley F.C. season|2022–23]].

==History==
{{recentism|date=June 2021}}

===Re-formation (1968–2003)===
Accrington had been without a football team following the collapse of the original Accrington Stanley in 1966. The original team had been formed in 1891 and played in the Football League from 1921 to March 1962, but had spent its final four seasons in the [[Lancashire Combination]]. At a meeting at Bold Street Working Men's Club in 1968 the revival was initiated, and in August 1970 the new club played at a new ground, the [[Crown Ground]].<ref name=ASFChist>{{cite web |url=http://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/index.php/club/history_pt |title=Club History |first=Philip |last=Terry |publisher=Accrington Stanley F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230183512/http://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/index.php/club/history_pt |archive-date=30 December 2005}}</ref> Eric Whalley, a local businessman, took control of the club in 1995 and began the development of the club's ground. After the club was relegated in 1999, Whalley appointed [[John Coleman (footballer, born 1962)|John Coleman]] as manager.

The club's rise to the [[English Football League|Football League]] is attributed in part to the windfall of hundreds of thousands of pounds reaped by the sell-on clause in the December 2001 transfer of former Stanley star [[Brett Ormerod]] to [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], which paid [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] over a million [[pound sterling|pounds]] for his contract. Stanley had taken £50,000 from Blackpool in 1997, with the agreement that Blackpool would pay Accrington a quarter of what it might have received if it in turn transferred Ormerod to another team. The 2002–03 championship of the [[Northern Premier League]] followed quickly on Accrington getting the cash.

===Conference years (2003–2006)===
[[Image:Accrington Stanley League Performances.png|thumb|right|350px|Chart of yearly table positions of Accrington Stanley in the English football league system including the old Accrington Stanley that Liquidated in 1962.]]In May 2003, the club was promoted for the first time in its history to the [[Football Conference]] after winning the [[Northern Premier League]] championship. The club's first game in the league was away to another reformed club, [[Aldershot Town]], on Sunday 10 August 2003. The game was shown live on [[Sky Sports]] and Accrington lost 2–1. The club finished their first fifth-tier season in 10th position; a highlight was a run to the [[FA Cup]] 3rd round, losing in a replay at [[EFL League One|League One]] side [[Colchester United]].

In 2004, Accrington Stanley turned professional. The following 2004–05 season, Stanley again achieved a final position of 10th, with [[Paul Mullin (footballer, born 1974)|Paul Mullin]] among the top goal scorers, with 20 goals. The club was also one of 12 Conference sides to played in the [[Football League Trophy]], winning at [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] in September 2004.

Stanley's stay in the Conference did not last long, with the club being promoted to [[the Football League]] at the end of the 2005–06 season. The club had a 19-game unbeaten run from October to March, and finished on 91 points, leaving the club an easy passage to [[EFL League Two|League Two]]. Mullin, [[Rob Elliot]] and [[Gary Roberts (footballer born 1984)|Gary Roberts]] led the club back to the league after 46 years away.

===Return to the Football League (2006–present)===

The club's first Football League game was on 5 August 2006, a 2–0 defeat at [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]]. Accrington fought a relegation battle throughout its first fourth-tier season. Five wins in the last nine games of the season led to a 20th-place finish and was enough to avoid relegation. Highlights of that first season back included the club's first-ever [[Football League Cup]] match against former European Cup winners [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]. A 1–0 win led the club to a second-round away tie against then [[Premier League]] team [[Watford F.C.|Watford]], which Stanley lost 6–5 on penalties after a 0–0 draw and extra-time. In the Football League Trophy for the first time as a league club, Accrington defeated [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] and [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] in the early rounds, but were knocked out by [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] in the Area Quarter-finals.

The 2007–08 season saw the club involved in another relegation battle with strugglers [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]], [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] and [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]]. Five wins in the final 12 games were enough to secure a 17th-place finish and another fourth-tier season. However, the club failed to win a game in the [[FA Cup]] and [[Football League Cup|League Cup]], losing to [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] and [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] respectively.

