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24 to 27 April 2005 |
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24 to 27 April 2005 |
If Southport only draw at Harrogate on Saturday, a 3-0 win for the Bloods at Worksop would secure the title for Droylsden.
Pictured (right) against Redditch is Gary Scott, one of several Alty squad
members who is playing on through niggling injury. Photo kindly supplied
by Gavin Rathbone, from whom
copies can be purchased.
But Stalybridge Celtic report that "Scunthorpe have thrown a spanner in the works with regard to Celtic's preparations for tomorrow's GLS Cup Final tie with Woking. Manager Brian Laws has recalled on-loan striker Andy Parton to Glanford Park as The Iron attempt to secure promotion from Coca Cola Football League Two... Celtic boss John Reed has moved quickly to fill the gap and has recalled Phil Eastwood from his loan spell at Ashton".
There are off the field issues affecting both those clubs likely to come up to the Nationwide North for 2005-06 and those going down from the National Conference. The UniBond League reports that at an EGM on 23 May, its Board of Directors will "recommend ... that Spennymoor United be expelled from membership of the Northern Premier Football League... The resolution requires a majority of three quarters of the members present". In the MEN Hyde United chairman Tony Beard said of the decision to delete Spennymoor's results, "It's ridiculous. We could lose the league to a club [Farsley] who have been well off the pace. We've told the FA we want to put our case before them. But the FA are unsure whether we, as a third party, have the right to appeal". Also unhappy is Workington chairman Dale Brotherton who "called an emergency meeting of the Workington board on Monday to consider appealing against Sunday's devastating decision by UniBond League directors to expunge crisis club Spennymoor United’s records, which sent the West Cumbrians plunging from first to third... 'It looks very likely that we will appeal the verdict'", he said. Workington "travel to Whitby on Wednesday night and play the return on Saturday". NL Daily adds that "After Saturday’s matches Farsley Celtic were five points behind UniBond League Premier Division leaders Workington. However, 24 hours later, the league’s decision to expunge Spennymoor United’s results suddenly lifted the Yorkshire outfit into being favourites for the title... Farsley suffered only a one-point deduction following the Spennymoor farce and [this] gave them the edge over the other contenders Workington, Hyde United and Whitby Town".
Forest Green's hopes of a Conference relegation reprieve have been dashed by Gravesend & Northfleet's ground passing the ground grading inspectors yesterday.
John Harman is the official Conference statistician and his book is arranged in A to Z order of each club which has ever been in the Alliance or Conference. Within each club's section there is a list of every player and his appearance and goalscoring totals for each season that he played. There are also charts showing each club's annual and cumulative record against each opposing team. In addition there are numerous black and white photos of players from each team as well as team photos and other statistics. All in all, it is an excellent publication full of fascinating data. Also, in his preface, the author states that best side that he ever watched was the 1990-91 Altrincham team which so nearly won the Conference but fell at the final hurdle due to fixture congestion. In his "dream team" are three Alty players, John Brady, Ken McKenna and Paul Showler.
There is also an excellent series of booklets being issued by John Guilfoyle on each season of the Conference. Details are given of every game played by each club in the season in question i.e. score, scorers, attendance, as well as final league table, each club's appearance and goalscoring records for every player and also results from the cup competitions. So far, John has issued volumes from 1988/89 to 2003/04 and these are available from him at 24 Adelaide Street, Clayton-le-Moors, Accrington, Lancs BB5 5LU for £3.50 plus 42p postage per volume.
A Hucknall fan on his club Forum says that "For the final game of the season against Altrincham F.C., I will include a small quiz in the programme. As you know most of my football knowledge (if any) relates back to the 70s and 80s, and it will be NON LEAGUE! The first person to come to me with the right answers on the day will receive a £20 voucher redeemable in the Talk of the Town bar".
Nuneaton Borough confirm that their "play-off semi final will take place on Tuesday May 3rd at Manor Park... at 7.45pm and admission will be £8 for adults and £5 for concessions". Manager Roger Ashby said "We want the players to be as fresh as possible and having another 24 hours to prepare rather than playing on Bank Holiday Monday was the preferred option".
Terry Rowley's Nationwide North attendance figures are here.
Above: Gavin Rathbone's great picture of Stuart Coburn making a save against Redditch. Gavin's pictures are available via the club shop or by e-mail.
Stalybridge guaranteed their Nationwide North survival tonight at the expense of Runcorn, who are now relegated. Hucknall, with a fixture backlog, fielded defender Russell Cooke in goal from the kickoff and named a team almost entirely made up of second-string players. Goalkeeper Greg Smith was supposed to play but only arrived during the second half after being delayed en route. But Celtic started poorly and only went ahead when Shepherd beat Cooke directly from a freekick (23 mins); their second arrived in the second half after an awful mistake by Rowlands on a very hard pitch allowed Parton a clear run on goal. Incidentally, Cooke also kept goal for 31 minutes against Alty in May 2001, when Hucknall keeper Dave McCarthy injured himself.
The 2005/06 Altrincham FC home kit has now arrived at Moss Lane, albeit in limited supplies. However, you can order your size now from the club (928-1045). Pictured right is the kit, as worn by Alty chief steward Darren Gregory's son, Dan, who very kindly agreed to "model" it. Dan is one of the team of Altrincham ballboys.
