Fundraiser launched for Accrington Stanley mural

The trust wants the mural to be painted on the end of The Crown pub

A campaign has been launched for a mural celebrating the "rich history" of a football club and town to be painted on a pub near its stadium.

The Accrington Stanley Supporters Trust is raising money for the public artwork on the gable end of The Crown pub.

The trust said it would be a "powerful tribute" to the Lancashire club's heritage and the "enduring spirit of our community".

Chairman of the group Peter Leatham said he hoped the mural would be a "focal point" for not just fans, but all the people in the town.

The fundraiser has so far raised almost £9,000 of its £18,270 target.

Mr Leatham said the trust had wanted to create a "striking" mural for a number of years and with The Crown being so close to the Wham Stadium, it was the "logical" spot for the artwork.

The 66-year-old said the mural would also reflect the history of the town, and would aim to boost "civic pride".

The original Accrington Football Club was one of the 12 founder members of the Football League in 1888, but it folded and left the league in 1893.

The Accrington Stanley club was formed in the early 1890s by patrons of the Stanley Arms.

The club joined the Lancashire Combination in 1900 and won the title in 1903, becoming the first non-league side to do so.

Accrington Stanley became a member of the Football League in 1921–22 as part of a league expansion.

It resigned from the Football League in 1962 for financial reasons and then reformed in 1968.