Hyndburn Borough Council statement regarding Accrington Stanley FC’s announcement on the closure of the Academy
As a Council, we are deeply concerned with the latest announcement from Accrington Stanley FC regarding their decision to close the club’s football academy. We have spent a considerable amount of time over recent months working alongside the club to support them on a range of issues and are therefore surprised and disappointed that this announcement was made without discussion with us or other partners about the potential impacts and any alternative options.
We have reached out directly to the club to better understand the reasoning behind this unexpected decision and to Accrington Stanley Community Trust, at whose site the Academy is based. We have offered our support to both organisations. If there is an opportunity to save the Academy from closure and if the Council is able to support this, we will consider all options within our power.
We think that the Academy is a vital part of the community, providing opportunities and skills that are invaluable to young people in the area. We want to understand what steps, if any, can be taken to avoid the closure and how the Council can help.
The closure of the Academy will have a detrimental impact on young people and families from across Hyndburn and we know that those who are affected are upset by Accrington Stanley’s decision.
The Council has continued to demonstrate its commitment to supporting Accrington Stanley FC and other grass roots sports throughout the borough. Notably, it is the Council who provided Accrington Stanley FC Academy and the Community Trust with a home, leasing Highams Playing Fields (The Stanley Sports Hub) to them at a peppercorn rent. We also provided substantial grants towards developing the site into the excellent facility we see today.
In addition, the Council currently sponsor Accrington Stanley Women FC, have recently committed to sponsor the Accrington Stanley school shirt giveaway, and have provided both the football club and Community Trust with numerous grants to deliver community activities.
Supporters and residents should know that the Council is and will always be committed to working with willing partners to support Accrington Stanley FC. Councillors and officers meet regularly with representatives of the club to support them to resolve the current issues they are facing, and we will continue to do so.