HIS grandfather played for Accrington Stanley in Division Three 53 years ago, but the family of Stevenage goal hero Joel Byrom will be reluctantly hoping the Reds’ chances of promotion back to the third tier come to an end on Friday.

Byrom, from Oswaldtwistle, was released by Stanley midway through the 2006/07 season but came back to haunt them on Sunday as he scored the goal that gave Stevenage a 2-0 advantage after the first leg of the League Two semi final between the two clubs.

The Reds now have their work cut out going into Friday’s second leg at the Crown Ground and for once the Byrom family, lifelong Accrington supporters, will be backing the opposition.

Joel’s father Alan represented the club during the 1980s and grandfather Ray made nine appearances on the left wing for Stanley in 1957 and 1958 before following legendary Accrington manager Walter Galbraith to Bradford Park Avenue together with inside forward Wattie Dick in a joint deal worth £2,750.

The Reds were relegated from Division Three 18 months later and have never returned.

“My dad played nine games for the club and I played 80 games, playing alongside people like Paul Beck,” said Alan Byrom, now working at Ray’s Garage Supplies in Bold Street, Accrington.

“We’re in a no-lose situation in some ways because if Accrington get to the final we will go and support them at Old Trafford.

“But obviously my allegiance lies with my son. I think he would have preferred that this play-off game wasn’t against Accrington but we were very proud when he scored on Sunday.

“His grandma and grandad were at the game together with myself and his mum, and we’ve got a table for the game on Friday.”

The Byrom family’s long association with Stanley has been left tinged with disappointment, though, after Joel played only two games during six months at the club.

A graduate of the Blackburn youth set-up, he figured for Rovers’ reserve team before his release in 2006.

He requested a trial at Stanley, his boyhood club, that summer and impressed enough to earn a six-month contract in the Reds’ first season in the Football League.

But his only appearances came in an LDV Vans Trophy game against Carlisle and as a late substitute in a league match against Shrewsbury.

Byrom might have thought his Football League career was over but, after two spells with Clitheroe and periods at Southport and Northwich, he joined Stevenage at the start of last term and helped them to the Blue Square Premier title.

Injuries have restricted his appearances this season, but suspensions to key midfielders have opened the way for his return to the side in the last two games and the 24-year-old capitalised with his first goal of the season on Sunday.

“He was very disappointed not to play more at Accrington,” said his father.

“It was a difficult time for us. Mr Coleman never really gave him a chance.

“He was happy to score on Sunday but I spoke to him straight after the game and he said then that they know they haven’t done the job yet.

“I know Mr Coleman was trying to suggest they were celebrating getting to the final already, but they aren’t.”