Accrington Stanley

Accrington 1-1 Stevenage
Runaway leaders Accrington stretched their unbeaten Conference run to 20 matches despite having Leam Richardson sent off early in the second half. The visitors took the lead in the second minute when Darryn Stamp headed home Jon Nurse's right-wing cross. Richardson was red-carded for serious foul play, though his dismissal saw Accrington raise their tempo. And with 11 minutes to go Accrington pulled level when Paul Mullin's crosss was lashed home by Andy Todd. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accrington: Elliot, Edwards, Welch, Williams, Richardson, Jagielka (Todd 50), Boco, Craney, Roberts, Brown (Mangan 65), Mullin. Subs Not Used: Dibble, Cook, Boyd. Sent Off: Richardson (54). Booked: Elliot, Roberts. Goals: Todd 79. Stevenage: Julian, Henry, Goodliffe, Oliver, Laker, Bulman (Warner 58), Maamria, Berquez, Boyd, Stamp (Obinna 86), Nurse. Subs Not Used: Gore, Quinn, Miller. Booked: Bulman, Nurse, Boyd. Goals: Stamp 2. Att: 2,119 Ref: K Evans (Greater Manchester).

Stanley forget talk of title win
Title talk is off limits around Conference leaders Accrington Stanley after their 20-game unbeaten run was ended by struggling Southport. Stanley saw their lead at the top of the table pegged at 11 points as Southport won 2-0 on Tuesday. "Maybe this will shut up some people who say we have won the league," said Accrington boss John Coleman. "No-one in the club is saying it but everyone else has, so we'll get on with the job and won't talk to anyone else." However, Coleman believes his side, which failed to score for the first time this season when Ian Craney missed a late penalty, will bounce back. He added: "We just have to knuckle down and hope Hereford drop a couple of points to give us a lift. "I am confident in my squad and confident in my ability to motivate the players."

Arrests after fights between fans
A number of people were arrested in York when fighting broke out on Saturday evening after a York City v Accrington Stanley football match. Several police officers were involved in breaking up a series of incidents in the city centre. Fights broke out in the Bootham, Duncombe Place and Coney Street areas. The arrests came after fights outside the Hole in the Wall pub on High Petergate. Accrington won the Nationwide Conference game 4-2.

Accrington 2-3 Grays
Play-off hopefuls Grays beat Conference leaders Accrington in a pulsating game. Gary Roberts put Stanley in front early on after combining well with on-loan Burton striker Andy Todd. Glenn Poole hauled Grays level on the hour mark, stroking the ball home from six yards before heading a second after linking up with Aaron McLean. Ian Craney's shot levelled almost immediately for the hosts before McLean handed Mark Stimson's side the most unlikely of wins with a fine finish. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accrington Stanley: Elliot, Edwards, Welch (Boyd 83), Williams, Cavanagh (Ventre 83), Todd, Craney, Boco, Roberts, Mullin, Brown (Mangan 55). Subs Not Used: Alcock, Tretton. Booked: Cavanagh, Edwards. Goals: Roberts 18, Craney 65. Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrook, Stuart, Hanson, Nutter, Kightly, Thurgood, Olayinka (Martin 61), Poole, DeBolla (Hooper 76), McLean. Subs Not Used: Eyre, Williamson, Bruce. Booked: Nutter, Olayinka. Goals: Poole 58, 63, McLean 80. Att: 2,642 Ref: D Foster (Tyne & Wear).

Forest Green v Accrington
Forest Green will welcome Julian Alsop (Achilles) and Michael Brough (hip) back from injury for Friday's visit of league leaders Accrington. Liam Coleman should also feature for the Conference strugglers despite his injury scare against Canvey last week. Stanley are again without long-term injury victims Andy Procter and Andy Tretton as they look for the three points which could set up promotion. Leam Richardson also misses out as he completes a four-match suspension. Accrington will win the title and be promoted if they win this game and Hereford fail to beat Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

Forest Green 1-1 Accrington
Accrington will have to wait at least until Monday before they can celebrate promotion to the Football League after a draw against struggling Forest Green. If Hereford lose and Halifax fail to win on Saturday, Accrington will seal promotion if Grays are unable to beat Exeter on Monday. Alex Meechan gave the hosts the lead on 74 minutes with an 18-yard strike. The lead was shortlived as five minutes later Andy Todd equalised from close-range to earn Stanley a point. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forest Green: Clarke, Simpson, Sall, Graham, Searle, Jones, Beesley, Brough, Michael Taylor, Meechan, Madjo (Alsop 68). Subs Not Used: Harrison, Teixeira, Dove, Coleman. Booked: Madjo. Goals: Meechan 74. Accrington Stanley: Elliot, Ventre (Boyd 81), Welch, Edwards, Cavanagh, Todd, Craney, Williams, Roberts (Jagielka 84), Mangan (Brown 67), Boco. Subs Not Used: Alcock, Tretton. Booked: Craney. Goals: Todd 79. Att: 1,187 Ref: P Gibbs (West Midlands).