Performances during the 2008–09 season improved slightly, with the club achieving a 16th-place finish in [[Football League Two|League Two]], with six League wins in the last 12 games. Young prospect [[Bobby Grant (footballer, born 1990)|Bobby Grant]] finally fulfilled the early promise seen in previous seasons. The club again failed to make it past the early round of any of the domestic cups, losing in the first round to [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] in the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] and [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] in both the [[FA Cup]] (albeit after a replay) and [[Football League Trophy]].

The 2009–10 season was better, with the club pushing for a play-off place at the turn of the year. Nine wins in 10 League games saw the club with a chance of making the play-offs, only for this to fade in March/April. The partnership of [[Michael Symes]] and Bobby Grant was a key aspect but, following their achievements throughout the season, both moved on to bigger clubs. In terms of cup performance the club reached the 2nd round of the League Cup (losing 2–1 to [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers)]], the quarter-finals of the [[Football League Trophy]] (losing 2–0 to [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]]), and the 4th round of the [[FA Cup]] (losing 3–1 to [[Premier League]] team [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]).

The club reached the [[Football League Two play-offs]] during the 2010–11 season, one of the most successful in its history. One defeat in 19 games from February to May saw the club finish in 5th position, eventually losing to [[Football League Two|League Two]] newcomers [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]] in the play-off semi-finals. The season saw the emergence of [[Jimmy Ryan (footballer born 1988)|Jimmy Ryan]] as a star in the making, along with goalkeeper [[Alex Cisak]] and midfielder [[Sean McConville]]. In the domestic cups, Stanley reached the second round of the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] (losing 3–2 to [[Premier League]] team [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]). The club won its first-round game in the [[Football League Trophy]] away to [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]], but was then forced to resign from the competition having fielded the ineligible [[Ray Putterill]]. The club also reached the second round of the [[FA Cup]], but lost to fellow League Two side [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]].

The 2011–12 season was one of transition for the club. The loss of six of the playoff-chasing side of the previous season meant a shaky start but the arrival of [[Bryan Hughes]] in October transformed the club's fortunes, and six wins in seven games over the Christmas period saw the club briefly enter the play-offs. However, following the sale of club captain [[Andrew Procter]] to [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] in the January 2012 transfer window, the third-longest serving management team of John Coleman and Jimmy Bell departed for [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]]. Former [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] and club favourite [[Paul Cook (footballer)|Paul Cook]] was brought in as manager, with [[Leam Richardson]] promoted from caretaker manager to full-time assistant. But the club finished the season with just three wins in the final 17 games, ending in 14th position. Stanley exited the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] and [[FA Cup]] at the first round stages, losing to [[Scunthorpe United]] and [[Notts County]] respectively. The club reached the second round of the [[Football League Trophy]], after knocking out holders [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]], but lost to [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] in the second round after a replay following a serious head injury to defender [[Tom Bender (footballer)|Thomas Bender]] in the initial tie.

==== Andy Holt's stewardship (2015–present) ====
In July 2015, local businessman Andy Holt Holt attended Stanley's pre-season friendly at home against local rivals [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], which they won 4–2. It was during this game that Holt got an insight into the dire state of Stanley, discovering the club's bar was unable to serve spectators due to a failure to pay its suppliers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Andy Holt: 'A Wild Two Years' |url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2017/november/andy-holt-a-wild-two-years/ |access-date=2021-09-07 |website=www.accringtonstanley.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> On 28 October 2015, Accrington Stanley's board voted to approve Holt's takeover of the club. Holt, whose company What More UK sponsored, and still sponsor, Stanley's Wham Stadium, attained a majority share of 75% in Accrington Stanley, in return for clearing the club's £1.2m debt as well as providing the club with further funds of £600,000. Stanley's chairman, Peter Marsden, remained as chairman whilst five new people joined the club's board.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-29|title=Stanley takeover to clear £1.2m debt|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/34665949|access-date=2021-09-07|website=BBC Sport|language=en-GB}}</ref> At the time of the takeover, Stanley had been on the verge of folding due to crippling debts and its inability to fund day-to-day running costs, including wages and its suppliers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-25|title=The team owner who'll tell you all about it on Twitter|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-fa-cup/0/blog/post/3758637/accrington-stanley-owner-andy-holt-never-wanted-to-run-a-football-club-but-hell-tell-you-all-about-it-on-twitter|access-date=2021-09-07|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref> Due to its precarious financial situation, the club had been accepting sponsorship deals at a value lower than what should have been demanded.

