Altrincham Football Club News Archive
2 to 6 July, 2004
7 July 2004
ANOTHER PRE-SEASON FIXTURE
The newly re-formed Altrincham FC Reserves, managed by Neil Brown, will be playing a friendly away at Cheadle Town on Saturday, July 31st with a 3pm kick off. All support will be very welcome at this fixture. Cheadle Town has a very informative website. All the pre-season games are listed here.HELP PLEASE!
Altrincham FC invites supporters to help to tidy up the ground for the new season at two Working Weekends, on 10-11 and 17-18 July, starting at 10am. If you can come, please ring the club in advance so that they have some idea of numbers and can plan accordingly. If anyone wants to come along at any other time, from now onwards, Graham Heathcote says that he can always find some work for them to do around the ground! Alty Director, Grahame Rowley, adds that the working weekends "will continue until the work has been completed. Paint and pots are at the club but if anyone has any spare brushes they would be greatly appreciated".
CONF. NORTH NEWS
The Holker Street Newsletter reports that "At a hearing in Manchester, the ongoing dispute between Moore & Co Solicitors and Barrow AFC Limited was settled. The club and Moore & Co acknowledge that there is always a risk with regards to costs of litigation and the parties have, with the interests of the club in mind, agreed a settlement. The Agreement reached is that Moore & Co Solicitors will be the club's main sponsor for the 2004/2005 football season and that Moore & Co Solicitors name and company logo will now appear on the club's football shirts during this period. Barrow AFC Limited accept that it has a contract with Moore & Co Solicitors to be the main sponsor. As part of the settlement agreement, Moore & Co has agreed to waive its claim to be paid its costs of UKP19,000 and instead, as a gesture towards the club, to accept only a contribution' from Barrow AFC Limited of UKP3000 towards its barrister's costs. Both Moore & Co and Barrow AFC Limited are pleased that this matter has been settled".The Gainsborough Forum reports that Trinity have "signed all last season's squad back on apart from Stuart Reddington who has gone to Grantham, they've also signed Matty Cauldwell from Worksop".
NW Evening Mail reports that "Barrow has netted £400,000 to create a state-of-the-art study centre in line with projects at Manchester United and other Premiership League clubs. The Bluebirds’ study support centre will work as an after- school facility for hundreds of schoolchildren. The environment and medium of football will be used to motivate youngsters in the areas of literacy, numeracy and Information, Communication and Technology... The facility for nine to 14 year-olds is due to be officially opened in April 2005".
Transfers:
6 July 2004
CONF. NORTH NEWS
Troubled Bradford City "are due to kick off their warm-up programme at Harrogate Town on Friday. The new manager has seen troop numbers slashed in recent weeks and currently has no senior goalkeeper... But [manager Colin Todd] still wants to press on with a game against the part-timers if at all possible. Todd said: "It's vital in more ways than one that we can play that game. It's so important for the football club, the players and the supporters to get that first one out the way and be playing football again" he told This is Bradford."Current player of the year, Barrie Keeling, has finally signed a new deal to stay with Stalybridge Celtic for next season... Celtic were also linked with a raid for Leek Town's Phil Hadland. An offer had apparently been made to the striker with the club awaiting a decision when he returned from holiday, but he has subsequently signed for Northwich Victoria. Similarly, an offer has also been made for a centre-half" reports the Tameside Advertiser.
UNIBOND NEWS
Blyth Spartans report that "Longtime supporter Malcolm Stevenson is to have his marriage blessed on the pitch... Local press would be covering the event".5 July 2004
ALTY SIGN LITTLE - AND TWO MORE RE-SIGN
Altrincham FC are pleased to announce the signing of striker Colin Little who was at Halifax Town last season. Colin is a two-footed striker, born at Wythenshawe on 4 November 1972. He is 5ft
10ins tall and weighs 10st 5lbs. Colin signed for Hyde United in August 1995 but moved to Crewe for £50,000 on 6 February 1996. He made 193 appearances for Alex and scored 33 goals before going on loan to Mansfield in October 2002,where he played 5 games. He then went on loan to Macclesfield in December 2002, for whom he eventually signed on a free transfer in May 2003. He made 26+8 appearances and scored 7 goals for Macc. before joining Halifax Town in March 2004, for whom he played 8 games and scored twice. Alty fans may wish to forget that Colin scored two of Crewe's three goals in their Cheshire Senior Cup Final win, 3-0 over Alty at the Drill Field, Northwich in 2002 and that he also got the winner as Alex won 3-2 against Alty in the CSC 1st Round in September, 2002. He is Graham Heathcote's third summer signing, after Peter Wright (from Northwich) and Eddie Hussin (from Marine).
