Altrincham Football Club News Archive
24 to 28 October, 2004
28 October 2004
WORCESTER GAME
Alty's only injury doubts for Saturday's game at Worcester are Mark Maddox and Steve Torpey. Mark trod on a ceramic tile at home, a piece of which went into his foot, whilst Steve has a hamstring problem.TWO PLAYERS RELEASED
Altrincham FC have released two of their squad. They are left-sided
midfielder/defender Barry Shuttleworth (27) and striker Niell Hardy
(30). Both players had two spells at Moss Lane.
Barry (left) was originally signed on loan from Macclesfield and made his debut in March 2002. He started out at Bury as a trainee (1995-97) before moving on a "free" to Rotherham (97-98), Wigan Athletic & Blackpool (98-99), Stockport County (99/00) and Scarborough (00-01). He made 16 league starts (and 3 others) for Blackpool, 2 for Scarborough and 3 as a league sub for the Silkmen before joining Alty. He moved to Accrington Stanley for 2002-03 but rejoined Alty after being released and made his second Alty debut in December 2002. Injury curtailed his appearances early in 2003-04 season but after re-establishing himself in midfield, he was injured again in New Year 2004. He returned, playing at left-back for the latter part of the campaign and was in and out of the starting line-up in 04-05, a pattern not assisted by niggling injuries. Career appearances for Alty - 64(+15), 9 goals.
Niell Hardy (right) re-joined Altrincham on 16 October 2003, after being released by Radcliffe Borough. He had been a successful striker with Altrincham in the Conference, being leading scorer in 1996/97, when Alty were relegated. Niell originally joined Alty in August 1995, after two years with Northwich Victoria. He started off as a YTS Trainee at Bolton Wanderers before going to Tranmere Rovers and Crewe. In 1999, he left on a free transfer to Morecambe. Another "free" took him to Radcliffe Borough in July 2000. He then went to Bury in April 2001 and, via Radcliffe, on to Stockport County in June 2001 where he scored twice in 10 games in 2001-02. He was released from Edgeley Park in May 2002 and rejoined Radcliffe, who released him in early October 2003. Niell made his (second) Alty debut at Hucknall (18/10/03) but was blighted by injury this season. Alty career record: 150+35 apps, 66 goals.
The club wishes both players well in their future careers. Niell is now expected to join Ashton United.
Following the departures of Ged Kielty, Stuart Wright and Joey Roberts, this brings to five the number of players released in the last month who have been in the first team squad at least once this season. New arrivals have been winger Steve Torpey and midfielder Val Owen. The moves leave 17 players at Moss Lane who have made first-team appearances this season, excluding 'keepers Richard Acton (TNS) and Dave Cummins (Trafford). They are Adams, Aspinall, Band, Coburn, Hallows, Hussin, Little, Lugsden, Maddox, Owen, Potts, Rose, Scott, Talbot, Thornley, Torpey and Peter Wright. Whilst the club does not budget for a cup run, last week's exit from the FA Cup has obviously not helped it to support a larger squad. However, both released players have also had recurrent injury problems which have limited their availability. No doubt, these player movements will be one of the topics to be discussed at tomorrow night's Fans' Forum at Moss Lane (7.45.pm), which is open to all.
KETTERING MATCH
Match report hereKettering Today reports that Town manager Kevin Wilson "was unable to hide his fury at the match official after Darren Lynch was punched by home skipper Peter Band just seconds before the Robins levelled the scores at 2-2". He said "the fact is that Darren has been punched and everyone apart from three people saw it. If their player is sent off then the game changes completely. Instead nothing was done and for me it just shows that some referees think they are more important than the 22 players". But Wilson added, "We just can't defend and I have told them how I feel. Altrincham are unbeaten at home and you could see why. And, although some people will look at this as being a useful result, we should have come away with maximum points. "There are serious questions to be asked of the defence". The match report says Kettering "weren't helped by a referee who, in fairness, was equally bad for both sides. But the inability of the match officials to see a blatant punch on Darren Lynch by Robins captain Peter Band just before the hosts scored their first equaliser proved a pivotal point in the game". As for Town's third goal, "they again shocked the home faithful when Paterson's ball forward found Lynch who, admittedly, looked offside. But his attempted shot fell to Roberts who neatly finished".