During Holt's first season as owner of the club, the [[2015–16 Football League Two|2015–16 Football League Two season]], the club narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to League One on the final day of the season, having been held to a 0–0 draw with [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]]. Stanley were then defeated in the semi-final of the [[2016 Football League play-offs|League Two play-offs]], losing 3–2 on aggregate to eventual play-off victors [[AFC Wimbledon]]. At the end of the season, Stanley lost several players who had helped the promotion push, such as [[Tom Davies (footballer, born 1992)|Tom Davies]], [[Ross Etheridge]] and [[Josh Windass]], who had agreed contracts with clubs able to offer higher wages than Stanley. With Windass and [[Matt Crooks|Crooks]] being under 24, Stanley received £120,000 for the duo's transfer to [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Online|first=Record Sport|date=2016-06-20|title=Rangers and Accrington agree compensation deal for Josh Windass and Matt Crooks|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-accrington-agree-cash-deal-8238179|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Daily Record|language=en}}</ref>

During the 2016–17 pre-season, Stanley improved facilities at the Crown Ground, replacing vendors with its own in-house service, and Stanley's chairman, Marsden, stepped down after a decade in the role.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wealdstone's Football League ambition|url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/sport/14912288.wealdstone-and-former-accrington-stanley-chairman-peter-marsden-reveals-clubs-football-league-ambitions/|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Harrow Times|date=17 November 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Marsden was replaced by Holt in the position. In the following [[2016–17 Accrington Stanley F.C. season|2016–17]] season, Stanley finished mid-table in 13th position, having struggled to replicate its promotion push from the season before. The club had, however, enjoyed a run to the fourth round of the [[FA Cup]], with a 1–0 defeat away to [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] ending their cup campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38701563 |title=Middlesbrough 1–0 Accrington Stanley |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 January 2017 |access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref>

At the end of the [[2017–18 Accrington Stanley F.C. season|2017–18]] season, Stanley won the [[EFL League Two|League Two]] championship, with their 2–0 win over [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] on 17 April 2018 sealing promotion.<ref name="FCHD">{{cite web|url=https://fchd.info/ACCRINGS.HTM |title=Accrington Stanley |publisher=Football Club History Database |access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43707350 |title=Accrington Stanley 2–0 Yeovil Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 April 2018 |access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref> In their [[2018–19 Accrington Stanley F.C. season|first season]] in [[EFL League One|League One]], the club finished in 14th place.<ref name="FCHD"/>

Stanley were relegated to League Two in [[2022–23 Accrington Stanley F.C. season|2022–23]] after finishing second from bottom in League One.<ref name="FCHD"/> In March 2024, John Coleman was sacked as manager after nine and a half years in the role.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68460389 |title=Accrington Stanley: John Coleman and Jimmy Bell sacked by League Two club |website=BBC Sport |date=3 March 2024 |access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref> [[John Doolan (footballer, born 1968)|John Doolan]] then took over, finishing the [[2023–24 Accrington Stanley F.C. season|2023–24 season]] in 17th place<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68637176 |title=John Doolan: Accrington Stanley interim boss appointed manager on three-year deal |website=BBC Sport |date=22 March 2024 |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="FCHD"/> and the [[2024–25 Accrington Stanley F.C. season|following season]] in 21st place. In May 2025, Holt stepped down as chairman, and the club announced it was closing its academy, blaming "significant financial challenges",<ref>{{cite news |title=Stanley close academy over 'financial challenges' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cp919mnm54do |access-date=7 May 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2025}}</ref> though the local council quickly offered to fund the academy for 12 months.<ref>{{cite news |title=Council offers Accrington academy lifeline |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cq54lg2pl6vo |access-date=14 May 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=13 May 2025}}</ref>

