|
23 to 27 March 2005 |
|
23 to 27 March 2005 |
Following the bad injury to Alty striker Marcus Hallows, in today's "Pink", Alty chairman Geoff Goodwin says, "I've spoken to Marcus's wife, who is understandably very upset and I've promised her we'll stand by him by paying his wages through the summer. In the circumstances, it's the least we can do. We'll also be staging fundraising events for Marcus, just as we have for our other broken leg victim Stephen Rose and we're looking into the suggestion that the cash generated by our planned supporters v staff game ... could also be given to him. Marcus can rest assured we'll look after him. We care for our players".
Meanwhile, STAR's Brian Flynn reports that Gary Warrington and his colleagues will carry out a bucket collection for Marcus Hallows at the Easter Monday game against Hinckley United. Brian writes, "Many people will be aware that Marcus's only income during his rehabilitation period will be from Altrincham FC and the Club has already pledged to pay Marcus during the close season. There will be a number of fundraising events over the next couple of months to help Marcus support his wife Emma and their young son Aaron, who has just reached his first birthday... so bring pocketfuls of dosh on Monday!!". Marcus has now been released from hospital with a titanium rod in his leg.
Niell Hardy netted for Chorley, whilst Steve Tobin scored for Flixton yesterday, whilst Rio Nelson, an Alty Reserve this season, also played for Flixton. Ryan Hevicon turned out for Chadderton and Jamie Baguley for Woodley this week, whilst Lee Thompson netted for Skem, Leroy Chambers for Frickley and Carl Furlong played for Colwyn Bay. The NLP has a picture of Ian Craney scoring this week for Accrington. Two ex-Alty Youth players, Mark Drew, Ben Ashmole and Lee Shillito played for Leigh yesterday, whilst Peter Band and Matt Bailey played for Vics, and Dean Greygoose for Sudbury.
For today's game at Barrow, manager Graham Heathcote has had some good news as, apart from the broken-leg victims Stephen Rose and Marcus Hallows, he is only certain to be without Rod Thornley (acting as masseur with England and injured) and Kirk Hilton (knee injury) for the Holker Street match. Even Eddie Hussin, who had been laid low by a bug on top of the injury which had sidelined him recently, may be available; both Eddie and Steve Aspinall (right) will have fitness tests before the game today. Rod's leg injury is not as yet diagnosed and he is to have further checks over the weekend but he will certainly miss Monday's game at home to Hinckley. The recent flu/virus victims (Coburn, Melling, Potts, Mitten) are all now fit.
Vauxhall Motors have signed Michael Garrity who played 4 first-team games for Alty in 2000. Michael's uncle, Larry, played for Altrincham in the 1970s. Michael moved from Alty to Kendal Town (November 2000) and later to Runcorn until he was released for financial reasons last week.
Alty Youth Team manager George Heslop has also gone down with the bug, so we wish him well, too.
Alty manager Graham Heathcote will be talking on Brian Flynn's ClubCall on 09066 555902 from 1pm on Saturday giving his "reflections on the events of last weekend".
Bradford PA's manager Carl Shutt says "We do still have a lot to do but, whatever happens, we will stick at it and keep trying until the fat lady sings" according to NL Daily.
NL Daily also reports that Witton Albion have signed Anton Lally "a 24-year-old tough-tackling midfielder who has joined from troubled Runcorn FC Halton. He has previously played with Vauxhall Motors, Colwyn Bay, Kendal Town and Marine".
"Alfreton Town are aiming to finish the current season with a flourish. On Monday they meet Stalybridge with "a contrast of fortunes between the two clubs. The Reds piled on points at the start of the season with a fantastic start to the campaign and then tailing off somewhat... Big-spending Stalybridge... have done it the other way around with a poor first half of the season leading to an upturn in fortunes recently". Alfreton aim to install more seats in the summer and to "give the stadium the contingency to house and segregate up to 1200 visiting supporters in the future.. and next season the club will bring the Impact Arena up to a 4000 capacity"
Hucknall's last league game of the season at home to Alty will be their 14th game in five weeks- a backlog caused by progress in the FA Cup and FA Trophy.
