Stanley legend Whalley passes away

Football is mourning the loss of Accrington Stanley's former chairman Eric Whalley.

The man who led Stanley back into the Football League in 2006, pictured, passed away on Friday aged 74.

A former player and manager at the Crown Ground, he took over as chairman in 1995 and set about guiding the club up through the Non-League Pyramid, making many friend along the way as the Lancashire club won the Northern Premier League in 2003 and the Football Conference and promotion three years later.

In a statement on their website, current Accrington Stanley chairman Peter Marsden paid tribute to his predecessor who is also credited with redeveloping the club's ground.

Marsden said: "Eric was Accrington Stanley. His tireless efforts made the club what it is today and we will forever be grateful to him. Our Football League status is a continuing reminder of everything he did for the club. Eric Whalley put Accrington Stanley back on the football map. He will never be forgotten."

Image courtesy of www.bbc.co.uk