AN Accrington Stanley stalwart who helped saved the club in the 1960s has had a stand renamed in his honour.

Jack Barrett, of West Crescent, died earlier this year aged 88. He was revered by fans for throwing Stanley a lifeline six years after the club’s darkest day, their departure from the Football League in 1962.

The Jack Barrett Memorial Stand was officially renamed by his son Stephen alongside Neil McGinness, the chairman of the supporters club on Saturday. Jack, a former postman, helped re-form Stanley and they began to work their way up the non-league pyramid.

He was the last surviving founder member of modern Stanley and was granted the Freedom of the Borough of Hyndburn in 2011.

He served for 10 years as secretary of the committee and was made a life member of Stanley in 1978.

Stephen, who attended Saturday’s match against Burton Albion, said: “He would have been very proud and honoured if he was here today. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the supporters club and the club for all their support since my dad passed away.

“The whole family are very proud to have a stand named after him and it’s a great gesture.”

Peter Marsden, chairman of Accrington Stanley, said: “He was a huge figure in saving the club in the immediate years after the disappearance of the old club in 1962.

“One of the things he will be most remembered for was his fundraising march from Accrington to Liverpool.

“The club really needed people like him to get it going again and to keep the memory of the club in Accrington alive while it didn’t exist.”

Mr McGinness said: “He was the obvious person to rename a stand after because he was a legend at the club. He did so much for Stanley and it really was a unanimous decision from the fans.”