THIRTY SEVEN years ago last Friday, the "new" Accrington Stanley was formed.
And the Reds celebrated the anniversary by moving to within a point of the top spot which would guarantee a return to the Football League they were forced to quit in 1962.
Friday night's game against pre-season title favourites Hereford was full of memories for the older fans who could remember the turbulent years of the 1960s.
But, while it was a historical occasion, it was also an emotional one as the fans' main thoughts turned to Stanley captain Peter Cavanagh with a minute's silence and black arm bands worn by players and stewards alike in memory of his younger brother, Anthony, who died just two days before.
The players were desperate to get a win and manager John Coleman admitted that victory was for his skipper.
"It was probably the most difficult week as regards to how the players felt," admitted the manager, as his captain watched the game from the stands.
"All the players are devastated for Cav. You don't want to use it as an excuse to motivate the lads but I know they were all really trying to get a win for Cav and I know they were pleased that they did do for him."
It wasn't the best of performances but in front of a season's best crowd of 1600 it was a good omen for Friday football - especially if the Reds keep in the winning habit.
"I am a fan of Friday night football," enthused Coleman. "I know Tranmere had a great deal of success with it in the late 80s and early 90s.
"I don't know whether it was the novelty value of Friday night against Hereford, but I think for the people who come it makes it the start of a good night out, especially if you win.
"Hereford have brought a few, which has boosted the gate, but we have to have attendances like this if we're going to survive as a professional club.
"The position we are in the league and some of the football we've served up this season should warrant attendances in this region and higher.
"It's extremely worrying. If the town wants to support a professional football club, like it or not people have to come through the gate.
"There's no point having a go at the people who are here. It's the people who aren't here. They'll see a great deal of endeavour, a lot of passion and spirit. And they'll see that until the end of the season.
"I know the fans are there. The fanbase was there when we were in the UniBond First and Premier Division, and I hope they come out and support us again."
If Stanley carry on their promotion-chasing season, the fans should come through the turnstiles and Coleman is hoping there will be more improved performances from his side.
"We rode our luck a bit - we probably have for most of the season to be fair," continued the boss. "You get to a point where you feel like you're playing pontoon and you're twisting on 16. You keep getting fives and fours but eventually you're going to get a king."
The Reds couldn't have wanted a better start against a side who are perennial play-off challengers - but who have never picked up a league point at the Interlink.
A long throw on just nine minutes found Paul Mullin and, while the Bulls defence shouted for hand ball, Ian Craney slotted home passed two defenders.
The midfielder has said there is nothing better in the world than scoring and he certainly knows as he made it four goals in four games.
And Stanley were on top with central defender Michael Welch - in for the suspended Robbie Williams - trying a cheeky lob from inside his own half which almost caught out Wayne Brown, but the keeper recovered.
The Reds did look more threatening on the attack as Hereford, who have a poor goal-scoring record, hardly had a sniff early on.
In fact their first shot on target didn't come until the 20th minute but they probably felt it was worth the wait as a 20-yard Craig Stanley free kick was superbly pushed out by Reds keeper Darren Randolph.
And then they burst into life when their 6ft 7" striker Matt Bailey, on loan from Crewe, rushed into the box and played in a great cross which Andy Ferrell turned goalwards. Somehow the elbow of Randolph kept it out and then the desperate Stanley backline finally cleared the danger.
The Bulls became more threatening and boss Graham Turner's team talk must have been to tell his side to keep pressing as a goal will come. And it couldn't have worked better as within seconds of the re-start the visitors made it 1-1.
Anthony Barry lost the ball in midfield and with Hereford breaking quickly they found dangerman Danny Carey-Bertram.
He only needed one chance as he fired his shot low and hard past the diving Randolph and rushed to celebrate with the visiting fans.
However, former Bull David Brown has a habit of scoring against his old clubs - and he made sure it continued.
He did waste one good chance when he did the hard work, outwitting Bulls captain Tony James, before shooting wildly but then made up for it when the Reds forced their first corner of the game on 55 minutes. Craney fired it in to find Brown at the far post where he turned and belted the ball into the roof of the net.
The Reds were then lucky from the re-start not to be punished as they were caught napping when Ferrell's cross found Bailey racing in and somehow a combination of Randolph and Chris Butler got the ball off the goalline.
Both sides threw on new attackers but chances were limited until the final minute when Roberts raced to the by-line and set up Mullin but his goalbound effort was cleared.
Hereford forced injury-time corners just to keep the Stanley nerves jangling but once again they hung on for what could be yet another important win as they look to make sure they celebrate their 38th-year since reformation back in the League.
Coleman admitted Craney's goalscoring ratio has been impressive. "He is confident and once you get that confidence in someone they can do little wrong in front of goal.
"It was probably one of the quietest games Ian's had for a while but he will be happy with scoring his goal. If he keeps going like that he should be well on the way for 15 for the season, which is what he'd expect and what I'd expect."
The Reds chief admitted the goals his side are letting in is a worry.
"It was a sloppy goal to concede. But give the lads their due, they've come back and got the goal they probably deserved.
"But what we tend to do is get the goal then take our foot off the gas and free wheel for a bit. We've got to remember to keep peddling.
"But, at the moment we believe we can score against anybody. We could play Chelsea tomorrow and we'd believe we'd score.
"So we have to build on what we're good at and play the game in the other team's half a little bit more when we go in front."