Woking 0-1 Accrington
Accrington reclaimed their place in the League after a 44-year absence after earning a 1-0 victory at Kingfield. Leading scorer Paul Mullin hit the only goal after good work by Mark Boyd eight minutes before half-time. Stanley had a let-off midway through the second half when Justin Richards' penalty was saved by Robert Elliot only for the referee to order a retake. Elliot was equal to Richards' second effort and the ball somehow stayed out in a huge goalmouth scramble. Accrington FC were one of 12 founder members of the Football League in 1888 but resigned after five years. Stanley Villa then took their name and stayed in the League until 1962 when they resigned because of financial difficulties and the current club was formed in 1968. They played in local leagues for several years but when Eric Whalley became chairman in 1995 they started to progress. Supporters club spokesman Steve Baker said: "From what I know the club are in good financial shape at the moment. "I have nothing but admiration for the job Eric Whalley has done. He has been disciplined, he has been strong - he has always run a tight ship. Mullin celebrates scoring the promotion-winning goal "Not only that, he is always at the club first thing in the morning. He sets a great example. "Promotion to the Football League is everything we have worked for since the supporters club was formed in 1968. "There is a lot of affection for the club worldwide. Perhaps we are seen as the plucky underdog. "But we do not have strong local support. We do not have big attendances, certainly not when you consider what we have achieved in the last seven years. "I think there has been a degree of scepticism in Accrington - people do remember 1962 and are still hurt by it. "But now we are back in the league, I believe local membership will increase dramatically." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Woking: Jalal, Jackson, Nethercott, Hutchinson, MacDonald, Oyedele, Smith (Buari 80), Murray, McAllister , Ferguson, Richards. Subs Not Used: El-Salahi, Blackman, Liam Cockerill, Davies. Booked: Nethercott, Murray, MacDonald. Accrington Stanley: Elliot, Cavanagh, Welch, Edwards, Richardson, Todd, Williams, Boyd (Jagielka 76), Roberts, Mullin, Boco (Mangan 68). Subs Not Used: Alcock, Brown, Ventre. Booked: Edwards, Roberts. Goals: Mullin 38. Accrington promoted as champions Att: 2,665 Ref: S Beck (Essex).

Two Jags celebrate promotion
In terms of promotion prizes, winning a Premiership place and gaining Football League status both rank pretty highly. To achieve them at the same time takes some doing. So last Saturday, not surprisingly, ranked as a red-letter day for the Jagielka family. At one end of the spectrum, Sheffield United midfielder Phil was hearing the result from Leeds United that guaranteed the Blades' promotion from the Championship. And at the other end, older brother Steve was helping Accrington Stanley clinch the Conference title and a place in League Two for next season. "It couldn't have worked out better," Steve said. "We both had the chance to go up, even though Phil wasn't playing. "They played the night before but I know they were watching the other results so it turned out to be a great day for us. "It hasn't really sunk in yet but I'm sure it will for both of us at the end of the season." For Steve, Accrington's success means a return to the League stage he enjoyed with Shrewsbury Town and then briefly at Bramall Lane. The 28-year-old did not make it into the United first team after being given a belated chance by Neil Warnock, but is delighted to see the Yorkshire club make it back up into the top flight. He said: "It's a good club. They are a good set of people who work hard and play their football the right way. "The fans get behind them and I'm glad they have gone up automatically. "I think it would have killed them if they had gone in the play-offs after such a good points tally early on in the season." And Steve believes Phil, five years his junior, will successfully handle the step up to the Premiership, which the Blades have found so elusive in recent years. He added: "There has been a lot of speculation about him so I think he's glad he's done it with Sheffield United, because they gave him his chance in football. "It's a good story for him as well." Accrington have had to wait even longer to get back to where they would like to belong with their Conference success ending a 44-year wait for the resumption of League football. "I have played most of my football in the League so it's good to get a promotion back there and be in a championship-winning team," said Jagielka. "It's been waiting to happen and with all the history behind it it's a good story for everybody. "To have League status is superb. It's been the talk for a few years round here and to achieve it now before the end of the season is great. "We can enjoy it for the last couple of weeks of the season and everyone can relax." Although injury kept Jagielka out of the Stanley side for two months at the turn of the year, the midfielder played a key role in a pre-Christmas burst of six straight wins which laid the foundation for their title success. None of their rivals could claw back Accrington's lead as a record of scoring in every game bar one has left John Coleman's side virtually untouchable "We do base our football that way," said Jagielka. "We can score at any time but what we struggled with last year was leaking silly goals and ending up drawing games we should be winning. "This year we have kept a lot of clean sheets. The lads have dug in well. We have learned from last year, added a few players and the spirit is good. "All the lads were pretty new last year but we all know each other this year." Jagielka made 175 League appearances for Shrewsbury during a six-year stay at Gay Meadow. And that experience allied to the record of recent Conference winners Carlisle, Doncaster and Yeovil leads Jagielka to predict further progress for Stanley. He added: "We will have a good pre-season and the lads work very hard so that will stand us in good stead. "And there's not that much difference between this league and League Two. "There are a few who have kicked on so hopefully we can do the same, especially with the way the gaffer has looked at things. "He said we were not looking to get in the play-offs, he said we were looking to win the league. He has just kept everybody focused on the main thing."

Accrington v Tamworth
Accrington welcome midfielder Ian Craney back from suspension for the visit of Tamworth on Saturday. Andrew Procter is tipped to continue his rehabilitation from cruciate knee ligament damage after starting against Scarborough on Easter Monday. Tamworth player-manager Mark Cooper returns from suspension and may start. Matty Williams (knee) is also back but Tommy Johnson (hamstring), Carl Heggs and Alan Neilson will all face fitness tests ahead of the clash.

Promoted Stanley get town parade
Players from Accrington Stanley will parade through the town in an open-top bus to celebrate their promotion to the football league. The team ended a 44-year battle to play league football with a win over Woking. Players, manager John Coleman and club chairman Eric Whalley will be guests of honour at a civic reception, before a lap of honour through Accrington. Mr Whalley and the club will also be awarded freedom of the borough later in the year, Hyndburn Council says. The club's most famous hour was in a 1988 milk advert which became well-known for its phrase: "Accrington Stanley, who are they?" At the time Stanley were a non league club having dropped out in 1962. The club folded in 1963 before being resurrected five years later. Councillor Peter Britcliffe, Hyndburn Council leader, said: "Stanley's journey to promotion has been truly magical and this event will be in celebration of their outstanding achievement. "It's set to be a fantastic occasion. Stanley are a big part of the community and everyone feels proud of them. "No longer will people be able to say, 'Accrington Stanley, who are they?'" The open-top bus will leave the Crown ground at 1100 BST for the town hall. There will be speeches before a private reception. The bus will then do its lap of honour for fans.

Crowds gather for Stanley parade
Fans have gathered for Accrington Stanley's celebrations to mark their return to the Football League. The promotion-winning team paraded through Accrington in an open-top bus, before a civic reception. The team ended a 44-year battle to play league football with a win over Woking last weekend. Players, manager John Coleman and club chairman Eric Whalley were guests of honour at the town hall, before a final lap of honour through Accrington. Mr Whalley and the club, which will now play in League Two, will also be awarded freedom of the borough later in the year, Hyndburn Council says. Club folded The club's most famous hour was in a 1988 milk advert which became well-known for its phrase, "Accrington Stanley, who are they?". At the time Stanley were a non-league club having dropped out in 1962. The club folded in 1963 before being resurrected five years later. The open-top bus left the Crown ground at 1100 BST on Sunday for the town hall.

Boco boosts Conference champions
Accrington Stanley midfielder Romuald Boco has signed a new two-year contract with the Conference champions. Boco, 20, joined Stanley from French football last August and has scored four times in 30 Conference matches. The Benin international will now be part of John Coleman's squad when Accrington end their 44-year absence from the Football League in August. Coleman is expected to resolve the futures of up to ten more players after Stanley's final game at Kidderminster.

Kidderminster 2-0 Accrington
Champions Accrington suffered a blip in their last Conference game of the season as they lost to Kidderminster. The home side took the lead early in the second half through Lee Thompson, after Gareth Sheldon and Jake Sedgemore combined to carve out the opportunity. And Luke Reynolds wrapped things up with a close-range volley after a Thompson effort had hit the post. Just past the hour Accrington threw on Paul Mullin, but the prolific striker was unable to stir the champions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kidderminster: Lewis, Mullins, Burgess, Hurren, Sedgemore (Walker 90), Russell (McGrath 24), Fleming, Penn, Sheldon, Reynolds, Thompson, McGrath (Byrne 90). Subs Not Used: Danby, Graves. Booked: Reynolds. Goals: Thompson 48, Reynolds 56. Accrington Stanley: Alcock, Ventre, Tretton, Welch, Edwards, Jagielka (Proctor 59), Cook, Boyd (Mullin 61), Roberts, Mangan, Brown (Craney 59). Subs Not Used: Elliot, Boco. Booked: Welch, Ventre. Att: 1,934 Ref: R Lewis (Shropshire).

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