HAVING recently discovered an African sister club going by the same name, Accrington Stanley Football Club have now provided them with official club kit.

The club from Freetown in Sierra Leone had been playing in borrowed strips and when Stanley officials heard of their plight, they felt compelled to help.

Stanley managing director David Burgess and kitman Naz Ali spent some time searching storage and found two complete strips – one in Accy’s trademark red and an away kit in royal blue – as well as a full box of high-quality boots that have all now been sent to Sierra Leone.

Mr Burgess said: "It's superb that we are able to help 'Accrington Stanley' in Sierra Leone and I hope they have success in our kits. We have supporters all over the world and hopefully, by wearing our home and away kit, it will attract more fans to our famous club."

Speaking to the Official Accrington Stanley Supporters Trust, manager of the West African outfit, Bakarr Ransome Stanley Senior said: “I am now so happy and thank everyone for their support.

“We are hoping to enter our team into the regional second division and play in some tournaments, too.”

The team adopted the Accrington Stanley name because Mr Ransome would regularly use the team when playing against friends on his PlayStation, and in turn became a big fan of the historic Lancashire club.

On the OASST website, chairman Peter Leatham said: “It’s a tremendous gesture by our football club and one that just underlines the values of our worldwide Stanley family.

“The boys in West Africa are obviously playing and living in very different surroundings to us in the UK and we are delighted that we have been able to help them.

“The whole operation has been very much a team effort with the Trust liaising with the club and then delivering to What More, who are kindly helping us with the logistics.”

The team have ambitions of one day becoming a professional side, with 18 players and a coach travelling around Freetown competing against other community clubs.

This isn’t the first time Stanley have had a global reach. In 2018 a devoted fan from Asia travelled a staggering 5,500 miles to watch The ‘Owd Reds.

Hankuk University student Jung Min Yoo had saved up £1,000 and flew to Lancashire via Heathrow for a nine-day stay, taking in a match and meeting players and officials.

Sadly, he was far from a lucky mascot as Stanley suffered a 4-0 home defeat to Peterborough, but the Seoul resident didn’t let the result affect his mood.

Chairman Andy Holt shared a pint with the travelling fan and said: “Stanley is becoming a worldwide brand.”