# 2023–24 Accrington Stanley F.C. season

The 2023–24 season was the 55th season in the history of Accrington Stanley and their first season back in League Two since the 2017–18 season following relegation from League One in the previous season. The club participated in League Two, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the 2023–24 EFL Trophy.

## Current squad

    As of 16 March 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Toby Savin | GK | Southport | (2001-05-04) 4 May 2001 (age 23) | Academy | 1 July 2019 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 13 | Liam Isherwood | GK | Clitheroe | (2002-07-13) 13 July 2002 (age 22) | Academy | 1 July 2020 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 21 | Radek Vítek | GK | Vsetín | (2003-10-24) 24 October 2003 (age 21) | Manchester United | 25 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 41 | Oliver Riva | GK | | (2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 20 November 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 61 | Jack McIntyre | GK | Manchester | (2002-10-18) 18 October 2002 (age 22) | Radcliffe | 11 August 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Lewis Shipley | CB | Cambridge | (2003-11-29) 29 November 2003 (age 21) | Norwich City | 22 July 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 3 | Jay Rich-Baghuelou | CB | Sydney | (1999-10-22) 22 October 1999 (age 25) | Crystal Palace | 14 January 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 4 | Kelvin Mellor | RB | Crewe | (1991-01-25) 25 January 1991 (age 34) | Crewe Alexandra | 21 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 5 | Brad Hills | CB | Norwich | (2004-03-10) 10 March 2004 (age 20) | Norwich City | 17 July 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 14 | Rosaire Longelo | RB | Kinshasa | (1999-10-20) 20 October 1999 (age 25) | Newcastle United | 7 January 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 15 | Baba Fernandes | CB | Bissau | (2000-03-07) 7 March 2000 (age 24) | Nottingham Forest | 8 August 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 16 | Joe Gubbins | CB | Oxford | (2001-08-03) 3 August 2001 (age 23) | Queens Park Rangers | 25 August 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 23 | Bailey Sloane | LB | Bury | (2003-02-06) 6 February 2003 (age 22) | Clitheroe | 1 September 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 25 | Aaron Pickles | CB | | (2005-03-20) 20 March 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 20 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 38 | Connor O'Brien | LB | Accrington | (2005-02-15) 15 February 2005 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 6 | Liam Coyle | DM | Liverpool | (1999-12-06) 6 December 1999 (age 25) | Liverpool | 5 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 8 | Ben Woods | CM | Wigan | (2002-09-27) 27 September 2002 (age 22) | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 1 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 10 | Joe Pritchard | CM | Watford | (1996-09-10) 10 September 1996 (age 28) | Bolton Wanderers | 1 July 2019 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 11 | Sean McConville | LM | Liverpool | (1989-03-06) 6 March 1989 (age 35) | Chester | 1 July 2015 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 12 | Seb Quirk | RM | Liverpool | (2001-12-05) 5 December 2001 (age 23) | Everton | 19 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 18 | Tommy Leigh | CM | Portsmouth | (2000-04-13) 13 April 2000 (age 24) | Bognor Regis Town | 10 July 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 20 | Oliver Patrick | CM | Oldham | (2003-02-02) 2 February 2003 (age 22) | Rochdale | 9 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 22 | Dan Martin | CM | | (2002-04-19) 19 April 2002 (age 22) | Academy | 10 September 2020 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 27 | Lewis Trickett | RM | Accrington | (2005-04-27) 27 April 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 20 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 28 | Seamus Conneely | DM | Lambeth | (1988-07-09) 9 July 1988 (age 36) | Sligo Rovers | 1 January 2015 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 30 | Alex Henderson | CM | | (2004-09-25) 25 September 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 20 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 7 | Shaun Whalley | RW | Prescot | (1987-08-07) 7 August 1987 (age 37) | Shrewsbury Town | 4 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 9 | Matt Lowe | CF | Warwick | (1996-03-11) 11 March 1996 (age 28) | Brackley Town | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 17 | Jack Nolan | LW | Portsmouth | (2001-05-25) 25 May 2001 (age 23) | Walsall | 5 August 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 19 | Jake Bickerstaff | CF | Liverpool | (2001-09-11) 11 September 2001 (age 23) | Wrexham | 1 February 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 26 | Leslie Adekoya | CF | Dublin | (2004-04-18) 18 April 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 26 July 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 33 | Angola Popoola | CF | | (2007-06-19) 19 June 2007 (age 17) | Academy | 8 August 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 39 | Josh Woods | CF | | (2000-07-05) 5 July 2000 (age 24) | Clay Brow | 30 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 55 | Korede Adedoyin | RW | Lagos | (2000-11-14) 14 November 2000 (age 24) | Sheffield Wednesday | 31 January 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||
| 24 | Emerich Poilly | DM | | (2005-02-26) 26 February 2005 (age 20) | Stoke City | 1 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 32 | Jack Massey | LW | | (2005-04-15) 15 April 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 20 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 21 July 2023 | RB | Kelvin Mellor | Crewe Alexandra | Free Transfer |
| 11 August 2023 | GK | Jack McIntyre | Radcliffe | Free Transfer |
| 1 September 2023 | CM | Ben Woods | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Free Transfer |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 26 June 2023 | CM | Mo Sangare | Livingston | Undisclosed |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | Mitch Clark | Port Vale | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Max Clayton | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RM | Rhys-James Fenlon | Chorley | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | DM | Brandon Gough | Colne | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Joe Hardy | Bootle | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Calvin Harper | Hyde United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Enock Lusiama | Atherton Collieries | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Harvey Monk | Clitheroe | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Dylan Moonan | Atherton Collieries | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Anthony Mancini | Hartlepool United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | Jasper Newton | West Liberty Hilltoppers | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Michael Nottingham | Livingston | End of Contract |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Harvey Rodgers | Grimsby Town | Free Transfer |
| 5 July 2023 | CF | Alhagi Touray Sisay | UE Vilassar de Mar | Mutual Consent |
| 31 July 2023 | CM | David Morgan | Southport | Released |
| 1 August 2023 | CM | Ethan Hamilton | Lincoln City | Undisclosed |
| 5 January 2024 | RM | Owen Devonport | Fleetwood Town | Released |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Until |
| 17 July 2023 | CB | Brad Hills | Norwich City | End of Season |
| 22 July 2023 | CF | Josh Andrews | Birmingham City | 1 February 2024 |
| 22 July 2023 | CB | Lewis Shipley | Norwich City | End of Season |
| 25 August 2023 | CB | Joe Gubbins | Queens Park Rangers | End of Season |
| 29 September 2023 | GK | Jon McCracken | Norwich City | 14 October 2023 |
| 7 December 2023 | GK | Joe Walsh | Queens Park Rangers | 22 December 2023 |
| 25 January 2024 | GK | Radek Vítek | Manchester United | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | CF | Jake Bickerstaff | Wrexham | End of Season |
* ↑ On 1 February, Andrews was recalled back early to Birmingham.
* ↑ On 6 October, McCracken's loan from Norwich was extended by a further week.
* ↑ On 15 December, Walsh's loan from QPR was extended by a further week.

