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5 to 8 August 2005 |
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5 to 8 August 2005 |
Stevenage have also advised us that junction 7 of the A1(M) is closed this Saturday so J8 should be used instead. A map is on the links/maps page.
Cambridge Utd have also given advance notice that for the game at the Abbey Stadium against Alty on 24 September away fans will be in the Habbin Terrace. Entry will be £12 (£8 for concessionaries, £3 for juniors)
Right: Peter Band comes in after hitting an impressive 20 runs as Graham Heathcote goes out to bat in the first innings. The camera did not catch the moment when Peter's bat travelled further than the ball he was attempting to hit and forced evading action from the Urmston fielders!
The most important cricket action yesterday was not the Test Match at Edgbaston but at Urmston where Altrincham FC played their annual cricket game against Urmston CC. Every bit as good as Freddie Flintoff's innings for England, a sparkling 65 from Stuart Coburn was the highlight of Alty's first innings total of 138 for 8 off 20 overs. Graham Heathcote was generously allowed to continue early in his innings after being caught and went on to get 29. The rest of the Alty team comprised Richard Acton, Peter Band, Rod Thornley, Charles and Dan Heathcote, Chris and Grahame Rowley, Andy and Bill Coop. An Urmston bowler did the hat-trick in the final over of the first innings. The game ended with a narrow victory for Urmston even though Charles Heathcote scored 83 in the second innings and Richard Acton hit a fine 42. Grahame Rowley informs me that he scored a "majestic 16" - I won't mention what he got in the first innings! Graham Heathcote bowled two men in one over to put the pressure on the home side but Grahame tells me Urmston "scraped home with 10 balls to spare".
However, the Aussie touring team will be attending the Alty v Bangor City as guests of Alty chairman Geoff Goodwin, who drives them around England for their matches in a luxury coach from his Go Goodwins fleet. The next test Match is at nearby Old Trafford.
In the NL paper, Graham Westley, manager of our first league opponents this season, Stevenage Borough, previews the campaign. "The three promoted clubs will all be keen to make their mark. And each is more than capable. In the likes of Val Owen, Altrincham have players who know the circuit. I am pretty sure, though, that a top 15 finish would please them". Also in the NLP, Tamworth manager Mark Cooper calls for an end to dismissals in pre-season games after two red cards were given in their recently friendly. After Saturday, no doubt Alty's Mark Maddox would agree.
Surprisingly, Howard Watts's Through the Years data reveals that Alty have never before played on any 13th August, when they meet Stevenage Borough, so the first Through the Years file of the season is for 16th August, when Alty host Accrington Stanley.
Stevenage Boro's site has a match preview of the Altrincham's visit next Saturday. The Boroguide site says "Starting with the lineup most likely to feature against Altrincham next weekend, Stevenage Borough found it hard to break down a resolute Havant & Waterlooville side in the penultimate warm-up game of the summer". That side was: Alan Julian (Shane Gore 62), Ronnie Henry, Jason Goodliffe, Matt Hocking, Justin Gregory (Micky Warner), Ollie Berquez (Danny Williams 62), Dino Maamria (Dannie Bulman 45), Simon Weatherstone (Michael Brough 83), George Boyd, Anthony Elding (Jon Nurse 45), Darryn Stamp (Chris Sullivan 76).
Alty's second away trip of the season is to Aldershot Town on Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 27 August. The Shotsweb website reports on their game with Yeovil in which "Both Nikki Bull and John Brough came through their first full matches after injury, while Tim Sills played the opening 45 minutes in something approaching his customary style. Yeovil’s Australian [ex-Southport] centre-half Scott Guyett made his debut, pending a short-term loan deal". The Shots are managed by Terry Brown who was the Hayes manager when we were last in the Conference.
At Cambridge United "Three more players have passed medicals and signed their contracts with Cambridge United. Defender Mark Peters put pen to paper just before today's win, while David Bridges and Fola Onibuje signed after the game... Today's signings follow the captures earlier this week of David Chick, Mbiyeye Medine and Parys Okai. In addition, defender Andy Duncan signed a further one year contract".