== Name ==
The original town club, [[Accrington F.C.|Accrington]], was amongst the twelve founder members of [[the Football League]] in 1888, before resigning from the league after just five years. A team called Stanley Villa already existed at the time, named as such because they were based at the Stanley [[Working Men's Club]] on Stanley Street in Accrington. With the demise of [[Accrington F.C.|Accrington]], Stanley Villa took the town name to become Accrington Stanley.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Accrington Stanley? Who are they?|url=http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/accrington-stanley-who-are-they|publisher=Accrington Stanley FC|date=24 June 2015|access-date=27 June 2015|archive-date=25 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625024932/http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/accrington-stanley-who-are-they/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Stadium==
Since leaving Peel Park, the club has played at the [[Crown Ground]], currently known as the Wham Stadium as part of a three-year £200,000 sponsorship deal with What More UK Ltd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/local-news/whambly-accrington-stanley-renames-stadium-9789096|title=Whambly! Accrington Stanley renames stadium in £200,000 sponsorship deal - Accrington Observer|last=MacPherson|first=Jon|date=4 August 2015|publisher=Accrington Observer|access-date=13 August 2015}}</ref>

Prior to Holt's takeover of Stanley, the Crown Ground had a reputation for being one of the poorest grounds within the top four leagues of English football. However, Holt's stewardship of the club lead to changes at the Crown Ground, with initial changes including improved match day facilities before the construction of a new Whinney Hill Stand, which was built and completed in late-2018.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jajecznyk|first=Stefan|date=2018-05-10|title=Works on Accrington Stanley's new £1m stand begins next week|url=https://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/sport/works-accrington-stanleys-new-1m-14638264|access-date=2021-09-07|website=LancsLive|language=en}}</ref>

The following season, Stanley invested around £300,000 in a new playing field, a move which saw new drainage and a levelled pitch installed to overcome the club's issue with recurring flooding towards the Coppice End.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Accrington Stanley's new pitch has proved a real home comfort|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18211864.stanleys-new-pitch-proved-real-home-comfort/|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Lancashire Telegraph|date=5 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2021, work begun on the construction of a new and improved Jack Barrett Stand, work which will see a new bar and hospitality area provided as part of the plans.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UPDATE: Work begins on new stand|url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2021/january/update-work-begins-on-new-stand/|access-date=2021-09-07|website=www.accringtonstanley.co.uk|language=en-gb}}</ref>

==Rivalries==
According to a survey conducted in August 2019, Stanley supporters consider traditional Lancashire clubs [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]], [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] and [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] to be their biggest rivals, with near neighbours [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] and [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] following.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.givemesport.com/1500300-the-top-five-rivals-of-english-footballs-top-92-clubs-revealed|title = The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs have been revealed|date = 27 August 2019}}</ref>

==Television advertisement==
{{main|Accrington Stanley, who are they?}}
In the 1980s, the club was mentioned in a British [[television advertisement|advert]] for milk, which briefly brought the club to the attention of the general public.<ref name=Thank>{{cite news | title=Accrington thank milk advert star| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/4788038.stm |  publisher=[[BBC]] | date=6 March 2006 | access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube | id = CgYP1d5nN2o | title = Advert }}</ref> The advertisement featured two boys in [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] replica shirts played by young actors [[Carl Rice]] and Kevin Spaine. It made reference to Accrington Stanley's obscurity in comparison to Liverpool's success at the time.<br />
Boy 1: "Milk! Urghh!"<br />
Boy 2: "It's what [[Ian Rush]] drinks."<br />
Boy 1: "Ian Rush?"<br />
Boy 2: "Yeah. And he said if I didn't drink lots of milk, when I grow up, I'll only be good enough to play for Accrington Stanley."<br />
Boy 1: "[[Accrington Stanley, who are they?]]"<br />
Boy 2: "Exactly."

