New name???
 

Nice try by the club but luckily I was awake (for a change) when I read the fishy site this morning - Lancashire Stanley United - who are they :p

Re: New name???
 

Devestatingly bad move

Re: New name???
 

Personally not happy about that...

Re: New name???
 

April Fools! :D

Re: New name???
 

I nearly choked on my breakfast when i saw this,then i remembered what day it was!! Nice try guys lol

Re: New name???
 

First thing I did this morning was log onto the fishy site to see what gem they would come up with this year - thats a cracker - hahahahahaha :D

Jimbo T :horn8:blower

Re: New name???
 

They didnt try hard enough im not convinced :rofl38: found flying pigs more beleivable eheheheehehe:p:D

Mind u a few of the tactical desicions have been more of a joke than that hahahaha:D

Re: New name???
 

Nearly got me there :)

Re: New name???
 

Though wonder if the Lancashire United buses wont be cancelled as much as the frazer eagle ones :rolleyes::D

Re: New name???
 

It's no joke! :eek:

Stanley Name Change Is No April Fool (from Lancashire Telegraph)

Re: New name???
 

Right if that aint a joke then im annoyed, some people havent done their homework Eric - ACCY is not a big town, ACCY is now multi cultural even some not brought up round here not just outside UK but other uk towns migration has effected, unfortunatley has suffered in the process of ASFC returning over 40 years whilst other clubs have muscled the market !! We are working on it but takes time - maybe pitchside needs to prove something & we might get a few extra each time at home - goose gander & all that:D

Bloody slagging the town off gets nowhere & who's gonna support that !! I could sence the twinge in the joke this morning & not surprised theres some seriousness in attitude :rolleyes:

Re: New name???
 

Well it looks like Winnonie is right, this is taken from Sky:-

Accrington have revealed they are considering changing the name of the club in order to attract larger investment and revenue.

The Lancashire outfit were finally promoted back into the Football League under the guidance of manager John Coleman in 2006 after a 46-year absence.

Stanley currently lie 17th in League Two and attract the lowest crowds in the Football League - averaging just 1300.

Chief Executive Robert Heys: “It’s just an option that we have said is worth exploring. I hold tremendous value to the current name and I am immensely proud to have worked for my hometown club these last few years. However, if we have to look at options with the name in order to keep us moving forward then we owe it to the club to look at it.

“We need more revenue, and we just don’t hold enough appeal with the people around us, and so perhaps it’s time to look at ways of extending it.”

Stanley were one of the founding members of the Football League and are most fondly remembered for a 1980’s milk advert in which the club featured.

Re: New name???
 

Well if they did that they would lose a faithful, im an ASFC fan, think the problem is theirs, they never capitalised on stanley when they should & previous chairmen gambled it !!

Anyone for a ASFC reform {2009** ??????????????:D

Re: New name???
 

Hehehehehehe one way to get into franchise league LSU :rofl38:

Re: New name???
 

Point that Stanley Mad. I dont want us to become Franshise F.C number 2.

Re: New name???
 

I can understand them getting frustrated with the current gates, but gimmicks like this aren't the answer. If this does come to pass, they'll alienate many of the current fans...including me! :(

Re: New name???
 

How would that work anyways ???????? can u just change names or would it be a new set up {for pondering sake** mmmmm could u imagine lancashire stanley pride of errr lancashire:rolleyes:

As the ultras stated to MK we got history we got soul keep it that way:D

Re: New name???
 

Premiership hype/media killed the league gate star:rolleyes:

Re: New name???
 

check the telegraph link and read the whole article, it is a def april fool, but they should have really took it off before mid day!!!!!!!!

Re: New name???
 

Thats bad luck hhahahahhha:D

Re: New name???
 

Errrrrr look again on fishy site................April foolery has taken to a serious consideration now :eek:

Come on Eric jokies over hehehehe:D

Re: New name???
 

United! United!;)

Re: New name???
 

nice April Fool joke that conned nobody - however should have been taken off at midday with a subscript saying that Telegraph and Sky fell for it.

But by keepin it on and then adding to the joke by saying "yes its a joke but we may consider" just makes them look like fools. Let's see how low the crowds go if they ever do change the name!

Re: New name???
 

oh yeah and follow the Telegraph link and join in the debate with the Blackburn numpties that think the prices are still too high! use a couple of different email addresses if necessary ;)

Re: New name???
 

Why not!