The club is also pleased to report the re-signing for another campaign at Moss Lane of Gary Scott (left) and Stephen Rose (right), who have both been regulars in the first team over the last couple of seasons. Gary and Stephen are at home both in defence and midfield. Gary has made 150+13 appearances for Alty since arriving in October 2000 whilst Stephen has already played 97+5 games in just two seasons at the club.
CRICKET
Yesterday Altrincham FC took on an Urmston Cricket Club XI in a two-innings match of 20 overs per innings. Alty batted first with Stuart Wright and newcomer Glyn Barker, the former Hyde United and Clitheroe striker, impressively opening the innings. Glyn is currently training at Moss Lane. After a good start by the openers, Chris Adams came in to replace Barker and was promptly out first
ball! Peter Band batted at number four and he and Wright formed a flowing partnership till a mix-up with his partner saw "Bandy" run out. Band had hit the game's first two sixes and with four catches having been spilled by Urmston, Alty reached 93 for 3 off 13 overs. Charles Heathcote replaced Band at the crease but it was the opener who was next out, top-scoring with
an excellent 36, with Charles following him off the next ball. A cameo of an innings from Grahame Rowley preceded the arrival at the crease of Chairman, Geoff Goodwin, resplendent in a Sir Paul Getty XI cricket shirt. After Grahame Rowley had gone, caught off a skier, manager Graham
Heathcote put his job on the line by running-out his chairman before Geoff could face a ball. Steve Aspinall came in at number nine and played some good strokes before Graham Heathcote, slipped and was himself run out. The innings ended at 130 for 8 with Chris Rowley partnering Steve Aspinall at the crease. Alty's number eleven, Bill Coop's son, did not bat.
Several players were also watching the match and these included Stuart Coburn, Stephen Rose, Sean Smith and Ged Kielty.
Alty then fielded with Chris Adams, as wicketkeeper, showing no adverse effects from the broken arm with which he finished last seen. Amongst the Alty highlights of the Urmston first innings were a fine "clean-bowled" by Peter Band, an excellent catch by Graham Heathcote from a towering hit towards the boundary and both a run-out and a catch behind the stumps for Chris Adams. Stuart Wright bowled an opponent, Graham Heathcote took two wickets in two balls and Geoff Goodwin held a smart catch as Urmston were reduced to 93-9 but they recovered to take a narrow first-innings lead - and went on to win the overall game, despite a magnificent 82 not out from Charles Heathcote in Alty's second innings (see below).
Above, right: Graham Heathcote leads the players off the pitch after the Urmston first innings.
Scores:
Thanks to Grahame Rowley for the detailed scores, above; Grahame adds: "A great day out and a very enjoyable afternoon's entertainment. Thanks for all the players who took part or came to watch and also thanks to the supporters for coming to watch".
STAR
STAR, the Alty supporters' trust, put on a good show at Saturday's Altrincham Festival and details are on the STAR website. STAR's seat sponsorship scheme has raised £580 so far; thanks to all concerned for these excellent fundraising efforts.FA PRIZE MONEY
FAT prizes for winners...
UNIBOND NEWS
"Frickley Athletic will this week launch a major sponsorship deal... The five-figure, two-year deal with international real-estate firm Millennium Worldwide is the largest in the club’s 94-year history and will see the club’s Westfield Lane ground re-named as the Millennium Worldwide Stadium" reports the club website.Whitby Town "have announced a trading profit for the season 2003/04 of £29,000... The excellent FA Cup run of last season was the main reason for the profit. It was also revealed that the majority of the money will be given to Harry Dunn to boost the squad".
