Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

its been getting a bit quiet on here recently so lets put a few threads together to rekindle it

I think the best player ever to weat the Stanley shirt (in my days of watching) was Haggis. Score goals at every level he played at (and bloody hundreds of em too) but mostly cos he chose to come back to Stanley when he left Rovers, even though other clubs were chasing him. Top banana, crap landlord

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Out of interest Macca, what became of Dave Hargreaves when his playing days for Stanley were over ? I assume from your post that he became (or is) a landlord somewhere. Is he still in the Accrington area ?

Please forgive my ignorance on this topic, but am a Southerner !!! lol :D

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

he finished playing in the mid eighties, by the mid nineties he was working either as a landlord or as a landlords agent, collecting rent and sorting out problems. Or not as the case may have been.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Thanks so much for that rapid reply Rob ! :)

Is he still in the Accrington area and does he come along to watch Stanley ? :D

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

I have it from a reliable source that Dave Hargreaves is currently coaching a kids team in the local Sunday league - a true legend is our Haggis

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

He wasn't here that long but Brett Ormerod has gotta be up there with them.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Paul Burns
Mark Ceraolo
Jamo
Cav

All immense.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Grimmy, Paul Beck

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Jamie and Deano :D

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

When he first arrived ASHLEY HOSKINS was amazing. He went on to play many many great games for asfc. That's why he's up there for me.

Sorry grimmy!

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Thanks very much for that Accy Mad ! :)

I have been reading Phil Whalley's great book "Accrington Stanley - The Club That Wouldn't Die" and it really enlightened me (a new fan from last season) about Haggis' fantastic scoring record for the club. :D :D :D

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Dont know if he actually chose to come back ? He played 2 games for Rovers both of which I watched, one against Blackpool when Paul Hart marked him and Rovers lost 5-1 I think, Bop Hatton getting 4 ! The other game was aginst Luton when one of the Futcher Brothers marked him Paul I think after that I thought Rovers let him go ?

He gave me some good advice when I was younger and to me he will always be Stanleys Best Player.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Joe Devlin
Charlie Sneddon
Harold Bodel

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

according to Phil Whalleys book, when Haggis was released Crewe, amongst others, were chasiing his signature. He chose to return to Accy though. Whether that was becasue the money wasn't right, or becasue he didn't want to relocate, or whether he had had enough of the professional game and wanted to return to the fun aspect - I dont know. I prefer the last one though cos it sounds more romantic.


Anyway, you knew him back then didn't you so you may know better than Phil Whalley who may have just used a bit of artistic license.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Not sure really I was pretty young ;) People used to say he was not the same when he came back but I thought he was good. I just assumed with him coming back to non league football no other clubs were interested.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Got to be George Stewart. 30+ goals every year

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Tommy Mcqueen, fantastic goalie, a little bit like Fatty Foulkes!!!

Especially these days!

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

the best ever player for stanley , hhmmmm:

either jamie speare , rory prendergast or pete cav

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Haggis came back to Stanley for several reasons:

Firstly Stanley was his first "big" club, Whinney Hill in the Accy Comb before that.
Secondly he knew he would be welcome at "the Crown" if it didn't work out at Rovers; thit was the case.
Thirdly he got his old job back at Hyndburn Council
and finally he did not drive so playing for ASFC was perfect for him.

Local club, local hero, amongst friends.

Haggis ASFC legend!

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

mullin:D......................

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Probably would have to be John Ryden, left Stanley for Spurs and spent six seasons there. As you say Gregor George Stewart has to be up there as well. Nice picture of Charlie Sneddon.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Ryden even captained the Spurs, so must have been a decent player. Then there's Stan Lynn, eleven seasons with Aston Villa, scored 60+ goals from right-back in his career. Bill Bradshaw won five caps pre-WW One.

But it will have to have be someone from the 54-55 team. Stewart and Ryden were the stars of that side. One or the the other.:confused:

Dave Hargreaves scoring rate deserves respect, though, even if the level was lower. I'm told his partner Jack Brydon (Ian's son) was a decent striker, too.;)

