It was a year of transition for Stanley with long serving manager John Coleman and his assistant Jimmy Bell leaving the club to join League One side Rochdale.

[3] The end of the season saw chairman Ilyas Khan step down.

He said he had been racially abused since taking over the club in March 2011.

[4] Stanley also made the news in October 2011, when on-loan defender Tom Bender was knocked out in a collision with team mate Ian Dunbavin and Tranmere Rovers striker Lucas Akins in a Football League Trophy tie.

Bender was treated for 30 minutes on the pitch before being taken to hospital where he regained consciousness and made a full recovery.