IN today’s 23 in 23, our preview of each Sky Bet League One opponent for 2018/19, we look at newly-promoted Accrington Stanley.
WHEN DO WE PLAY THEM?
Away: Saturday September 8, 2018
Home: Saturday March 30, 2019
CLUB HISTORY:
The current Accrington Stanley Football Club was formed after a meeting in Bold Street Working Mens Club. The Crown Ground was acquired and former Stanley player Jimmy Hinksman appointed as the new club’s first manager.
Stanley won the newly-formed Cheshire League Second Division in 1981, before electing to play in the North West Counties League in 1983, eventually being promoted to the Northern Premier League in 1991.
The early-90s saw Stanley reach the second round proper of the FA Cup in 1992/93 and then the first round proper the next season, before winning promotion to the Unibond Premier Division in 2000 and then the Conference in 2003, before first reaching the EFL by winning the Conference in 2006.
LAST SEASON:
2017/18 saw Accrington win promotion to League One for the first time, winning 18 of their final 22 league games and going up as champions by five points.
GROUND:
The Wham Stadium has a capacity of 5,057 people (2,000 of which is seated). Away fans are housed in the Coppice Terrace at one end of the ground, where up to 1,800 fans can be accommodated.
MANAGER:
John Coleman is in his second spell as Accrington Stanley manager, having initially taken over at the club in 1999 and winning three promotions to the Football League in 2006. After brief spells at Rochdale and Sligo Rovers, Coleman returned to the Wham Stadium in 2014.
INCOMINGS:
Stanley have signed three players thus far ahead of the 2018/19 season. Defender Will Wood has joined on a free transfer having left Southampton, midfielder Sam Finley has joined from AFC Fylde while winger Piero Mingoia has arrived at Wham Stadium from Cambridge United.