I personally feel that there would be commercial advantage to changing the name to "Stanley Villa" or "Accrington FC", for one season only. Thinking outside of the box, play in old style kits, rename the ground as Peel Park, old style programmes etc etc. Limited to one season we could fully exploit the limited nature of the scheme!!

Just a thought!!:rolleyes:

Re: New name???
 

maybe for an anniversary or summat? but all those dates have passed by (for 100 anyway)

Re: New name???
 

Third season back in the football league is a good enough milestone for me!!:o

Re: New name???
 

Is this a joke then or what im confused now?

Re: New name???
 

Its a joke thats gone too far:rolleyes:

Re: New name???
 

Thank goodness for that i was beginning to feel sick at the thought of it:(

Re: New name???
 

The first story was obviously a joke, but I still reckon that the second story is serious. Look at the time the story was published on the Telegraph site - 3.42, a little too late for April Fool's jokes, I'd say!

Re: New name???
 

Yeh true wynonie think this is one big cock up by the club - cant do a joke right:rolleyes:

Re: New name???
 

Sounds about right.

This is all just a good joke gone too far. To indulge in the magical world of if's though... if the name Accrington Stanley was ever changed, it's the last they'd see of me. I support Accrington Stanley; no one & nothing else.

Re: New name???
 

We could become the latest Franchise FC. New stadium, better players, bigger crowds, etc. Smashing!! :D

Re: New name???
 

I was being serious!!

Accrington Stanley were not founder members of the football league, Accrington FC were.

Our beloved suffix of "Stanley" we owe to Stanley Villa.

So by changing our name, for ONE season ONLY, we are rekindling our connections to our heritage!

(As for East Lancs /Hyndburn United Francise, you can shove that where the sun doesn't shine):o

Re: New name???
 

Statement from the club please.They should be concentrating on the league instead of crap like this.

Re: New name???
 

Obvious april fools ... all of it...

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Re: New name???
 

I'm not sure whether to believe this or not, I was aware of an april fools joke this morning but even then I thought there might be something in it.

But if the club are considering it because of a few emails from people around Lancashire saying they'd support us if we changed our name, then I think it's stupidity. We need to listen to the diehard fans we get on every home game.

The name is a joke in itself, Lancashire Stanley United, sounds like a friggin Sunday league team for eight year olds.

Re: New name???
 

A really good April Fool joke works because it is so outlandish that only the most gullible will believe it. This one didn't work. Not because the idea isn't outlandish, but because the powers that be at the club are so out of touch they might just conceivably have come up with such a hair-brained scheme.

That's the joke.

Re: New name???
 

What started out as a bit of fun, as in a bizzare way turned around and bit us on the bum!:eek:

How much is down to mis quotes who knows :confused:

The Club should always be looking at new avenues to explore and I do not have a problem with that, a lot of things that have come out of the Club over the past few weeks has been really good news! reduced prices, the new stand, looking at new training facilities etc. The problem is no matter what walk of life you are from or what you do people don't always say well done and comment when things are going well, it's when things turn slightly or get taken out of context that people very quickly turn and see negatives and it produces all the wrong debate & headlines and then you have to start all over again!:(

Re: New name???
 

What with the manager facing discipline charges and Thomas banned for his petulance, now the Chairman and Chief exec get in on the act. Is this 'Shoot Yourself in the Foot' season ?

Re: New name???
 

The idea of a name change to raise sponsorship, crowds, etc, is actually growing on me, but why stop at renaming the club after an area? We could go down the road of being named after a corporation, or a product. McDonald's Athletic has a nicely ironic ring to it, or what about Woolworth's Wanderers?

I'm all for it!! Up the Franchise FC!!!

Re: New name???
 

or Whalleys Wallys fc just about sums it up today

Re: New name???
 

I really hate repeating myself, but pathetic, really pathetic.

Most football fans suffer from bad management all week, part of why Saturday is such a release.

I, for one, can do without this $h1te. Not a happy bunny, 118 and falling.

You don't play with the most famous name in the beautiful game. :mad::mad::mad:

Re: New name???
 

...and not one sniff of a smillie!
You're angling for bites as much as the fishy ;):D

Got to love a pun.

Re: New name???
 

I didn't think I needed one. ;)

Re: New name???
 

