John Coleman still hasn't got over the 2-2 draw against Morecambe in April 2016 which he believes cost his side promotion.
Stanley were leading 2-1 thanks to a Josh Windass double before Tom Barkhuizen scored a 79th minute equaliser at the Wham Stadium.By May, the Reds ended up missing out on automatic promotion on goal difference and Coleman still looks back to the Shrimps game as one of the deciding factors.
“I still feel we owe them one from that,” said Coleman, whose side travel to the Globe Arena tomorrow. "That 2-2 draw here that season stopped us going up automatically. I still think about it.”
Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell are good friends with Morecambe manager Jim Bentley and his assistant Ken McKenna and the Shrimps have former Stanley captain Dean Winnard in their ranks.
“We all know each other inside out, we are all passionate about football and all four of us are all about winning games,” said the Stanley boss.
“But win, lose or draw we will have a drink after the game and we will either be bemoaning our luck or talking about the opposition's bad luck. That's the way it should be.
“We are all in the same job and I know first hand how hard it is to run a professional football club with your hands tied behind your back. I do not thank Jim gets the credit he deserves.
“Every year the Manager of the Year is usually the manager who wins the league but I think Jim should be in contention every year for keeping Morecambe in the league.
“It's great having Morecambe in the league, there is banter between fans,a great atmosphere and I think a lot of the Morecambe fans forget I played for them!”
The Shrimps have won one, drawn two and lost one of their four league games so far and are in 15th place in League Two.