Altrincham Football Club News Archive
10 to 17 November, 2004
17 November 2004
NN GAME OFF
Tonight's N.N. match between Bradford PA and Hinckley Utd was postponed due to BPA playing in a County Cup match this week against Liversedge.RESERVES OFF
Tonight's Reserves' game against Accrington Stanley has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Abbey Hey.VAUXHALL MOTORS 2 ALTRINCHAM 0
STAR
STAR reports that it "will be holding its AGM part 2 on January 1st after the Stafford Rangers match and we'll be making the draw for New Year raffle, which is a must for all diehard Alty fans. Top prize is for the winning supporter to have the famous Golf Road End named after them for a season". For more on this and all STAR activities, please click the above link to the STAR site. STAR is also donating £200 to the club's Christmas dinner event and "a further matching donation of £200 towards historic tax debts... The donation brings the total to £14,700 since STAR was launched last year".NATIONWIDE NORTH
Hinckley manager Dean Thomas is reportedly "turning down the possibility of taking on the vacant Notts County post following the departure of Gary Mills... The Knitters chief still has more than two and half years to run on his contract... 'I've a good job outside football and I'm enjoying what I do at Hinckley United', said Thomas, who is one of the longest-serving bosses in non-League football, having reigned at Hinckley for eight years", reportsIC Coventry. Meanwhile, "The Knitters’ Second Round FA Cup tie against Bristol City or Brentford is be shown live on the BBC - guaranteeing them a windfall payment of £75,000... on Sunday, December 5th, with a 2pm kick-off... having already banked £34,750 from the run in the competition". Kevin Downes, the chairman said, "If you would have said to me when we set this club up, that in seven years time we would be live on the BBC on a Sunday afternoon, I would have laughed in your face". The article adds that "the financial benefits of being shown live on television will enable the club to put the finishing touches to their new Marston's Stadium - which is set to be opened on Boxing Day". A further £24,000 in prize money is at stake in Round 2. The visitors to Hinckley will only be allocated 400 tickets, reports This is Leicestershire.16 November 2004
TUESDAY GAMES
N.NorthCarthium Cup
COLLECTION FOR ROSIE
Next Saturday's STAR bucket collection, organised by Gary Warrington, (at the Alfreton match) will be donated to Stephen Rose who broke his leg in the recent match away at Worcester City. Ironically, Nick Colley, who was involved in the tackle in which Rose was injured was himself stretchered off at Droylsden on Saturday with a suspected broken leg.NATIONWIDE NORTH
"Worcester City's newest rising star Tom Warmer considers his favourite player to be Paul Gascoigne... both are sharp distributors with an eye for the killer pass and, most noticeably, both run and run with seemingly infinite energy levels... Manager John Barton admitted that the introduction of the 5ft 5in schemer as a late sub against Altrincham played a huge part in City claiming an unlikely victory, not least for his determination in chasing down lost causes to work his side back into the game" reports This is Worcs.OLD BOY
The FA has "short-listed for The FA’s Player of the Round award... The short-listed players include Histon keeper Lance Key [ex-Alty in 2000/01], the first player to be nominated for the award in two successive rounds after starring in Histon’s 2 0 win over League Two team Shrewsbury Town. Another ‘keeper, Alfreton Town’s Lee Butler, is [also] in the frame" and he should be playing at Moss Lane this Saturday. Also shortlisted is "Hinckley United goal-scorer Neil Cartwright".15 November 2004
YOUTH TEAM
There is now a report on the Youth team's win yesterday at Halewood, here.CALL-UPS
Rod Thornley has again been called up to act as masseur to England's squad for their friendly international in Spain so will be unavailable for Alty's game at Vauxhall on Tuesday. Hopefully the flight to Spain will be shorter than Rod's car journey to Redditch last Saturday. Unable to catch the team bus from Altrincham because of his work commitments at Old Trafford on Saturday morning, Rod drove himself down to Redditch through the horrendous jams caused by the closure of the M6 and arrived at the ground just as Altrincham were about to kick-off. That he was prepared to do that when he knew he would only be on the bench is a good indication of his commitment to the club.Another clubman called up next week is Graham Heathcote. But rather than being summoned for international duty, the Alty manager has been called to serve on a court jury of twelve righteous men and women next week. So, don't get caught driving dangerously in the Manchester area this week! Graham should be available for the Vauxhall match on Tuesday night unless he is sent off with the jury to spend the night in a luxury hotel to consider a verdict.
