2015–16 Accrington Stanley F.C. season
# 2015–16 Accrington Stanley F.C. season

The 2015–16 season was Accrington Stanley's tenth consecutive season in League Two and their 47th year in existence. Along with competing in League Two, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and League Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

## Transfers

### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2015 | CB | Tom Davies | Fleetwood Town | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | GK | Ross Etheridge | Derby County | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | CF | Billy Kee | Scunthorpe United | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | RM | Sean McConville | Chester | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2015 | GK | Jason Mooney | York City | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | CF | Adam Morgan | Yeovil Town | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | MF | Matty Pearson | FC Halifax Town | Free transfer |
| 3 July 2015 | AM | Anthony Barry | Forest Green Rovers | Free transfer |
| 7 August 2015 | CB | Liam Wakefield | Doncaster Rovers | Free transfer |
| 14 August 2015 | MF | Jack Phillips | Prescot Cables | Free Transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2015 | CB | Rob Atkinson | Guiseley | Released |
| 1 July 2015 | CF | George Bowerman | Altrincham | Released |
| 1 July 2015 | CF | James Gray | Wrexham | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | RB | Nicky Hunt | Mansfield Town | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | ST | James Jenkins | Free Agent | Released |
| 1 July 2015 | DM | Luke Joyce | Carlisle United | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | LB | Michael Liddle | Free Agent | Released |
| 1 July 2015 | RW | Kal Naismith | Portsmouth | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2015 | GK | Tony Warner | Retired | — |
| 1 July 2015 | CM | Danny Whitehead | Macclesfield Town | Free transfer |

* ↑ Following Atkinson's release he joined Guiseley.
* ↑ Following Bowerman's release he joined Altrincham.
* ↑ Following Gray's release he joined Wrexham.
* ↑ Following Hunt's release he joined Mansfield Town.
* ↑ Following Whitehead's release he joined Macclesfield Town.

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date until | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 July 2015 | CB | | Joe Wright | Huddersfield Town | 2 January 2016 | |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date until | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 11 September 2015 | CF | | Max Hazeldine | Stockport County | 9 October 2015 | |
| 22 September 2015 | MF | | Kealan Steenson | Clitheroe | 24 October 2015 | |

## Pre-season friendlies

On 15 May 2015, Accrington Stanley announced their first pre-season friendly against Blackburn Rovers. On 19 May 2015, Accrington Stanley announced they will visit Nelson as part of their pre-season schedule. On 24 May 2015, it was announced Accrington Stanley would visit Colne on 8 July 2015 as part of their pre-season preparations. On 28 May 2015, the club announced their fourth pre-season friendly against AFC Darwen. A day later the club announced Rochdale will visit on 28 July 2015. On 30 May 2015, Accrington Stanley announced they will face Marine on 25 July 2015. A friendly against Burnley was announced on 12 June 2015. On 25 June 2015, Accrington Stanley added a home friendly against Blackpool for pre-season. On 4 July 2015, Stanley announced a pre-season fixture against Scarborough Athletic.

## Match details

### Football League Two

Football League Two match details :