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

I've got to be biased and vote for my mate Chris Grimshaw:D

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Mike Ferguson has to be up there - a fantastic player at the top level for Rovers on his day.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Excellent thread, the wide range of players mentioned indicates that we have Stanley fans of all vintages checking in. As for the pre-1962 era, I suppose that Stan Lynn and John Ryden have the best shouts on the basis that they played at the very highest levels of the modern English game immediately after leaving Stanley. Lynn went to Villa and won an FA Cup winners medal in 1957, and a League Cup winners medal with Birmingham in 1962. Ryden captained Spurs when they finished 2nd and 3rd in the First Division (today’s Prem for the younger audience) in 1957 and 1958. Rumour has it that Ryden fell out with Danny Blanchflower and was shipped out, missing Spurs’ golden era which included the League & Cup Double in 1961-62.
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Apparently Stan Lynn was a full-back of the old school. Ron Atkinson recalled that, as a lithe teenage winger (difficult to picture, I concede) he nutmegged Lynn in a reserve team game and was told that he’d have his leg broken if he dared do the same again, only not as politely as that.
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Two other players who I reckon deserve a mention are, somewhat strangely, part of the 1962 team that was resigned from the League – Mike Ferguson who, as Redraine points out, left Stanley for a top flight club (Blackburn), as did Alex Smith (Bolton) – absolutely scandalous that two performers of that calibre were literally given away by the Football League.
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Never met a Peel Parker old enough to remember Paddy Nelis, a centre-forward who was sold to Nottm Forest in the early 1920s and became one of the first players to win a Northern Irish international cap, but quite a few of the senior generation recall George Mee (close relation (brother?) of famous Arsenal manager Bertie) with a great deal of affection. Built like a barrel, Georgie would apparently amble bandy-legged down the touchline, defenders bouncing off him, before sending over wickedly looping crosses for a gorilla of a centre-forward called Bob Mortimer to nut in. In harness with Billy Tyson, this was the side that knocked Blackburn Rovers out of the FA Cup in 1937. Stanley also gave a contract to famous but knackered ex-England international Pongo Waring just before the war, but he was an alcoholic by this time, though this didn’t stop him scoring when he felt like it. Trouble was he was allegedly too p*ssed to know where he was most of the time, and he was sacked after an ‘incident’ involving boozy high jinks after a Christmas game.
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Of the post-war players not yet given a mention, Eddie Hunter played for the North in a representative game at Peel Park, and Les Cocker was apparently a terrific footballer whose lightweight stature was the only thing that prevented him playing at a higher level. He was also a gifted coach, taken to Leeds by Don Revie and assisting Alf Ramsey in 1966. Les is there in the famous footage of the day, sat next to Ramsey on the bench as everyone except the manager goes up at the final whistle. Quite a journey from Peel Park to the World Cup Final!
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Bert Scott was another highly-regarded player from the 1950s. Accrington Stanley were one of the last teams that Manchester United played before the Munich disaster in 1958. It was a Lancashire Senior Cup tie, and the rules of the competition stated that teams had to field a certain number of first team players. Jackie Blanchflower and Jackie Bent played for United that night, with Bent tragically losing his life a few days later in the crash. Stanley fielded a strong team and thrashed United 3-0, with Scott playing a blinder.
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If we go by Rob’s original post, which was the best Stanley players you have seen play, I would go with those plumping for Dave Hargreaves. 300+ goals at any level is seriously good, but to add to that, Haggis was an Accy lad who simply loved scoring for the Reds. It’s true that he didn’t make the most of the talent that he had in the sense that he could have played at a much higher level and made more money from the game. Mark Turner told me that he went to see Haggis play for Blackburn Reserves against Liverpool and watched Haggis run the Liverpool defenders ragged. My feeling is that he was just more comfortable and therefore happier at the Crown, and if that meant that some folk would criticise him for a lack of ambition or a poor temperament, then so be it. Personally, I’d never blame anyone for pursuing happiness, provided it didn’t cause harm to others, and it’s a matter of record that both Crewe and Rochdale (then managed by Mike Ferguson) offered Haggis a full-time deal.
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Dave is also modest to a fault. I bumped into him at the Crown whilst doing the first book, and he offered to lend me the press cuttings and photos that he had collected while playing for Stanley, and promised to drop them off at my house. Just a couple of hours later, there was a knock at the door and I opened it to find a battered suitcase on the front step. I looked down the street just in time to glimpse Haggis disappearing round the corner. In the suitcase was a treasure trove of stuff, including a press print of him playing for Rovers against Luton which was reproduced as a full-page photo.
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All that said, I don’t think any of the other suggestions we’ve had are wide of the mark either. We’ve seen some great players down the years. So here’s something else to take the thread a bit further. How about a fantasy Stanley XI from the players you’ve seen? In a 4-4-2, right to left, I’d like to have seen the following play together:
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Paul Collings; Martin Clark, Jonathan Smith, John Hubberstey, Steve Hollis; Alan Davies, Ian Craney, Charlie Cooper, Mark Shirley; Paul Mullin, Dave Hargreaves.
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Subs:
Rob Elliot, Gus Wilson, Anthony Barry, Ashley Hoskin, Paul Beck.
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Before you mail back to disagree, have a go yourself…it’s a series of tough calls! No room for Brett Ormerod, Billy O’Callaghan or Jack Brydon – three quality finishers.
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PS – sorry for blethering on at length. I do have some marking to do, but this is much more fun.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