In the former weekly football show, ''[[Soccer AM]]'', the phrase "Accrington Stanley, who are they?" is said every time a fixture is read out that has the club in it, referring to the milk advert.

==Players==
===Current squad===
{{updated|10 May 2025}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/teams/first-team/first-team-players/ | title=First Team Players - Accrington Stanley }}</ref>
* Players marked with a * will leave the club on 30 June 2025 following the expiry of their contracts.

{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=1 |nat=IRL|pos=GK|name=[[Michael Kelly (footballer, born 1996)|Michael Kelly]]}}
{{fs player|no=2 |nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Donald Love]]}}
{{fs player|no=3 |nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=[[Jay Rich-Baghuelou]]}}*
{{fs player|no=4 |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Conor Grant (footballer, born 1995)|Conor Grant]]}}
{{fs player|no=5 |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Farrend Rawson]]}}
{{fs player|no=6 |nat=NIR|pos=MF|name=[[Liam Coyle (footballer, born 1999)|Liam Coyle]]}}
{{fs player|no=7 |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Shaun Whalley]]}}
{{fs player|no=8 |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Ben Woods (footballer)|Ben Woods]]}}
{{fs player|no=9 |nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Kelsey Mooney]]}}
{{fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Alex Henderson (footballer, born 2004)|Alex Henderson]]}}
{{fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Jimmy Knowles (footballer)|Jimmy Knowles]]}}
{{fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Sebastian Quirk]]}}*
{{fs player|no=14|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Benn Ward]]}}
{{fs player|no=15|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Aaron Pickles]]}}*
{{fs player|no=17|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Devon Matthews]]}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=WAL|pos=FW|name=[[Charlie Caton]]}}
{{fs player|no=19|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Anjola Popoola]]}}
{{fs player|no=20|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Charlie Brown (footballer, born 1999)|Charlie Brown]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=21|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=James Rogerson}}
{{fs player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Dan Martin (footballer, born 2002)|Dan Martin]]}}
{{fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Tyler Walton]]}}
{{fs player|no=25|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Josh Smith}}
{{fs player|no=26|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Charlie Hall}}
{{fs player|no=27|nat=NIR|pos=MF|name=[[Lewis Trickett]]}}*
{{fs player|no=28|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=[[Seamus Conneely]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}*
{{fs player|no=30|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Liam Isherwood]]}}*
{{fs player|no=31|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Finlay Tunstall}}
{{fs player|no=32|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Lennox Williams}}
{{fs player|no=33|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Finlay Wilkinson}}
{{fs player|no=34|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Sheikh Sohna}}
{{fs player|no=35|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Rio Alston}}
{{fs player|no=36|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Lewis Rhodes}}*
{{fs player|no=38|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Connor O'Brien (footballer)|Connor O'Brien]]}}
{{fs player|no=39|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Josh Woods (footballer)|Josh Woods]]}}
{{fs player|no=45|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Ashley Hunter (footballer)|Ash Hunter]]}}*
{{fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{fs start}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs end}}

===Retired numbers===
{{main|List of retired numbers in association football}}
In January 2020, Stanley icon [[Billy Kee]] announced his retirement from professional football,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Health issues prompt Kee retirement|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51294407|access-date=2021-09-07}}</ref> having battled with mental health issues that had seen Kee last appear for Stanley the previous season. In honour of the forward, Stanley announced that they were to retire Kee's 29 shirt number.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51344276 |title=Billy Kee: Accrington Stanley retire forward's 29 shirt number after emotional farewell |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 February 2020 |access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref>

{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no= '''29''' |nat=NIR |pos=FW |name= [[Billy Kee]]|other=  2009–10, 2015–20 }}<ref>[https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2020/february/stanley-retire-the-number-29-shirt-in-honour-of-billy-kee/ Stanley retire the number 29 shirt in honour of Billy Kee], 1 Feb 2020 at Acrington Stanley site</ref>
{{fs end}}

