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19 to 23 March 2005 |
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19 to 23 March 2005 |
Tuesday's Daily Telegraph had a large article on Southport who "could be celebrating 100 years at Haig Avenue with a return to the Conference". Somewhat prematurely perhaps in view of last night's home defeat, chairman Charlie Clapham said, "Playing in the Conference again will be exciting".
Nuneaton Borough report that loan player Gavin Cowen from Canvey Island has now been transferred to Shrewsbury Town by the Essex club.
A press release from Runcorn's Linnets Independent Supporters' Trust says that LIST has "issued a challenge to the people and businesses of Halton to prove that they want a football club in the future. Last month LIST made an offer to buy the football club from chairman Dr David Robertson, but were told via the local press that their offer was "irrelevant". However LIST still believe that supporters running the club is the only option... Martin Fallon, LIST's Director of Communications, said, 'The football club is on its last legs now, and will fold at the end of the season if something drastic is not done. We have spoken to individuals and companies that have said that they would support the club, both on the terraces and financially, but only if the club was under new ownership. We are now saying to the people of Halton to stand up and prove it. Get in touch with LIST and pledge what you would give if we were in control... LIST has done everything that the chairman has asked of us. We have provided him with a copy of our business plan as per his request, and we will provide him with this information once we have collated it to show what support the club would have if supporters were in charge. It would then be up to him to decide the club's future'".
A much weakened Alty side, lacking Coburn, Maddox, Hilton and Hussin as well as long-term injured Hallows and Rose gave a spirited performance last night. In addition Potts was playing with flu and Scott and Adams were carrying injuries. So, eight Alty players in the squad named for this game had started three league games or fewer for Alty this season. Things got even worse when both Thornley and Aspinall limped off within 35 minutes of the start and before the end of the match Melling was hobbling, too.
After the game, Graham Heathcote thanked the travelling fans for their support, saying that Alty were "a very tired side" after their great efforts tonight, which was the fourth game in ten days.
A week on Saturday Alty travel to the Horsfall Stadium. NL Daily reports that for "Bradford Park Avenue's ... eighth consecutive away league defeat... There was a new face in the Avenue team... Sean McClare who was released by Halifax Town last month. The 27-year-old midfielder can boast more than 160 League appearances for Barnsley, Port Vale and Rochdale before being released at the end of last season".
When Alty play Gainsborough on 2 April, Trinity will be without James Sherlock who has a three-match ban ending with the game that day.
"Atherton LR have [signed]... former Port Vale, and England Schoolboy international striker Stephen Torpey... who once scored 40 goals in a season for Prescot Cables before they gained promotion to the UniBond from the NWCL. Torpey left for a spell with Altrincham earlier this season, he returned to Cables earlier this month and is still registered with the Liverpool-based outfit and actually scored their winner at Matlock Town on Saturday" says NL Daily
On Preston Today "Liam Watson predicts off-colour Southport can take a huge step towards the Conference North title against promotion rivals Harrogate Town [on Tuesday]. But the Southport manager will ring the changes as the Sandgrounders championship journey continues to stutter and stall like an antique steamroller stuck in third gear". In their last game "Southport's best league gate of the season witnessed a wretched display. Droylsden boss Dave Pace ruffled a few feathers this week when he suggested Southport's title challenge is creaking like an old oak tree in the teeth of a winter gale". Watson said, "We can't afford another mistake at home. It wasn't pretty and we just huffed and puffed against Barrow, and that's not good enough when you've got a title to win... I'll be making changes against Harrogate to try and freshen things up".
After an incident following the game against Ashton United, manager Graham Heathcote tendered his resignation as manager of Altrincham Football Club. The Board have met and have refused to accept his resignation, citing the fact that extreme provocation caused the event.
Mr Heathcote will remain in charge of all team affairs, as before, with the full backing of all members of the Board.
The club are extremely disappointed at the actions of certain individuals, but will not allow these events to destabilise a club which is now heading in the right direction.
The Board would also like to express their thanks to Sean Riley, the club physio, and Dr Richard Parish, for their treatment of Marcus Hallows prior to his admission to hospital. We wish Marcus a speedy recovery.
Geoff Goodwin, Grahame Rowley, Andrew Shaw
Brian Flynn, Chairperson of STAR commented "There seems to be universal regret surrounding the unfortunate events that took place following the game against Ashton United. I am sure, however, that the vast majority of Altrincham supporters will be relieved & delighted that the Board of Directors have persuaded Graham Heathcote to continue as manager, particularly with the team that Graham has built being in a strong position, despite recent setbacks, to push for a place in the Nationwide North play-offs".