****** me Phil Whalley, you could've made another book out of that post & made a few bob :D

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

in terms of impact at the club I would have to say that Paul Mullin is the best player we have ever had. He came when we were slumming around the basement leagues and we paid money for him which was unheard of at the time from us. Every year we have gone up a level the crowd can be heard murmuring that Mullin won't hack it at the Unibond Premier/Conference/League 2 level and every year he has confounded his critics and got better and fitter. Never bought as a goalscorer apparently but knocks in his fair share every season, leads the line admirably, gets kicked about yet wins nothing off referees, doesn't moan, good discipline, never injured. How many games has he missed in his six years?

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

In the same respect macca, Robbie Williams is also one of Stanley's greatest ever players.
He get's knocked every weekend by people who don't see his full game & only see the mistakes, but he is a truly great defender for Accrington Stanley and proves it with every league he progresses.
He doesn't get the attention that Mullers does but he is very much an unsung hero at Accrington Stanley.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Haggis is a top chap;regularly seen at quiz nights at Accy cricket club and turned out for the Veteran's Cricket team at the end of summer this year!

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

I see the point with Williams (and even Cav, and to some extent Smithy) but I think that they could have been more easily replaced than Mullin. The whole team is built around Mully and when he doesn't play we struggle

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Interesting Thread,,,,

Lived in Huncoat in the Mid 1950's in an Accrington Stanley 'Club House'

Lived opposite Tommy McQueen and played street football with his son, Gordon,,,,,,

Started School at 5 years old at Peel Park School

Keen Stanley Fan and went to all Home games (I was only aged bewteen 5 and 8 so didnt get chance to get to Away Games!)

Got to know all the Players or the day and remember most of them

Another poster in Thread had mentioned my late Dad, Les Cocker

If anyone wants any old photo's posting, just ask, I have loads of them!

Charlie Sneddon also lived just around the corner in Huncoat,,,,,,

Great days,,,

Leeds Utd fan since 1960 when Dad got 'Transferred' here, however still keep an eye on Stanley!

Amazing thing is some years later I was driving Dad and Don Revie up to Scotland for them to run the rule over Gordon McQueen, my old mate from Accrington, they finally decided to sign him from St Mirren for £15k,,, some Centre Back, shame he went to those ******** from over the Pennines and always remind him he was a ****** for going there!

Not a good start to the forum. Please read the T&Cs regarding swearing and trying to circumvent the swear filter. Also see this thread regarding changes to the swearing policy:
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=28004
Zombie

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Paul Mullin. No contest.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

:Banane29: these have gotta be in the top ten joe devlin ,wattie dick,bill mcinnis,bob mcnicol jim mulkerrin, and the best winger weve ever had bert scott... in the present stanley none of them could lace these players boots only ashley hoskins when he first started at stanley and grimmy when he was at his fittest ;) :Banane29:

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

which book or site did you pillage them names from young man?

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

paul beck,prendergast,roberts,mullin

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

This is an odd thread. I've been going on stanley since 93/94 and have seen a fair amount of memorable players. However, since we're now a)professional and b)playing 2, 3 or even 4 divisions (stand up Leighton James!) higher than we were in the 80s or 90s, surely the "best players to grace the colours" must come from the very recent past? For example players like Brian Welch, Darren Quick or Russ Payne simply weren't on the same level as Mullin, Welchy or Gary Roberts.

