James Beattie Appointed Manager of Accrington Stanley

In a short statement on the official club website late on Monday evening, James Beattie was announced as the new Accrington Stanley manager. The former England striker spoke of his delight at being chosen for the role, revealing how he had been bitten by the Stanley bug after seven months in Accrington as player and coach.

The club had been without a first team manager for just shy of a fortnight after Leam Richardson departed for Chesterfield – a period in which some players were released, others signed new contracts and a great deal of speculation took place over who should take Accrington forward.

The past eighteen months have been times of great upheaval at the club. After stalwarts John Coleman and Jimmy Bell left after over a decade in charge, few could have predicted that at the end of the following season Stanley would be appointing a new man at the helm for a third time.

Many fans called for Coleman and Bell to be re-appointed in a bid to regain stability as well as a resurgence of the most successful times in the club’s history. In truth, this wish was born out of a degree of opportunism due to the availability of the pair and unavoidable nostalgia. At the core of the clamour was the aim to avoid becoming a club that changes its leader with frightening frequency.

James Beattie is a breath of fresh air and offers something which no other can. A likeable and knowledgeable character with well documented pedigree, he knows what it takes to succeed as a professional at the top level –yet understands how a club like Accrington works best.

In interviews following his appointment, Beattie spoke of his desire to meet the challenge he faces and succeed at it. He believes that he is the right person for the job and that his influence and connections will only help the club. The new manager also speaks of gaining an inexplicable infatuation with the club and it is this that truly earns him credibility with Stanley fans.

Beattie brings with him an infectious belief. In his career he led the forward line – a scorer of important goals rather than a prolific poacher. If he can instil a team spirit that reflects his own sense of drive and shoot-for-the-stars mentality, he has every chance of emulating the great duo’s tale of impossible success.

Departing manager Richardson’s backroom team of Paul Stephenson and Paul Lodge will be there to aid Beattie on the touchline and training field. The experience of the pair will go a long way to back up the young hopeful in a job that has the potential to become very lonely. Beattie also has great support from the chairman and board which he will need to take advantage of as he looks to build a competitive side for next term.

His first task is to keep together the members of the existing squad that ensured league football for Accrington, most of whom are out of contract very soon.

Best of luck to you James, the fans are right behind you.

On, Stanley, On.

Magic and Medicine in the FA Cup

They say that in the FA Cup, form goes out of the window. Lowly teams become giants and legends are made. Accrington Stanley weren’t granted a headline-grabbing second round tie, but the game did its utmost to live up to the history of the magical competition.

Our last meeting with Oxford United was a profoundly disappointing affair ending up in a 5-0 loss. The cup game was a chance for redemption as much as the cash prize to boost the coffers.

We began with a disadvantage as our player-of-the-season so far – affable ‘keeper Ian Dunbavin -sustained season-threatening injury in training. Bavo has had his ups and downs in an eventful career but has been nothing short of exceptional this season. All Stanley fans will hope he can get fit sooner than expected.

An uphill battle was faced before we even took to the field and Leam Richardson did all he could to remedy the situation; the gaffer’s Yorkshire connections were exercised once more as nomadic stopper Paul Rachubka came in on emergency loan.

A cold, hard pitch awaited the players. Attackers revelled while defenders struggled and a goal-fest ensued. Oxford drew first blood after finding fault on the flank before Craig Lindfield levelled with a point-blank execution. James Beattie on returning to the starting eleven rose to the occasion and struck one of the finest shots ever seen on the Crown Ground to take the Reds ahead. After the U’s pegged back once more, Lee Molyneux expertly converted a free kick and Stanley had only minutes to see out a memorable victory. The tired Stanley backline faltered once more however and a replay was ordered through a simple headed goal which should have been prevented.

Going away to Oxford next Wednesday will be a huge test of character and skill. A home tie against Beattie’s former suitors Sheffield United is the prize for a win which ought to spur the players on.

First though is an old grudge match from the non-league days. Sunday’s trip to Burton has to be the priority in order to improve our league position. Only after that can we dare to dream.

On, Stanley, On.

A Tough Week.

This week brought two vastly contrasting games to the Crown Ground.

Last Saturday’s match against Gillingham was full of excitement and tension from the first to the final whistle. Stanley matched the league-leaders in most if not all areas of the park but were given a stern test against a good, well-equipped side.

In James Beattie’s first home start the Reds put on a convincing attacking performance. Gillingham also impressed going forward and a good batch of chances were made in the first half. The away side took the lead at a pivotal time – just a few minutes before the break – and Stanley had to respond.

When Padraig Amond was introduced to the action about 20 minutes from time, it took little more than 20 seconds for him to make an impact. Beattie dropped deep to win a header and flicked it on into Podge’s path, who was abruptly pole-axed by the Gills goalkeeper. Beattie stepped up for the second time in as many games and duly converted his penalty. Should the two forwards get a chance to start a game up front together, there is evidence that a fruitful partnership could be made.

Rommy Boco went agonisingly close to snatching a win for Stanley but the resulting draw was fair. The way the Reds carried themselves against this calibre of opposition for the second time in a week gave great confidence for Tuesday’s home tie against Rotherham.

The rearranged fixture – Stanley’s game in hand – may have come a day too soon for the Reds after a mentally draining week. The concentration required to gain such positive results in the games prior to this may have contributed towards such a poor display.

An early goal from an unlikely candidate in Dean Winnard put the Reds ahead, but a defensive howler shortly after gifted the Millers an equaliser and the game was then deemed fraught for the remaining 85 minutes. Rotherham did their utmost to stamp any life out of the game and saw that Stanley never really got going. Another defensive mistake gave the visiting side a second goal and the game was as good as dead.

