Altrincham Football Club News Archive
9 to 13 March, 2005
13 March 2005
ALTRINCHAM 0 MOOR GREEN 2
Right: Eddie Hussin is helped off by physio Sean Riley. The other Alty players are Rod Thornley, Chris Adams, Gary Talbot, Mark Maddox and Steve Aspinall.
SUPPORT THE OTHER ALTY TEAMS
Today (Sunday), Alty Youth are at home to Canadian touring side Cataraqui Clippers - kick off is at 3pm. The game is at Wythenshawe Town, Timpson Road, next door to Tesco's garage at Baguley. Also, next Saturday (19th), before Alty's first team plays Ashton United at 3pm at Moss Lane, you could take in some of Alty Reserves' home game, also at Wythenshawe Town, against Guiseley Res., k.o. 1pm. Spectators are welcome at both games, for which entry is free.CROWDS
Terry Rowley's updated Nationwide North attendance figures are here.OLD BOYS
Former Alty Youth Wes Wilkinson was an unused sub for Oldham but there was no place for Danny Adams in Stockport's squad. Kevin Ellison was a late sub for Hull City. Keepers Ashley Timms (Atherton LR) and Barrie George (Salford C.) also played yesterday as did Peter Band (Vics), David Holt (Trafford), Steve Tobin (Flixton) and Chris Downey (Mossley), who missed a pen, whilst goalscorers yesterday included Lee Thompson (Skem) and Matt McNeil (Hyde).MOVES
12 March 2005
RESERVES DRAW
Alty Reserves drew 2-2 away to Accrington Stanley today with goals from Docta and Grimshaw. Report to follow.RESULTS
GRAHAM'S VIEW
SAM quotes Graham Heathcote after the Stafford game: "It is a very important win. The lads stuck at the task and got a big three points. All that matters at this stage is picking the points up not how you do it. It is nice if you can play football for 90 minutes and look a really good side but it is about knuckling down and battling as well - we did both. I'm delighted". He added that in his squad, "I know three or four are struggling. They are going into games with knocks, which are not enough to keep them out of games". As for the Cheshire Senior Cup Final on Wednesday, the Alty boss said "These lads deserve something in the trophy cabinet and it is a great opportunity to put something there. Crewe will play and pass, we've got to go and compete, pass, keep the ball as well as we can and hopefully take our chances".This is Staffs quotes Stafford Rangers boss Phil Robinson, "We were unfortunate to come off the losers at Altrincham. In fact we did everything but win the game".
NATIONWIDE NORTH
The Lancaster City website says that the club "have been charged for not fulfilling the home fixture v Runcorn Halton F.C on Tuesday 2 March. As per the F.A. rules the club could be deducted 3 points, fined up to £5000 or suspended from the competition". The hearing was to be held yesterday.Stalybridge Celtic "have loaned striker Phil Hadland to Leek Town... to the end of the season. Hadland has struggled for form since his four-figure move to the Fold from Northwich Victoria... Phil Eastwood's loan at Hyde has expired, and it is expected that he will join a Nationwide North side (again on loan)". Preston Today reports that "Eastwood was set to put pen to paper for Chorley FC this week". But he "decided on a move to Ashton United at the last moment".
This is Staffs reports that Leek Town have signed Frazer McHugh from Redditch. Kettering are reported to be signing Farnborough goalkeeper Mark Osbourne. Nuneaton have signed Brian Quailey for the rest of the season after he had been on loan from Stevenage.
Preston Today says that "Southport hot-shot Terry Fearns is chasing non-league football's golden boot. Fearns leads the national scoring charts with 30 goals". Manager Liam Watson said "He is not the fastest striker in the world, but he has a deadly eye for goal and is a very instinctive centre-forward... I think he'll finish the season with 40 goals". Fearns scored 111 goals in three seasons for Vauxhall Motors. He added "We have 11 matches left and I'm just asking our fans to be patient... I believe 80 points would win us the title". He also confirmed that goalkeeper Jamie Speare "has told Phil Wilson he wants to leave Lancaster and we've agreed terms with him".
Worksop Today says the Tigers "are still in the hunt to make the play-offs in May, according to boss Ronnie Glavin".
In the Trophy today, This is Nottingham reports on Hucknall Town's away tie at Hereford. Manager Dean Barrick said "We are underdogs... They've got pace and quality but they are there to be beaten... I would take a draw now".