Gravesend report that "Canadian Ross Smith has signed a 1 year full-time contract... The former Margate centre-half joins namesake James Smith, Paul McCarthy and Graham Porter in the heart of the Gravesend defence... Goalkeeper Craig Holloway told NOTN that... he expected to start the season as a Gravesend player... Matt Lovell has left the club by mutual consent".
The York unofficial website says that "Former Halifax Town and Lincoln City centre-back James Dudgeon has [signed]... a 'short-term contract' with the Minstermen. The 25-year-old Newcastle-born defender originally joined York on a one-month deal in June after captaining Worksop Town last term... The combative stopper becomes the tenth new arrival at KitKat Crescent over the summer".
But NL Daily says that "Adrian Pennock, manager of Welling United, has raided his former club, Gravesend & Northfleet, once again to snap up experienced midfielder Steve Perkins... Steve started his playing days in Burscough`s youth team". Also "Canvey Island made it three signings in a week... by signing experienced defender Stuart Bimson, who was released by new rivals Cambridge United".
Above: Chris Adams (11), Gary Talbot, Mark Maddox and Stuart Coburn are the Alty players shown above in action against Marine.
Match report here.
For Aldershot Town, "ex-Premiership forward Paul Kitson made his debut against Lewes on Wednesday... The 34-year-old has been enjoying pre-season training with the Shots. Aldershot lost 3-1... [Manager] Terry Brown also used Wednesday night’s trip to continue discussions with Mark McGhee over a possible loan swoop for pacy striker Jake Robinson, who spent three months on loan at The Rec last season... Finding a partner for Tim Sills up front has caused Brown all kinds of problems after losing Roscoe D’Sane in October last year". Brown said, "I really like both Chris Senior and Jake Robinson, they are similar players and I’ll be speaking to the Brighton people about a possible loan". As for Kitson, he "has been out of the game for 15 months after leaving Rushden & Diamonds". Brown has signed "former Leicester and Peterborough winger Ahmed Deen, the mysterious 'Gary Med' as was announced, that played against Tottenham on Sunday... Three youngsters have also signed up... midfielder Ryan Scott, goalkeeper Dan Weait... and centre half Dave Winfield". Finally, "Brown also ran the rule over Brighton defender Gary Elphick with a view to a possible loan move" says the Aldershot website.
Scarborough report that ex-Alty striker "Mark Quayle swooped for his second and third goals of pre-season as Boro breezed past a youthful Sunderland".
Halifax Town "have signed striker Chris Senior at Stocksbridge last night, after his release from Scarborough. Senior joined Scarborough in the summer of 2003 after having a trial at the Shay... He made 81 appearances for the Seadogs scoring 19 goals".
Accrington Stanley manager "John Coleman will offer deals to Andrew Mangan, Leam Richardson and Michael Welch. 18 year old Andrew was released by Blackpool... Centre half Leam Richardson started his career as a trainee at Blackburn Rovers. The 26 year old had spells at Bolton Wanderers and Notts County before moving to Blackpool where he made over 80 appearances. Finally 22 year old left back Michael Welch started as a trainee at Barnsley and has spent the last 4 years at Macclesfield, making over 120 appearances".
A report on the Reserves 7-3 win at old Alts is in the Reserves' section, based on information kindly supplied by Neil Brown.
CCTV firm Global Enterprise has not only installed the new CCTV system at Moss Lane but have also been helping to sponsor the Reserves' team, for which manager Neil Brown is very grateful.
Altrincham games on Saturday 6th at 3pm:
Right: Alty's latest signing is Nehru McKenzie, an ex-Hyde United midfielder, signed after impressing in pre-season to 2005-06. He was with Moss Amateurs in the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League before being signed by Mike McKenzie (no relation) for Hyde in July, 2001. In 2002 Nehru opened a music studio at the Millennium Power House, in Moss Side, Manchester which is open to local youngsters wishing to learn about the music industry.