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 10 August 2023 | CM | Alex Henderson | Clitheroe | 4 October 2023 |
| 12 August 2023 | GK | Jack McIntyre | Dartford | 9 September 2023 |
| 8 September 2023 | CM | Owen Devonport | Clitheroe | 6 October 2023 |
| 23 September 2023 | CF | Jack Massey | Stafford Rangers | 21 October 2023 |
| 6 October 2023 | CM | Oliver Patrick | Atherton Collieries | 4 November 2023 |
| 7 December 2023 | CF | Jack Massey | Widnes | 4 January 2024 |
| 5 January 2024 | CF | Jack Massey | Clitheroe | End of Season |
| 19 January 2024 | CM | Will Procter | Nelson | 17 February 2024 |
| 15 February 2024 | DM | Emerich Poilly | Clitheroe | 14 March 2024 |
| 16 March 2024 | CB | Bradley Kelly | Colne | 13 April 2024 |
| 16 March 2024 | CB | Josh Smith | Newcastle Town | 13 April 2024 |
| 23 March 2024 | CB | Jake Young | Bradford (Park Avenue) | 30 April 2024 |
| 27 March 2024 | CM | Will Procter | Barnoldswick Town | 30 April 2024 |
| 28 March 2024 | CF | Harley Lawton | Bradford (Park Avenue) | 30 April 2024 |
* ↑ On September 6, Henderson's loan at Clitheroe was extended by a further month.
* ↑ On 7 February, Massey's loan at Clitheroe was extended until the end of season.