On a different note, can anyone remember the name of a dark haired (scottish??) winger we had for about a season in the mid 90s? I think we signed him from East Stirling...he was fantastic to watch and I was absolutely gutted when he left

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

these threads are always taken on a pound for pound basis Mr Charming Man, Russ Payne MAY have been better at Unibond Premier level than Gary Roberts was at Conference level, even though Gary has gone on to win MOM awards regularly in the championship. If it comes down to purely talent or what they subsequently acheived we could almost put out a first eleven, although not all transferred directly from Stanley

1. Paul Collings

2. Gus Wilson
3. Martin Clarke
4.
5.

6. Anthony Barry
7. Ian Craney
8. Gary Roberts
9. Rory Prender-aghast

10. Brett Ormerod
11. Lee McEvilly

Can't remember any really good centre halves leaving here on an upwards curve though. Pretty indicative of the time I have watched the reds.


and the present Stanley would smash this team. two right backs - two left wingers - no centre backs - a bantam weight and a heavy weight up front - Bill Rodaway picks the side

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

interesting thread.....................
could i just say................

LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTEEEEEEELLLLL


thank you:D

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Have decided to post a couple of Pictures here from my Collection of original Press Photo's from the 1950's

Have quite a lot more, however only wish to post 2 or 3

One is a pic of Dad going for a header (and maybe trying to take the keeper out, as usual!)

Dont know who Stanley were playing in this game, however someone will know!

Second pic is Dad having a shot at Goal against Carlisle, dont know the year (he had 2 good feet and could head the ball!)

Third pic is of 'The Squad' would guess 1957?

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Nice pictures, Mr Cocker. Perhaps you could share a few more with us sometime?

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

The pictures are excellent....if only we could draw such crowds nowadays though

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Many thanks, however trouble is once I post them they go into the 'Public Domain', sure you understand

Also many of the photo's are actually glued into Dad's old Scrap Book and it is not possible to Scan them, they would require specialist photography from the Scrap Book itself

Been an interesting 'development' from the Club itself since I first posted on this Forum yesterday, we are in discussions at present

However will post one more Photograph, as I reckon Dad is the only ex Stanley Player to win a 1966 World Cup Winners Medal, albeit as Coach

Oh go on then, will post two more of my collection of original Press Photo's

1st Pic is pretty obvious, Geoff Hurst has just scored the 4th Goal and his Hat Trick

2nd Pic is Dad/Nobby and Bally messing around on the Putting Green at Hendon Hall Hotel, 10-30am morning of World Cup Final

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Ta very much for sharing those with us. Hope your "discussions" with the club come to fruition and we get to see more from your dad's scrapbook!

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

OK, and sorry for the 'Yellow Card' I got on my original posting

The 'language' wasnt that bad and was actually 'disguised'

Sorry Mods!

But being a Leeds Fan I do have have a problem with my language whenever I mention a 'certain' Football Club in Manchester:D

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Re: The Scottish Winger This Charming Man remembers:

Could it have been mid 80's?? If so I think you are referring to Ian Robertson, whom was working in the area after graduating from Stirling uni and playing for Stirling Albion.

He was a superb player for Gerry Keenan's team and signed for Stanley in November 84. How long he stopped for I can remember, Shurm can you help???:)

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

I thought Ian Robertson when I read the post bu the says that he started supprting Stanley in the nineties and Ian definitely wasn't here then. I think he stopped for about three and a half season, as a kid I used to wind him up every time Rangers got beat and Celtic won but I couldnae understand half of what he said back.

Ash and Grimmy had the wings pretty much tied down for a lot of the early to mid nineties though so if anybody remembers them playing think who replaced them or played sometimes with them. I can only remember Mark Robinson from Nelson who could run the 100m in about five seconds

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

ian robertson

1984/85 23 games 4 goals
1985/86 30 games 9 subs 13 goals
1986/87 15 games 9 subs 1 goal

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Hmmm I played in the Reserves with him a few times a remember him being a teacher or doing a teacher training course somewhere, he always seemed a friendly lad when I could understand him :confused: I think he stopped for a couple of seasons which was longer than most managers then :D

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Aye, you're right Macca I'm afraid Ian Robertson was slightly before my time! Though I do remember a Paul Robertson, who (when he could be bothered) was an incredily skillful player.

Had a trip down memory lane with my old man though and I think I might have been on about a bloke called Tom Mckenna. As i said he only played for a short time but as I kid I was in awe of his ability!

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

Mullers also has my vote.. A good true honest pro.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

I hadn't really heard of Stan Lynn until his death was reported on local radio in the Midlands nearly 5 years ago. BBC Radio WM has a football phone-in every weekday and there's not a month goes by without someone phoning in with an affectionate mention. Remarkably for a full-back, he was Birmingham City's top scorer in 1964/65. There's a cartoon of him here: http://www.normanhood.co.uk/stanlynn.jpeg.

Re: Best player ever to grace the colours?
 

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the ever impressive Justin Jackson. :p