Supporters may also wish to ring Clubcall, details right. From 7pm, chairman Geoff Goodwin will be interviewed by Brian Flynn about recent events at the club. As well as an update on Marcus Hallows's injury, there is also good news from Geoff about Colin Little revealed in the interview.
Today's Pink states that Graham "refused to comment on the incident".
Many thanks are due to the Altrincham FC stewards and those public-spirited spectators who intervened to prevent the incident getting worse.
Above: Gavin Rathbone's excellent view of Steve Aspinall's penalty yesterday. You can buy Gavin's pictures either through the Robins' Shop at Moss Lane or by e-mail.
Pictured above is the Altrincham Reserve team which faced Guiseley on Saturday. Five regulars were missing due to work commitments or injury so, hopefully, there will be an opportunity for another team photo including them later this season. Pictured above, left to right are: Back - Carlos Marsden (coach), Laurence Ball, Mike Brown, Adam Brindle, Craig Ellison, Ranel Williams, Pat Connolly, Lee Hendley, Neil Brown (manager). Front - Todd Cunliffe, John Thompson, Paul Monaghan, James Marsden (capt.), Paul Tilley, Ashley Brown, Arron Hevingham and the mascot.
Transfers:
Footnote: Those who were at the match today will be aware of the circumstances which provoked the post-match incident today and the vast majority of fans will sincerely hope that Graham will remain as manager after tomorrow's meeting.
Above: Aspinall nets the Alty goal, from the spot.
All Altrincham supporters and officials wish Marcus Hallows (right) as speedy a recovery as possible after he broke his leg badly today. He is in Wythenshawe Hospital where he will have a operation in the next 24 hours.
In contrast after last week's defeat by Moor Green, Graham told SAM, "Apart from Coburn it was a poor performance but I always felt Moor Green were a decent side and was astonished at where they are in the league. On the day, no qualms about it, Moor Green were the better side, we looked a tired side. It was a poor performance but we've not seen many of them this season".
IC Solihull has a match report on Moor Green's win at Moss Lane. Assistant manager John Frain said "That is only the third or fourth clean sheet we have kept all season... They know they have underachieved this season and this win has given them a lot of belief and confidence".
The NW Evening Mail reports that "Lee Turnbull will warn his men about their post-match conduct following a flare-up between players and travelling Barrow AFC fans in a bar at Ellesmere Port. Tension has existed between players and some fans since a petition calling for the removal of Turnbull went around Holker Street... This bad feeling came to a head in the bar at... Vauxhall Motors... It is understood that two Barrow squad players made abusive and inflammatory remarks towards a small group of travelling fans, some of whom were involved in organising the petition. After complaints from supporters a clear-the-air meeting was held with directors at Holker Street on Tuesday. The directors have arranged to speak to Turnbull, who has since been given a 12-month extension to his contract, to tell his players to cool it. Club director Dave Ingham said 'This is a family place and it must remain so. They (the players) would have to conduct themselves in such a manner that you could take youngsters into the [clubhouse] afterwards... to mix with the players and to be able to ask them for an autograph and so on".
Mark Peers, who joined Southport from Leigh this week "is so fast he could catch pigeons and has an excellent eye for goals too" said manager Liam Watson on Preston Today, where Droylsden boss Dave Pace says "I've always said that, in a one-mile race, the place you want to be going into the last lap is tucked in behind the leader, so you're perfectly positioned to pass them going into the final bend. I'm convinced that's going to happen to Southport because they've some really difficult games ahead of them, and still have to meet Harrogate and Hucknall twice, who are the form teams right now... I marched into our dressing room the other day and told the lads that, if any of them don't believe that we can win the league, they should get out now because there's no way I'm going to settle for second-best". But Watson retorted "80 points is the target and, providing results go well, we could have broken the back of that figure after our two Easter games against Ashton and Moor Green".
Also on Preston Today, Lancaster boss "Phil Wilson believes he needs to add four or five new players to his Lancaster City squad this summer... and one of them could arrive as early as next week. With goalkeeper Jamie Speare now certain to be leaving for table toppers Southport at the end of the month, the City boss has been in talks with goalkeepers about taking the number one shirt at Giant Axe". And finally, "Conference officials may need to find a new venue for their play-off finals... if Stoke make it into the Championship play-offs... Derby County and Reading have also been considered".
