Accrington FC were invited to be one of the 12 teams for the inaugural Football League season and played their first game at Anfield. Though the opposition on the day were Everton rather than Liverpool who wouldn't be formed for another four years when an argument over rents forced the club to break from the land owner John Houlding who formed his own team to fill a then empty stadium.
Everton ran out 2-1 winners.
However, in a move that could have been a portent for the future the club resigned after just five years. Relegation to the Second Division after defeat in a play-off style "test match" with Sheffield United prompted the decision. Rather than the indignity of relegation a place in the Lancashire League was taken. The 'Owd Reds as they were known played five games before withdrawing their membership and formally folding.
Disbandment left Stanley Villa based at The Stanley Arms public house on Stanley Street as the town's only team. They incorporated Accrington in their name but didn't join the Football League in this guise at the beginning of the 1900-01 campaign remaining until part way through the 1961-62 season when financial problems crippled the club and caused its bankruptcy. A team which eventually became known as Accrington rose from the flames within months and took their place in the Lancashire Combination.
Further financial problems saw this club crumble too. Accrington remained without a football club for years when Stanley reformed following a meeting of the faithful at Bold Street Working Men's Club and gained a place in the county leagues.
The club has steadily progressed since and just a couple of seasons ago made a sensational return to league football.
But times were extremely tough for the re-formed club who had to build from nothing Funds Money had been tight at the club for most of its life but the early 1960s saw drastic measures employed to bring players in. As part of his civic duty the town's first citizen Alderman Wilfred Wallworks set up the Mayor's Appeal Fund and while it raised a decent sum of cash allowing some breathing space and even additions to the squad the funds couldn't bring in the quality of players required to stave off the club's plight and return of all sums to donors was mooted.
The club were member of the Football League from 1921 until their resignation midway through the 1961-62 campaign.
In 1921 the league had already established a Third Division consisting of a number of former Southern League sides and hoped to create a mirror in the north of the country. However, concerns raged over the financial viability if not the interest and the go ahead was only given when the Accrington directors suggested that each time deposit a sum by way of a security. Maybe as a result of this intervention the club was one of 14 invited to take their place in the Third Division North. The other half dozen places were decided by ballot.
The last match played in the Football League was played on 2nd March 1962 against Crewe Alexandra in bitterly cold and difficult conditions. There was to be no rip roaring farewell to warm the hearts of the faithful as a demoralised side suffered a 4-0 defeat.
Rochdale presented the first home opposition in the Football League. It was thought the Spotland outfit may well be their last when they met in the spring - almost every game for the past few months was suggested to be the one Stanley would participate in - but when the Accington players ran out at Gresty Road on a cold Friday night it very much seemed that baring any last minute interventions or better still a miracle this would indeed be it.
A sad farewell would be bid in the snow.
Crewe’s Terry Tighe may have felt more than an ounce of pity for his former club. A wayward backpass in the first minute certainly suggested as much. It very nearly crossed the line but a last ditch clearance spared any blushes and otherwise Alex keeper Jack Ferguson was a virtual spectator.
His opposite number Alex Smith who many suggested could become one of the best keepers in the game kept the score down. The stopper almost didn’t make the game. He had recently moved house which possibly led him to miss the team coach. With a storm looking likely there was no time to wait. Stanley’s officials wanted to fulfil the fixture so gave the order to head off. It seemed someone may need to deputise but Smith did manage rush home then make a mad sprint in a car and catch up with his teammates at Knutsford.
The club were forced to concede defeat in their battle for existence after the game. Unable to guarantee the ability to fulfil fixtures, pay players and other creditors there was only one course of action under Football League rules. Stanley resigned their place.
It was only four weeks earlier that news of the crisis had first broken. On February 12th 1962 Chairman Slinger tendered his resignation. Others soon followed including Vice-Chairman Ronald Walton.
Desperate times called for desperate measure including rumours of a possible merger or buy out by Burnley. Rumours of a move had been instigated by Vice-President Stan Pilkington. Bob Lord, The Clarets Chairman, was a long standing friend who vowed to do all he could. It would have been against well established League rules but a pledge by Lord that he alone rather than Burnley would make the rescue attempt and then only buy enough shares to qualify as a director.
Despite the speculation nothing came and on the 5th March 1962 at a creditors meeting the full picture of the club's debt came to light. Apart from the sums still owed to other clubs, The Inland Revenue and Ministry of Pensions had substantial sums due. An additional £40,000 in unsecured debt was also due a host of other organisations.
However, Sam Pilkington and his friend Bob Lord were said to be particularly upset by the failure to pay just under £500 worth of National Insurance stamps. Lord led the calls for closure and without the prospect of any further backers the board finally threw in the towel.
Stories of a mystery donor who had offered £10,000 cash in a bid to inject some money may prove apocryphal but there was a clamour to retract the resignation letter and club President William Crocker made written notice of withdrawal when he found out that most creditors had no wish to foreclose. In the week before the League Management Committee met to discuss the matter two games at home to Exeter City and Burnley in the Lancashire cup were postponed.
The match with Exeter was due to be played 24 hours before the meeting. As full members until any decision had been reached it seemed Stanley had every right to continue the fight and go ahead.
A bumper crowd was expected especially with Burnley and Blackburn Rovers both having away cup ties but league Secretary Alan Hardaker gave a direction that the game should remain cancelled. Legal precedence was key in the decision to accept the original letter by Hardaker and his colleagues and the news was confirmed on Monday 12th March 1962.
Legal reasons forced the club to drop the name Stanley in December 1963. The High Court wound up the former organisation Accrington Stanley (1921) Ltd. leading to the name change. Another effort to breathe life into the town's footballing tradition years later led to the formation of Accrington Stanley (1968) - though the year was eventually dropped and the old name reclaimed.
That 1968 incarnation who won back their Football League place in 2006 are not the same club as the one who swapped places with the team that replaced those predecessors Oxford United under devout Red John Coleman. At least strictly speaking but they are the team people associate with the town and that seemingly inglorious club with a unique history.
At Anfield tomorrow there will be buckets collecting funds for the club who once more are facing a battle against extinction due to an outstanding tax bill of £308,000 which needs to be paid by the end of October.
There will also be one at Ewood Park and Blackburn like Burnley are looking to stage a fund raising game. All manner of activity will take place to make sure Stanley are saved.
Accrington are over a quarter of the way to staving off an administration they are unlikely to survive and one brought about by their main sponsor going out of business rather than living beyond their means.
It caused a cashflow problem which could not be quickly resolved but Accrington want to pay the debt off in full rather than risk losing points and consequently going out of the league again.
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