OLD BOYS
Kendal Town beat Rossendale United 5-2 but Jamie Baguley scored for United, whilst Anthony Hargreaves scored twice for Flixton as they beat Nelson 3-1.NATIONWIDE NORTH
Kettering believe that "Manager Kevin Wilson pulled off a major coup over the weekend by signing Jamie Paterson from Barrow. Paterson will be remembered well by Poppies fans over the years as more than once he proved to be a thorn in the side when playing for Halifax Town and Doncaster Rovers where he earned himself two championship winner's medals". It adds, "It was a game he knows Kettering should have won having been 2-0 up at half time and 3-2 up with five minutes to play including four minutes of injury time".Worksop "have today signed defender Martyn Lancaster from Northwich Victoria and forward Craig Mitchell from Leigh RMI".
Alfreton Town's "2-0 victory over Nuneaton Borough at the Impact Arena on Tuesday evening was soured when club captain Mark Hume was stretchered off a minute before half time with double fracture of his right leg... and will probably require an operation".
Last season at Southport, Altrincham suffered a floodlight failure before the game could be played. Now Bradford PA report that the same happened to them on Tuesday: "An eventful game at Haig Avenue sees Avenue go down by a goal to nil, in a match which was reported to have been abandoned at half time, due to floodlight failure. The match was subsequently re-started after the teams warmed up a second time".
They were less lucky at Harrogate Town where "Tuesday evening's match against Stafford Rangers was called off due to a power failure, beyond the control of the club, outside the ground shortly before the scheduled kick off time".
Gainsborough report that Jason Maxwell "has signed for First Division outfit Belper Town".
Runcorn FC Halton report that ex-Alty striker Carl Furlong is out with a hamstring injury which he had "when he joined the club last week".
The NW Evening Mail reports on Jamie Paterson's move to Kettering, for whom he played at Moss Lane on Tuesday. "His departure is a big blow to Barrow boss Lee Turnbull, but one that was inevitable given their recent reduction in the players’ budget. He said: "The bottom line is, Kettering have doubled his wages and that may surprise a few people, but that just shows the level of wages we are paying really... Football is his sole income and Jamie has done his utmost for us". In fact, Barrow "is more than £137,000 in debt, new figures released last night show... The accounts go back 15 months and show the club in debt to the tune of £57,000 in June 2003... By June this year the debt had risen to nearly £141,000... In the three months since then the club has reduced its level of debts by around £3,000... chairman Brian Keen said: 'This is not serious at all... By the end of the season we should be looking really healthy. It’s very manageable'".
IC Cheshire says that "Vauxhall extended their unbeaten run to seven matches" against Worcester on Tuesday.
BLOODS GAME
The Tameside Advertiser reports on Droylsden's draw at Moss Lane, in which "the Robins’ last gasp equaliser was turned into the net by Eddie Hussin’s hand, as the player allegedly admitted afterwards".CHESHIRE NEWS
IC Cheshire says that "Witton do have a major problem to overcome in the Wincham Park pitch. Their game against Blyth was called off on Saturday because a 400-square-yard area at the Lostock end of the ground was flooded and refused to drain. They have experts looking at the pitch tomorrow and a blocked drain seems the likeliest fault. That may mean digging up part of the pitch and finding time between games in which to do it. Until then, in wet weather, games will continue to be in doubt for both Witton and Vics" and "Witton have tabled an offer for a striker currently with a Conference North club".27 October 2004
KETTERING REPORT
Apologies for the delay with the match report from Tuesday night; it should be here early tomorrow morning.
Right: Gavin Rathbone captures Rod Thornley's goal celebration, as Stephen Rose looks on.
NATIONWIDE NORTH NEWS
In Monday's FA Cup game at Leek, NL Daily reports that "With no other keeper registered to play in the tie, former Blues’ boss Wragg was forced to rely on outfield player Paul Sykes between the sticks and the visitors also went into the game with only four substitutes on the bench". Celtic lost 2-1 but Sykes played well.Ossett Town have signed Ben Dixon, released by Gainsborough Trinity last week. "Dixon, a left-sided defender, only joined Trinity in the summer after spending six years with Whitby Town".
Worksop Town report that they "are currently in negotiations with two Conference league players, one a 23 year old centre-back, the other being a forward... The on-line voting for the FA.com Player of the Round has controversially been awarded to the Bath City player Scott Partridge who polled 41% of the votes. Our own Chris Cleary was in second place with 23%".
ALTRINCHAM 3 KETTERING TOWN 3
What a game! Another pulsating 90 minutes at Moss Lane for the third consecutive match saw Alty come back from 0-2 at half-time in a game featuring six goals, a confrontation between the management teams and some questionable decisions from the officials. In the first half, Kettering looked the best side seen this season at Moss Lane, with the pace of Burgess, Lynch and Roberts causing problems. Lynch headed Kettering ahead after 38 minutes when Coburn came to punch but was beaten to a corner-ball. The corner had come after Adams had been left injured in the Kettering half and Roberts had advanced upfield, despite Altrincham claims of offside, to win the flag-kick. Roberts appeared to have wrapped up the game when he put Kettering two-up from close range after Lynch had won an aerial ball for him (45 mins).But Alty got back into the game just 45 seconds after the break when Potts made himself some space on the edge of the box and shot, low into the net. Just eight minutes later Hallows levelled the score following a blocked shot from Little. Another controversial failure to give offside allowed Lynch to advance and seemingly miscue a shot, which turned into a pass for Roberts to complete the formalities of making it 3-2 to the Poppies (63 mins). With Alty's substitute debutant Val Owen playing well, Alty got their deserved equaliser when Hussin rose well to nod back Potts's freekick across goal to Thornley, who headed home (86 mins). The game ended with Alty camped in the Kettering half. Report to follow.
26 October 2004
TUESDAY SCORES
COACH DETAILS
Times and fares for the STAR supporters' coach to Worcester City, this Saturday, are here. Please ring the club to book.MATCH ON
Today's match against Kettering is definitely on. After a day of solid rain yesterday, today has been bright and is currently even sunny.IN AND OUT
Altrincham FC have signed former Northwich Victoria and Halifax midfielder Val Owen. Val (d.o.b. 11/02/1971) joined Halifax Town from Northwich Victoria on 4 December 2003 but by 29 April 2004 he was un-attached. He made 19 appearances and scored 2 goals for The Shaymen. Recently, he has impressed whilst playing for Altrincham Reserves. Val started his career at Hyde United after moving from local amateur football. In June 1998 he joined Northwich and later moved to Hednesford Town. After a brief loan spell at Southport, he joined the Vics again in October 2001 and was their captain at the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
Leaving Altrincham is 26 year-old left-sided midfielder Stuart Wright (left), who was signed on 21 November 2003 from Vauxhall Motors. He had previously been at Shell (Ellesmere Port). He made 13(+14) appearances last season and scored a memorable goal at Weymouth in the FA Trophy but, this season, Stuart made just two sub appearances. All at Moss Lane wish Stuart well.
GET YOUR CARDS TONIGHT
Altrincham FC Christmas cards (as shown in reduced size, right) will be on sale from tonight in the Robins' Shop at £1.50 for five cards and envelopes. Inside, the cards carry the message - "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". All proceeds will go to the club so please buy as many as you can!
TUESDAY'S GAME
Hours of steady rain upto Monday teatime meant that probably no match would have been possible at Moss Lane last night, as the pitch had puddles on it, but Tuesday's forecast is much better and, today's game is expected to go ahead. Sadly, the Kettering forum includes a message that "No [Kettering] travel/supporters coaches [are] going [to Altrincham]."The NW Evening Mail says that "Following Saturday's game against Kettering, [Barrow's] Jamie Paterson was approached by the Kettering manager, through agreement from Barrow, and the indications are that he will sign for Kettering in the very near future. Barrow agreed to let Kettering speak to Jamie as otherwise they would only have had to put in 7 days notice to be free to do so anyway. Jamie has been in talks with Kettering over the weekend".
On Kettering Today, "Town boss Kevin Wilson felt too many of his players had put themselves in a 'comfort zone' after watching them slip to defeat at Barrow... A disappointing performance saw them lose 2-1 at Holker Street... 'The performance was lacklustre and unacceptable... From my point of view the preparations were good by having an overnight stay on Friday and I think there are one or two players who need to have a look at themselves... It is probably a good thing that we are straight back into action at Altrincham tomorrow night. That is going to be a very tough game but it gives us an immediate opportunity to put things right'. Meanwhile national newspaper reports yesterday linked Wilson with the manager's job at Oxford United if Graham Rix is sacked".