Although the story posted on this website this morning was intended as a spoof release for April Fool's Day .... but if doing so means that we can increase our supporter base and reduce our reliance on the same people week in week out then perhaps we should explore it .....As ever the club welcomes opinions of others, and would encourage supporters wishing to air their views to email the club at [email protected]


quoted from fishy site


as stated earlier April Fools applies til 12pm not after so the joke is no longer a joke. If the club seriously thinks that this is a good idea then I officially join the Whalley out brigade. Then name is the biggest asset we have and if you mess with that then you are no longer welcome.

I suggest you all email your true opinion to the club straight away, I have (my opinion not the OSC - that will come later)

Call it Lancashire United if you want but move the damn club away from Accrington please and I'll give Jack Barrett a lift to the Bold St to help reform Accrington Stanley :mad:

Re: New name???
 

Certainly didn't, and admire your approach. Of course you've seen it all before.;)

Personally after a 12 hour shift, after april's fool is well and gone, don't find it at all funny. Let's face it, it's (here I go again) pathetic, really pathetic.

Like the Milk advert it's going to hang around for quite a while.

Bulls and other forums are already having a field day, maybe we'll even hear a witty chant or two.

The Fishy site lies dormant most of the time, and then it does this. :o

Beyond a joke.

Tinpot Stanley FC.............. Now that has a ring to it.

Re: New name???
 

my opinion has been sent. i just hope to wake up tommorow and this has all been a bad dream and rectified somehow.

Re: New name???
 

ooh I've enjoyed this thread - haven't stopped laffing since the initial club statement. And on the basis that all publicity etc - why not keep the joke going if the LET & Sky were daft enough to report it as a serious proposition.
Loved Redskin's Stanley Villa suggestion - although got a mental picture of our little legged players tripping on the hem of their baggy shorts !
I'm sure Eric doesn't need telling we would lose more paying fans than we'd gain.

Re: New name???
 

I'm totally with you there Macca.

They've managed to alienate the Accrington public again, for no apparent reason, crossing the management style of Attila the Hun with Genghis Khan, without the spin of a Goebbels, or Alistair Campbell (sorry to mention a Burnley fan on this forum).

As a fairly recent joiner to OSC I realise what an uphill struggle it is to encourage people along, and the club is it's own worst enemy.

I'll try and stop now, anybody on here think it's remotely funny?

Re: New name???
 

Call me naive. gullible or even daft as a brush if you want, but I still reckon the club's second announcement is serious. Thing is, I could do with knowing quite quickly, as I'm planning on handing over the readies for my season ticket on Friday...but not if this hare-brained scheme goes ahead!

Re: New name???
 

Think the club has really stepped over the line on this one, I'd certainly wait till the Barnet game.

I've already PM'd them, not that it makes any difference.:(

Re: New name???
 

Of course tomorrow there will be a statement saying it was all a bit of fun but I agree with oggy this is just pathetic, end of.

Re: New name???
 

:theband:eh

Re: New name???
 

Might just do that, Oggy, although I would hope that the club would clear the matter up tomorrow by either:

a) announcing that the whole thing was a joke.

or

b) telling us that, in the face of negative reaction from the fans, they're dropping the idea altogether.

After all, that's what any organisation with a reasonable grasp of public relations would do. :rolleyes:

Re: New name???
 

This is the quote from Eric Whalley on the official site, “I was always of the opinion that our name was our greatest asset, however looking at our gates it just doesn’t seem to be the case. I have always held dear the name of Accrington Stanley, but it just doesn’t seem to draw in the crowds. Rebranding the club as an entity that the whole county can support instead of having to rely on the people of one town opens up many new revenue opportunities in terms of people through the turnstiles, links with corporate partners and merchandising avenues.”

So, I agree with Bagpuss, "Eric OUT". In the club's own terms we can chant it without really meaning it. ;)

Friday night game, could make good press the next day. :p

Re: New name???
 

if calling it Lancashire Untied (anag) opens the door to the whole county why not call it England Stanley United? we'd fill the place then!

Re: New name???
 

How about moving to Wrexham, they'd probably like a league team, and it's just down the road.
Or we could move to a call centre in the far east, and just ring up for the score, save a lot of time, money and heartache.

Or amalgamate with Bury and sell their ground to FC United.
The Andy Bishop chant would need changing, we'd have to stop bashing him. :rolleyz8:

Re: New name???
 

April 2nd - no retraction

Re: New name???
 

Re: New name???
 

Hahahahaha you lot! Stop it - my sides hurt! :yelrotflm:rofl38:

Jimbo T :horn8:blower

Re: New name???
 

There won't be one either, because the second story is serious!

