Help Save Accrington Stanley

[Chibouk]

As founder members of the Football League, Accrington Stanley suffered a devastating blow in 1962 when they became the first club to resign from the League without completing their fixtures. The club was reborn in 1968 and started the slow climb back to the League, finally achieving their goal in 2006 after 44 years in the wilderness.

As you've probably read and seen in the media, Accrington Stanley's future is again threatened, due to a £308,000 debt to the Inland Revenue. At a High Court hearing last week, the club was given just 8 weeks to repay the debt or face being wound up.

The club has initiated a Save Our Stanley scheme to raise the required funds before the deadline and I'm asking here for forum members to contribute to the fund at the following website:

http://www.saveourstanley.co.uk/

Payment can be by bank transfer, Paypal, or many other methods. There's also a phone line you can call to contribute.

Thanks to Colin for granting me permission to make this post, and please try to give a little money to the cause, however small it may be. It would be a crying shame if this famous little club was to die again.

Thanks for reading. :)

[Barny79]

It is sad to see clubs go to the wall, but unless I'm completely wrong, surely it'll be members of the public bailing out the owners? Where has the cash gone to pay the tax bill?

[Chibouk]

There isn't really much equity in the club, so the 'owners' don't really own anything. The ground is leased and apart from the name and the TV money, that's about it. There's hardly any value in the players either.

The debt is actually from 2006 and was accumulated under the previous owner. The current owner and his staff are working very hard to clear what is in fact, an inherited debt.

I understand what you are saying, but now is the time to resolve the issue and save the club. Looking at what happened and why can be done at a later date.

[Wooglie]

Although I probably won't donate money, I might buy a shirt which should help.

[gazzfoth]

My club Burnley are putting on a friendly game v's Accrington tomorrow night at Turf Moor, all gate recepits going to help accrington. £10 adults £5 juvenile

[CS]

Accrington Stanley? Who're they?

;)

Going to buy a shirt too btw, unless its better just to donate? Do the club keep all the shirt money?

[rbullivant]

How does a club that clearly makes no money owe so much to the revenue?

R

[campdave]

How does a club that clearly makes no money owe so much to the revenue?

R

They haven't been making PAYE contributions.

[Chibouk]

Thanks for the interest everyone. Spending any money with the club will help them out, so if you'd prefer to buy a shirt instead of a donation, that's great!!

The official website is www.accringtonstanley.co.uk and you can access the club shop from there.

As campdave correctly says, the debt is due to unpaid PAYE and NI from 2006/07, which as I said before was under the previous owner.

The game at Burnley tomorrow is a great gesture by our neighbours and I hope it'll generate some serious income. On Friday night we are playing Darlington at home and we are hoping to welcome many fans from other North West teams who are coming to show their support and spend their much needed money....lol

A group of us are walking from Accrington to Rochdale on the 24th October and will be raising money through sponsorship. It will be covered by the media and will hopefully keep the battle in the spotlight.

[Chibouk]

Fantastic night last night at Turf Moor. Massive thanks to Owen Coyle and to Burnley FC in general. 5301 football fans turned out on a bleak night and the cash will have given a nice boost to our campaign. :)

Still a long way to go, but the ball is rolling.

[Siv]

Thanks for the interest everyone. Spending any money with the club will help them out, so if you'd prefer to buy a shirt instead of a donation, that's great!!

The official website is www.accringtonstanley.co.uk and you can access the club shop from there.

As campdave correctly says, the debt is due to unpaid PAYE and NI from 2006/07, which as I said before was under the previous owner.

The game at Burnley tomorrow is a great gesture by our neighbours and I hope it'll generate some serious income. On Friday night we are playing Darlington at home and we are hoping to welcome many fans from other North West teams who are coming to show their support and spend their much needed money....lol

A group of us are walking from Accrington to Rochdale on the 24th October and will be raising money through sponsorship. It will be covered by the media and will hopefully keep the battle in the spotlight.

So why wasn't this picked up in 2007 and why didn't the owners do due diligence when they bought it?

[Crikey!]

Accrington Stanley? Who're they?


exactly

[Chibouk]

Brilliant night on Friday and not just because of the 2-1 victory! I saw and spoke with fans from Burnley, Preston, Blackburn, Coventry, Bury, Rochdale, Bradford, Morecambe and even Blackpool, all of which helped to swell the attendance to more than double our normal average.

We're still a long way off our target, but the level of support from real football fans has been overwhelming. Thanks to everyone who has already contributed and if you haven't done so already, I hope you will in the near future. :)

[CS]

exactly

Someone remembers!!! Class advert

[Chibouk]

Someone remembers!!! Class advert

If I had a pound for everytime I've heard that reference over the last 20 years or so, there wouldn't be a debt to be paid. :lol:

We still fund raising and the game against Crewe on 25th September is now on a Friday night, so if anybody can get along to that game and boost the gate, it would really be appreciated. Last Friday's game attracted a crowd of over 3200, which is double the average gate, and the atmosphere was brilliant.

The running balance at the moment is around £72,000 so there's still a long way to go.

[Chibouk]

Another fantastic night last night at the Crown Ground. A 5-3 victory over Crewe and yet another bumper crowd by our standards. Fans there again from loads of local clubs, plus I saw Sunderland, Grimsby and Yeovil shirts amongst the crowd. The atmosphere was electric and everyone was fully entertained.

It brought a tear to my eye to see true football fans coming together for the cause and shows the real heart of football still pumping proudly.

If you live within travelling distance, try to get to the next home game. You'll be in for a great experience. :)

[Chibouk]

Last week to help to save the club, but it's not looking too good. :(

Massive sponsored walk to Rochdale tomorrow and we hope to raise a decent amount.

[Chibouk]

Court case is tomorrow, 28th October. Things are looking bleak as we don't have all the money necessary. :(

[paulsaz]

These things do tend to work out in the end and it would be a massive shame to lose stanley. I'm sure something will be worked out even if it means another change of ownership.

[Chibouk]

These things do tend to work out in the end and it would be a massive shame to lose stanley. I'm sure something will be worked out even if it means another change of ownership.

Thanks for your concern. The club was given a final 7 days to work things out. A benefactor has come forward who has offered to settle this debt, but there are other potential problems bubbling under the surface.

The main thing is that it looks as though the club is still functioning for now, so thanks to everyone who has contributed to the fund.

[koe_182]

i have mixed feelings about this, would be a complete shame to lose a club from the area, i've done my bit by attending the odd fixture at Accy and also at the turf.

I want them to sort it out, but it sort of sticks in the throat that a badly run club has to hold its hand out for help.

Good luck with the campaign and i hope it gets sorted this week.

[Chibouk]

i have mixed feelings about this, would be a complete shame to lose a club from the area, i've done my bit by attending the odd fixture at Accy and also at the turf.

I want them to sort it out, but it sort of sticks in the throat that a badly run club has to hold its hand out for help.

Good luck with the campaign and i hope it gets sorted this week.

Thanks. Unfortunately, as fans we're in the hands of people who we have to trust to do a good job and when it goes wrong, it's the fans that suffer. Managers, players, directors, etc, alll come and go, but the fans remain and have to suffer whatever is thrown at them.

Now on to the good news! The club has today paid off the debt and is in the throws of a management reshuffle. Thanks to everyone who donated and if you want more information, see here: www.accringtonstanley.co.uk

[paulsaz]

Great news, hopefully you'll be able to put this behind you and move on now.

[gojohnniegogo]

Glad to see things are sorted. Would have been a massive shame to lose Stanley again. Hope the club can get on with the season now.

[Chibouk]

Thanks chaps! I think we're all now just looking forward to a settled period for a while ;)