2026–27 Accrington Stanley F.C. season
58th season in existence of Accrington Stanley FC
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The 2026–27 season is the 58th season in the history of Accrington Stanley Football Club and their fourth consecutive season in League Two. In addition to the domestic league, the club are also to participate in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.
| 2026–27 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Andy Holt |
| Manager | John Doolan |
| Stadium | Crown Ground |
Transfers and contracts
In
| Date | Pos. | Player | From | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2026[a] | CB |  Joe Anderson | Barrow | Free | [1] |
| 1 July 2026[b] | CAM |  Stefan Mols | Tamworth | [2] | |
| 1 July 2026[c] | CB | Tom Moore | Southport | [3] | |
| 9 July 2026 | CF | Cole Stockton | Salford City | [4] | |
| 16 July 2026 | LB |  David Tutonda | Rochdale | [5] |
- The transfer was announced on 23 June, and would become official on July 1 once Anderson's contract at Barrow expired.
- The transfer was announced on 29 June, and would become official on July 1 once Mols' contract at Tamworth expired.
- The transfer was announced on 23 June, and would become official on July 1 once Moore's contract at Southport expired.
Out
| Date | Pos. | Player | To | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 August 2026 | LB | Freddie Sass | Forest Green Rovers | Undisclosed | [6] |
Loaned in
| Date | Pos. | Player | From | Loaned until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2026 | GK | Louie Moulden | Norwich City | End of Season | [7] |
| 31 August 2026 | RW | Joel Catesby | Everton | [8] | |
| LW | Charlie Warren | Bolton Wanderers | [9] | ||
| 1 September 2026 | CM |  Aidan Borland | Aston Villa | [10] |
Loaned out
| Date | Pos. | Player | To | Loaned until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 August 2026 | CF | Anjola Popoola | Chorley | End of Season | [11] |
Released / Out of Contract
| Date | Pos. | Player | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2026 | CM | Charlie Hall | [12] | ||
| GK |  Michael Kelly | [12] | |||
| CAM | Dan Martin | [12] | |||
| CM | Finlay Tunstall | [12] |
New Contract
| Date | Pos. | Player | Contract until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May 2026 | CDM | Liam Coyle | 30 June 2027 | [12] |
| CM | Conor Grant | [12] | ||
| CF | Kelsey Mooney | [12] | ||
| RB | Connor O'Brien | [12] | ||
| CF | Anjola Popoola | [12] | ||
| GK | James Rogerson | [12] | ||
| 29 June 2026 | CDM | Seamus Conneely | [13] |
Pre-season and friendlies
On 20 May, Stanley announced two home pre-season friendlies, against Blackburn Rovers and Bury.[14] Eight days later, a third fixture against Chorley was confirmed.[15] A fourth friendly was later added, against Sheffield Wednesday.[16] On 10 June, a fifth fixture was announced against Bradford City.[17]
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 11 July 2026 Friendly | Accrington Stanley | 0–0 | Blackburn Rovers | Accrington |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Wham Stadium Attendance: 3,982 (1,913 Blackburn fans) |
| 17 July 2026 Friendly | Accrington Stanley | 1–0 | Bradford City | Accrington |
| 19:30 BST |
|
Report | Stadium: Wham Stadium Attendance: 1,034 (575 BCFC) |
| 25 July 2026 Friendly | Chorley | 0–3 | Accrington Stanley | Chorley |
| 15:00 BST |
|
Stadium: Grant Store Victory Park Stadium |
| 28 July 2026 Friendly | Accrington Stanley | 1–0 | Bury | Accrington |
| 19:30 BST |
|
Report | Stadium: Wham Stadium Attendance: 959 (449 Bury fans) |
| 1 August 2026 Friendly | Accrington Stanley | 0–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | Accrington |
| 12:30 BST | Report | Stadium: Wham Stadium Attendance: 2,003 (1,363 away) |
Competitions
League Two
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Salford City | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 3 | |
| 21 | Gillingham | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3 | |
| 22 | Shrewsbury Town | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 3 | |
| 23 | Accrington Stanley | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 2 | Relegation to National League |
| 24 | Port Vale | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 2 |
Updated to match(es) played on 1 September 2026. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[18]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[18]
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 |
Last updated: 1 September 2026.
Source: Soccerway
Results by round
Matches
On 25 June, the League Two fixtures were revealed.[19]
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 15 August 2026 1 | Accrington Stanley | 2–2 | Colchester United | Accrington |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Wham Stadium Attendance: 1,959 (331 Colchester fans) Referee: Elliott Swallow |
| 22 August 2026 2 | Exeter City | 2–0 | Accrington Stanley | Exeter |
| 15:00 BST | Report |
|
Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 5,939 (inc. 104 away supporters) Referee: Scott Jackson |
| 29 August 2026 3 | Walsall | 3–2 | Accrington Stanley | Bescot |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium Attendance: 5,116 Referee: William Davis |
| 1 September 2026 4 | Accrington Stanley | 2–2 | Grimsby Town | Accrington |
| 19:45 BST | Report | Stadium: Wham Stadium Attendance: 1,920 Referee: Michael Barlow |
| 5 September 2026 5 | Accrington Stanley | v | Crawley Town | Accrington |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 12 September 2026 6 | Barnet | v | Accrington Stanley | Edgware |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: Hive Stadium |
| 19 September 2026 7 | Accrington Stanley | v | Newport County | Accrington |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 26 September 2026 8 | Swindon Town | v | Accrington Stanley | Swindon |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: Nigel Eady County Ground |
| 3 October 2026 9 | Accrington Stanley | v | Cheltenham Town | Accrington |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 10 October 2026 10 | Oldham Athletic | v | Accrington Stanley | Oldham |
| 12:30 BST | Stadium: Boundary Park | |||
| Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was brought forward for live Sky Sports broadcasting.[20] | ||||
| 17 October 2026 11 | Accrington Stanley | v | Gillingham | Accrington |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 20 October 2026 12 | York City | v | Accrington Stanley | Huntington |
| 19:45 BST | Stadium: LNER Community Stadium |
| 24 October 2026 13 | Rochdale | v | Accrington Stanley | Spotland |
| 15:00 BST | Stadium: Crown Oil Arena |
| 31 October 2026 14 | Accrington Stanley | v | Northampton Town | Accrington |
| 15:00 GMT | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 21 November 2026 16 | Accrington Stanley | v | Salford City | Accrington |
| 15:00 GMT | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 28 November 2026 17 | Fleetwood Town | v | Accrington Stanley | Fleetwood |
| 15:00 GMT | Stadium: Highbury Stadium |
| 1 December 2026 18 | Accrington Stanley | v | Crewe Alexandra | Accrington |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 12 December 2026 19 | Bristol Rovers | v | Accrington Stanley | Horfield |
| 15:00 GMT | Stadium: Memorial Stadium |
| 19 December 2026 20 | Accrington Stanley | v | Chesterfield | Accrington |
| 15:00 GMT | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 26 December 2026 21 | Tranmere Rovers | v | Accrington Stanley | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Stadium: Prenton Park |
| 29 December 2026 22 | Accrington Stanley | v | Rotherham United | Accrington |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 1 January 2027 23 | Accrington Stanley | v | Shrewsbury Town | Accrington |
| 15:00 GMT | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 9 January 2027 24 | Chesterfield | v | Accrington Stanley | Whittington Moor |
| 12:30 GMT | Stadium: SMH Group Stadium | |||
| Note: Fixture was initially scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was brought forward for live Sky Sports broadcasting.[20] | ||||
FA Cup
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
EFL Cup
Stanley were drawn away to Crewe Alexandra in the first round.[21]
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 8 August 2026 First round | Crewe Alexandra | 2–1 | Accrington Stanley | Crewe |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Mornflake Stadium Attendance: 2,961 Referee: Ross Martin |
EFL Trophy
Group stage
Accrington were drawn against Salford City, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland U21 into Northern Group A.[22]
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L2 | Accrington Stanley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L2 | Salford City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | L1 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | ACA | Sunderland U21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: EFL
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 22 September 2026 Group stage | Accrington Stanley | v | Sunderland U21 | Accrington |
| 19:00 BST | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 6 October 2026 Group stage | Accrington Stanley | v | Salford City | Accrington |
| 19:00 BST | Stadium: Wham Stadium |
| 10 November 2026 Group stage | Sheffield Wednesday | v | Accrington Stanley | Owlerton |
| 19:00 GMT | Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- As of match played 1 September 2026
Players with no appearances are not included on the list; italics indicate a loaned in player
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | League Two | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK | ENG |
Louie Moulden | 5 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | SCO |
Donald Love | 5 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG |
Tom Moore | 4 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG |
Farrend Rawson | 5 | 1 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF |  NIR |
Liam Coyle | 4 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | ENG |
Shaun Whalley | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG |
Conor Grant | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | ENG |
Alex Henderson | 5 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 13 | FW | ENG |
Cole Stockton | 4 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ESP |
Stefan Mols | 4 | 1 | 1+2 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG |
Devon Matthews | 5 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 18 | FW |  WAL |
Charlie Caton | 5 | 2 | 4+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ENG |
Charlie Brown | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ENG |
Joe Anderson | 5 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ENG |
Tyler Walton | 2 | 1 | 1+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | IRL |
Seamus Conneely | 4 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | ENG |
Charlie Warren | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | COD |
David Tutonda | 3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 38 | DF | IRL |
Connor O'Brien | 3 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | ENG |
Josh Woods | 5 | 2 | 4+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| Players who featured but departed the club permanently during the season: | |||||||||||||
| 3 | DF | ENG |
Freddie Sass | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
Disciplinary record
- As of match played 1 September 2026
| Rank | No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League Two | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
| 1 | 22 | CB | | Joe Anderson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 39 | CF | | Josh Woods | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 2 | RB | | Donald Love | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | CB | | Tom Moore | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | CB | | Farrend Rawson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | CDM | | Liam Coyle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | RW | | Shaun Whalley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | CB | | Devon Matthews | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | RM | | Tyler Walton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | ||||