UPDATES
STAR FUNDRAISER
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STAR, the Alty supporters' trust announces that "STAR members will get the chance to have the famous Golf Road End named after them for a season in the STAR New Year Draw. Other prizes include an impressive pack of Alty programmes from the glory years, Mal Bailey's shirt from the Enfield FA Trophy Final and Gazza's autobiography signed by the man himself. Tickets are £1 each and will be included with your December newsletter".
NEXT GAME
Alty travel to Vauxhall on Tuesday, having never won a legue game at Rivacre Park - but at least we got a point last season in a 1-1 draw. It will be the first of three night matches against the Motormen as Alty host Vauxhall at Moss Lane in the league on 7 December and, on a date to be determined, again travel to Rivacre Park for a Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final. Vauxhall's manager is former Altrincham director of football, Owen Brown. In the form guide over the last eight league games, Alty lie 14th and Vauxhall 10th. However, a win for Alty would take us up from fourth to second in the table, whilst the Motormen currently lie nineteenth.Stalybridge Celtic's site has some excellent statistics. For instance, the league's current longest scoring run is held by our next opponents, Vauxhall Motors who have scored in all of their last 14 league games. Also, of Alty's 27 league goals in the league, only 6 have come in the first-half but overall our attack is the third most prolific in the division, after Droylsden's and Worcester's, whilst our defence is the third tightest (17 conceded) after Stafford (13) and Alfreton (15).
And some statistics of our own: - Colin Little with 16 goals (7 league 9 cups from 23 games) is our leading scorer, followed by Marcus Hallows with 10 from 13+7 games. Colin Potts is third with 7 goals. Steve Aspinall, Peter Band and Colin Little are the only players to have started all 23 games this season, though Colin Potts has started 22 and been a used sub in the other match.
OLD BOYS
After Mario Daniel briefly appeared last season in the Conference with Leigh RMI, another former Alty Youth striker, Lee Shillito has also broken into the Railwaymen's first team and played in the FA Cup on Saturday. Lee was in the Alty Youth team in 2000-02 and also played for the Reserves in 2001-02. Like Mario he went to Trafford, as Alty had no reserve team, before joining Leigh.
Accrington Stanley report that ex-Alty "Goalkeeper Ashley Timms will play in the Reserves match against Guiseley at Great Harwood... the 19 year old has been training with Stanley this week following his release from Manchester City".
The Daily Telegraph reports that former Alty man Jamie Phoenix had to run six and a half miles up the hardshoulder of the M6 on Saturday when the motorway was closed by an accident. He only arrived at Stafford's ground at 2.50pm, too late to be named on the bench.
NATIONWIDE NORTH
The Portchat says that Southport manager "Liam [Watson] has put in 7 days notice on 24yr old centre-half Martyn Lancaster". The former Chester and Leigh player was then at Worksop briefly before joining Stalybridge recently.Droylsden striker Danny Byrne is now on loan at Runcorn FC Halton, who have raised their gate prices at the Halton Stadium according to the Runcorn Forum. In future, admission prices will be £8.00 for adults and £4.00 for concessionaries whilst under 14s go free.
Alty travel to Moor Green in early December and their website says that they "have completed the signing of David Bridgewater from Aberystwyth Town. The former Aston Villa trainee, has been with the Seasiders since the start of the season".
Accrington Stanley report that "Stuart Howson has left Accrington Stanley to sign a permanent deal for Droylsden. The 23 year old defender has been on loan at Droylsden for the last month".
14 November 2004
REDDITCH UNITED 0 ALTRINCHAM 1
Above: Peter Band (right) and Chris Adams (left) confront Redditch's Simon Hollis (no.7) and Norman Sylla.
LITTLE OVERLOOKED - TWICE!
In today's Pink Graham Heathcote comments on Colin Little's omission from the National Game XI squad. Graham said "Colin's a class act and it astonishes me that [manager] Paul Fairclough didn't at least name him in his initial squad... What's strange is that Paul often rings me before choosing his squads to ask my opinion on certain players. He didn't on this occasion because, had he done so, I'd have definitely recommended Colin".
Colin was also overlooked in last Friday's list in the NLP of leading non-league scorers this season, even though the qualifying mark was a total of 10 goals in league and FA Cup competitions. In all matches, Colin (seen right), has 16 goals in 23 games this campaign of which 7 were in the league and a further 6 in the FA Trophy and the FA Cup.
OLD BOYS
Former Alty keeper Lance Key helped Histon to an FA Cup upset yesterady against Shrewsbury; the NLP reveals his other job to be as a chauffeur! Also in the FA Cup James Glendenning played for Vauxhall and Tony Sullivan (Lancaster) was a used sub. Paul Ellender scored for Boston whilst Kevin Ellison started for Chester. Ian Craney was subbed playing for Accrington. Nigel Gleghorn (Newcastle T.), Chris Downey (Mossley) and Jamie Almond (Flixton) all scored yesterday. Jeremy Illingworth played for Guiseley and Dale Newbrook for Woodley Sports.NATIONWIDE NORTH
Farsley Celtic have signed Carl Serrant from Droylsden whilst the Bloods have released Stephen Brown to Prescot Cables. The UniBond League reports that "Alfreton Town have available for transfer left-sided player Chris Dolby who, although he has considerable first team experience, has found his opportunities limited this season. A reasonable fee will be required".13 November 2004
SATURDAY GAMES
Chris Adams (right)
N.North
FA Cup 1
UNITED AT MOSS LANE
The site's fixture list for Manchester United Reserves, who play most home games at Moss Lane, has been updated to include four Manchester Senior Cup matches and with the season's results to date.NATIONWIDE NORTH
This is Lincs says that "Despite sitting 15th in the table, Gainsborough Trinity have seen falling gates this season and manager Paul Mitchell thinks his side is not getting the credit it deserves. 'Football nowadays is all about winning. In the past my dad and uncles were happy to go and watch good football', he said. ... 'The last thing I always tell the players before they go out is to enjoy the game. Whatever happens we will be patient, keep passing and probing. I cannot guarantee the supporters we will win. But I can promise we will get the ball down and play'". The article adds that, "After a difficult start to Conference North, the Blues have now only lost once in their last six league games". Trinity, whom we meet in the Trophy soon, have, like Altrincham, scored in every league game except one this season.Harrogate Today says that despite going out of the Trophy, Town manager John Reed "remained surprisingly upbeat, even insisting that his charges could challenge for the Conference North title". After their collapse against Stalybridge when 3 late goals undid them, he commented "It was awful, I was speechless. I felt numb". The article continues, "Reed is now pinning his hopes on new striker Danny Holland who has joined on a month long loan deal from Hucknall... Meantime, fellow Town loanee Clayton Donaldson has scooped the Conference North Player of the Month award. Donaldson, who is on-loan from League One outfit Hull City, has scored four goals in nine games so far... But another Town hit-man, fit-again striker Lee Morris, has joined Wakefield and Emley on a month's loan in a bid to regain match fitness.".
Indeed, Hucknall Today confirms that "The first trimming of Hucknall Town's bulky squad has resulted in misfit striker Danny Holland going out on loan to Harrogate Town... Another striker whose appearances have been drastically limited, Mark Ward, is also tied to Town, by contract, for the rest of the season. Ward (22), a former England Schoolboy international, has made only a handful of starts since being signed for a hefty fee of £2,000 from Belper Town last November".
IC Cheshire confirms that "A supporters' trust is to be launched at Runcorn with the aim of finding a new home for the club. The Linnets Independent Supporters Trust also want to build closer links between the fans and Conference North side. Martin Fallon, of the steering group, said: "We must ensure we do not forget our other aims, which include looking at whether the club can move back to Runcorn to a purpose-built facility". The launch is on November 28.
12 November 2004
TOMORROW'S SQUAD
Altrincham's small squad will again be stretched tomorrow. Stephen Rose and Peter Wright remain out of action long-term, and both Chris Adams and Gary Talbot face late fitness tests. In the squad tomorrow will be Reserves' midfielder Paul Tilley, who made his first team debut last Tuesday, and Reserves' centre-back Adam Brindle. Adam is a former Manchester City trainee (2002-03). Steve Torpey is unavailable due to a commitment made before he joined Altrincham. Sean Smith (left) also comes into the squad for the first time this season after his long injury lay-off.
CSC SEMIS
The Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final draw is as follows:
RESERVES WIN
Altrincham Reserves gained a deserved 2-0 win on Wednesday at home to Marine Reserves in the Lancashire League. Right, is Adie Ore, who scored both goals.Match report on the Reserves' Page.
Also on that page is news of Stevie Taylor, the Reserves' player who graduated from Alty Youth.
