CURRENT SEASON'S ARCHIVE page |
2 to 5 August, 2004
|
2 to 5 August, 2004 |
Right: Sean Smith (11) back in action at Crossford Bridge
"Hinckley United [gained] a comfortable 5-1 win away at Leicestershire Senior League side Ellistown" whilst "Harrogate Town recorded a 5-1 win at West Yorkshire League side Knaresborough Town... A new face on view for Harrogate was former York City midfielder Christian Fox" says their website. NLD adds that "Another Nationwide North outfit, Moor Green, returned to winning ways thanks to two superb strikes from Darren Middleton at neighbours Solihull Borough", whilst "Goals from Andy Hayward, Phil Eastwood and Nathan Wharton gave Stalybridge Celtic the Ray Stanley Memorial Shield against Tameside neighbours Hyde United".
Harrogate Town report that "Gary Williams will not be joining Scunthorpe United following his appearance for them in a 2-0 friendly win at Brigg Town on Tuesday. Manager Brian Laws told This is Scunthorpe 'Unfortunately... Williams is not what we're looking for'. Williams, who has been training with Harrogate Town during the pre-season, picked up a hamstring injury during the match. Both Marc Smith and Dominic Kreif were also injured on Tuesday evening".
At Barrow "The Secretary's office at Holker Street was hidden under a mound of paperwork last night as several players signed new deals... Graham Anthony signed his 2-year Contract, while Lee Turnbull has shown his faith in up and coming local talent by securing the trio of Guy Heffernan, Mike Kewley and Gareth Simpson also on 2 year contracts. Mark Salmon will remain on non-contract terms until his return to fitness following his shoulder operation but sadly Simon Shaw has now left the club after a re-currence of an injury problem... Jamie Paterson has now formally signed from Doncaster Rovers, while Leyland-based Ian Kilford tied up the loose ends following his release from Scunthorpe United. Meanwhile Lee Turnbull is in negotiations with a Nationwide Conference (National) club over the services of a central defender. The player himself is keen to come to Holker Street. It is hoped that a deal can be sorted before Saturday's final pre-season friendly at Morecambe".
Pictured above are Alty Reserves' midfielders 'Adayo' (left) and Jamie Almond (centre), with Stevie Taylor in the background. Cheadle Town's former Alty midfielder Martin McDonald is seen on the right in a picture taken at Saturday's friendly. Adayo and Jamie are expected to be in the squad tonight for the game against Old Alts. Watching them closely on Saturday was Derek Wilshaw (white shirt), the man whose voice you will most often hear if you ring Altrincham FC. Derek gives many hours of his time every week to help out in the club office.
Mike Cockayne, author of Derby County: the Clough years, (which he
sold at the Altrincham FC 'bring & buy sale' last season and kindly gave a
percentage of the proceeds to the club), has contacted the website to
say:
"I attended a charity game for the Human BSE Foundation in my home town of Belper on August 1st. I was delighted to see that the Robins' football trust (STAR) was one of the few trusts who had sent in a message of support to the organisers. Well done Brian Flynn and all concerned". Mike Cockayne, Alty fan /football author.
Meanwhile STAR members are being notified by post of the Trust's AGM, which will be on Friday 10 September at 7pm in the Noel White Suite at Moss Lane. The AGM will be followed by a quiz and an open forum. If you have not yet (re-)joined STAR, please visit their website to do so.
Runcorn have completed the signing of right full back Lee Prior. The 26 year old...has signed from West Cheshire League outfit Newton FC".
Lancaster City were supposed to play Morecambe last night but "Morecambe called the match off at 12.30 on Monday because they have only 9 fit players [and] City will now play Leigh RMI" nstead. The Morecambe site confirms that "manager Jim Harvey is currently worried about the fitness of 11 players for the coming season".
Bradford PA' s manager ""Carl Shutt has announced the signing on contract of two more players" - Andy Quinn and US goalkeeper Andrew Britton.
Barrow's woes continue as the NW Evening Mail says that the club "could face a fine after being hauled up in front of the FA and told to clean up their disciplinary problems. The Bluebirds finished bottom of last season's Unibond Premier Division fair play league with over 100 yellow and nine red cards... The club have now promised to impose a stricter code of conduct, which will include fining players who step out of line on the pitch. The FA may, however, still decide to fine AFC. They are expected to decide whether to take such action within the next week to 10 days".
Old Alts finished second last season in the Air Miles Manchester League Division One, netting more than 3 a game with Ray Nevins hitting 35 goals alone. So, this campaign they start in the Premier Division.
Non-League Daily says that "Former Stoke City winger, Ryan Hutchinson (left), who spent the back end of last season at Altrincham, contacted [Leek Town] last week after missing much of pre-season training. And, after talking things through...
Hutchinson was given a run-out on Saturday ... and is set to make a further appearance at Alsager Town on Tuesday".
Woodley Sports have two ex-Alty first-teamers in their ranks now: striker Anthony Hargreaves and "new recruit Adewale Ajetunmobi (right) [who] scored two well deserved goals".
The Mossley website confirms that Chris Downey (at Alty last season) is still there and scoring regularly in pre-season. The Lilywhites drew 1-1 with Droylsden recently. Another ex-Robin, from the late 1990s, Steve Tobin has joined Mossley from Skelmersdale United. Ex-Alty youth and reserves' keeper Dale Newbrook is still at Trafford with their Reserves side.
Worksop Today says that "Tigers' boss Ronnie Glavin has been encouraged by Worksop's performances in both pre-season games... So far the Worksop boss has 13 players signed... He said: 'The players have still got to get their fitness levels up... You may only rate certain players as a 4 or a 5 at the moment but as we near the start of the season those scores will go up to 9s and 10s. We are training as much as we can'... Glavin is still on the lookout for at least four more players... 'Strikers are still my priority', he added".
This is Worcs says that Worcester City "manager John Barton has raided former club Burton Albion to beef up Worcester City's leaky defence with the capture of experienced stopper Colin Hoyle. The 32-year-old becomes the club's fourth summer signing" Barton said "I've been concerned about the number of goals we've been conceding, both in pre-season and at the end of last season". "Hoyle began his career at Arsenal... Trialist Jamie Gosling pulled out of Friday's Evesham match after securing a trial at Hereford United".
This is Staffs confirms that "Stafford Rangers' leading scorer Daniel Davidson has joined Conference newboys Crawley Town... on a two-year contract... Davidson scored 23 goals last season".
On IC Southport, Sandgrounders' boss Liam Watson says "When I took the job at Southport I thought I knew how big it was but on and off the pitch I have realised the club is larger than I anticipated and the potential enormous... With our training facilities at the Everton academy and the Victoria we will be the envy of most clubs outside the Football League... Results are not the be all and end all in pre-season and I could take positives out of both the weekend Burscough draw and the 3-2 defeat at Radcliffe.. In a way I'm glad certain things did happen at Radcliffe because it was a warning that no one can be complacent".
Harrogate Today says that "Harrogate Town are hoping to conclude the signing of ex-WBA defender Paul Raven from Carlisle United early this week following a successful trial period". Managing director Nigel Pleasants said "We have been talking to Paul with a view to joining us but we cannot conclude a deal until John Reed returns from holiday." He also "revealed that York City's Leigh Wood is set to put pen-to-paper on a permanent deal". Also, "the on-off saga with Hull City's Clayton Donaldson looks on again after Peter Taylor's men agreed to his release for an initial three months."
After Alty's narrow 4-3 win at Bamber Bridge, Preston Today reports that "Brig [were] unlucky not to earn [a] draw with [Lancaster] City" whose side comprised Speare, Clarke, Scott, Sparrow, Murphy, Bauress, Sullivan, Jones, Thomson, Black, Prince. Subs: Uberschar, Elderton, McMahon, Jack, Stanhope and Lock.
Moves:
There are more details and photos of the newly reformed Altrincham Reserves' squad on the Reserves Page. Pictured right is Reserves' captain James Marsden. For details of their game on Saturday, see below...
"New Congleton goalkeeper Ryan McMahon made two outstanding saves, but Southport wasted two golden opportunities to claim victory" reports This is Staffs. Ryan played once for Alty's first team, in the FA Cup defeat by Mossley in 2000.
Barrow’s Michael Rankine is on trial with Scunthorpe United and scored in their friendly against Halifax Town.
From This is Worcester comes news that "Worcester City are still looking for their first pre-season victory after a narrow 3-2 defeat at neighbours Evesham United... City looked good going forward at times, but it's their defensive play which will be giving manager John Barton plenty to think about with the new season only two weeks away. At the moment City simply don't know how to handle a long straight ball from the opposition".
In contrast, "Stafford Rangers extended their unbeaten run in pre-season to seven matches" at the weekend, says This is Staffs.
The NW Evening Mail says that the Barrow "futures of Michael Oliver and Simon Shaw are to be decided within the next nine days. Both have been asked by manager Lee Turnbull to prove their fitness in pre-season before being offered new deals at the club... Midfielder Oliver was asked to prove his fitness after a disappointing first season at the Holker Street club". And, manager "Lee Turnbull is refusing to speculate about his possible future at the club should the current board be ousted. Five businessmen, including shirt sponsor Colin Moore, have formed the Barrow AFC Progress Group and are attempting to replace the current board of directors".
Copyright: ©
Compiled by John Laidlar