Details of the supporters' coach times and fares to Hucknall are here.
ALTRINCHAM FC: BALLBOYS & GIRLS PRESENTATIONS FOR 2005,
Trophies sponsored by Ray Armstrong and Mike Antrobus
Joint Co-ordinators.
Samantha is the first ballgirl to top the overall total of games attended for a season. She has, so far, completed 112 games overall.
In addition many other lads and lasses have worked so hard this season - far too many to mention here.
Well done, too, to Mike Antrobus in his first season as joint co-ordinator of the Altrincham FC ballboys and ballgirls.
Ray Armstrong.
Confguide adds that "The club has still not completed its new Victoria Stadium despite moving away from The Drill Field three years ago. Work has stopped a number of times, including a major hold-up earlier this season when the club went into administration. The Conference membership has not been transferred to a new company as far as I can tell, so the club remains in administration despite apparently agreeing a CVA many months ago. There seems to be a boardroom battle in progress, and sources claim that the club still owes large sums for work on the stadium, along with smaller sums to other clubs. The latter could result in a transfer embargo".
... and Whitby and Workington have to meet each other twice! At the bottom the relegations of Bamber Bridge and Bridlington Town are confirmed.
But Hyde United have issued a statement which says "We believe the decision is unfair and unjust with regard to Hyde United and consequently it is likely the club will appeal to the Football Association".
Right: Colin Little accepts his Players' Player of the Year award.
A very enjoyable and financially successful Player of the Year/Race Night was held by STAR last night at Moss Lane. Not surprisingly, it was Colin Little who went home with a car-boot full of trophies. Having received the Young Supporters' Player of the Year award immediately after the Redditch game, Colin also lifted the STAR Player of the Year, the Altrincham Fans' Forum Internet Player of the Year and the Players' Player of the Year awards in a ceremony excellently compered by STAR's Brian Flynn. A prize draw for various Alty-related items was also held, with Jacqui Forster lifting the first prize of a framed Altrincham photo montage by Gavin Rathbone.
Other players to receive awards were Colin Potts, who received the Outstanding Contribution to the Team award, and Eddie Hussin (3rd) and Stuart Coburn (2nd) who were the runners-up for Player of the Year. Mark Maddox made a presentation on behalf of the team to the Altrincham Board of chairman Geoff Goodwin and directors Grahame Rowley and Andrew Shaw.
The awards took place during a Race Night admirably compered, as usual, by Toni and her youthful helper, Mr George Heslop. The final race involved the auctioning of the competing horses and a consortium of supporters from the Golf Road End dipped very deeply into their pockets to sponsor three horses. It was only fitting that one of these romped home in the race and the Golf Road lads then made the extremely generous gesture of donating their £155 winnings straight back to STAR and the Football Club. Well done to all concerned!
Steve Foster has worked hard for weeks raising funds through his Treble Chance competition and this was won by "Rafo", Moss Lane's very own matchday announcer. Much work was also put in by the other STAR committee members who are all to be thanked for their great efforts, whilst Jenny Heslop and Helen McGuire who had run the bar non-stop since well before the match kicked off at 3pm received a well deserved round of applause.
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Above left: Eddie Hussin prepares to present the Players' Player award. Right: Geoff Goodwin receives a presentation from Mark Maddox.
After yesterday's games, the last relegation place lies between Runcorn and Stalybridge, with Monday's Stalybridge v Hucknall game possibly deciding it. At the top Droylsden can still win the title but need to defeat Hucknall on Wednesday to stay in the hunt. If they win, Southport would need a draw against Harrogate next Saturday.
As for the play-offs, Two of Southport, Nuneaton or Droylsden will occupy the home places whilst the away teams in the Nationwide North play-off semis will be two of Kettering, Altrincham or Harrogate.
If Alty win at Hucknall on Saturday they qualify for the play-offs. If Alty draw, we can still qualify if either Harrogate fail to win or Kettering lose as the Robins have the best goal difference of the three contenders. If Alty lose, they can still qualify if Harrogate only draw or lose.
Match report here.
Above: Chris Adams was a popular first-winner of the Tom Earley Trophy, a new award for clubman of the year, as selected by Graham Heathcote. He is seen here receiving the trophy from chairman Geoff Goodwin (back to camera), whilst Eddie Hussin (left), Mark Maddox (right) and the rest of the squad show their approval.
A GREAT TEAM
The Altrincham FC team of ballboys and girls is one of the best organised in the business and it plays a vital part in keeping games flowing as well as minimising losses from lost balls. Standing out in the rain for 90 minutes on a wet Tuesday night requires great dedication and the awards to those boys and girls with most appearances this season are very well deserved. The team is organised by Ray Armstrong and Mike Antrobus, who devote great time and effort to the job. A fuller report on the awards, kindly provided by Ray, will appear on the website in the next 24 hours.
Below: Geoff Goodwin and Eddie Hussin hand out an awards to members of the impressive squad of Altrincham ballgirls and boys.
Above: Colin Little receives an admiring handshake from Sam Heathcote, the manager's son, as he receives his Young Supporters' Player of the Year award.