STAR
STAR has a report of its recent Board meeting. It includes the tantalising news that "It was agreed to tie the AGM part 2 in with the planned slim4alty first weigh-in which will take place after the New Year's Day fixture with Stafford - full details to follow". See the STAR site for updates on the players' calendar, the "Alty Greatest Moments DVD", the Christmas Draw and "Kids4alty". STAR membership is now 288. Last Saturday, STAR's bucket collection raised a very welcome £75.34. Thanks from the club to all concerned.LITTLE CONSOLATION
Hucknall Today reports that the goal which knocked Alty out of the FA Cup was Gary Ricketts's " first goal in open play for 24 matches". The match reports concludes "It was another cracking contest that produced thrills and spills at both ends".NEXT SATURDAY
Alty travel to Worcester on Saturday. This is Worcs talked to manager John Barton after Worcester City drew at Southport "but are still without a victory in their last seven competitive matches as they prepare for [tonight's] trip to struggling Vauxhall Motors". Barton said, "There was some excellent defending at times... We've now got to try and get back to the quality of football we were playing earlier this season. I was pleased with a point but we've got to turn more of these draws into wins... Mark Owen ran his socks off... and Hoyley got in a really good header for our first goal. It was also good to have Snapper [John Snape] back". The article ends, "Welsh U19 and U21 international James Coates, on-loan from Welsh outfit Total Network Solutions, played in goal for City and is likely to be handed the gloves again at Vauxhall Motors" - Coates played for Leigh RMI Reserves against Alty Reserves last week.NATIONWIDE NORTH
"Roger Ashby, manager of Nuneaton Borough, was foiled in his attempts to strengthen his squad last week... However, despite agreeing with his home-town club Northampton Town to take midfielder Martin Reeves (pictured) on a month’s loan, the player turned down the move" says NL Daily.NL Daily also says that "Brian Keen, chairman of Barrow, has backed under-fire manager Lee Turnbull to finish the season in the Holker Street dug-out... Asked if Turnbull was still the right man for the job, Keen said: 'Yes, he’s got to be'".
OLD BOY
Kettering Today has a piece on Alex Hay (now at Rushden). "The summer signing from Tranmere Rovers had not scored in 12 games" till Saturday.25 October 2004
CELTIC OUT
New boss Peter Wragg saw his Stalybridge side lose 2-1 at Leek Town in the FAC3QR replay tonight.TWO IMPORTANT MOMENTS
Above: Colin Little, about to be tripped from behind on Saturday - no penalty was given. This excellent photo and the one below are courtesy of Gavin Rathbone. Gavin's photographs and related products are sold in the Robins' Shop.
Above: Eddie Hussin is handily placed to score the equaliser on Saturday.
Altrincham 2 Droylsden 2 - Match report here.
TUESDAY GAME
Alty host Kettering this Tuesday. The Conference confirms that Kettering's Darren Lynch is the Nationwide North top scorer with 12 league goals this season. Alty's Colin Little, with 6 league goals is joint 12th. Kettering are second top of the away games form guide, whilst Altrincham are second to Harrogate on home form.RESERVES
The Reserves' game on Saturday was postponed, but there is a report of the previous game against Marine on the Reserves' Page.CROWDS
Terry Rowley's updated attendance figures are here.WEIGHTY MATTERS
Altrincham FC are fortunate to have a Gt Britain Olympic weightlifting coach to put the players through their weight training. The man in question is Terry Surridge, who is the Finance Director at Wright Robinson Sports College (WRSC) in Manchester. The latest WRSC Weightlifting Club Newsletter not only reports on Terry's award as "Manchester Coach of the Year", a cross-sport award, but also reveals that 10 of the 14 weight/age categories in this year's British Schools' Championship were won by WRSC lads. Terry is hoping to bring some of his lads to an Alty match this season. When not at the College, Terry does a variety of good work for Altrincham FC, including selling programmes at the stand turnstiles at Moss Lane.OLD BOYS
Stuart Scheuber has re-joined Stone Dominoes, whilst Darren Royle has left Ashton Utd for Radcliffe Borough. On the NW Counties site, Skelmersdale Secretary Bryn Jones "praises the contribution of Lee Thompson, who banged in his 17th of the season against Glossop". For Trafford, "Kielty headed home for Trafford but was ruled offside, much to everyone's amazement". Jason van Blerk is signing for Hyde United.24 October 2004
WRAGG APPOINTED
Our league rivals Stalybridge Celtic "have today announced the appointment of Peter Wragg as Manager on a permanent basis. He brings with him to Bower Fold as his assistant Gordon Armstrong. Gordon numbers Sunderland, Blackpool, Burnley and more recently Accrington among his former clubs. Despite the obvious links to the past the Board sees this as an appointment to take the club forward. Gordon was interviewed for the job on a stand-alone basis but the Board decided that despite his credentials he lacked the experience to take the job on".ALTRINCHAM 2 DROYLSDEN 2
Match report here. The attendance was 827 - Alty's highest this season.