Harrogate Town report that manager "Neil Aspin... was relatively happy with the way things have progressed since his return to Wetherby Road in January". He said, "Eight games further on we are still in the top five and we have had some difficult games ... It is just a case of getting the balance right between good defending and still creating chances". Aspin is also "hoping to bolster his squad before the transfer deadline" on 31 March".
On IC Cheshire "Runcorn boss Steve Soley has dismissed talk of Good Friday's game at Stalybridge being a Nationwide North relegation battle... Soley insists Runcorn will soon overtake teams above them while predicting Stalybridge, unbeaten in 10, won't go down either... He said: 'Stalybridge are probably playing some of the best stuff in the league.. The teams above us aren't winning and are all getting dragged in'... Even mid-table Worksop Town may join the relegation battle - they will be ducted 10 points if creditors accept a proposal for a voluntary arrangement. Soley has, meanwhile, released goalkeeper Tony McMillan and fellow contract players Mike Garrity [ex-Alty] and Tom Field. Replacing the midfieldmen are Kendal Town's Mike Jack, 21, who has had a full season of Football League experience with Carlisle, and Widnes teenager Craig Heenighan, a former Blackpool School of Excellence player. Soley yesterday signed striker Philip Brake from Runcorn Sunday League side Bridge Timber". Press officer Martin Fallon confirms that "Despite newspaper reports to the contrary, Runcorn FC Halton would like to confirm that we will be playing our remaining four Nationwide Conference North home games at Valerie Park, home of Unibond Premier League outfit Prescot Cables. The first of these game is on Easter Monday when we entertain Stafford Rangers, kick off 3.00pm". Their other games at Prescot are on 9, 16 and 30 April against Ashton, Hucknall and Lancaster City.
Confirmation of Worksop's plight comes from Worksop Today which says that The Tigers "could be just two weeks away from ending their financial nightmare... By entering into a Company Voluntary Arrangement, Worksop Town Football Club Ltd would be bought out by a new company and creditors could receive just 28% of money owed to them. But.. they could be docked a maximum of 10 points by the Conference North... potentially throwing them into a relegation fight. The club's future will be decided on Friday, 8 April when creditors are expected to announce whether to accept the proposal or not".
Vauxhall Motors have had "an alarming run of form that has seen them fail to score in six of their last eight matches" says IC Cheshire. Chairman Alan Bartlam said: 'I'm calling on all our fans, both old and new, to come down and give the lads their support because we need them. I'd like to reiterate again that all children accompanied by an adult get into all of our home games for free and I'd love to see plenty of youngsters creating a good atmosphere at Rivacre Park over the Easter holidays and beyond. My support for the manager Owen Brown remains absolute... I am disappointed about the clash with the England game this Saturday at 3pm, though. Call it pig-headedness but why should the whole of football have to move their games just for one match?'". Hear, hear!
Above is Gavin Rathbone's action picture of Kirk Hilton, against Ashton United, as Gary Talbot looks on.
Alty lie seventh from top of the attendances chart, after Southport, Kettering Town, Worcester City, Barrow, Nuneaton Borough and Hinckley United whose total is skewed by free attendance at their old ground and the lure of a new stadium. At the bottom end, four clubs average fewer than 300 spectators per game Moor Green, Ashton United, Runcorn FC Halton and, lowest of all Vauxhall Motors (avge. 220).
Alty director Grahame Rowley has provided an update on Marcus Hallows
(right) following his second operation, during which the wound caused by
his compound double fracture was closed up. The leg will not be plastered
but rather placed in a cradle. Thankfully, Marcus is no longer in need of
painkillers and, indeed, will be up on crutches tomorrow with a view to
being released from hospital on Friday. They certainly don't let you stay
long in hospitals these days! Marcus has asked that his thanks be conveyed
to all those supporters, players and club officials who have sent him good
wishes since he suffered his nasty injury.