Tell you what, Macca, if they announce that the second story was all part of the April Fool's joke, I'll give £20 to OSC funds.

Re: New name???
 

Mmmmm was too much to expect a humerous retraction today - should of been one 1st thing when the joke over ran its course. April fools tradition is get your jokes & spoof's in before 12noon - after that it doesn't count, as the 2nd was much later then the excuse of April fools joke is no longer.

The real laughable thing is that:

a] they cant even promote the club within its township nor form any major campaign for support within the community & schools - this season is all a bit late !! How the buggery are they going to integrate support to wider lancashire???? now that will be a laugh.

b] Ground - although the ground is now improving at the FES - again cut corners & delayed, & if the name changed then the location would have to move to a more central point of Lancashire [Accrington as its non supporters may not acknowledge their club - the majority of accrington isn't going to be enthralled with it staying at the crown ground].

c] Public relations.....................say no more that was the funniest as well as the most insulting but the most damaging ever to the club, the club worst enermy.

d] i bet Burnley FC & Blackburn R FC are peeing themselves over this [no scrap that - i mean the whole football bloody world is:(] but those 2 will be rubbing hands - cos ASFC have just played into their hands like '62 all over again.


Lancashire Stanley - who are they - a blumming joke - exactly!

Re: New name???
 

Do you want another way to reply to the club?

You can email your thoughts to [email protected] or ring the newsdesk on 01282 677107 - anything we do get will be pooled together and presented to the relevant people...

In the interest of journalistic impartiality I'm saying nowt... Macca, is there room in that car with you and Jack? ;)

Re: New name???
 

Hehehehe Dan :D whats the plan of action if we do ??:D

Re: New name???
 

Hardly a mention on the forum of one of those clubs :)

Re: New name???
 

This "April Fool's Day joke" is certainly running and running, isn't it? :rolleyes:

Accrington Stanley consider name change after April Fool's joke gets positive response | the Daily Mail

Re: New name???
 

Its definately on hell of a publicity stunt - a bad one ........bring back the milk ad - all is forgiven, nevermind how painful it is to be a stanley fan but can be an embarrassing one thanks to club:o

Re: New name???
 

It's time the club put an end to this riduculous story, I laughed with everyone else yesterday but it's now gone way too far. I can't believe there is the remotest iota of truth in it - surely they could not be so short sighted - but it is now becoming embarrassing as StanleyMad has said.
(And if there is any truth in it i'm hoping there'll be room in that car with Macca, Jack & Dan - we'll need a bloomin double decker bus at this rate!)

Re: New name???
 

If I was working for the club I would be checking the IQ of the people who sent the e-mails supporting the name change idea. If collectively the IQ level adds up to more than one then I would be amazed.:)

Re: New name???
 

We are supposed to have a new reserve team manager - Asa Hartford (at last somebody with Football League experience) or is this another joke. All that is on the fishy site is this rubbish about name changing. Have the staff at the office nothing better to do than waste their time with this crap? If we have a new reserve team manager why not announce that on the fishy site? If the staff at the office have so much spare time that they can waste it with this rubbish then it's about time some jobs were cut, or some replacements employed who would do some proper work promoting the Club.

Re: New name???
 

Any publicity is good publicity

I suspect quite afew people have been on the official web site as a result of this story and they now know how cheap the season tickets are going to be during the month of April.

F****ng Genius if you ask me

Re: New name???
 

well said :) its a joke ffs

Re: New name???
 

Just heard Talk Sport are running the story on the afternoon show today sometime between 1-4pm.

Might be someone from the club on to discuss it.

Re: New name???
 

I wanna a seat to bold st:dancedog:for once we may pack out a Frazer Eagle coach:D

Re: New name???
 

Rob should be on Talk Sport in the next hour


How about Accrington and Redbridge Stanley?

Kirkham and Wesham 's name is going begging at the end of the season

Re: New name???
 

As may be ................. The club aint good at it tho come on....if they'd announced that the FL have introduced new replacement leagues & all the teams are now going assigned into the 3 leagues guess which we're in.....:

'Money pot'
'Tin pot'
'Plastic top'


I'd of laughed me head off:rofl38: [ok i found it funny for a quick one]

but their attempt urmmmm .............. ok next year they are banned from conjouring April fools & let the fans do one - ultras would do a storm of em:D Yes we can laugh at ourselves & our club but their version was below the controversial belt a bit opening cans of worms.