4 July 2004
GARY TARGETED
The Winsford Chronicle says that Alty's "Gary Talbot (right) may play out his career back at Winsford United under a unique sponsorship deal. Manager Dave Twite was this week aiming to talk to the rugged centre back, who is out-of-contract at Altrincham. While United are dipping their toes back into semi-professional waters, they recognise Talbot would cost far more than any other member of their squad. But they have been encouraged to talk to Talbot because of a pledge by an as yet unnamed businessman to help meet the player's wages". Twite said, "I want to talk to Gary as soon as possible. A player of Gary's stature would do wonders for Winsford and he still lives in the town".
STAMFORD RENEW SUPPORT
Stamford Van Hire have once again kindly agreed to provide transport for the Altrincham Youth team next season. The club is very grateful and asks all supporters to respond by making use of the company's vehicle hire services.OLD BOY
The NLP reports on Accrington Stanley's pre-season training and includes two photos of Ian Craney. It adds a quote from coach Paul Cook, "'Where have you been on holiday?" Cook asks Ian Craney, the new signing from Altrincham who had been tying up the rear for the last couple of [training] runs. 'Puerto Rico', he replies. 'So that's where he left his legs!' says the coach".CONF. NORTH NEWS
Hucknall Today says "Don't Panic! That's the message from chairman Brian Holmes as Hucknall Town prepare to start pre-season training without a full squad... Since the end of last season, Hucknall have lost managers Steve Burr and Peter Wragg to Northwich Victoria plus four players, and are all but resigned to losing three more. What's more, the club's chief sponsors for the last eleven years, Hucknall firm Doff Portland Ltd, have announced they are to pull their financial support for next term". Those who have left are Barry Miller, Carl Adams and Craig Gaunt to Leigh RMI and Paul Pettinger to Harrogate Town. "With Jon McCarthy, Roy Hunter and Dean Barrick out of contract and unwilling to accept cuts in pay, that leaves Town with only ten players sure to turn up for the first training session... They are Alistair Asher, Danny Bacon, Simon Brown, Danny Mayman, Leon McSweeney, Gary Ricketts, Andy Todd, Mark Ward, Nathan Winder and new goalkeeper James Lindley". Roy Hunter is linked with Kettering Town.Hinckley United have announced that "The new club shirt sponsor for next season is Triumph Motorcycles". The club also has "an extra friendly... against Korean division 2 team Hummel Korea. Who says we'd never see International football at Middlefield Lane?". Hinckley's new De Montfort Park ground will not be ready for the start of the season so until September, at least, games will still be played at Middlefield Lane.
Nuneaton Borough "has been officially informed by Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council that its planning application for a new stadium and training pitch at Liberty Way will be presented to the Planning Committee for approval at the next scheduled meeting on Monday 12 July 2004".
This is Worcester reports that Worcester City's "board's prudent management of its finances, even though its inherited debt stands at the best part of £700,000, ensures that the St George's Lane club will have a future". New signing Christian Moore from defunct Telford United said "I'm owed a lot of money which I won't get".
IC Cheshire reports that "Vauxhall players begin pre-season tomorrow. There are no additions yet to Owen Brown's promotion-winning squad. The Motormen have eight pre-season friendlies lined up, including home games against Tranmere Rovers and Everton".
"Runcorn FC Halton report back for training this Saturday with player-manager Chris Lightfoot hoping to make his third signing... Striker Nicky Young, who chose Marine instead of the Linnets last season, is again a target". Manager Chris Lightfoot said: "'Marine's manager wants him to stay but Nicky would like to play in Conference North.' Striker Matty Platt, returning to Crewe following his loan, and skipper Dominic Morley, to Southport, are the only departures".
The Tameside Advertiser says that "Ashton United chairman Tony Ryan has revealed the club has reached a ‘principle of agreement’ with Curzon Ashton to share the new Tameside Stadium. Subject to satisfactory negotiations between the Robins and Tameside Council over the sale of Hurst Cross, the club could move in time for the 2005/06 season". Ryan added "We have got an agreement with Curzon and if the council can meet our terms, then it would have a chance of going through". The club "expect to bolster their squad and hope to complete a deal to keep Dean Johnson".
