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News and Views from the Football League – Stanley reach dizzy heights of FA Cup fourth round
Our beautiful game receives mixed reviews in the media. With so many aspects to the sport, it can be hard to concentrate exclusively on the positive football that is played out on the pitch up and down the country and indeed the world over week in, week out. So when a story of positivity does present itself, it would surely be criminal to just ignore it.
Last year, perennial struggles Accrington Stanley faced an uncertain future. With money owed and the club seemingly unable to make the payments, Stanley faced a winding up order from HM Revenue and Customs. The fans formed the campaign “Save Our Stanley” (highlighted in an earlier article) as the position of the Lancashire side appeared to become more and more desperate. Since their return to the Football League, John Coleman’s side have rarely set the world alight, often doing just enough to keep their head above the water. Labelled a joke by many, thanks in no part to THAT advert of yesteryear, it looks as if Stanley may now be turning a corner. Tuesday night saw Accrington overturn their higher division opponents in Gillingham and claim a spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup, the club’s best performance in the competition since they reformed. The prize for the achievements is a money-spinning tie at home to Premier League side Fulham on Saturday. Not only is this an opportunity for a humble club to receive a much needed cash injection, it is just reward for the playing and coaching staff, a chance to test their mettle against top quality opposition.
When we consider the plight which Stanley faced just a few months ago, the position they now find themselves in is quite staggering. As already alluded to, the club were staring extinction in the face again, but now stand on a firm foot hold, with all outstanding debts cleared. Now they can concentrate on matters on the pitch again, although if their form this season is anything to go by, perhaps the distraction of the off the field business was exactly what was needed. Seen by many as merely there to make up the numbers, Accrington are now beginning to emerge from the shadows. Coleman’s men have rarely stood out in recent seasons, yet now find themselves in the fourth round of the greatest club knock-out competition in the world, whilst also sitting pretty in the top half of League Two. Having spent the past few seasons fighting at the wrong end of the division, the favourites of many a cynic to achieve only a relegation berth, Stanley are within touching distance of the play-off positions.
A club with very much a history of highs and lows, Stanley are currently enjoying one of their most successful seasons in the Football League. With their league form looking positive and a dream fixture to look forward to in the cup, this could yet be the start of another high period in the history of Accrington Stanley. Sticking with the cup competitions, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has reached the area finals and there are three former Premier League clubs still in the mix for a date at Wembley. Tuesday night’s fixture saw Leeds fall to a first leg defeat at home to Carlisle whilst in the southern section, Milton Keynes Dons trail Southampton as they battle it out for their chance at final glory. The competition has taken on many different names in recent years owing to sponsorship, and unfortunately many clubs have often been seen to view it as friendly tournament, almost of little relevance, an inconvenience which they would rather ignore and instead focus on their league fixtures. With this in mind, it is refreshing to see such big name clubs contesting the final stages of the competition.
For those who say that this tournament lacks credibility, just have a look at who is left in the competition. One of those sides were European Cup semi-finalists just a few years ago. Of course there are two sides to any story and many would argue that this shows just how far these particular clubs have fallen. There is no getting away from this fact but the simple truth is that these “bigger” sides are in the tournament because of their league position. For whatever reason they no longer merit competing in the top flight. There is no reason why they would take the competition any more seriously than the supposed ‘lesser’ sides, and yet here they stand in the semi-finals. Surely having these big sides doing well in an oft-disregarded competition can only serve to better the image of the tournament.
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