SATURDAY
SAM reports that "Altrincham travel to Redditch United on Saturday and Alty boss Graham Heathcote is hoping they can replicate their performances at Moss Lane on rival turf. He explained: "We've got to find an answer to our form away from home, we are not playing poorly but we're not getting results we would like". For Saturday Eddie Hussin is suspended and it remains to be seen if "Steve Torpey (flu), Gary Talbot (foot), and Chris Adams (hamstring) will be fit to play".This is Worcs reports that "New signing Rory May had a dream start in a Redditch shirt as his two goals helped United into round two of the FA Trophy. The 6ft 5ins striker who has also played at Lincoln City and made one appearance while on loan at Coventry, netted before and after the break... Month-long Tamworth loan striker May was joined by 14-year professional Steven Cowe after he was released by Forest Green Rovers. But the 30-year-old former Swindon striker was missing from the Reds line-up against Merthyr Tydfil because he was ineligible to play... Meanwhile, midfielder Jordan King has left Bromsgrove Road as has winger Rob Taylor who made an appearance in a Stourport Swifts shirt on Saturday". Manager Rod Brown said, "We have been picking up good results recently but our performances in the past three games has not been of a high enough standard that's why I've decided to bring in a couple of players. The good thing about Steve is he can play in a variety of positions in midfield or as a striker and you need that kind of ability from players in this league".
In today's NLP, Brown said of Altrincham, "I see them as one of the teams who will be up there at the end of the season. They have a lot of tried and tested journeymen who know how to grind out wins. A lot of northern teams tend to play the long ball, land-of-the-giants type of football but Altrincham are like us and try and get it down and play - it should be a good game". Graham Heathcote said that Altrincham, "are not taking our chances away [from home], that is why we have not done too well on our travels. We have to be more ruthless".
Directions to Redditch's Valley Stadium on Bromsgrove Road adapted from the Conference Handbook: From the M42 J2 go onto A441 towards Redditch. At island take 4th exit towards Batchley. At lights, turn left into Birmingham Road then next left into Clive Road. Turn left at island into Hewell Road then right at t-junction. The ground is half a mile on right. Click the Links/Maps button (above, left) for a map.
OLD BOY
Ian Craney played in the England National Game XI's 1-0 victory in Italy against a Serie C this week.CSC DRAW
IC Cheshire claims that Vauxhall's win on Tuesday in the CSC at Stalybridge booked them "a Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final showdown with Altrincham". As of Thursday night Altrincham FC had received no news of the draw and the above source does not say if the tie is at home or away. Prize money for winning the CSC is reported to be £1,500.NEXT TUESDAY
Alty play at Vauxhall next Tuesday. Referring to second-half substitute Tony Wright, who hit all four goals against Stalybridge on Tuesday, manager Owen Brown said on IC Cheshire, I don't want to put undue pressure on him as he still has a long way to go to returning to full fitness, but he looked pretty sharp tonight. All our young lads did well, too, and Chris Noone worked tirelessly all night... Brown rested several senior players, making seven changes to his starting line-up and handing debuts to three members of the club's successful Lancashire League side, Chris Noone, Chris Tamm and 16-year-old goalkeeper Liam Murphy". Ex-Alty defender James Glendenning also played.IC Cheshire also says of next Tuesday's game "The once-mighty Altrincham used to be known as 'The Manchester United of Non-League' football, but these days times are hard... Dedicated clubman Graham Heathcote is something of a jack-of-all-trades at Moss Lane, juggling his managerial duties with the positions of secretary and police liaison officer... Altrincham just sneaked into the Nationwide North but have so far coped better than the Motormen and currently lie sixth. Their squad includes former Vauxhall player Steve Aspinall... Starting the season on the bench, striker Marcus Hallows has also been on something of a hot streak in recent weeks".
NATIONWIDE NORTH
"Striker Glenn Murray put pen-to-paper on a two-month contract with the Bluebirds [Barrow]... Former Workington man Murray...was previously on non-contract terms with Barrow, but the new deal means he’s now a contracted player until January 8th. However, he’ll carry on training with Carlisle United and he could still move to the Conference National high-fliers on a permanent basis", says the NW Evening Mail."Alfreton Town have welcomed a late decision to make this Saturday’s FA Cup first round tie against Macclesfield Town an all ticket game, and one which is set to sell out. Following a meeting at the Impact Arena on Monday of this week with the local authorities, the club were advised that the capacity for the match be pegged to 2,304 and that the game be made all ticket" reports the club website.
Worksop Today says that "Angry Worksop Town fans this week demanded answers from club backer Howard Raymond... saying they were 'sick of empty promises'... including the proposed all-seater stadium and leisure complex at Kilton Forest"
This is Worcester City says that "Jai Stanley is racing to be fit for..Saturday. The 26-year-old playmaker has been out of action for over a month after undergoing keyhole surgery on his right knee... Goalkeeper Danny McDonnell is also set to return from a rib injury".
