Two Accrington Stanley Supporters Talk To Vital Lincoln City

If you would like to get involved with the conversation on 100% Imps, you can join our Accrington Stanley  Lincoln City Match Thread. We have also published a Lincoln City v Accrington Stanley Quiz, which can be found at the bottom of the page! Every page view helps us raise money for the Football Club!

And now for the answers provided by Jason:

How long have you supported Accrington Stanley?

I’ve been Stanley since I was a child, and you could get in free at half time, but my love affair started properly when I left the forces in 1999.

Where did you finish last season?

PPG kings and a respectable 17th.

What do you think of your Manager?

There is only one three-letter term for our manager. “Coleman is God”, it says so on a 30-foot banner so must be true.

Who Are The League One Managers? No.1: John Coleman (Accrington Stanley)

What are your hopes and expectations for the 2020/21 season?

I’d love to be PPG champions like Wycombe hopefully we are 10th and Posh are 2nd and we swop that’d be the dream. Seriously, I would hate promotion without fans in the ground. It is the Barrow way, not Accy Stanley’s. So, for me, a flirt with the play-off and a comfortable 10th position finish.

One(s) to watch?

This season Mark Hughes has been a revelation and defies his age. Composed at the spine of a 3 centre half trio he looks like a Rolls Royce mopping up things at the back. Oh, how Morecambe and Stevenage fans laughed when he came Accy. Not laughing now, lads?

At the other end? Charles is a live wire; Pritchard is unplayable at times and will go higher at the end of this season I reckon. Was in the same team at Spurs as Kane, Winks etc.

Which teams you think will finish in the top six in League One?

Posh, Ipswich, Lincoln City, Sunderland, Charlton, Fleetwood unfortunately.

Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom four in League One?

Much harder but Oxford, Rochdale, Brewers and MK.

What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?

Great club great city. Love how the 617 Squadron have changed the atmosphere at Sincil Bank. I remember always out singing them when the stand was shared. Love anyone who makes an effort to back the lads with colour. However, Stanley Ultras will always be boss.

What do you think the score will be?

2-2. You are flying and we are flying. Great game. Spoils even.

Random fact about your Club?

Never been to Wembley old or new.

If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?

I will be honest I’m not one for studying the opposition. I will say that hairy bloke at the back who’s now at Burton. Or that lad who cupped his ears to the Clayton End and then we won 4-3. Last year, what a game!

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as an Accrington Stanley supporter?

Loads. Forming the Stanley Ultras in 2004. Fan of the Year one year, joining forces with the Accy Stanley Trust, helping to organise the flying a PRIDE OF LANCASHIRE over Rovers v Burnley, raising money to build a school in Nepal, 4 promotions all special, still knowing a lot of ex-players by first name terms, it’s a special club make no mistake.

Embarrassing? Never embarrassing being an Accy fan. Although I don’t once bring some bog roll to a Morecambe which got thrown as Morecambe attacked and wrapped around our goalkeepers’ leg. They did not score thank god. But nor did I see the rest of the game (or my own bed ha).

Who would you say is your most underrated player?

Easy. Seamus Conneely. Accy fans who slag the guy should have more respect. He was captain of our L2 winning side FFS. Seamus for England I say……

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

Our trust is very busy and even during lockdown are always planning and organising We’re involved in a lot. They are the link between chairman and supporters.

Our recent huge project is a memorial garden at the rear of the Clayton End. We have done a lot of fundraising and it looks great.

Which was your favourite match involving Accrington Stanley?

In 1999-2000 Accy Stanley’s first promotion under John Coleman we needed a win at Radcliffe Borough in the Unibond Division 1 (Division 8) to have any chance of promotion. We went 2-0 away from home and stormed back to win 3-2. 2 pitch invasions etc. Bedlam and we then clinched promotion a couple of games after. Had we lost, John Coleman may have been sacked and we may have been Division 8 still.

Which was your least favourite match involving Accrington Stanley?

I remember a New Year’s Day defeat by Bamber Bridge 5-1. I also remember a few defeats at home when 2-0 up. A Dagenham & Redbridge one springs to mine with a terrible atmosphere.

We also drew Man Utd once but needed to beat Yeovil at Huish Park. We lost and the chance for that big Cup game was lost. Everyone else seems to get them and we get Mansfield, Tranmere or Colchester away.

Do you have a Former Players Association at Accrington Stanley?

Never heard of one but know a lot I could sign up.

What is the best thing about Accrington?

2 minutes into the wonderful countryside, 30 minutes into Manchester for gigs, the Clayton End Terrace for football, the Arden Inn for live music and all my friends and family live here. Vive The Milltown Boys.

From the outside, your chairman Andy Holt seems to be the kind of owner all clubs could do with. Very similar to our own. Is this how he is considered by your supporters as well?

Yes. He cannot do any wrong so far. Helps that he’s a working-class lad who likes a pint. His mantra that it is OUR club not HIS should be remembered by all custodians in England.

Have you ordered another gale for the last 20 minutes of the game as you did back in February?

Honestly, one of the greatest games in recent history. The terrace was bouncing. Never seen so many running after the goal scorer. Let us have that again, although not the same in my slippers watching TV.

It was raining when we arrived in February, has it stopped yet?

No.

What is the history behind the name Stanley after Accrington?

Well the original founder members of the Football League Accrington FC went bust in Victorian times. We like doing that. Stanley Villa existed and so, bush bash bosh. we reformed into Accy Stanley (we like reforming too).

We have a proud but chequered history us. Enjoy the game.

Have a go at our Lincoln City v Accrington Stanley Quiz below:

The second set of answers:https://t.co/LFSHfmVyYp#ASFC #ImpsAsOne #ProudToBeImps pic.twitter.com/QR5YF3tZG8

— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln1) November 21, 2020