The NW Evening Mail reports that Barrow "defender James Cotterill says he has a 70% chance of recovering from his injury hell in time for the start of the season. The centre-half has been sidelined for the last seven months after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage". But "Skipper Mark Salmon has spoken of his frustration at having to miss the start of next season’s Conference North campaign through injury. The Bluebirds’ rock-steady centre-half went under the knife five weeks ago, with surgeons completely rebuilding his dislocated shoulder. Specialists have told Salmon he will not be fit to play again until October".
PRE-SEASON GAMES
Altricnham fans seeking nearby international pre-season action with an Alty connection can watch Ken McKenna's TNS, for whom John Toner plays, playing Osters IF of Sweden at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground in the UEFA Cup 1st Qualifying Round on Thursday 29 July at 7.30pm. Adult admission is £8.Kettering have an unusual pre-season game, in Devon at Dawlish Town whose chairman has "invited Italy's Pierluigi Collina" to refree the game! "I emailed Pierluigi's website on Friday" said the chairman. He added that if the Italian can't make that game "he's quite welcome to officiate against Ivybridge Town on July 28th" reports This is South Devon.
3 July 2004
THREE AGES OF ALTY
The young man in yesterday's picture (below) is Sonny, the three year-old son of Alty centre-back Mark Maddox who has been enthusiastically joining his father in Terry Surridge's weights programme for Altrincham FC players. Sonny is seen again, above, with his proud father in the background, whilst Carlos, a friend of Mark's, stands between Maddox senior and junior. Sonny greatly impressed Terry, a weightlifting coach to the British team, not only with his strength but also his ability to run three times round the perimeter of the Moss Lane pitch without getting out of breath. Terry predicts Sonny should be ready to follow his father into the Robins' side in around 2020!
Terry himself was recently rewarded for his many years of dedication to weightlifting when he lifted the award as Manchester Coach of the Year, an award which is given to the best coach in any sport in the Manchester area. Alty fans will see Terry at virtually every home game selling matchday programmes - one of the many other jobs he has done for Altrincham FC over the years.
Pictured right, Mark goes through his paces watched by Mark Griffiths who was left-back in Alty's youth team two seasons ago and who has returned to join the newly revived Altrincham FC Reserves. Amongst the other regulars at Terry's course have been the twins Kieran and Kelvin Lugsden and youth team player Tom Hilton.
Thanks are due to Terry for providing the adjacent pictures.
CONF. NORTH TRUSTS
Alty fan and Supporters Direct officer, Jacqui Forster, kindly informs me that Worcester City (as well as Ashton United as noted below) have switched their midweek games to Mondays. However, Alty are due to play Worcester on a Saturday. Worcester are one of our Conference North rivals who, like us, have a Supporters' Trust as do Nuneaton Borough Supporters Trust who will be sponsoring the match at the Manor Ground when Alty play there on 22nd January. In all, Jacqui writes "There are 5 clubs in the new Nationwide North who have supporters trusts, Altrincham, Kettering, Nuneaton, Runcorn and Worcester. Good relationships and links are being forged between the supporters trust boards. Northwich also have a supporters trust and would have been the sixth, however AFC Telford were formed by their supporters' trust and are wholly owned by the trust".CONF. NORTH NEWS
Worksop Town report that "manager Ronnie Glavin has made his second signing in 24 hours after he brought Miles Thorpe to Sandy Lane today. 28 year-old forward Thorpe, has been signed from Wakefield-Emley while Tigers' striker Adam Muller has been released in order to go in the opposite direction... Glavin made his first signing of the new campaign when acquired the services of former Barnsley professional James Dudgeon... Dudgeon is the first of what could be a number of players coming to the club". Former Alty captain Steve Hawes appears to one of the former regime's players still at Sandy Lane.IC Huddersfield reports that "Paul David is in sole charge of Wakefield-Emley... after the resignation of Ray Dennis (the pair were in joint charge last season and their jobs were advertised in the national press in May)... Stalwart midfielders Miles Thorpe and Mark Wilson have, however, left to team up with former Emley manager Ronnie Glavin at Worksop Town". Robbie Painter has joined Wakefield-Emley after being at Bradford PA. "Adam Muller, who enjoyed a successful spell on loan from Worksop last season, has signed permanently and could form a potent partnership with Robert Pell, who is staying at Belle Vue".