Re: New name???
 

they are,

They have got worldwide publicity for free, and wound you lot up no ends :D

UNITED!
UNITED!
UNITED!

Re: New name???
 

Its on now

Talk sport

Re: New name???
 

Not wound up as such on the initial joke but its more the confusion as to whether it is or not upon the 2nd, i thought jokes were supposed to be funny - tho not universally on this one, as much as they have got that as u say, but the flipside is that people dont know what to beleive for sure as club have both clarified & not clarified at the same time & to me has spoilt the hard work the club have done lately - as some have said may put off people getting season tickets - friday will tell wont it as to what effect it has as to how united it makes us:D

Re: New name???
 

Rob Heys has just been on talksport (13:35) talking about the name.
Good bit of exposure getting on national radio.

Re: New name???
 

Its not now :eek: have i missed it ???

Re: New name???
 

you seriously think they club with one of the most famous names in football will consider a name change??? that they make money in merchandise through every season by just having that name


jeesh :(

Re: New name???
 

Lancashire Stanley United sponsored by Winalot dog food.

Although wouldn't that be a trade discription offence though?

Re: New name???
 

I wouldnt put anything past Eric TBH:D Tho i think aiming for 'Lancashire' rather than 'Accrington', being that it covers more population that the township, in his eyes would make more money:rolleyes:...............hence why it is conceivable.

Re: New name???
 

:rofl38: now thats more like it.....hehehehehehehe good one:alright:

Re: New name???
 

So, what did he say?

Re: New name???
 

He was obviously quick it was less than 2 mins slot then:dflam:

Re: New name???
 

Rob said that not only would the name be changed to 2BR FM Stanley but also Jimmy and John are changing their names in a bid to avoid action by the league following their recent brushes with match officials:eek:







It's a joke, it's a joke' it's a joke:rolleyes:



Accrington and Harwood Stanley has a ring to it

Re: New name???
 

If several fans who they have wound up decide they don't like being taken the pee out of and refrain from buying season tickets it wouldn't matter would it, after all they have the rest of the world to aim at with all the free publicity. :rolleyes:

You can always guarantee that if any business in the world can alienate themselves from their most loyal customers then football clubs can do it better than anybody else. :)

Re: New name???
 

Let's be honest if we were winning every game 7-0 you wouldn't be able to swing a cat
in the place (except in the away end maybe)

Winning teams increase gates ask any director in any club

Accrington Stanley and Oliver how about that?

Re: New name???
 

TOWN DOSENT DESERVE US - Telegraph front page.
"without a doubt it was a bit of fun and an april fool. But the more we think about it, the more it makes sense." Rob Heyes.

What a joke. I wont be supporting LSUFC and it wouldnt make any difference to gates its not as if lancashire/northwest isnt blessed with over a dozen league teams is it. If we cant tap into our own towns taken fans then i dont expect any other towns fans descending on the fes. What sort of club comes up with these pathetic headline grabbing ideas. What a laughing stock we are becoming. If they want the place full look seriously at the walk on prices and season tickets as i have stated before and many dont like it we are a POOR, LOW EMPLOYMENT, LOW INCOME area and this IS a major factor. Mr whalley slag the economics of the area off before slagging people of the town off. For unemployment only places that are worse are Tower Hamlets - London. With immigrants flooding the area expect things to get worse as jobs are hard to come by and if your lucky enough to get a job on the nationial minimum wage your still not going to have enough to go football if you have an family, house, car to run. So the prices have to be reflected with the areas economics.

Re: New name???
 

What's even more crass about this whole issue is that the Blackburn Telegraph are running a poll to see if people think the name should be changed. :eek:

Re: New name???
 

So, if the whole thing was a joke, the press won't be too happy at being bamboozled. What happens when there really is a major story that the club want to publicize? I would imagine that the press will be very wary of getting involved!

Re: New name???
 

:hehetable
whally heyes and marsden

Re: New name???
 

Quite a few people mailed in to 2br wanting to keep stanley as it is........:rolleyes:

Re: New name???
 

Could this be to do with the racetrack being built in Altham ?

Re: New name???
 

Reader Poll
Do you think Accrington Stanley should rename themselves Lancashire Stanley? Yes
22.3%
No
77.7%


Result of poll in ET as of 17.45 this eve.


ERIC TAKE NOTE PLEASE

Re: New name???
 

Its made the news on 2br most of the afternoon, that the change would effect for next season & Rob Heys still not ruling the idea out :confused: