Altrincham Football Club News Archive
13 to 16 January 2005
16 January 2005
SIX ON TROT
Alty Youth moved to second in the table as they won their sixth game in succession today beating Kingsley United 2-1 in a wind and sleet affected match on Merseyside. The scorers were Hendley (his 21st of the season) and Monaghan. Report to follow.TROPHY CONSEQUENCES
Right: Mark Maddox's text-book finish at Leigh. Picture courtesy of Gavin Rathbone.
Yesterday's Trophy games affected two future Altrincham games:
A further picture and match report link are below...
OLD BOYS
Runcorn FC Halton state that "Carl Furlong's registration with the club has been terminated". In NW Counties 2, in front of just 27 spectators, Ryan Hutchinson and Anthony Hargreaves got goals for our Trafford neighbours, Flixton yesterday whilst Tony Sullivan scored for Lancaster at Vauxhall. Kevin Ellison made his debut for Hull City.Gainsborough Trinity beat Ashton 1-0 yesterday and the club website says that [ex-Alty man] "Lee Ellington was the difference between the sides with his first half strike".
NATIONWIDE NORTH
Free entry vouchers were issued for yesterday's Harrogate v Stafford game and these produced a gate of 1,246 - but Rangers won.NL Daily reports the following moves:
Also Guiseley have put in seven days notice on Barrow centre-back James Cotterill, who has played 27 games for Barrow this season. Guiseley also hope to sign "striker Arran Wilford from Scottish club Clyde.... [He] has also had experience with Whitby Town, Worksop Town and Harrogate Town... [but] manager Neil Parsley had shown the door to centre-back James Stansfield... [formerly at] Bradford PA".
Runcorn FC Halton announce that "Carl Brown has been released to return to Gresley Rovers... Peter Ellis, after announcing his retirement due to his chronic injuries has, on his insistence, requested his registration be cancelled"
LEIGH RMI 1 ALTRINCHAM 2
Above: Gavin Rathbone's superb shot of Val Owen contesting for the ball at Leigh against Warren Peyton. You can buy Gavin's photographs at the Robins' Shop or by ringing the club.
Match report here.
15 January 2005
SCORES
NN Saturday 15thFA Trophy Saturday 15th
A GOOD NIGHT
A successful fundraising evening for injured players Stephen Rose and Peter Wright - (Peter is now recovered and "Rosie" has dispensed with his crutches) - was held last night at Moss Lane. After a delicious "potato pie" supper, very efficiently served by a team of helpful volunteers, and an auction of Altrincham, Man. Utd and Man. City memorabilia, the guests, Jack Crompton and Paddy Crerand answered a wide range of questions about their careers and football in general. Both former Manchester United stars had kindly donated their time and, despite their successful careers at the highest level, both conveyed a genuine concern for the lower reaches of football. Indeed, Jack is a Vice-President at Altrincham FC and attends many of the home games whilst Paddy has lived in the Altrincham and Sale area since joining Man. United in the 1960s and is also often at Moss Lane. A number of current Alty players, as well as Stephen and Peter, and the club's chairman and board, also attended the event along with many Moss Lane regulars and back-room staff as well as more general sports fans. It can honestly be reported that those guests who are also participants in the STAR Slim4Alty campaign did not demand second helpings. The club and host players wish to thank everyone who either gave their time to organise the evening and/or attended the event for their support.GMR
In last night's GMR (radio) non-league slot both Graham Heathcote and Leigh boss, Geoff Lutley, were interviewed about today's game. Graham emphasised that the gulf between the National and regional Conference divisions meant that it would be a difficult game for Altrincham, despite Leigh's troubles this season. Lutley confirmed that he made "one or two additions" to his squad this week (see earlier news on this website for details). Graham indicated that he had a "fully fit squad of eleven" available for today's game; more seriously, apart from Stephen Rose, everyone is available. Graham also expressed his delight at how the team had performed this season. Asked about the appointment of John Reed as Stalybridge boss, Graham said that Celtic were not getting the results that the squad which they have should be achieving and, for that reason, he thought that their season could be turned around. Reed himself was interviewed on the same programme and indicated that he would give the existing squad at the Bower Fold four games in which to prove themselves before making any major changes. He thought 30 points from the remaining games would mean that relegation could be avoided.STAR VIDEO
STAR, "The Altrincham FC Supporters’ Trust, is intending to produce a DVD containing highlights of great televised Altrincham FC matches collected under license from the BBC and other sources, and is seeking sponsors for the project to help it go ahead with production... Sponsors are invited to support the project and in return each sponsor will be able to include their own message on the DVD and its packaging, and so associate their name with Alty’s great history, and on a collectors’ item which will be hugely popular with Alty fans and non league football connoisseurs everywhere. Depending on the amount of sponsorship, individual sponsors may be offered membership or life membership of the Supporters' Trust, whilst corporate sponsors may be offered corporate membership... To pre-order a copy or to discuss sponsorship, please email Jon Stack.NATIONWIDE NORTH
Kettering Town's chairman writes words which all Alty fans will support after troubled flared at the recent game with Nuneaton: "We once again are visited by the hooligan element who are intent only on spoiling every decent person's enjoyment of a day out at Rockingham Road. These people wait until the club has some success, crawl out from under their stones, and target a high profile game when they know there will be a better than usual away support.... Instead of having the opportunity to talk about Kevin Wilson's remarkable twelve month transformation of the club and the genuine type players he has brought to the club, we found ourselves knee deep in discussions with the police, the safety officer and the local press... We do have a number of stewards operating within the ground but sometimes people expect too much from them... We do not expect our stewards to wade in and try to be heroes... I can assure you they do a great job in very difficult circumstances... The problems were started by a minority of people who were in no way connected with or typical of the supporters of Kettering Town Football Club".Worksop Town report that "The rollercoaster ride with the Bassetlaw Council is once again on the downward spiral after their demands of much increased payments to reduce the club's £60,000 debt... In January 2005 the club are now faced with the distinct possibility in going into administration after the Council's latest demands which require the club to pay two instalments of £5,000 in the first two months of the year. Bassetlaw MP John Mann is supporting the club after requesting that the Bassetlaw Council drop their demands and write off the £60,000 debt".
"After turning down the chance to go back to rivals Stalybridge Celtic last weekend, [Lancaster boss, Phil] "Wilson is looking to the future... But the City boss did admit he would like to return to Bower Fold where he has had two spells as manager before -later in his career... 'It was a very difficult decision to make', admitted Wilson. 'I had nine very happy years there as manager and it is a place that one day I would like to go back to, but this is the wrong time for me. I have got work to do here, we are progressing and I am hoping that I am going to be at Lancaster for the next couple of years at least'... Wilson added. "We have the best training facilities in nonLeague football at Preston Sports Arena which is a big plus when enticing players... The league is wide open, any team that can put a few wins together will be right up-there'" reports Lancaster Today.
"Karl Brown has rejoined Gresley Rovers from Runcorn FC Halton".
NL Daily confirms that "Belper Town have... appointed former Gainsborough Trinity, Leek Town, Matlock Town and Hucknall Town boss Ernie Moss as their new manager".
14 January 2005
OPPONENTS' NEW SIGNING
Alty play Leigh on Saturday. Blackpool report that "Promising young defender Phil Doughty has today completed a loan move to Conference strugglers Leigh RMI. The 18-year-old who impressed Colin Hendry in the club's pre-season tour to Northern Ireland will make his debut in Leigh's FA Trophy match with Altrincham".Meanwhile Bill Taylor, the Leigh RMI Chairman has issued a statement in which he says "We sincerely wish to unreservedly apologise to our supporters for the events at last Tuesday's game against Southport. The unforeseen sequence of injuries, sickness and a motorway accident left our squad with only 11 players, three of whom were goalkeepers, at the commencement of the game. We the directors and I personally will ensure that this is not allowed to happen again. All the club officials are working very hard to ensure we provide a competitive side and this is by no means an easy task since some of our better players recently left of their own accord and are proving difficult to replace. We would also like to place on record our sincerest appreciation to our loyal fans who have backed us through these difficult times and had to endure some substandard performances particularly on Tuesday night. We are confident that we can put out a side capable of beating Altrincham on Saturday and we would ask you all to please give your usual whole hearted support to the team... I look forward to seeing you at the game on Saturday and to an RMI victory".
In SAM "Alty boss Graham Heathcote says fans should not underestimate the side that are currently languishing at the bottom of the Conference table... Heathcote told SAM Sport: 'People have got to be aware that the results don't matter one iota it is about this cup and Leigh will want to run in it. It will be a tough game, they are a decent footballing side. Perhaps the game will show people the gulf between Conference and the Nationwide North. Just because a team is struggling in the league doesn't mean they can't cope with a team from another level. We have done our homework and have been preparing as professionally as we can. It is a big game for both sides - Leigh are just as desperate for money as we are'. The 32 winning clubs from the third round of the FA Trophy will earn £4,000... Heathcote hopes that the Leigh match will prompt a similar following as last year's game against Weymouth in the competition".
HARROGATE BOSS MOVES TO CELTIC
Stalybridge Celtic report that they "have appointed John Reed as their new manager. Reed makes the surprise move from high-flying Harrogate Town to aid Celtic in their fight against relegation, and will take Mark Atkins to Bower Fold as his assistant. Celtic chairman Peter Dennerly is delighted with the appointment, one which he hopes will lead to an upturn in the team's fortunes... Reed and Atkins [were to] meet the players at training [last] night (Thursday) and will take charge of their first game when Hinckley United visit Bower Fold on Saturday". Harrogate Town confirm that "John Reed notified the Chairman this afternoon that Stalybridge Celtic had made an offer that he and Mark Atkins could not refuse and that they wished to leave with immediate effect. The Chairman had not received the courtesy of any prior request or contact from Stalybridge Celtic to speak to John Reed and now needs time to consider, with his Board colleagues, a new appointment. As to the immediate problem for Saturday's match v Stafford Rangers he is pleased to announce that Lee Philpott has agreed to take charge of the team on a temporary basis whilst the longer term position will be fully considered by the Board as a matter of urgency".Harrogate, who were recently top, currently lie 3rd in Nationwide North with 40 points, whilst Stalybridge are bottom with 15 points.
NATIONWIDE NORTH
The Alfreton sitesays that "after seeing his much-changed Alfreton Town side slip to a second successive defeat for the first time this season, Reds' manager David Lloyd has promised the fans there will be changes... The Reds side against Stafford was much changed as the management tried to end their recent poor return from home games in particular. Lloyd added: 'We finished the last half hour of the Harrogate game with three strikers and I thought it worked well. We gave it another go against Stafford and I thought we did quite well but we certainly aren’t getting the bounce of the ball in the opposing penalty area at the moment... I have got to try and bring in a couple of people to freshen us up...and I am hopeful something will happen in the next week or so... It might mean one or two going to accommodate more coming in'".IC Cheshire says that "Runcorn boss Alvin McDonald hopes to buck the trend in more ways than one by signing a player from Southport. The movement has all been the other way since former Runcorn boss Liam Watson left Halton Stadium for Haig Avenue. But McDonald made his interest in Sandgrounders' transfer-listed striker Lee Mulvaney known in the hope of amending effectively the poorest strike record in Nationwide North. Runcorn have struck only 24 times in 25 league outings... McDonald has spoken to Mulvaney but Southport want a fee and the player is in discussions with other suitors. 'Four or five clubs have been given permission to talk to Lee,' said McDonald. 'He is going to listen to all of them out of courtesy and then come to a decision. Even clubs in a lower league can offer more money than we can and if it is about that sometimes we are going to be second best. But it went well and I got the impression he liked what I said to him'...A player exchange could yet be an alternative. But McDonald added: 'The player they want, they won't get off me'... The player concerned is player-of-the-year Matty McGinn. Meanwhile, McDonald has admitted to feeling really down about Runcorn's run of league form... 'There was a comment which appeared on Tuesday that I am leaving the club... Apparently, I have gone for the Witton job which I haven't and gone for the Ashton United job which I haven't'".
Worksop Today says that the Tigers' "Pacy winger Blake Norton is set to stay at Worksop, even though two unnamed clubs have been chasing his signature. Norton joined the Tigers on a pay-as-you-play deal in August and has grown in stature after a slow start. His form has drawn the attention of other clubs, but manager Ronnie Glavin has coaxed the Manchester-based player into staying at Sandy Lane. 'Worksop are struggling to compete with some other teams financially, but Blake is here for the right reasons and that is great to see'" said Glavin. Norton was formerly with our neighbours Trafford and Stalybridge Celtic. The same site also has a match report on last Saturday's draw with Altrincham". The report refers to a "typically robust Altrincham defence". It adds "The game as a whole was very much in keeping with recent past clashes between the two sides at Sandy Lane. Altrincham manager Graham Heathcote sent his side out to defend their 18-yard line and hit Worksop on the break. It is a tactic that has worked well for them before and did so, to a certain degree, this time".
13 January 2005
TROPHY MATCH
Leigh RMI, Alty's opponents on Saturday, fielded an inexperienced side against Southport on Tuesday in the Marsden Cup, which they lost 1-5 to Southport, with ex-Alty youngster Graham Tench scoring the RMI goal. As well as Tench, others in the RMI line-up with first-team experience included Rezai, Peyton, Roscoe, Simm and Williams, whilst goalkeeper Soszynski is being groomed for the first team. Preston Today reports that "In-form Southport destroyed ramshackle Conference outfit Leigh... [their boss] Liam Watson watched his mixture of teenage apprentices, squad members outside his recent starting 11, plus the returning Neil Fitzhenry run Leigh ragged. While Southport seemed organised, the Conference side with just one league win all season looked in chaos. [Leigh boss] Geoff Lutley had to name three goalkeepers in his starting line-up, two playing outfield due to transport delays, and after 69 minutes the Railwaymen were reduced to 10 men when Gary Williams limped off with Leigh having already used their substitutes. Watson's line-up included 17-year-olds Ian Kearney and Tom Hardwick in the full-back roles, plus two 19-year-olds, Tony Evans and Michael Powell. Leigh RMI: Soszynski, Tench, Rezai, Coyne, Roscoe, Nahim, Payton, Mann, Williams, Simm, Martin. Subs not used: Stoker, Clarke".Obviously, a more experienced side can be expected to play against Altrincham on Saturday as well as some new faces. The BBC says that "Leigh RMI manager Geoff Lutley is close to completing the signing of former England youth striker Ashley Scothern. Scothern, 20, has been playing for Bradford Park Avenue since leaving Barnsley last summer. 'There are still a couple of loose ends to tie but hopefully he will be playing for us on Saturday' said Lutley. The Leigh boss has brought in Michael Reed from Penrith and put in seven days' notice for Chorley's former Bury striker Daniel Douglas-Pringle".
OLD BOYS
"Chester winger Kevin Ellison (right) has joined League One leaders Hull City, reports BBC Radio Humberside. The clubs have agreed a £100,000 fee and Ellison, 25, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract. Tigers' manager Peter Taylor said: 'He has got tremendous potential - he's strong and he scores goals and he'll be a very good signing for us'... Taylor also signed Ellison from non-league Altrincham when he was boss at Leicester in 2001". Before the deal, IC Cheshire quoted Chester chairman Stephen Vaughan: "Ian Rush doesn't want Kevin to move and quite frankly, neither do I. But the player has now requested a transfer, and because of a clause in his contract with us we have to allow him to talk to Hull'... Meanwhile Droylsden have inquired about the
availability of strikers Darryn Stamp and Andy Watson".
