The 2025–26 season is the 57th season in the history of Accrington Stanley Football Club and their third consecutive season in League Two. In addition to the domestic league, the club are also to participate in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the 2025–26 EFL Trophy.
Similar to the previous season, Accrington started slowly and were last in the league after a few games. Due to a strong run in the middle of the season the team climbed to the middle of the table by the start of 2026 with considerable distance to the relegation battle. The domestic cup runs ended with defeats at home against EFL League One teams, going out to Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup and Mansfield Town in the FA Cup on penalties.
Transfers and contracts In DatePos.PlayerFromFeeRef. 1 July 2025 LB Freddie Sass King's Lynn Town Bosman 1 July 2025 CM Isaac Sinclair Curzon Ashton
Out DatePos.PlayerToFeeRef. 10 June 2025 CF Jimmy Knowles Altrincham Undisclosed 18 August 2025 CM Ben Woods Peterborough United 26 January 2026 CB Benn Ward Reading £500,000
Loaned in DatePos.PlayerFromDate untilRef. 8 July 2025 GK Ollie Wright Southampton 31 May 2026 5 August 2025 CM Joe Bauress Burnley 2 February 2026 7 August 2025 LB Logan Pye 21 August 2025 CF Paddy Madden Chesterfield 31 May 2026 1 September 2025 LW Isaac Heath Everton 22 January 2026 CDM Luke Butterfield Chesterfield 30 January 2026 CF David Abimbola Bolton Wanderers
Loaned out DatePos.PlayerToDate untilRef.24 October 2025 CF Anjola Popoola Marine 22 November 2025 LM Finlay Tunstall 3 December 2025 LM Brighouse Town 30 December 2025 4 December 2025 CB Josh Smith Buxton 5 December 2025 CF Anjola Popoola Chorley 7 February 2026 14 January 2026 CAM Dan Martin Marine 11 February 2026 27 January 2026 CM Finlay Tunstall Prescot Cables 24 February 2026 11 February 2026 CF Charlie Caton Hartlepool United 31 May 2026 17 March 2026 CF Anjola Popoola Macclesfield
Released / Out of Contract DatePos.PlayerSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.30 June 2025 RM Seb Quirk Sligo Rovers 1 July 2025 GK Liam Isherwood Warrington Town 5 July 2025 CB Aaron Pickles Southport 18 July 2025 LW Ashley Hunter Marine 8 August 2025 CB Jay Rich-Baghuelou CB Lewis Rhodes RM Lewis Trickett
New Contract DatePos.PlayerContract untilRef. 26 June 2025 CM Conor Grant 30 June 2026 1 July 2025 CAM Dan Martin 2 July 2025 CDM Seamus Conneely 6 July 2025 GK James Rogerson Undisclosed CM Finlay Tunstall 30 September 2025 CB Josh Smith 30 June 2027 3 February 2026 RB Donald Love 30 June 2028 27 February 2026 CB Farrend Rawson 2 May 2026 RW Shaun Whalley 30 June 2027
Pre-season and friendlies In June, Accrington Stanley announced pre-season friendlies against Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United. In July, a fifth friendly was added against Clitheroe.
A behind-closed-doors, fixture against Blackpool was also confirmed.
Competitions League Two
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches On 26 June, the League Two fixtures were announced, with Accrington hosting Gillingham on the opening day.
FA Cup
Accrington were drawn away to Gainsborough Trinity in the first round and at home to Mansfield Town in the second round.
EFL Cup
Accrington Stanley would take part in a Preliminary Round of the EFL Cup due to the number of Premier League teams being involved in European competitions. They would face Oldham Athletic. In the first round proper, they were drawn again at home against Peterborough United. Then against Doncaster Rovers in the second round.
EFL Trophy
Accrington were drawn against Fleetwood Town, Port Vale and Leeds United U21 in the group stage.
Statistics Appearances and goals
Players with no appearances are not included on the list; italics indicate a loaned in player
|colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season:
Disciplinary record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total 12RBDonald Love12010002001001501217CBDevon Matthews10010000001001101323RMTyler Walton601000000000601439CFJosh Woods301000010000311510CAMAlex Henderson60000010000070028CDMSeamus Conneely70000000000070077RWShaun Whalley6000000000006008CFPaddy Madden50000000010060030LWIsaac Heath5001000000006001014CBBenn Ward20000000000120120CFCharlie Brown300000200000500123LBFreddie Sass30000010000040022CAMDan Martin30000010000040024CDMLuke Butterfield101000000000101154CMConor Grant3000000000003005RBFarrend Rawson3000000000003006CDMLiam Coyle30000000000030011RMIsaac Sinclair20000000010030027CFDavid Abimbola00100000000000138RBConnor O'Brien300000000000300211GKMichael Kelly00000000020020013GKOllie Wright20000000000020015LBLogan Pye00000010010020016CMJoe Bauress20000000000020025CBJosh Smith200000000000200Total920510081080110917
References