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"It won't get any better than this for me"
Now then, This week end marked the 50th Anniversary of
Accrington Stanley resigning from the football league after being beaten 4-0 by Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road on the 2nd of March 1962. We owed around £65.000 and couldn't pay up hence the club folded. So at the home game yesterday 10 players from that ill fated season were guests of honour,( 5 played in that final game) all of these lads are now well into their 70's and but can still remember the good old days here at Accrington and can still sink a few pints too. Had a chance to chat with them after the game and get a few graphs .
Anyway I managed to add 14 of the 16 squad players who travelled up from Port Vale to sign yesterdays match day programme along with Manager Micky Adams and coach Geoff Horsfield, New Stanley Manager Paul Cook also signed the programme.
The lads from '62 , Last ever Stanley scorer for Stanley Michael Ferguson, Russ Cuddihy, the only player to carry on with Stanley in the combination league after our dimise, Michael Pickup What a gent singing whilst suffering from Parkinson's Disease, Graham Lord one of the est lower league player until reaking his leg in the 61 season, Keeper Alex Smith playd every game in our final season, Peter Vipham Smiths understudy in goal, never got a look in that season David Sturrock Scottish forward signed from Dundee and now lives back there, Brian Bades made his debut in February of our final seasn playing in our last home and away game, Alan Gregory the youngest player on the park that day at Grest road and lastly Bob Wlson our last ever captain who took the role late in the '62 season after Joe Walton had been ruled out through injruy he also travelled down from Dundee to be with us today. signed my Stanley project book and also signed one of the Accrington Stanley "A complete record" Book that I have...most of the lads just wanted to flick through the pages and identify players in the photo's...Keeper Alex Smith was the first to sign this book and signed on the write up for their last game in the league so I asked the other 9 to sign here too.When I get some time later this evening I will try and add a piece about each player and add individual graphs to their piece. One former player Michael Pickup suffers from Parkinson's diseade and walks with the aid of two walking sticks now, also suffers from the shakes... It didn't feel right asking him to sign the books but his wife said don't be silly Mike can stillhold a pen and he'd be more upset if you didn't ask him...Made my day when he made the effort just for me.
Awesome day yesterday to meet these lads who 50 years ago played for my Club till the end...Accrington Stanley ! The Club That wouldn't Die.
