As an away day Accrington is a bit like a premature baby, alive and healthy, with everyone pleased to see it, but arguably not ready for the world of the Football League where relatively small clubs like us can overrun the tiny stadium and the moderate facilities thereabouts.

Patronising? Maybe so, but I have little time for clubs who fail to offer adequate covered terracing, seats for away fans, or whose social clubs have a policy of refusing away supporters.

That aside the people and hostelries of Accrington offer a typically warm Lancastrian welcome to well behaved away fans in search of a pint, but that I guess is the least you would expect from a club allegedly formed in a pub, and whose current ground (pre sponsorship) was named after the adjacent Crown pub.

Train travellers have a couple of options as they alight about a mile and a half from the ground, the most obvious of which is the rather basic “Railway” as you exit onto Station Road.

Whalley Road is the main road near the ground, and there are three options here, the nearest of which is the aforementioned Crown Inn that overlooks the stadium. A better bet for those in search of real ale (particularly dark mild!) is the Grey Horse further down Whalley Road towards the town, while The Greyhound is situated on Wyresdale Avenue just set back from the main road is reportedly becoming the “away pub”.

As I have only visited Accrington during the days they were in the Unibond League attracting crowds of about 4-500 I can’t really make any further comment on the current match-day experience, apart from to say that the pubs near the ground are adequate, but nothing special and that it’s a real shame the social club is now home only.

Also note that the current Stanley Arms situated in Stanley Street where the original club was formed, is not in fact the original Stanley Arms, so if you want football memorabilia with your real Ale try the Peel Park Hotel on Turkey St. although it is a good 20 minutes walk to the new stadium.