===Former players===
In a [[PFA Fans' Favourites]] survey published by the [[Professional Footballers' Association]] in December 2007, Chris Grimshaw was listed as the all-time favourite player amongst Accrington Stanley fans.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2328937/Best-footballers-Shearer-a-hero-on-two-fronts.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Best footballers: Shearer a hero on two fronts | first=Martin | last=Smith | date=19 December 2007 | access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>

==Club officials/staff==
* Chairman: Andy Holt
* Managing Director: David Burgess
* Directors: Thomas O'Neill/Virginia Hargreaves/David Burgess
* Academy Manager and Head of Youth Development: Chris Hough
* Manager: [[John Doolan (footballer, born 1968)|John Doolan]] 
* Assistant Manager: [[Ged Brannan]]
* First Team GK Coach: [[Andy Dibble]]
* Chief Doctor: Joyce Watson
* Head Therapist: Matthew Donnelly
* Kitman: George Quigley
* Physio: Paul Morgan
* Strength and Conditioning: Chris Scholes
* Scout: [[Ashley Hoskin]]

==Managerial history==
{{Main|List of Accrington Stanley F.C. managers}}

== Records ==

* '''Best [[FA Cup]] performance''': Fourth round, [[2009–10 FA Cup|2009–10]], [[2018–19 FA Cup|2018–19]], [[2022–23 FA Cup|2022–23]]
* '''Best [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] performance''': Third round, [[2016–17 EFL Cup|2016–17]]
* '''Best [[EFL Trophy|League Trophy]] performance''': Northern area semi-finals, [[2009–10 Football League Trophy|2009–10]]
* '''Best [[FA Trophy]] performance''': Third round, [[1998–99 FA Trophy|1998–99]], [[2000–01 FA Trophy|2000–01]], [[2003–04 FA Trophy|2003–04]], [[2004–05 FA Trophy|2004–05]] (replay), [[2005–06 FA Trophy|2005–06]] (replay)

==Honours==

:Source:<ref>{{Cite news |title=Accrington History and Honours |url=http://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/club-info/history/ |publisher=Accrington Stanley FC |date=21 January 2017 |access-date=21 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506140050/http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/club-info/history/ |archive-date=6 May 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''League'''
*[[EFL League Two|League Two]] (level 4)
**Champions: [[2017–18 EFL League Two|2017–18]]
*[[National League (division)|Conference]] (level 5)
**Champions: [[2005–06 Football Conference|2005–06]]
*[[Northern Premier League]] (level 6)
**Champions: [[2002–03 Northern Premier League|2002–03]]
*[[Northern Premier League|Northern Premier League Division One]]
**Champions: [[1999–2000 Northern Premier League#Division One|1999–2000]]
*[[Lancashire Combination]]
**Champions: 1973–74, 1977–78
*[[Cheshire County League|Cheshire County League Division Two]]
**Champions: 1980–81

'''Cup'''
*Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
**Winners: 2001–02
*Northern Premier League Challenge Shield  
**Winners: 2002–03
*Lancashire Combination Cup
**Winners: 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1976–77
*Lancashire Combination League Cup
**Winners: 1971–72

==See also==
* [[List of Accrington Stanley F.C. seasons]]
* [[List of Accrington Stanley F.C. managers]]
* [[List of Accrington Stanley F.C. players]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Official website}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170616171250/http://www.footballnewsdaily.net/accrington-stanley/ Accrington Stanley News] (archived 16 June 2017)
*{{FCHD |id=ACCRINGS |name=Accrington Stanley }}

{{Accrington Stanley F.C.}}
{{EFL League Two}}
{{Borough of Hyndburn culture}}

[[Category:Accrington Stanley F.C.| ]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Sport in Hyndburn]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1968]]
[[Category:Accrington]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Lancashire Combination]]
[[Category:North West Counties Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Northern Premier League clubs]]
[[Category:National League (English football) clubs]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Phoenix clubs (association football)]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Cheshire County League clubs]]