Goalkeeper Sean Murdoch will certainly not be fazed by any big games Stanley might come across this season.

In the past, the Reds have faced Premier League Newcastle in the Carling Cup in front of the Sky cameras and 4,098 spectators and Fulham in the FA Cup where 3,700 turned up.

But being from Scotland, the 24-year-old former Falkirk, Dunfermline and Hamilton stopper has played in the big matches north of the border.

"I’ve played against Celtic and played at Parkhead so every season these are big games in the Scottish Premier League," said Murdoch, who has signed a one-year deal with the Reds.

"But the standard is really good down here. I know Accrington have lost a few but I think we have the makings of a really good team here to have a successful season."

Murdoch is looking to reinvent his career at the Crown Ground as he admits he was highly rated in Scotland but things didn’t work out for him.

"I had a few managers and I probably lost my way a little bit," he concedes. "I was highly regarded but I didn’t play as much as I wanted to and that’s why I have come here and hopefully I’ll play a lot more.

"Not that I am taking anything for granted as there is competition between me and Ian Dunbavin about who gets the gloves.

"Ian is a good, experienced player and it’s healthy to have competition for places and it’s one I am sure we will both relish."

Murdoch knows former Reds keeper Kenny Arthur from his time in Scotland but the connection came through his agent.

"My agent had sent a player to John Coleman in the past so he rang him, John said come down for a trial and then I played against Blackburn and Barrow, they offered me a contract and I was happy.

"It has meant I have has to work hard as the Scottish season finished in May and I have been training in Scotland but now I have been working on my fitness.

"I have played football since I was 16 – I was even allowed two days off a week at school to train – and I owe a lot to my coaches in Scotland, Scott Thomson who is coach at Hibs and Brian Potter at Hamilton, but now I need to play as much as I can here and that’s the aim."

Murdoch, who has moved to Haslingden, admitted he got the usual stick when he told his mates across the border where he was signing.

"I put it on my Facebook status and all of a sudden I had the replies about the milk advert and ‘who are they?’ but it’s all good banter.

"My friends are really chuffed for me as I have only heard good things about the club, everyone knows about it and the the lads have helped me settle in – it’s good banter.

"I don’t know a lot about League Two but in Scotland obviously there are just 12 teams so it’s good to play double that amount and go all over England. It’s a fresh start for me and a chance I want to take."