11 March 2005
CUP FINAL
Details of the STAR supporters' coach to the Cheshire Senior Cup Final between Altrincham and Crewe Alexandra are here. The game, on Wednesday 16 March, at 7.45pm, is at Witton Albion.SATURDAY
On Saturday, 18th-placed Moor Green play at Moss Lane for the first time in their history. The game at Moorlands earlier this season saw Alty fortunate to come away with a point after an impressive attacking performance from the home side. The Moors, currently 18th, are having to play all their games away from home after their main stand was burnt down - their 'home games' have been switched to Solihull Borough's Damson Park.In today's NL Paper, Moors' boss Bob Faulkner says of Alty, "I'm not surprised how [well] they're doing. Their whole set-up is geared towards Conference football. They've got a nice ground, good support and some excellent players at this level. We've had problems at the back all season... But we tend to play better against the better sides".
Howard Watts's Through The Years information for 12 March is here.
STAFFORD MATCH
The Stafford Supporters' Trust site has a full match report on the game at Moss Lane last Saturday. It is very complimentary about Marcus Hallows and also gives judgements on each Rangers' player e.g. "Jamie Phoenix 6/10 a mixture of stepovers, runs and running around in circles"!The official Stafford site also has a very fair report.
NATIONWIDE NORTH
Alfreton Town ominously say that "There are just ten games left for Alfreton Town manager David Lloyd’s players to save both the club’s and his season, maybe even his future as the Reds boss... By his own admission recently, Lloyd feels he is sweating on his position as manager... The last ten league games have produced just five points... The next couple of weeks should see the squad bolstered as some of the six injured players return to action. The club went into the start of this season with an expenditure on the squad as high as it could be which took away the chance of a reaction to any dip in fortunes... Any promotion bid has effectively been put on hold by the lack of growth in support... Lloyd is hopeful of adding a Conference national level striker to his squad in time for this Saturday’s game in Cumbria".The Tameside Advertiser says that "Paul Futcher blamed poor collective defending for Ashton United’s 2-0 defeat against Vauxhall... With a free weekend coming up, the Robins' boss is trying to bring more fresh blood in ahead of their next game at Altrincham (19th)". Futcher said, " didn’t expect us to play like Real Madrid but we played like a side resigned to losing the game after we conceded the first goal".
This is WCFC says that "Pat Lyons has followed Colin Hoyle out of Worcester City to join Ilkeston Town... [after he] failed to register a minute's first-team action under Preece... Centre-half Hoyle, 33, joined the Robins earlier this week to cut down on travelling"
Martin Fallon, Runcorn press officer writes on the Runcorn forum about a meeting with the club's chairman, Dr Robertson. "The Doc has been putting money in all season and cannot afford to do so any more. No help is forthcoming and he basically doesn't know what to do about it... The club needs to find some money to complete the season. This will be somewhere in the region of £20k. The wage bill is around £2k per week as we suspected and is the main outlay... Playing any more games at the Stadium is out of the question, so that bill will not rise any more". So the club faces a choice between finishing the season with new, lower-level players and possibly getting relegated or trying to find the money to keep the existing squad. LIST, the supporters' trust will discuss the options shortly. Martin added that "All money that Dr Robertson has put in for the last year, he has borrowed... He estimates that it will take him 10 years to pay off what he has borrowed... He will not hand over control to anyone unless they can prove that they can finance the club... Subject to confirmation from the Nationwide Conference, home games will be at Prescot Cables or Warrington Town. A move to Witton Albion has been ruled out by the Chairman as being 'too expensive'... Witton would have been around £1,000 per game". £30K is owed plus the debt to Dr Robertson, which is unknown. LIST has compiled a business plan for next season which shows a small profit against expenditure of £152,125... I personally still think that saving this current club has to be the priority, since we will start at NWCL Division Two if we have to start again, which is four leagues below where we are at the moment!"
On IC Cheshire Runcorn FC Halton manager Steve Soley says about relegation, "I think there's four or five teams still in it and I am not that worried. I think we will be OK. I'd be less worried if we were playing somewhere else in the next home game. [The Halton Stadium] is dead as a dodo - it is like a reserve-team game and that is really going to favour the away team. We need a tight little ground where the spectators can spread out and give the opposition some stick like we get when we play away". Also, "Matty McGinn has pledged his immediate future to Runcorn, despite interest from Southport, and will weigh up his options at the end of the season... Barry Jones is available again after suspension but Tony McMillan and Tom Spearritt have a further two matches and one game to serve respectively. Ness will start a three-match ban".
NORTH WEST NEWS
"Henkel Consumer Adhesives, makers of UniBond DIY products, have agreed to extend their sponsorship of the UniBond League for a further two years". Henkel have sponsored the league now for 11 years and put more than £1 million into the sponsorship. Their main production plant is at Winsford - and Gary Talbot is one of their employees.10 March 2005
STAFFORD MATCH
Pictures and a summary of Altrincham v Stafford Rangers are lower down this page:
THE OTHER SIDE
Up the Boro reports on the defeat of Stafford at ALtrincham as "Yet another game in which Rangers can count themselves unlucky to finish it pointless. Altrincham created only a couple of chances worth note, and scored from one of them. Rangers had plenty of possession but lacked the finish and this unfortunately proved costly". Southport boss Liam Watson was at Moss Lane last night, spying on Stafford who meet his side on Saturday.YOUTH
The youth section now includes the full March fixtures in league and cup. On Sunday the Youth team have a home friendly at Wythenshawe Town against Canadian side Cataraqui Clippers. Kick off is 3pm (NB) and entry is free. The youth player statistics have also been updated.CHAMBER MIXER
The Altrincham supporters' trust, STAR announces that:STAR hosted the Altrincham Chamber of Commerce's bimonthly "Chamber Mixer" event in the Sponsors' Lounge and Noel White Suite on Wednesday evening, and around 40 local businesses attended, with a presentation by STAR and the Club the main attraction. Those attending also completed a prize quiz on Altrincham FC and then enjoyed a buffet and drinks, and an opportunity to meet with representatives of STAR and the Football Club. Each of those attending was invited to attend the match against Moor Green, and was offered Corporate Membership of STAR and opportunities for sponsorship and use of the Club's facilities.
If you have a company or work for one and you'd like to find out corporate membership of STAR and its benefits, then please contact Jon Stack on 01827 64471 or on marketing@star4alty.com, or contact the Club for details of sponsorship opportunities.
OLD BOY
NL Daily reports that "Willenhall Town [went]... down to a shock 4-2 home defeat to Colwyn Bay at Noose Lane. Much-travelled striker Carl Furlong was the Reds’ destroyer in chief. He shot Bay in front after 17 minutes... Furlong restored the Welshmen’s lead 2 minutes after the break... Furlong completed his hat trick in injury time".NATIONWIDE NORTH
The Southport Midweek Visiter reports that "By attending the next two home matches, starting this Saturday against Stafford Rangers and against Barrow the following week, supporters will be entitled to watch the Harrogate match on Tuesday, March 22, free. And all primary school pupils can attend Haig Avenue free when accompanied by a paying adult, again starting this Saturday. Three home wins now will virtually secure the Nationwide North Conference title and chairman Charlie Clapham appeals for everyone to be on board... If the offers catch the imagination, and they should, then a new Nationwide North attendance record could be achieved... Chairman Charlie Clapham said, "Liam Watson and his players have done a superb job this season and they deserve big backing"... The club have not forgotten their season ticket holders, who will receive free matchday programmes between now and the end of the season".Lancaster keeper Jamie Speare has decided to join Southport after the game against Ashton United on 28 March. Phil Wilson said, "It is very annoying that we don't get any money for him but it is better to let him go because no-one has been to tribunal in our league and that's a risky business.... This is the fifth time this has happened this season with various clubs so we have to bite the bullet", reports The Citizen.
Harrogate Town drew with Guiseley in the County Cup semi-final this week with former Alty midfielder Jeremy Illingworth a scorer for Guiseley.
Burton Albion have recalled Welsh under-21 international goalkeeper James Coates, who has been on loan at Worcester City and kept goal for them against Altrincham.
Stalybridge beat Hollinwood 10-1 in a friendly on Tuesday night.