The manner in which we were prevented from playing our game must be frustrating for the players. We must take that into the next game and demand a better outcome. The second round of the FA Cup can be the start of great things and a home tie is as good a chance as any to progress.

On, Stanley, On.

Edgar Davids, James Beattie and the decimation of Fleetwood Town

When Barnet’s Edgar Davids clattered into Accrington Stanley forward James Beattie on a sloping pitch in North London, the next morning’s headlines sounded out before the Dutch superstar was even shown red.

The charming irony of what was a minor event notwithstanding - the true story of the game was one of great frustration for the Reds. A much improved Stanley team gave a good all-round performance away from home but were done over by mind-boggling decisions from the officials. A penalty given for an innocuous foul in the box was followed by a splendid Ian Dunbavin save, yet the willingness of the men in charge to make the most of their star subjects saw the penalty re-taken and a goal given. Two points were dropped despite a convincing Stanley performance and that bitterness followed into the early week.

A Lancashire derby is always a place to right wrongs and a tactical masterstroke from Leam Richardson ensured our requital away at Fleetwood Town. Granting James Beattie his first start in a Stanley shirt alongside the in-form Rommy Boco meant that problems were caused all evening for the home defence. The swings-and-roundabouts nature of the beautiful game gave Stanley some much needed retribution as a debatable penalty shout this time went in favour of the Reds. After that, Stanley were rampant. Football played the right way – the Stanley way – all over the park conjured chance after chance for the Red men.

To play in such an impressive way and to be so convincing in victory against a high flying team with plentiful resources must give a tremendous amount of confidence to the Stanley players. Leam Richardson has breathed life into a team which a few weeks ago looked bereft of ideas.

The hope is that this confidence will spill over into the next fixture as we host Gillingham at home. Mad-as-a-brush manager Martin Allen has made league leaders out of his side but Stanley have shown the ability to match any team in this division.

On, Stanley, On.

Home Defeat to Northampton

The first three games of Leam Richardson’s reign at Accrington have brought one win, one draw and one loss. The players have shown peaks of performance while revealing inconsistencies which require work for the new boss. Saturday’s game against Northampton was more of a ninety-minute lesson than a football match, giving Stanley players a clear example their own strengths and shortcomings.

The Cobblers –strong, direct, physical and organised – were regimented in their approach. Each bout of possession had one inevitable outlet in their towering forward Adebayo Akinfenwa. Much has been said (and sang) about Akinfenwa’s larger than life presence on the football field but one can only marvel at how effective he is at his role. The striker has re-written the role of the lone front man, or at least amplified it into something unrecognisable.

Each time Stanley conceded a set-piece, anxiety spread across the back line. The opening goal came as Akinfenwa made himself five yards of space to nod a cross home while simultaneously blocking the goalkeeper’s view, all in one thunderous action.

The reds responded positively, putting together impressive plays and operating comfortably inside Northampton’s half. A move straight from the training ground levelled matters; a smart corner routine found George Miller who struck home with a precise shot from twenty yards. Stanley stretched the game and found space enough for Rommy Boco to dance through and put his team ahead with a perfect left-footed effort. The reds showed a superior quality in possession and it seemed that this would win the game.

Two long-balls forward and one long-throw later however and Stanley were two goals behind. Richardson described it as a ‘mad five minutes’ which lost the game but in truth the common thread in each of the goals conceded was lacklustre marking against the brute strength put forward. Stanley needed to defend as a group but forwards failed to retreat when possession was lost and the one-man-unit in the opposing team lapped up the chances offered.

If we are to put such emphasis on our play in the final third, the same attention should be brought in our own box. If not we may undo all the good work done at the other end.

Tomorrow’s game takes us to Barnet where our own star forward James Beattie may make his debut against Dutch superstar Edgar Davids. A battle of top pedigree may make the headlines but a solid all-round effort will be required to get back to winning ways.

On, Stanley, On.

Fylde in the cup and Morecambe away

Leam Richardson’s first week in charge brought two games with contrasting performances where individuals took centre stage for differing reasons.

A strong following and a full strength Stanley side journeyed to AFC Fylde in the first round proper of the FA Cup on Saturday. The hosts were welcoming off the pitch but strong and committed on it; a tough test met the reds despite the gulf in league positions.

Staney’s passing and movement were on top form throughout the game and this quality shining through was key to thwarting a difficult non-league team. Fylde for all of their endeavour struggled to cope with our play in the final third, finding our front line in a clinical mood.

Will Hatfield - the super-sub from last season - was particularly ruthless on the day, breaking his duck and then some by scoring all of our four goals. Not many players can say that they have achieved such a feat, one which will long remain in the memories of all that travelled.

The following Tuesday dug up an old rivalry just a little further up the coast. Morecambe away is a special fixture for Stanley fans not least due to the amount of memorable moments shared in games gone by. From the double dismissal of Rory Prendergast and Dean Calcutt in the Marsden Trophy to the wonder goal scored by Ian Craney, Morecambe bay has been the mixing pot for proper North West football.

This game however was somewhat anti-climactic, at least for the Shrimps. The home team created far more chances than us but squandered all of them in the face of in-form Stanley ‘keeper Ian Dunbavin. Not even a last-minute penalty could get past the loveable stopper who is having the season of his career so far. A very fortunate point was won which could prove invaluable come the end of the season.

Stanley now unbeaten in three return home to the Crown Ground to face Northampton Town. Three points here could propel us closer to the play-off positions as we reach the season’s half-way mark. Leam Richardson will be hoping that the moments of flair and resilience shown this week can come together to aid a comfortable home victory.

On, Stanley, On.