Football Season Guide

Accrington Stanley head into the new season hoping they can go one better than last season and seal promotion to League One for the first time since returning to the Football League. They suffered a heartbreaking end to the previous campaign when they missed out on automatic promotion on the last day of the regular season. They twice hit the woodwork as they were held to a goal-less draw at home by Stevenage and were leapfrogged by Bristol Rovers, who scored an injury-time winner to seal promotion. The Reds were then beaten 3-2 on aggregate by AFC Wimbledon in a two-legged play-off semi-final and face another year in League Two. Despite that bitter disappointment manager John Coleman will have been proud of his sides’ achievements, not least having one of the lowest average attendances and budgets in the division. He put together a team that played good football but has been powerless to prevent it from being dismantled this summer. Midfielder Matt Crooks and leading goalscorer Josh Windass had already signed pre-contracts with Rangers in January whilst goalkeeper Ross Etheridge has left to join Doncaster Rovers, defender Tom Davies has signed for Portsmouth and winger Piero Mingoia has joined Cambridge United. Coleman is left to rebuild his yet again and although he has the support of new owner Andy Holt, who has made significant investment into improving the Crown Ground over the summer, he will largely stick to his tried and tested formula of uncovering rough diamonds discarded by other clubs. He will be pleased to have re-signed goalkeeper Aaron Chapman on a permanent deal from Chesterfield and has added midfield playmaker Bastien Hery from Carlisle United. If he can replace the goals lost following Windass’ departure then the Reds can look ahead with optimism of another play-off finish in 2016/17.