Category Archives: Accrington

Stanley’s big shirt giveaway a huge success for fifth year running

Accrington Stanley’s first team squad handed out shirts as part of their shirt giveaway to Year 3 children from Hyndburn schools at the Wham Stadium on Tuesday morning.

The annual big shirt giveaway also saw the children receive a goodie bag sponsored by Studio and North Lancs Training Group (NLTG), including a free match ticket, crayons, a lunch box and picture of the first-team squad.

Taking place for the fifth year running and back at the Wham following slightly altered plans for the 2020 event due to COVID-19, the youngsters got the chance to meet their favourite players and see the pitch up close, having their pictures taken in the Studio Family Stand.

The shirts were generously sponsored by Studio and the Official Accrington Stanley Community Trust.

Manager, John Coleman, said: “It’s always a day in the calendar that we look forward to and so do the players.

“It’s a fantastic initiative and something that has been going for five years. If we can capture the children’s imagination and get them involved in Stanley, it bodes well for the future.”

Coleman added: “The idea of giving the children a replica shirt is fantastic and it gives them an identity. For a lot of people it’s difficult to justify being able to get their child a replica top and I think this is a great gesture by Andy Holt. I hope it captures the imagination of these kids and in 10-15 years’ time they’ll be here cheering us on or even playing for us.”

Chairman and owner, Andy Holt, said: “It’s an event that I’m particularly proud of. It’s probably the best thing we do as a Club and I promise to do it every year I’m involved with the Club, it’s fantastic.”

Stanley’s most famous fan David Lloyd, otherwise known as Bumble, said: “It’s a marvellous time of the year and there’s one thing that I’m really looking forward to… and that is one day boys and girls will have that football shirt on and they’ll be representing Accrington Stanley at the Wham.”

Paul Kendrick, CEO of Studio, said: “It’s a fantastic way to get new followers into the Club from the outset, get them passionate about Accrington and we’re really happy to get involved in it.”

The Club would like to thank all the sponsors who helped make this amazing event a huge success – The Official Accrington Stanley Community Trust, Studio, North Lancs Training Group and What More UK.

Also, the Club would like to thank Scott Dawson Advertising for organising the event and preparing the goodie bags, alongside volunteers from the Official Accrington Stanley Supporters Trust.

Accrington Food & Drink Festival 2017

The Accrington Food & Drink Festival 2017 – More than 14,000 people travelled into Accrington for the 20th annual Food & Drink Festival.

It was a wonderful occasion with celebrity chef Richard Fox performing live cookery demonstrations, a live WW2 battle re-enactment to commemorate D-Day and an ‘Oops Upside Your Head’ world record attempt.

All this along with over 70 stalls to enjoy, serving food, drink and much more. Thank you to everyone who attended and to our two main sponsors Duckworths Estate Agents and Accrington & Rossendale College.

We hope to see you there next year!

#AMAZINGACCRINGTON FOOD FESTIVAL ANOTHER ROARING SUCCESS

 

THOUSANDS came out once more to enjoy the sights, sounds and the wonderful flavours of the Accrington Food & Drink Festival.

On Saturday, June 3, Accrington town centre was, once again, awash with foodies and revellers as they enjoyed what has come to be something of an institution in the town every year.

The 20th annual Accrington Food Festival, organised by Scott Dawson Advertising, built on the success of the previous two years, attracting numbers that even eclipsed the 14,000 of last year’s event.

Murray Dawson, Managing Director of Scott Dawson Advertising, said: “This is the third year in a row that we have had the privilege to arrange the Accrington Food & Drink Festival. We at Scott Dawson Advertising take immense pride in the role we have taken up in keeping the festival going and that we have been able to increase attendance ten-fold since we began organising the event. And, considering the sheer amount of people, we can report that the event went very smoothly

“We are always looking for fun new events and stalls to bring to the festival and this year we were really spoilt for choice. Richard Fox, in his third year at the festival, was fantastic as always, the WW2 re-enactment, the cooking demo from The Balti House, the Accrington Pals bus, the Oops Upside Your Head record attempt and many, many of the other attractions went down brilliantly.

“We are incredibly happy about the positive feedback we have received, stall holders told me after the event that they made more money than they do in larger cities in the UK, and we hope to be involved with this wonderful event for many years to come.”

Live cookery demos in the theatre kitchen, hosted by celebrity chef Richard Fox, wowed the crowds. Over 70 food stalls lined the town centre streets offering everything from Catalonian meatballs and fresh, oven-baked pizza to chilli jam and prosecco cocktails.

97% of all the retailers on the day said that they would come back again, with Asmma Zafar, owner of Tishy’s Cakes summing up her day in one short sentence: “Brilliant! I sold out.”

A dramatic World War 2 re-enactment, to commemorate D-Day, took place on the grounds of St James’ Church, complete with authentic weapons. The battle, which was between American and German troops, drew fantastic crowds as the sounds of the shots booming around the churchyard created a fantastic atmosphere.

The live cookery demonstrations were also a big hit with Chef Fox cooking up North African Shakshuka, a dish consisting of poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce.

Addressing the crowd, Richard Fox, said: “I can’t believe it’s been three years since the first time I came to Accrington for the food festival. It’s great to see everyone here and it looks like it’s getting bigger every year – so thanks to you all.”

One the largest and most popular attractions of the day was the live demonstration by the wonderful chefs from The Balti House, Rishton, who turned heads as the scent of fresh chicken jalfrezi wafted around the market stalls. Celebrity Chef James Martin once described the food at The Balti House as “one of the best curries I’ve ever had in this country.”

Another of the day’s highlights was the ‘Oops Upside Your Head’ unofficial record attempt which was carried out with great joy in the grounds of St James’ Church. There was also a poignant side to the record attempt as it was dedicated to the late Evonne Harwood – the ‘Wonder Woman of Warner St’ – who was instrumental in organising the record attempt and sadly passed away on April 22. The event was coordinated and the dancing choreographed by George De Rosa from Clubbercise Hyndburn. The event also raised money for East Lancs Hospice.

Culinary students from one of the event’s main sponsors, Accrington and Rossendale College (AccRoss), managed to get a few mouths watering with their gin and tonic sorbet creation while the event’s other main sponsor, Duckworths Estate Agents, were running the hook-a-duck stall to raise money for cancer research.

Mayor of Hyndburn, Peter Britcliffe, said: “It really is a fantastic event which growing from strength to strength every year. There were 14,000 people last year and wouldn’t be surprised if records were broken this time around.”

AccRoss students were also on hand in the market hall as they helped children write their names on sponge Accrington NORI bricks to build into a WW2 style Anderson shelter display.

There was lots of attention for the static tank and the old Accrington Pals bus which was on display – as money was raised to return the old bus to its former glory.

The support for the idea of restoring the last Accrington Corporation bus remaining in the colours of the East Lancashire Regiment was truly overwhelming. The proposal to make the restored bus available to local schools to transport children to local attractions was received with great enthusiasm.

Restored in its original colours the bus will unquestionably stand as a symbol of the civic pride of Accrington – a visual link to the history of the town

For more information and update on the Accrington Food & Drink Festival visit www.accringtonfoodfestival.co.uk/