Match Preview: Accrington Stanley v Everton | OneFootball

The first few matches in pre-season are as meaningless as it gets in first-team professional football, with coaches and managers juggling to make up sufficient numbers as the senior players return in dribs and drabs, exhibiting varying levels of fitness.

The first pre-season friendly takes place on Tuesday evening at the Wham Stadium in Accrington — almost 12 years to the day since Everton were last here for a pre-season runabout. And with Everton still not really making full use of the transfer window yet, the prevailing concern going onto this game is that David Moyes simply does not have enough players in his first-team squad.

The situation is further exacerbated by Jordan Pickford, Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye being given extended summer breaks following their international duties after the Premier League season ended, and they have only just returned to Finch Farm on Monday 14 July.

This meant they missed out on the training camp in Scotland last week, and the first full week of pre-season training; they are unlikely to be involved in this pre-season friendly against Accrington Stanley.

The squad will probably include 23-year-old Harry Tyrer, whose most senior experience has been with Blackpool in League One, and 18-year-old midfield starlet Harrison Armstrong, who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season on loan at Derby County.

Despite signing a 4-year deal, Everton's only new signing so far, Thierno Barry, is yet to join the Finch Farm squad and he won’t be involved tonight either. Perhaps in his place, David Moyes will be tempted to see how Braiden Graham performs if he is thrust into the limelight. There are also certain to be a number of other young players from the U21s and U18s involved tonight, especially on the substitutes bench.

Other concerns relate to the possible lingering impact of injuries to key players that were sustained toward the end of last season, especially the hamstring injuries to Everton's central defenders, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite.

Fans who have signed up with the club as official members and paid their new substantially increased annual fee have the opportunity to stream this match live via EvertonFC.com through the of a ‘MatchPass’ — but only for an additional fee of £7.99. There is a double-header option which will get you both this game and Saturday’s game at Blackburn Rovers at the discounted price of £9.99.

For those who are travelling to the Lancashire town to watch the game in person at the Wham Stadium, tickets are still available via the Accrington Stanley website.

Reader Comments (28)

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Danny O'Neill 2 Posted 14/07/2025 at 22:33:32

Thanks Michael.

The Wham Stadium. I don't know if that's worse than Wimbledon's Cherry Red Records name for Plough Lane, which I visited last season I visited last season.

It will, as you, and Rob said on another thread, feature a lot of the youngsters. Maybe Coleman and Keane will play. Chermiti??

At least Everton are back now.

Paul Kernot 3 Posted 14/07/2025 at 22:50:03

Long wait for EFC to play a game but here we are. Meaningless for several reasons yes, but as Michael suggests, very interesting to see if young Harrison & Braden play & how they go.

4 Posted 14/07/2025 at 22:55:17

Larry,

Over the years, Everton have often played local lower-league teams in pre-season friendlies.

You could perhaps make an argument that this approach is not optimal and that there are other teams which could be chosen.

I don't think it makes much difference, to be honest: it's a glorified public training game. It's part of a process to get the players back in the swing of things, and I don't think it matters all that much who the opposition is in the initial pre-season games.

Jay Harris 7 Posted 15/07/2025 at 01:21:09

Seems an early kickoff for a midweek game. 2.45pm gmt.

As the post says almost double for a new membership and you have to pay for the games too.

Previously with the membership you would get some Knick knacks. I don’t expect any this year.

Be interesting to see a couple of the young lads play.

Eric Myles 9 Posted 15/07/2025 at 03:56:09

The Club are Christine, MK says so in his blurb, but you have to pay for it.

Christine Foster 10 Posted 15/07/2025 at 04:00:53

Eric, yep I saw that but thats for the normal membership, not the International Membership which is separate and not yet up on the website.

Scott Hamilton 11 Posted 15/07/2025 at 06:58:36

“Accrington Stanley! Oo are they?!”

(If you’re old enough, you’ll know)

Mark Murphy 12 Posted 15/07/2025 at 07:03:50

Didn’t one of those lads end up a bad un, Scott??

Neil Copeland 13 Posted 15/07/2025 at 07:23:25

Scott, exactly!

Scott Hamilton 14 Posted 15/07/2025 at 07:49:41

🤣

Ian Jones 15 Posted 15/07/2025 at 08:50:09

Who remembers this pre-season game, 7 years ago, one of Marco Silva's first matches:

Irdning 0 Everton 22

Link

Danny Baily 16 Posted 15/07/2025 at 08:53:21

I think we'll be surprised by how high the profile is for the Premier League Summer Series in the US.

The local friendlies are what they are, a good chance for fringe players to make an impression.

Andrew Ellams 17 Posted 15/07/2025 at 08:59:46

Mark, yes. He's currently doing time for murder.

Jeff Spiers 18 Posted 15/07/2025 at 09:17:26

Slightly off topic. A kopite neighbour is doing his nut because Sky still have Tarkowski as the main image on their site. How sad!!!

John Hall 19 Posted 15/07/2025 at 10:07:01

It's a pity George Michael isn't available, but Andrew Ridgeley may put in an appearance…

Ron Sear 20 Posted 15/07/2025 at 11:10:33

I have to admit the Accrington Stanley crest is a very good one, the stadium name the absolute worst.

Last time I went there, a nice friendly crowd.

Tony Abrahams 21 Posted 15/07/2025 at 11:13:55

Just reading that Manchester City are set to sign a £1B contract with Puma (£100M per year for 10 years).

TFG are going to have to do some serious ripping off, Derek, if Everton are ever going to be able to truly compete once again.

Football always reflects life, I say, and deals like this just confirm it, as the gap between the haves and the have-nots continues to grow. I just thank god that we have got PSR to keep us lower earning clubs in line!

I have also just realised that tonight's game is between two of the founder members of the original Football League.

Alan McGuffog 23 Posted 15/07/2025 at 11:30:39

Liam, someone said it's full of holes.

Thousands apparently…

Lee Courtliff 24 Posted 15/07/2025 at 12:04:21

I've got my ticket for tonight, unfortunately it's the home end as our allocation had sold out.

Hope we play a fairly strong team with the likes of Harrison Armstrong and Braiden Graham given some decent minutes.

Jon Harding 26 Posted 15/07/2025 at 12:56:27

Sorry Tony @ 24 but that's a different Accrington

Michael Kenrick 27 Posted 15/07/2025 at 13:03:07

I guess this stark warning means the shirt numbers worn tonight might not mean much in the bigger scheme of things:

Everton can confirm 2025-26 squad numbers for the Men's Senior Team are subject to change pending the conclusion of the summer transfer window on Monday 1 September.

Any numbers worn by players during the Blues' pre-season schedule may change. Numbers for players in the Club's Premier League squad will be confirmed on Everton digital channels before Friday 15 August, with the final full 2025-26 list issued on Tuesday 2 September following the closure of the summer transfer window.

Danny #36 I'd love to see Adidas sponsor us also, Castore have a multi -year deal, don't know how long that means, but their quality is crap, which is why Villa and Newcastle quit there contract early, Adidas would look really good in blue, as the red across the park looks utter shite.