| Date | League position | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 August 2015 | 10th | Luton Town | H | D | 1–1 | Windass 61' pen. | 2,359 |
| 15 August 2015 | 18th | Morecambe | A | L | 0–1 | | 1,865 |
| 18 August 2015 | 12th | Mansfield Town | H | W | 1–0 | McConville 33' | 1,073 |
| 22 August 2015 | 13th | Notts County | A | D | 1–1 | Crooks 90' | 3,825 |
| 29 August 2015 | 15th | Northampton Town | H | D | 1–1 | Windass 55' pen. | 1,526 |
| 5 September 2015 | 15th | Portsmouth | A | D | 0–0 | | 15,745 |
| 12 September 2015 | 10th | Bristol Rovers | A | W | 1–0 | Kee 68' | 6,351 |
| 19 September 2015 | 6th | Exeter City | H | W | 4–2 | Windass (2) 33', 34', Mingoia 61', Kee 63' | 1,403 |
| 26 September 2015 | 5th | Crawley Town | A | W | 3–0 | Windass 45' pen., Crooks 45+3', Kee 89' | 1,659 |
| 29 September 2015 | 4th | Yeovil Town | H | W | 2–1 | Windass 8', Crooks 54' | 1,309 |
| 3 October 2015 | 7th | Oxford United | H | L | 1–3 | Crooks 70' | 1,755 |
| 10 October 2015 | 5th | Barnet | A | W | 2–1 | Togwell 23' o.g., McConville 62' | 2,229 |
| 17 October 2015 | 6th | Plymouth Argyle | A | L | 0–1 | | 7,865 |
| 20 October 2015 | 8th | AFC Wimbledon | H | L | 3–4 | Kee (2) 5', 10', McConville 36' | 1,315 |
| 24 October 2015 | 7th | Dagenham & Redbridge | H | W | 3–1 | Conneely 2', Pearson 45+3', Windass 49' | 1,104 |
| 31 October 2015 | 4th | Leyton Orient | A | W | 1–0 | Windass 25' | 4,701 |
| 14 November 2015 | 4th | Newport County | H | D | 2–2 | Kee 58', Crooks 77' | 1,552 |
| 21 November 2015 | 4th | Cambridge United | A | W | 3–2 | McConville 29', Davies 48', Windass 53' pen. | 5,107 |
| 28 November 2015 | 4th | York City | A | W | 5–1 | Pearson 15', Kee (2) 33', 72', Windass 61' pen., McCartan 88' | 2,825 |
| 19 December 2015 | 6th | Stevenage | A | D | 1–1 | Kee 85' pen. | 2,818 |
| 28 December 2015 | 8th | Northampton Town | A | L | 0–1 | | 5,269 |
| 2 January 2016 | 7th | Mansfield Town | A | W | 3–2 | Mingoia 4', Kee 72', Gornell 85' | 3,271 |
| 19 January 2016 | 6th | Hartlepool United | H | W | 3–1 | Buxton 23', McCartan (2) 45+1', 58' | 1,211 |
| 23 January 2016 | 6th | Exeter City | A | L | 1–2 | McCartan 3' | 3,669 |
| 30 January 2016 | 5th | Bristol Rovers | H | W | 1–0 | McConville 69' | 2,027 |
| 6 February 2016 | 8th | Carlisle United | A | L | 0–2 | | 4,709 |
| 13 February 2016 | 6th | Crawley Town | H | W | 4–1 | Kee 48', Pearson 73', Conneely 87', Mingoia 90+1' | 1,374 |
| 16 February 2016 | 4th | Carlisle United | H | D | 1–1 | Gornell 58' | 2,080 |
| 20 February 2016 | 4th | Oxford United | A | W | 2–1 | Kee 46', Brown 88' | 6,792 |
| 23 February 2016 | 4th | Notts County | H | W | 3–2 | Kee 14', Boco (2) 21', 51' | 1,215 |
| 27 February 2016 | 4th | Barnet | H | D | 2–2 | Kee 57', Crooks 74' | 1,416 |
| 1 March 2016 | 4th | Yeovil Town | A | L | 0–1 | | 3,207 |
| 5 March 2016 | 4th | AFC Wimbledon | A | D | 0–0 | | 3,627 |
| 8 March 2016 | 6th | Portsmouth | H | L | 1–3 | McCartan 83' | 1,841 |
| 12 March 2016 | 5th | Plymouth Argyle | H | W | 2–1 | Kee 85' pen., McCartan 90+3' | 2,044 |
| 16 March 2016 | 5th | Wycombe Wanderers | H | D | 1–1 | McCartan 45+2' | 1,403 |
| 19 March 2016 | 5th | Dagenham & Redbridge | A | W | 1–0 | Kee 83' | 1,345 |
| 25 March 2016 | 5th | Leyton Orient | H | W | 1–0 | Brown 51' | 2,783 |
| 28 March 2016 | 4th | Newport County | A | W | 2–0 | Kee 35', Windass 37' | 2,218 |
| 2 April 2016 | 4th | Cambridge United | H | D | 1–1 | Fosu 77' | 2,185 |
| 9 April 2016 | 3rd | Luton Town | A | W | 2–0 | Brown 47', Gornell 84' | 7,467 |
| 16 April 2016 | 4th | Morecambe | H | D | 2–2 | Windass (2) 21', 48' pen. | 2,609 |
| 19 April 2016 | 2nd | Hartlepool United | A | W | 2–1 | Conneelly 3', Fosu 45+1' | 3,445 |
| 23 April 2016 | 2nd | York City | H | W | 3–0 | Fosu 35', Windass (2) 69', 90+2' | 2,222 |
| 30 April 2016 | 2nd | Wycombe Wanderers | A | W | 1–0 | Hughes 78' | 4,041 |
| 7 May 2016 | 4th | Stevenage | H | D | 0–0 | | 4,386 |