"Welsh Premier striker Graham Evans will sign for Hereford United 'within the next 24 hours'. 25-year-old Evans has scored 132 goals from 191 appearances fsince 1995 and won the Welsh Premier's leading scorer award for a second time in 2003/4" reports Welsh Premier.
"Gary Owers, manager of Forest Green Rovers, has announced that he has acquired the services of popular [Portuguese] striker Bruno Teixeira on a year's contract and midfielder Simeon Howell from Reading on a season-long loan... 19 year-old Howell, who has represented Jamaica... is on the brink of making the grade at Reading. He played a couple of matches last season for Farnborough Town".
The unofficial York website says that "City have taken their summer recruitment drive to nine after completing the signings of former Partick Thistle midfielder Emmanuel Panther (21) and ex-Doncaster Rovers right-back Jamie Price (23). Glasgow-born Panther made in excess of a dozen appearances for Partick Thistle last season... Price totalled thirteen games for Doncaster Rovers in 2004-05... The stylish right-back also featured in loan spells at Halifax Town and Burton Albion". Manager Billy McEwan "is still to make final decisions on his remaining five trialists - Farhad Afandiyev, James Dudgeon, David Pounder, Ryan Mallon and Craig Mudd".
At Tamworth "The 2005-6 matchday programme has been redesigned... and will be full colour. But there's no change to the price which stays at £2 a copy... Mark Cooper is hopefully of signing a new 'keeper in the next few days. Sources close to the club inform us that he is currently with a Premiership side. The Vice Presidents club... are delighted to announce that over a dozen new members have signed up for 2005-6 which will... mean a cash injection of around £40K into the club".
Scarborough "boss Nick Henry described new striker Jermaine Palmer as the final piece of his jigsaw... Henry signed the 18-year-old striker on a month's loan from Grimsby Town" But "Nigerian trialist striker Stanley Udenkwour has left the club".
Cambridge United's "Fola Onibuje has agreed terms". Manager Rob Newman said of the 6ft 6in 21 year-old, "Fola will definitely give us more of a presence". Also, "17-year-old striker Mbiyeye Medine passed his medical and signed... Andy Duncan has also now put pen to paper on his new contract... Forward Parys Okai and left back David Chick... are expected to sign on Friday, with midfielder David Bridges and defender Mark Peters due to have medicals today. "That will hopefully mean that we've added eight players to the squad this week", added Newman. But trialist defender Sean Davies has been released... and Stuart Bimson may be set to join another club... Newman is also waiting for a decision from Paul Crichton after the goalkeeper played a trial game for Boston this week... Midfielder Carl Hutchings is considering his future and may not return to the Abbey... Finally, he explained Ashley Nicholl's absence from the squad, saying, 'I think his workrate and attitude is still not 100% so he's a negative asset to the squad'".
ALTRINCHAM FC 2005-06. BACK ROW: Karl Munroe, Mark Maddox, Gary Talbot, Stuart Coburn, Richard Acton, Peter Band, Stephen Rose, George Melling. MIDDLE REAR: Val Owen, Chris Adams, Gary Scott, Richard Norris, Rod Thornley, Lewis Chalmers, Nehru McKenzie. MIDDLE FRONT: Charles Heathcote (kitman), Colin Little, Dalton Steele (ass't manager), Eddie Hussin, Graham Heathcote (manager), Steve Hawes, Sean Riley (physio). FRONT: Steve Aspinall, Colin Potts, Gary Wiliams, Lutel James, Kirk Hilton, Kieran Lugsden. The trophies shown are the Cheshire Senior Cup (left) and the Nationwide Conference Play-Off Winners' Cup.
The squad numbers have now been issued and numbers 1-11 are the starting eleven at Stoke for the play-off final. Numbers and names as listed on the official notification to the Conference are:
1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Stephen ASPINALL, 3. Christian ADAMS, 4. Mark MADDOX, 5. Gary TALBOT, 6. Edward HUSSIN, 7. Colin POTTS, 8. Val OWEN, 9. Colin LITTLE, 10. Roderick THORNLEY, 11. Gary SCOTT, 12. Steven HAWES, 13. Richard ACTON, 14. Lewis CHALMERS, 15. Peter BAND, 16. James OLSEN, 17. Karl MUNROE, 18. Lutel JAMES, 19. Gary WILLIAMS, 20. Kieran LUGSDEN, 21. Stephen ROSE, 22. Richard NORRIS, 23. Kirk HILTON, 24. George MELLING, 25. Nehru McKENZIE.