IC Cheshire quotes Runcorn boss Alvin McDonald as saying that "The 11 fittest players will be the ones who get a shirt" on Saturday. "The latest casualty is Mike Garrity [ex-Alty], although hospital checks show his ribs are not cracked or broken as feared". McDonald "has new utility signing Karl Brown available... He has also signed James Lock, an attacking left-sided player or forward who was released by Liverpool as an 18-year-old and arrives after a spell in the Army. Ex-Oldham midfieldman Thomas Fields is due to re-register but red tape means he won't be available until November 19. Lee Kissock is likely to be out for two months after breaking a leg at Vauxhall last week... McDonald said: 'Our injured players still have to be paid and there is no money available at the club... I have signed one or two players who are willing to come on trial to prove themselves, without getting paid".
The Tameside Advertiser says that "Droylsden are hopeful of adding both Lutel James and Stuart Howson to their squad ahead of Saturday’s match against Worcester City. Bloods' chief Dave Pace has reached agreements with Accrington Stanley counterpart John Coleman to take them on a permanent basis... Also coming in is Ian Fitzpatrick but his future with the Bloods is firmly in his own hands. Pace explained: 'Ian’s a mate of Jody Banim’s from Shrewsbury Town. He had a spell at Northwich Victoria and went because of the administration and money side of things... he’s got to perform in the next two or three weeks".
Kettering Today says that manager Kevin Wilson "is enjoying one of the happiest spells of his managerial career at Kettering Town. Speculation has been growing about the Poppies boss's future with a number of jobs in the Coca-Cola League available. Wilson was recently linked with Oxford United... and over the past few days his name is being mentioned in the same breath as the MK Dons... and Notts County where he spent some time as a player. But Wilson insists he is perfectly happy at Kettering".
HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVE
Striker Kirk Jackson was reportedly on £1,200 a week at troubled Hornchurch; he has now joined Weymouth.LOCAL NEWS
Trafford FC "have parted company with striker Phil Carratt... Manager Danny Johnson [says that] Phil tells me that two clubs, one from the Conference and one from the Conference North have offered him the chance to play for them".11 November 2004
THROUGH THE YEARS
Howard Watts's Through the Years data for 13 October is here. It is the 3rd anniversary of the 8-1 win at Woodley Sports.SPONSORSHIP
Don't forget that on the STAR website you can sign up for goal and clean-sheet sponsorship, with proceeds going to the club.A VIEW FROM CHESTER
The Devachat forum includes the following on Alty's win over Chester on Tuesday: "Just got back from Altrincham where a strong Chester outfit were comprehensively trounced by the home team 3-0. Included in the Chester team were, Wayne Brown, Steven Vaughan, Kevin McIntyre, Andy Harris, Kevin Rapley and Rob Booth. The performance bordered on the abysmal and during the first 45 minutes we conspired to have NO shots at the opposing keeper. The second half was marginally better and the highlight of this was Crapley missing a sitter from 6 yards out and being immediately subbed, much to the delight of the travelling few... The Alty keeper did as much watching as the spectators throughout the game".NATIONWIDE NORTH NEWS
The NW Evening Mail reports that "Barrow AFC manager Lee Turnbull expressed his relief that skipper Mark Salmon's latest injury is not as bad was first thought. The Bluebirds' skipper was stretchered off just five minutes into the second half of the 1-0 FA Trophy first round win at Woodley Sports on Saturday. 'Sammo has been for an x-ray and there is no serious damage which is a bonus', said the Barrow boss... The centre-half had previously spent six months on the sidelines after suffering a broken ankle and having surgery on a long-standing shoulder injury".This is Lancs says that "One player who looks set to go out on loan is Steve Halford. Clubs including UniBond Premier side Radcliffe Borough and Nationwide North Stalybridge Celtic have enquired about taking the central defender on a temporary basis. And Coleman is keen to comply in order to get Halford match fit after recovering from a broken leg".
Anthony Wright, the Vauxhall player shot in the street during the summer, made a remarkable comeback on Tuesday scoring all four goals as the Motormen recovered from 0-2 against Stalybridge to win 4-3 in the CSC.
10 November 2004
TONIGHT
Alty Reserves are at home (at Abbey Hey) tonight (7.45pm) to Marine. All supporters very welcome- free entry.PLAYER OF MONTH
The Nationwide North "Player of the Month" for October is Harrogate Town's Clayton Donaldson who scored three times in five games in October.ALTRINCHAM 3 CHESTER CITY 0
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