ACCRINGTON Stanley supporters were glad of some September sunshine as they descended on the Wham Stadium in their droves to buy season tickets.

Renewals for the 2020/21 season were scheduled to go on sale at 1pm today, but the club opened their doors early because of a growing queue snaking around the club car park.

Hundreds of fans waited patiently, and socially distanced, to make sure they would be among the 1,535 supporters who will be permitted entry into home games under new guidelines following the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in last season being aborted in March and settled by a points per game system to determine league positions.

The new season kicks off behind closed doors, with the Reds travelling to Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup on Friday night ahead of the first home game against Leeds United U21s in the EFL Trophy next Tuesday, before their League One campaign kicks off with the visit of Peterborough United on September 12.

And Stanley fans cannot wait to see the Reds back in action after six months away from the Wham Stadium.

Former Accrington cricket club chairman Rod Kenyon was among the first to renew his season ticket and guarantee a seat for when fans are allowed back into stadiums later this month, when 770 supporters will be allowed into the ground to watch Stanley take on Oxford United on September 26 in a test event which, if successful, will pave the way for a total of 1,535 fans to cheer the Reds on from early October.

"I've missed football a lot, I've missed coming here," he said.

"I was here early and there were already 20 or 30 in front of me. There's been a steady stream since then. I'm just glad I've got my ticket and I can't wait to come back for the Oxford game.

"I never imagined we'd be away so long."

He added: "The work that has been done at the ground has been crucial to getting a good number of supporters back under the new restrictions."