After Stafford's win on Tuesday at Alfreton the unofficial website described former Alty player Jamie Phoenix as a "Thorn in the side of the Alfreton defenders. He'll be a real asset when he can last 90 minutes". In the site's match report it adds that "Phoenix's impressive performance came to an end on 62 minutes as fatigue took a hold".
In the Marsden Trophy on Tuesday, Ian Craney scored twice for Accrington against Atherton LR.
NATIONWIDE NORTH
"A much changed Alfreton Town recorded the unwanted statistic of losing back to back league games for the first time this season when they went down 1-0 at home to Stafford Rangers on Tuesday night... The defeat means the Reds are still looking for their first goal, point and win of 2005".SAM reports that "Altrincham came away [from Worksop] with a point from the first of their four consecutive away encounters" and goes on to provide a match report.
Kettering Today says that "Fighting broke out between rival supporters at Tuesday night's match between Kettering Town and Nuneaton Borough. Kettering Town club secretary Graham Starmer said: 'The people who did this are not welcome here. We regret it happened and we will do everything we can to find them and ban them'. It is believed the incident broke out when Kettering supporters entered the area at the Rockingham Road end of the ground, in which the Nuneaton fans were watching the game. Mr Starmer said 'We haven't had any problems here for years, but it only takes one group. We don't want these people here. Once we pinpoint them we will make sure they are not let into the ground again. We have stewards at each game'... A police spokesman said: 'There was a disturbance, which spilled outside and a bus was damaged'".
Harrogate Town are protesting against the fact that "The West Riding County FA have ruled Harrogate Town's 10-0 win against Armthorpe Welfare last November as void. Town are alleged to have fielded an ineligble player, namely Danny Holland... Apparently, the County FA introduced a new rule this season that loan players are banned from the County Cup competition. However, they seem to have failed to draw the rule change to the attention of clubs. Furthermore, at the time of writing on 11 January 2005, there is no mention that loan players are ineligible in the 'Rules of the County Cup Competition' on the WRCFA's Official Website. When the match was played on 30 November 2004 against Armthorpe Welfare, Danny Holland was on loan from Hucknall Town... John Reed is reported to have told the Hinckley United's defeat of Moor Green on Tuesday was their "first league win in 5 games and and the first league win at home since September". But "The Marston Stadium and De Montfort Park complex has suffered another setback delaying the opening match by a further month. Problems with the Highway Authority concerning access to the complex, delays installing the perimeter fencing and general Health & Safety measures have caused the second delay to the opening day. The first match for the new Stadium has now been scheduled for Saturday 26th February, against Bradford Park Avenue".
The Southport Midweek Visiter says that "goalkeeper Steve Dickinson signed a new deal at the weekend keeping him at the club for a further two seasons after this one. A delighted Liam Watson said: 'It took 25 seconds to get Steve to sign the new contract... and I know I have signed the best goal keeper in Nationwide North'".
This is Redditch quotes United boss Rod Brown on their trip to play Carlisle on Saturday. "Whatever happens it's a massive day for us and we'll be treating it like our cup final." The site adds, "The Reds' players and staff will be travelling up to their opponents on Friday night as they had planned but will now be playing the game at Northern Premier outfit Workington FC on Sunday... Reds' Chairman Pat Cremin said: "I called them up on Friday and they told me the water was up to the 14th row in the main stand then I rang them on Monday to check again and they said the water was still three and a half feet deep. It's not just water it's the slurry and sludge which comes with it. Both dressing rooms have been flooded".
FIXTURES
Manchester Premier CupNN Tuesday 11th
Lancashire Marsden Cup
NN League Cup
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