Stevenage, until a few days ago were "yet to win any of their pre-season friendlies but [manager Graham] Westley insists he is more concerned with establishing an effective style of play, ahead of the opening match of the Conference season against Altrincham. 'I'm really happy with the way we're playing and the scores are totally irrelevant in pre-season', said Westley, who revealed that many of the productive set-piece moves that were used in the Peterborough friendly had been the idea of his players... [but] 'at the moment we're not as purposeful as I'd like us to be'" he told Herts-Essex News.
4-4-2 magazine predicts that Altrincham will finish 13th in the Conference National this season.
But Graham "is hopeful that the visit of the Australian cricket team for the friendly with Bangor City next Tuesday (August 9) will bring plenty of people through the turnstiles. Cricket superstars Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne will all be in attendance and Heathcote is hopeful their presence will create a sense of excitement around Moss Lane. 'It will be a great atmosphere and I want the players to go into the season with that kind of buzz surrounding the club. We need to be professional this season and well-prepared so if we don't get money coming through the turnstiles we will struggle. It could cost around £1,000 to take the team on an overnight trip to allow them to prepare properly for a game and we didn't even get that much from the Lincoln and Hednesford games'".
"Six foot Glaswegian Gary McPhee, 25, remains on trial with Kidderminster Harriers after being deemed surplus to requirements at Shrewsbury Town... Midfielder McPhee started his career with Clyde and has since had spells with Forfar and Stranraer and in Ireland with Newry Town... Right back James Biggins, 20, who has been released by Nottingham Forest, has joined Kidderminster on trial".
"Francis Vines, manager of Crawley Town, has further strengthened his squad with two new signings. Former Crystal Palace, Torquay and Oxford United defender David Woozley and midfielder Lee Blackburn, who was released by Norwich City in the summer, [have] put pen-to-paper". Crawley's squad also included two trialists, former Hednesford Town, Hucknall Town and Leicester City forward Leon McSweeney and Ryan Jerwood, who was released by MK Dons" reports The Argus.
Woking report that "Adriano Basso has been given until this weekend to decide whether or not he wants to re-join Woking... Boss Glenn Cockerill had left the door open for the Brazilian keeper, 30, to link up with the club again but he has told the player he must sign this week - or forget it. The stumbling block is not financial but more to do with Basso’s insistence on being guaranteed regular first team football, something that Cockerill will not entertain... Current number one Shwan Jalal has impressed Cockerill with his form and fitness and he looks set to start the season between the posts". Cockerill said "Shwan was a bit heavy when he came to us last year but he looks like a proper goalie now". But Cockerill "is also looking at a Hungarian keeper this week". Meanwhile, "Karim El Salahi became the latest player to sign, the 19-year-old defender agreeing a one-year deal in the same week that Mark Rawle opted for Kingfield instead of Aldershot Town". Rawle stated, "I always said if I was coming out of the League I wanted to sign for one of three clubs and Woking was one of them". The 26 year-old won the Conference with Boston.
Morecambe Today reports that "Big-spending opposition sides in the Conference don't worry Morecambe boss, Jim Harvey. With news that Crawley Town have been given a six-figure transfer budget by new owners and with other sides like Grays and Aldershot making recent signings, Harvey remains positive about his side's chances this season... He has a virtually fully fit squad to choose from and has been pleased with the way his side has performed during pre-season games". Harvey added, "We were the best team in the Conference over the last half of last season and I believe we'll be stronger and wiser this time round".
The BBC says that "Forest Green Rovers have signed teenage Reading midfielder Simieon Howell on a season-long loan deal. The 19-year-old... had a loan spell at Farnborough in 2004".