"Grantham Town took a major step towards the forthcoming Southern League Premier Division season by securing the services of highly-rated defender Stuart Reddington... on a one-year contract from Gainsborough Trinity" says the Town website.
Finally, another Conf. North club has raised its prices - at Vauxhall Motors, it will cost £8 for adults and £5 for OAPS.
2 July 2004
YOUTH POLICY
Altrincham FC have revealed their secret weapon for next season (above), but who is the three year-old strongman taking part in Terry Surridge's pre-season weights course this week for Altrincham FC's players? Answer tomorrow... Picture kindly supplied by Terry Surridge.
SUSPENSIONS
The following players are suspended from the start of the season:FA CUP COMPETITIONS
The draws have been made today for the following FA competitions:FA Cup - The draw has been made up the 1st Qualifying Round. Alty enter at the 2nd Qualifying Round on 2 October 2004.
FA Trophy - The draw has been made for Round 1 on 6 November 2004: ALTRINCHAM v Warrington Town or Ossett Albion
FA Youth Cup - The draw has been made for the
HELP PLEASE!
Altrincham FC invites supporters to help to tidy up the ground for the new season at two Working Weekends, on 10-11 and 17-18 July, starting at 10am. If you can come, please ring the club in advance so that they have some idea of numbers and can plan accordingly. If anyone wants to come along at any other time, from now onwards, Graham Heathcote says that he can always find some work for them to do around the ground! Alty Director, Grahame Rowley, adds that the working weekends "will continue until the work has been completed. Paint and pots are at the club but if anyone has any spare brushes they would be greatly appreciated".PLAYER FITNESS
Alty limped over the finishing line last season with a string of regular players sidelined by long-term injuries. Here is an update on their fitness:
Also
EDDIE REPLACED
Marine have announced the signing on contract of former Port Vale and Southport midfielder Paul Byrne... Marine manager Roly Howard said: 'I am pleased that Paul Byrne has joined us. As a central midfielder he is an ideal replacement for Eddie Hussin, who has left for Altrincham'... Marine chairman Paul Leary added: "The fans will be disappointed to lose Eddie, as I am".KIT
Altrincham's new kit for 2004-05 was due for delivery at the end of the month but is now expected to arrive in time for the friendlies. Replica kits should be delivered at the same time.TICKETS
The 2004-05 season tickets have been printed but the wallets to contain them have not yet arrived.CRICKET
The cricket match between Altrincham FC and Urmston Cricket Club will take place at the latter's Moorside Road ground on Sunday, starting at 12.45pm. Above, in last season's game against Urmston, Alty's Rob Matthews is at the crease as umpire George Heslop presides.
OLD BOY
IC Cheshire states that former Alty striker "Mark Quayle, latterly with Scarborough, has agreed to spend the pre-season with [Northwich] Vics".CONF. NORTH NEWS
Ashton United have indicated that "If you have been allocated a midweek fixture away at Hurst Cross then those games will be played on Monday evenings". As of yesterday afternoon it had not been confirmed that Altrincham would therefore travel to Hurst Cross on Monday 17 August instead of the following day, as shown in the fixtures released this week.The Hinckley unofficial site is not too happy with the fixtures. "Instead of a Boxing Day/New Year derby against Nuneaton Borough in our new stadium we will face Kettering Town over the festive period. For Bank Holiday Monday and Easter Monday we will play Altrincham, for some unknown reason. When do we play the Boro then? A Tuesday night in September at home and a Tuesday night in December away". For Alty's part, although their preferred Christmas opposition, Northwich Vics, escaped relegation leaving Altrincham unpaired, the Robins' manager Graham Heathcote is happy now to be paired with Stafford Rangers over the festive season, a team with whom Altrincham have a long history of rivalry in the Cheshire County League and the Alliance/Conference and who are likely to bring sizeable support to Moss Lane.
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