**League table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | Oxford United (P) | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 84 | 41 | +43 | 86 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 3 | Bristol Rovers (P) | 46 | 26 | 7 | 13 | 77 | 46 | +31 | 85 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 4 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 74 | 48 | +26 | 85 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 72 | 46 | +26 | 81 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Portsmouth | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 75 | 44 | +31 | 78 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |

* ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Football League One.

### Football League Two play-offs

Play-off match details :

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Semi-final 1st leg | 14 May 2016 | AFC Wimbledon | A | L | 0–1 | | 4,870 | |
| Semi-final 2nd leg | 18 May 2016 | AFC Wimbledon | H | D | 2–2 | Windass 39', Mingoia 59' | 4,694 | |

### FA Cup

FA Cup match details :

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| First round | 7 November 2015 | York City | H | W | 3–2 | McConville 29', Crooks 36', Windass 48' pen. | 1,475 | |
| Second round | 5 December 2015 | Portsmouth | A | L | 0–1 | | 9,258 | |

### League Cup

League Cup match details :

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| First round | 11 August 2015 | Hull City | H | D | 2–2 (a.e.t.) 3–4 pens. | Crooks 105', Gornell 115' | 2,118 | |

### Football League Trophy

Football League Trophy match details :

| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| First round | 1 September 2015 | Bury | H | L | 1–2 | Bruna 83' | 1,344 | |

## Appearances and goals

    Source:
    Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
    Players with names struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
    Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club with Accrington Stanley.
    Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
    Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

Players contracted for the 2015–16 season :

| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | FL Trophy | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Ross Etheridge | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Matty Pearson | 44 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Dean Winnard | 14 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 (1) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Anthony Barry | 2 (6) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 (6) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Tom Davies | 29 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 (1) | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Andrew Procter | 1 (10) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 (11) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG ITA | Piero Mingoia | 44 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Josh Windass | 28 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Adam Morgan † | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | NIR | Andy Little * | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Terry Gornell | 8 (11) | 3 | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 (14) | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Sean McConville | 40 (2) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 (3) | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Liam Wakefield | 7 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 (5) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Matt Crooks | 32 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 8 | 12 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | WAL | Joe Wright * | 19 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Keenan Quansah | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | NIR | Shay McCartan | 10 (15) | 7 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 (16) | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Jack Phillips † | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Scott Brown | 8 (4) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 (4) | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Marcus Carver | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Max Hazeldine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | ARG | Gerardo Bruna † | 0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 1 | 1 (4) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Adam Buxton | 23 (4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 (4) | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Kealan Steenson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Mark Hughes | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Liam Goulding | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | BEN | Romuald Boco | 6 (5) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (5) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | IRL | Seamus Conneely | 44 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 (1) | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Billy Kee | 37 (6) | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 (6) | 17 | 6 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | ENG | Tarique Fosu * | 2 (4) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (4) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | GK | NIR | Jason Mooney | 25 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 (1) | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 34 | DF | ENG | Brad Halliday * | 29 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 (1) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | WAL | Kaid Mohamed † | 0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | ENG | Brayden Shaw | 0 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (4) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
