A look at our rivals next season starting with Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley
Who are ya?
The original Accrington Stanley, who had been members of the Football League since 1921, folded in 1966. A new club was formed two years later which moved to their current Crown Ground home in 1970.
Stanley worked their way up the non-league pyramid before securing promotion to the Football League in 2006. They have been in League Two since and they reached the play-offs in 2011 before losing to Stevenage.
Who’s in charge?
John Coleman was Stanley boss from 1999 to 2012. The 52-year-old returned to the club last September after spells in charge of Rochdale, Southport and Sligo Rovers.
This season
They finished 17th with 56 points, losing just two of their last ten games. In the FA Cup they lost 2-0 at Reds’ conquerors Yeovil in a second round replay and were beaten 2-1 at Leeds United in the first round of the Capital One Cup. In the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy they went down 3-1 at home to Carlisle in the first round.
Key player
Former Watford winger Piero Mingoia wasn’t a first choice when Coleman replaced James Beattie as manager earlier in the season but he finished the campaign by being named Player of the Year and supporters’ Player of the Year. Mingoia chipped in with eight goals too.
Previous meetings
Who will forget our last game at Accrington in May 2012 when Scott Neilson’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 win and promotion to League One.
Accrington’s first visit to West Sussex as a League club was in October 2011 when substitute Hope Akpan scored our goal in a 1-1 draw.
How far is it?
Accrington will be one of the longest away trips next season at 535 miles there and back.
Useful links