## Pre-season and friendlies

On 26 May, Accrington Stanley announced their first two pre-season friendlies, against Blackburn Rovers and Cliterhoe. Four days later, a trip to face Warrington Town was confirmed. On 9 June, a fourth friendly was confirmed, against Chesterfield. Ten days later, a fifth friendly was booked, against York City.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League Two | 5 August 2023 | 27 April 2024 | Matchday 1 | 17th | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 63 | 71 | −8 | 034.78 |
| FA Cup | 4 November 2023 | 14 November 2023 | First round | First round | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 000.00 |
| EFL Cup | 8 August 2023 | 8 August 2023 | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 000.00 |
| EFL Trophy | 5 September 2023 | 10 January 2024 | Group stage | Third round | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 060.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 54 | 19 | 11 | 24 | 76 | 84 | −8 | 035.19 |
Last updated: 29 April 2024 Source: Soccerway

### League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 14 | Notts County | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 89 | 86 | +3 | 61 |
| 15 | Morecambe | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 67 | 81 | −14 | 58 |
| 16 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 17 | 6 | 23 | 67 | 70 | −3 | 57 |
| 17 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 63 | 71 | −8 | 57 |
| 18 | Newport County | 46 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 62 | 76 | −14 | 55 |
| 19 | Swindon Town | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 77 | 83 | −6 | 54 |
| 20 | Salford City | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 66 | 82 | −16 | 51 |
* ↑ On 11 April 2024, Morecambe were deducted three points for failing to pay players and staff on time following previous EFL rules breaches in the 2023–24 season.'"`UNIQ--ref-000000BE-QINU`"'

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 27 April 2024. Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 29$^2$ | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 27$^1$ | 44 | 42$^3$ | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | A | H |
| Result | W | L | D | W | W | L | L | W | L | L | D | W | W | W | W | L | L | W | L | L | D | D | W | L | D | W | L | W | D | L | W | D | L | L | L | L | W | D | L | L | D | W | L | L | L | W |
| Position | 2 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
| Points | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 38 | 38 | 41 | 42 | 42 | 45 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 49 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 57 |
* $^1$ Matchday 27 (vs Newport County) was postponed due to Newport's FA Cup involvement.
* $^2$ Matchday 29 (vs Walsall) was postponed due to a unplayable playing surface.
* $^3$ Matchday 42 (vs Mansfield Town) was postponed due to a unplayable playing surface.

#### Matches

On 22 June, the EFL League Two fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

##### April
### FA Cup

Accrington were drawn away to Doncaster Rovers in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

Stanley were drawn at home to Bradford City in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Trophy

In the group stage, Accrington were drawn into Northern Group C alongside Carlisle United, Harrogate Town and Nottingham Forest U21. After topping their group, they were drawn at home to Lincoln City in the second round and to Bolton Wanderers in the third round.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L2 | Accrington Stanley | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | ACA | Nottingham Forest U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L1 | Carlisle United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | L2 | Harrogate Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 3 | |
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures