Altrincham Football Club News Archive
15 to 18 October, 2004
18 October 2004
STUART BACK
Stuart Coburn (right) will be back in goal for Altrincham tomorrow night at Hucknall. Dave Cummins will be on the bench as reserve keeper. Barry Shuttleworth will be out of contention with a pulled muscle but Steve Aspinall, who limped off on Saturday, should be available.CUP DRAW
Altrincham are away to Morecambe in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round if they can beat Hucknall Town in tomorrow night's FAC3QR replay. In 1997-98 Alty also met Morecambe in the FAC4QR and lost at home, 0-2.The FAC4QR games are on 30 October and the prize money is £10,000. The draw includes -
NEW PHYSIO
Altrincham are pleased to welcome Sean Riley as their new physiotherapist in succession to Gary Thompson, who moved on to a full-time post at Halifax Town earlier this season. Sean made his debut at Moss Lane on Saturday against Hucknall. He was formerly with Accrington Stanley but was unable to commit himself full-time at the Interlink Express Stadium, as Stanley had wished, so has joined us at Moss Lane.Sean has also been resident physio for the Blackburn Sunday League and for Gt Harwood Town and Bamber Bridge. He was also involved with the GB team for the World Student games in Beijing and holds an FA diploma in the treatment and management of sports injuries.
DON'T MISS THE BUS
STAR will be running a supporters' coach, provided as usual by Go Goodwins, to Hucknall on Tuesday night. Time and fare details are here. Booking opens at 9.30am - please ring the club on 928-1045 to reserve your seat.THE OPPONENTS' VIEW
The Hucknall site has a report on Saturday's game which it rightly describes as "a full blooded cup tie". It adds, "Second half changes saw Hucknall look a lot more solid at the back, Nathan Winder replaced Mick Heathcote who was struggling with a back injury... but despite plenty of pressure they found it difficult to get beyond a well marshalled Altrincham back line". The Hucknall manager Dean Barrick added: "We defended badly in the first half, and I had to make changes... We looked much more solid in the second half, and got the draw we deserved. The hard work will now come on Tuesday, and we will have to be at our best to get through to the next round".OLD BOYS
Ged Kielty (right), released by Altrincham two weeks ago, has joined our
neighbours
Trafford in the NW Counties 1st Division. He played on Saturday in a 5-1
away win at Formby, during which he "sent a long through ball that wreaked
havoc in the home defence and allowed substitute Phil Carratt to pounce"
says the Trafford site.
Ex-Robin,
Lee Thompson, now at Skelmersdale United, is the leading scorer in that
division with 16 goals in all competitions this season so far. In the League, Alex Hay (Rushden) faced Kevin Ellison and Phil Bolland (Chester) on Saturday, whilst Paul Edwards again started for Blackpool and, in the Conference, Mark Quayle netted for Northwich Vics.
STAR OFFER
The Altrincham supporters' trust, STAR, "has been given copies of the latest book written by Alty fan, Michael Cockayne, entitled Derby County: Champions 1974-75. Following the success of his first book, Derby County: The Clough Years, Michael revisits the Baseball Ground of the mid-seventies and the era of Dave Mackay. With the use of extended match reports, action photographs and interviews from star players, this new history retraces the 1974-75 First Division season in detail. STAR is selling the book at £13.50, a discount to the retail price, and profits will go to STAR, so if you'd like a copy see Brian Flynn or e-mail him or ask STAR's representative in the Club Shop at half time".17 October 2004
ALTY YOUTH 0 MARINE 'A' YOUTH 1
A late penalty gave the visitors the point in Sunday afternoon's league game. Report on Youth page.SUPPORT THE ROBINS
Altrincham FC is offering season tickets for the latter part of the season, running for 10 games from the Southport match on 18 December to the end of the season. They will cost £70 for the stand, £60 for the terraces and £30 for concessionaries for either location. To take advantage of this bargain offer (i.e. £2 off gate prices for each game), contact Grahame Rowley or the club office (928-1045).FA CUP: ALTRINCHAM 3 HUCKNALL TOWN 3
Match report here.
RESERVES
Altrincham Reserves drew 0-0 away to Leigh RMI yesterday.OLD BOYS
Yeaterday, Lee Thompson scored two more for Skelmersdale and Darren Lyons also got a brace for Salford City as did Anthony Hargreaves for Flixton. Richard Acton kept goal for Bangor City whilst former Alty Reserves' keeper Dale Newbrook became the third ex-Alty keeper to play for Woodley Sports this season (after Acton and Barry George)- Andy McDonald also scored for the Sports. Neil Murphy (Marine), Nigel Gleghorn (Newcastle Town), Gareth Strange (Atherton LR) and Danny Adams (Stockport) also all played yesterday. Danny was Man of the Match. Former Alty physio Paul Lake, now on the backroom staff at Macclesfield, is the subject of a tribute in The Pink, whilst the same paper also has an article on Phil Power's return to action at Bacup Borough.UPDATES
Many thanks to Terry (in Thailand) and Howard (in the USA) for this information.
NATIONWIDE NORTH TEAMS
Yesterday's Leek v Stalybridge FA Cup match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. "Due to both Leek and Celtic being unable to agree a date for the re-arranged game the FA has ruled that the game will take place at Leek on Thursday 21st October 2004 at 7.45pm"."Stafford Rangers... can now go ahead with a scheme, costing in the region of six figures, which includes increasing the main stand’s seating capacity. They have also been granted permission to extend the covered stand and for improvements to the terracing at the Macbel end and the building of a cantilever construction at the social club end". The club "had already received planning approval for new floodlights...and will be putting in a bid for a grant from the Football Stadia Fund... The maximum grant they can receive is £150,000" reports The Staffs Newsletter.
The Worksop site reports on the Tigers' win over Droylsden. "In a fiesty second half five players were booked and the Bloods' manager David Pace dismissed by the referee". Droylsden's Dave Cameron's booking last week after just three seconds is claimed as a joint "world record" in The Pink - equalling the same feat by Vinnie Jones!
"Despite looking the stronger team in the first half, a 29th minute goal from Stafford Rangers put Runcorn out of the FA Cup" reports the Linnets' website.
In the League yesterday, the Barrow site refers to "The incident which occured after the match at Kettering, and which was observed by some of the directors, will be brought up and discussed at the upcoming board meeting on Monday evening". This refers to a "difference of opinon" between the playing staff and management of Barrow on the one hand and some Bluebirds' supporters on the other.
Moves:
16 October 2004
FA CUP 3QR
Nationwide North:
SEAN SMITH
Sean Smith has signed for Rossendale United; I have not been able to confirm yet whether this is just so that he can recover fitness or a more permanent move.TODAY'S OPPONENTS
This is Nottingham says that "Hucknall Town face a tough task to stay in the FA Cup when they visit Altrincham... The home side... go into the game as favourites. But Hucknall are unbeaten under player-boss Dean Barrick". The manager said: "We are the underdogs and it will be a difficult game but we can go there and get a result if we work hard. It is nice to be going into this match with a bit of momentum and that will help us".DINNER GUEST
Pictured right, by Gavin Rathbone, is Bryan Robson, the guest speaker at the Altrincham FC Sportsman's Dinner last week at the Cresta Court Hotel. Pictured with him, is master of ceremonies, Graham Heathcote.
ALTY'S ROONEY?
Andrew Nash, a regular at the Golf Road and at away games, has handed me an interesting copy of cuttings about former Alty player Philip Pritchard. "Nasha's" parents bumped into Philip over the summer and the cuttings were later produced for them. One cutting says that "The most sensational debut ever made at Moss Lane" was the fans' verdict after 17 year-old right-winger Philip Pritchard had blasted three goals past Winsford - two of them in the first six minutes. Philip came to Altrincham from Cheadle Rovers, just three weeks ago. The game in question was, as Terry Rowley, an expert on the club's history, tells me in the Cheshire County League in the last game of the 1951/52 season, for which the attendance was 1,117. However, the great promise never came to fruition at Moss Lane for, as Terry adds, Philip played only four more first-team games (in 52/53) and scored just one more goal.In his match report at the time, reporter Peter Quick wrote:
ALTRINCHAM 5 WINSFORD UNITED 0
The perfect "dream debut" came true for 17 year old Altrincham right-winger Philip Pritchard at Moss Lane on Saturday After only six minutes' experience of Cheshire League football he had bagged two goals past a petrified Winsford defence, Not content with that, he bagged a third before the end. Altrincham ushered this boy with the rolling gait into the side an hour or two before kick-off. Winsford quickly wished they hadn't bothered.
The article ends:
This was a nice ending to the season for Altrincham supporters but what a shame they won't be able to see Pritchard going through his paces in the Cheshire League for ovber three months. When all is aid and done, this was his match and, although a trifle raw, he is a natural footballer if I ever saw one.
Altrincham's team that day was: Robbins, Briggs, Costin, Morris, Phillips, Barclay, Pritchard, Smith, Jones, Scallan, Kapler.
Many thanks to Andrew Nash for providing the information and best wishes to Philip himself. Perhaps he will get in touch and let us know what happened to him after his time at Moss Lane.
CRANEY IN ENGLAND SQUAD
Former Alty midfielder Ian Craney (now at Accrington) has again been named in the England National Game XI. The FA lists him in the "initial squad of 30 players for next month's international against the Italian "serie C" side. The match will be played [at] the home of Serie C2 side US Ivrea". The players are under-23s.OLD BOY
Trafford say that "On Tuesday evening the first team played against our reserve team in a very entertaining and competitive game with the first team narrowly winning 3-2. Included in the first team was defender Simon Woodford who due to injury hasn't played so far this season, but has just made two appearances with the reserves".STAR
STAR reports that its "board members are in the club shop at half time every match to answer your questions and provide you with match posters, goals4alty sponsorship forms, application forms etc. Also available are special STAR leather bonded coasters and keyrings. The coasters are attractively priced at £1 each or £5 for a set of 6 and the keyrings are £1 each". STAR also announces that "The planned Club quiz night in the NWS on Saturday 6th November has been replaced with a Hotpot/Curry night in the Sponsors' Lounge featuring former cricketer Barry Duddleston as the speaker and then the New Kids on the Block, Eddie Hussin, Colin Little and Colin Potts will form the panel for a question and answer session. Hot food in the form of a hotpot or curry is included in the ticket price of £15 a head, tables of up to 6 are available. Event starts 7.30pm. Tickets available from Grahame Rowley".NATIONWIDE NORTH
The Barrow Forum states that "Jamie Patterson has left as we can no longer afford him". He is rumoured to be going to Forest Green. But the NW Evening Mail reports that Barrow director "Phil Cowing today quashed rumours circulating about town that manager Lee Turnbull had either been sacked or had resigned... The Bluebirds boss has promised to make major changes in the wake of Tuesday night’s 3-1 humiliation at home to Droylsden. Keeper Adam Capp was heavily criticised for his part in that defeat and his days at Holker Street now look numbered. Central defender Kirk Wheeler has returned to Grimsby Town without his initial one-month loan deal being extended. And striker Gavin Knight could be following him through the door after Turnbull revealed he may send him out on loan". Meanwhile, "The man who fought to take over Barrow AFC has branded the fans who voted against him as blind fools and small-time people. Colin Moore... has attacked the 300-plus club members who backed the current board in a vote of no confidence... The club said the remarks were insulting to loyal fans".This is Worcester says that "John Snape is expected to make a run-out in the Worcester City reserves tomorrow... after struggling with a hamstring injury since pre-season".
NL Daily says that "Lancaster City have signed Steve Hollis... from Accrington Stanley. The left-sided defender, who was at Stanley for five years, works as a coach at Liverpool Academy". Lancaster Today quotes manager Phil Wilson about today's game aginst King's Lynn, "With FA Cup games, the form book goes out of the window, it is all about what you do on the day. We have got to make sure that we don't take things for granted". Also, "The club will be selling inflatable giant axes at tomorrow's game. Students from Lancaster University have started bringing the axes to recent matches and the club have brought in some to sell to other supporters".
15 October 2004
IN GOAL
Altrincham's goalkeeper tomorrow against Hucknall Town in the FA Cup will be Dave Cummins (21) from Trafford FC. Dave follows in the footsteps of Stuart Coburn, whom he replaces tomorrow - as Stuart also came to us from Shawe View. Dave, who has also been with Leigh RMI, has signed for Alty on non-contract terms. Dave has a pet tortoise - this and other information about him is on the excellent Trafford site! He has not played for Trafford's first team this season but featured last season.DINNER TIME
Courtesy of Gavin Rathbone is the above picture from the Altrincham FC
Sportsman's Dinner last week. Visible in it are (l. to r) Stephen Rose,
Gary Talbot, Stuart Coburn (obscured), Stuart Wright, Gary Scott, Ged Kielty and Mark Maddox. Below,
right, Marcus 'Elvis' Hallows samples 'The Cream of Manchester' with Chris
Adams and Niell Hardy.
JEKYLL AND HYDE
SAM quotes Graham Heathcote after the Runcorn defeat. "It's like Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. We've got one standard at home and a different one away". The paper adds that "Stuart Coburn is unlikely to be fit ... but Richard Acton cannot stand in because he is cup-tied. New signing Steve Torpey is also cup-tied, while Niell Hardy remains doubtful due to injury". Graham also said "There have been a few little knocks. Players are telling me they are OK but I am looking at certain performances and I am wondering if they are. I will speak with these players, they know what they are feeling".SATURDAY OPPONENTS
Hucknall Today quotes Town's boss Dean Barrick - "It is going to be a difficult tie at Altrincham and we will have to be at our best. They are a big club and played some good stuff against last season when we were lucky to get two wins. But we need not fear anyone and, hopefully, our fans will make the trip and get behind us". Apparently, "Barrick had Altrincham watched in their latest league match on Tuesday night when they suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at lowly Runcorn. Since he and fellow player Roy Hunter took over the reins from sacked duo Ernie Moss and Shaun O'Neill, Town have gone six games without defeat... Town are likely to take the same squad to Altrincham [as against Alfreton] but learned this week they will be without Danny Mayman [groin] and Joe Taylor [back] for several weeks... Dozens of Town fans are expected to make the trip to Cheshire tomorrow... A bumper crowd of between 800 and 1,000 is expected. If the tie ends in a draw, the replay will be at Watnall Road next Tuesday night (kick-off 7.45 pm)". Elsewhere Hucknall Today writes about Moss Lane - "on Wednesday night last week, its non-league status was interrupted when militant United supporters, dressed in black balaclavas and hooded jackets, stormed the pitch in protest at the proposed takeover of the club by American billionaire Malcolm Glazer... Tomorrow the Stars And Stripes is replaced by the stars in yellow as Town... bid to move one step closer to a place in the First Round proper of the Cup for the first time... However a stiff test, not to mention a cracking tie, is on the cards because excitement is also mounting in The Robins' camp. Not only have Altrincham made their best start to a season for some time but they are also beginning to evoke memories of their FA Cup exploits of the past". The article curiously adds that "Only now, under managers Bernard Taylor[!] and Graham Heathcote, are Altrincham threatening to recapture their glory days. And while they boast few star names for Town to worry about tomorrow, the best-known being former Crewe striker Colin Little (31), they do boast an unbeaten record at home... Three times in the last four seasons, The Yellows have suffered agonising exits in the final qualifying round".OLD BOY
Former Alty striker Carl Furlong was at the Halton Stadium to watch Runcorn v Alty last Tuesday. Now comes news from IC Cheshire that "Striker Carl Furlong, who had a brief spell with the Linnets in their National Conference days, is to re-sign this weekend following his release by Droylsden. But he has been struggling with a hamstring injury". Runcorn manager Chris Lightfoot said: "Carl and I go back a long way. He was a youngster at Wigan when I was there in the mid-90s and they had high hopes of him at the time. But he lost his way a bit and ended up moving around in non-league. Carl now seems to have settled down a bit - he has been at Droylsden for a few years and is not as temperamental as he used to be. He is keen to come, although he knows we don't pay mega-bucks and that is half the battle. Carl will be signing on a non-contract basis and will hopefully give something different up front. He is aggressive, quite quick and caused problems when he played against us earlier in the season". The article adds that "Lightfoot expects to free a second player... paving the way for the potential loan signing of a Nationwide Conference midfielder who has also suffered an injury since Runcorn's interest was sparked. Lightfoot praised the central defensive three of John Robertson, Ged Nolan and Peter Ellis against Altrincham".NATIONWIDE NORTH
On Confguide The Staffordshire Newsletter is quoted as saying that "Stafford Rangers have received the green light to undertake the club's biggest ground development in 30 years. Planning approval has been granted which means Rangers can go ahead with the extending of the main stand, new floodlights, new terracing at the 'shed' end and the building of a cantilever stand at the social club end"."Hinckley United's internattional captain, midfielder Wayne Dyer, is back on international duty after this weekend's game against Mossley in the FA Cup. Dyer will play for Montserrat as they take part in the Preliminary Round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Montserrat, ranked 205th and bottom in the latest FIFA world rankings" reports the unofficial club website.
Steve Whitney on NL Daily writes that "FIFA President Sepp Blatter wants ALL football in this country to operate a transfer window. At present only the Premiership is forced to apply the window, which currently opens in the summer and over Christmas and New Year. However, if Blatter has his way, even grassroots football clubs will be unable to sign/transfer players in between a stipulated window which... Unfortunately, what Blatter fails to grasp is that fact that we are unique in Europe in terms of operating a Pyramid structure right down to grassroots level... We would have situations where clubs, unable to get a side together on a Friday night for whatever reason, and unable to sign replacements, would simply cancel fixtures, leaving leagues in chaos".
Worksop Today captain Mark Haran "has this week been sold to Harrogate Town but he insists he is reluctant to leave... Haran told The Guardian that the offer of a move came as a shock to him after he had accepted a pay cut at the beginning of the season to remain at Sandy Lane".
This is Worcs says that "City's midfield playmaker Jai Stanley will be out of action for four to six weeks following keyhole surgery on his knee. Club record signing Stanley, 26, went under the knife at specialist centre Droitwich Knee Clinic to repair medial and lateral damage to his cartilage. It is exactly the same operation he had last December just weeks after City clinched his signature in a £10,000 deal from Moor Green... Meanwhile, City's stand-in goalkeeper Aaron Kerr is set to see a specialist in his native Northern Ireland later this week after rupturing his knee ligaments during last Friday's goalless draw with Alfreton Town... He is set to miss 12 months' action".
This is Worcs says that Redditch United coach Gary Whild "has allayed fears that influential skipper Mark Taylor could be out of action" After injury at BPA, "Taylor returned to training this week".
"Barrow boss Lee Turnbull has held his hands up and taken full responsibility for his side’s demise", reports the NW Evening Mail after defeat by Droylsden."Without a victory in seven games now... he said: 'I’ve brought some great players to the club in recent years, but clearly at the moment the team and the squad isn’t good enough, so I take full responsibility for that'".
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