10 March 2005
STAFFORD MATCH
Pictures and a summary of Altrincham v Stafford Rangers are lower down this page:
THE OTHER SIDE
Up the Boro reports on the defeat of Stafford at ALtrincham as "Yet another game in which Rangers can count themselves unlucky to finish it pointless. Altrincham created only a couple of chances worth note, and scored from one of them. Rangers had plenty of possession but lacked the finish and this unfortunately proved costly". Southport boss Liam Watson was at Moss Lane last night, spying on Stafford who meet his side on Saturday.YOUTH
The youth section now includes the full March fixtures in league and cup. On Sunday the Youth team have a home friendly at Wythenshawe Town against Canadian side Cataraqui Clippers. Kick off is 3pm (NB) and entry is free. The youth player statistics have also been updated.CHAMBER MIXER
The Altrincham supporters' trust, STAR announces that:STAR hosted the Altrincham Chamber of Commerce's bimonthly "Chamber Mixer" event in the Sponsors' Lounge and Noel White Suite on Wednesday evening, and around 40 local businesses attended, with a presentation by STAR and the Club the main attraction. Those attending also completed a prize quiz on Altrincham FC and then enjoyed a buffet and drinks, and an opportunity to meet with representatives of STAR and the Football Club. Each of those attending was invited to attend the match against Moor Green, and was offered Corporate Membership of STAR and opportunities for sponsorship and use of the Club's facilities.
If you have a company or work for one and you'd like to find out corporate membership of STAR and its benefits, then please contact Jon Stack on 01827 64471 or on marketing@star4alty.com, or contact the Club for details of sponsorship opportunities.
OLD BOY
NL Daily reports that "Willenhall Town [went]... down to a shock 4-2 home defeat to Colwyn Bay at Noose Lane. Much-travelled striker Carl Furlong was the Reds’ destroyer in chief. He shot Bay in front after 17 minutes... Furlong restored the Welshmen’s lead 2 minutes after the break... Furlong completed his hat trick in injury time".NATIONWIDE NORTH
The Southport Midweek Visiter reports that "By attending the next two home matches, starting this Saturday against Stafford Rangers and against Barrow the following week, supporters will be entitled to watch the Harrogate match on Tuesday, March 22, free. And all primary school pupils can attend Haig Avenue free when accompanied by a paying adult, again starting this Saturday. Three home wins now will virtually secure the Nationwide North Conference title and chairman Charlie Clapham appeals for everyone to be on board... If the offers catch the imagination, and they should, then a new Nationwide North attendance record could be achieved... Chairman Charlie Clapham said, "Liam Watson and his players have done a superb job this season and they deserve big backing"... The club have not forgotten their season ticket holders, who will receive free matchday programmes between now and the end of the season".Lancaster keeper Jamie Speare has decided to join Southport after the game against Ashton United on 28 March. Phil Wilson said, "It is very annoying that we don't get any money for him but it is better to let him go because no-one has been to tribunal in our league and that's a risky business.... This is the fifth time this has happened this season with various clubs so we have to bite the bullet", reports The Citizen.
Harrogate Town drew with Guiseley in the County Cup semi-final this week with former Alty midfielder Jeremy Illingworth a scorer for Guiseley.
Burton Albion have recalled Welsh under-21 international goalkeeper James Coates, who has been on loan at Worcester City and kept goal for them against Altrincham.
Stalybridge beat Hollinwood 10-1 in a friendly on Tuesday night.
9 March 2005
LAST NIGHT
Right: Kirk Hilton, Alty's ex-Manchester United left-sided defender/midfielder.
Kettering's win over Alfreton Town kept Alty in sixth, a position they were in as long ago as mid-December when their current 12-match unbeaten league run had just begun. Cup matches, postponements and an abandoned game have seen Alty playing catch-up on the teams above them. Kettering had Lynch sent off and Alfreton lost Carl Bradshaw on a stretcher but "The attendance of 243 was the lowest of the season for a league game at the Impact Arena". Considering the rival attractions of Man Utd and Chelsea games on TV, Alty's gate of 601 was surprisingly good but still well down on the 870 who turned up for the original game against Stafford on New Year's Day, which was abandoned. See below for more on this game...
STAR
The March STAR newsletter, now being distributed, contains the Player of the Year voting form.NATIONWIDE NORTH
Ilkeston Town have signed defender Colin Hoyle from Worcester City.FOR EARLIER NEWS, CLICK HERE