Right: Steve Torpey leaves the field with Graham Heathcote.
PLEASE SUPPORT THESE EVENTS...
Two Christmas fundraisers for the club are on the horizon. More details are available from the club on 0161 928-1045.FANS' FORUM
A Fans' Forum will be held this Friday, 7.45pm in the Noel White Suite. The panel will comprise members of the club board and management. This is your chance to ask any questions that relate to the club and to hear what is going on behind the scenes.NEXT SATURDAY
Next Saturday Alty travel to Worcester City for the first time for a league match since 1985. NL Daily says that "Worcester City had a new keeper in situ (yesterday) at high-flying Southport and he played his part in helping the visitors hold ‘Port to a 2-2 draw at Haig Avenue. Former Wales under-21 international James Coates took his place in goal, replacing the injured Danny McDonnell and his replacement Adam Kerr". Curiously Coates also played against Altrincham last week when he was in goal for Leigh RMI Reserves in a 0-0 draw with Alty Reserves.OLD BOYS
Dave Swanick has moved to Woodley Sports from Kidsgrove Athletic. Yesterday Matt McNeil (Hyde), Jamie Baguley (Rossendale), Andy McDonald (Woodley), Steve Hawes (Stocksbridge), Darren Lyons (Salford City) and Lee Thompson (Skem), all scored. Current Alty Reserve Dwayne Lynsey scored for Wythenshawe TownNATIONWIDE NORTH
Redditch United says - "A recent post on the forum asked whether Redditch United had been deducted points for fielding an illegible player. Having spoken to the club we can confirm this is indeed the case. The player in question, Scott Voice, was officially on loan at Solihull when he made an appearance against Hinckley, which we won 3-0. Due to a misinterpretation of a recently introduced rule Voicey was inelligible by just one day. The FA states that a player on loan must not return until at least twenty-eight days have passed. No one individual is to blame and the fault has to lie with the club as a whole. The plus side to all of this is that had the club themselves not queried this with the FA and continued to play Voicey for the rest of the season then all points and goals accrued would have been removed resulting in what could be catastrophe as has happened at two other, as yet unnamed, Conference teams". Conference rules can also require games to be replayed but it is not clear whether this will happen in this case. Redditch were already beating Hinckley 3-0 when Voice came on.This is Bradford reports that BPA manager, Carl Shutt, has "called on his former team-mate Paul Jewell and secured the loan signings [from Wigan] of forward David Moore and midfielder Greg Traynor. Shutt drummed Marc Thompson out of the club following his shirt-throwing episode after being substituted in last Saturday's FA Cup defeat, while on-loan Phil Reilly was sent back to Stockport County after picking up a three-game ban. With striker Stephen Oleksewycz beginning a three-match ban for his sending-off against Redditch United, the manager had to act quickly. He plugged the gap with two loan signings from the Championship leaders and also brought in former Liversedge and Harrogate Town midfielder Jamie Riordan". Moore was on loan at Stalybridge earlier this season whilst Riordan has come from Ossett Albion.
NL Daily reports that "Former Bradford City captain Lee Duxbury has signed for Farsley Celtic. Only last month Duxbury signed for Harrogate Town.
"Gainsborough Trinity have placed last season's top scorer Gareth Grant on the transfer list as part of cost-cutting measures. Defender Ben Dixon and striker Jason Maxwell have also been released by the Blues, who are looking to trim their wage bill due to falling attendances... Grant, 23, who scored 21 goals last season, is expected to command a transfer fee of around £10,000.". Manager Paul Mitchell said: "The club has budgeted for much bigger gates this season and it just hasn't happened for us... I know fans will be upset, but this is to safeguard the future of this football club. We just haven't got the resources of other clubs". Grant played 36 times for Bradford in the old First Division" reports This is Lincs.
"Former Workington Reds' striker Glenn Murray has signed non-contract forms for Barrow. Murray who spent the summer in the USA is also currently training with Carlisle United, where he has played a few Reserve team games. Conference registrations however are exclusive, so while registered with Barrow, he would not be able to play in Carlisle's first team". Murray scored on his debut yesterday.
Moves-
Though they won yesterday, Stalybridge added to their injury problems when goalkeeper Craig Dootson was carried off with a gashed leg.
The Runcorn site says that yesterday, "Runcorn, playing in a visibly different way under the new management team of Alvin McDonald and Peter Carroll, put on a display that earned the description by a Worksop fan as 'the best footballing side' they had seen all season. Improved use of the width of the pitch, and much more passing characterised Runcorn's play".
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