You are in the

ARCHIVED NEWS
Page
SITE LINKS:
Home
MOSS LANE, ALTRINCHAM, CHESHIRE WA15 8AP Tel: 0161-928-1045

Altrincham FC Archived News
1 to 25 May, 2006
 

 FULL ARCHIVE INDEX
ALTY  LEGENDS
CLUB HISTORY


31 May 2006

YOUNG ROBINS

If you are 16 years old or younger and support Altrincham FC, why not join either the Junior Robins (for supporters under the age of 12) or the Club Robins (for ages 12 to 16)? There are lots of benefits to be had for just £5 a year. For full details, please click here or follow the Junior Robins/Club Robins link at the top of the page

ALTY YOUTH FALL AT FINAL HURDLE

Alty's Hassan Zareh-Ourang (7) latches on to a loose ball against Morecambe.

Altrincham Youth have won three cups this season but, sadly, they were unable to win the inaugural Neil Thomason Trophy last night against Morecambe at Woodley Sports FC, a game they played without captain Richard Gresty and Players' Player of the Year, Andy Keogh. Anthony Davies's goal had put Alty ahead at the interval but Morecambe came out strongly in the second half. Alty's cause was not helped by injuries to Hassan Zareh-Ourang and Matty Williams which saw both players have to be substituted, whilst Ben Deegan also suffered an injury. Morecambe got level with a penalty after the ball had bounced up against Ashley McGrath's hand and then went 2-1 up. With Alty chasing an equaliser, two late goals made the score 4-1, which was a little harsh on the Altrincham side. Report to follow.

CONFERENCE NEWS

The BBC confirms that "Halifax Town have released seven players in the wake of their defeat to Hereford in the Conference play-off final. Town had already announced long-serving midfielders Steve Bushell, 33, and Craig Midgley, 29, would be leaving. Steve Yates, Dean Howell, Brenton Leister, Lee Tuck and keeper Jon Kennedy have been told they will not be offered new deals. However, Shaymen's boss Chris Wilder has secured the services of 15 players for next season."

The Halifax Courier adds that "Goalkeeper Jon Kennedy... was an ever-present in the side after joining the Shaymen... in January" Manager Chris Wilder stated, "I want to keep the majority of last season's squad together. It will be a matter of three or four out and three or four in. We will be looking for someone to play wide left and for a central midfielder to replace Steve Bushell". The article adds that "Brian Smikle and Danny Forrest returned to West Bromwich Albion and Bradford City respectively after loan spells... Ryan Toulson, who made just one Conference start in his first season as a professional, has been offered a new deal as have Matt Doughty, Greg Young, Ryan Sugden, Chris Senior, John Grant and Peter Atherton".

The Football Conference board which condemned Alty to an 18-point deduction and a four figure fine, "will meet on Friday to determine Scarborough's fate. Scarborough have been asked to provide the Football Association and the Conference with information on ground, financial and ownership issues. That will then be considered by the Conference board before the make-up of next season's league is rubber-stamped at the Conference AGM on Saturday. Scarborough are confident they can give the guarantees sought by the Conference and earn a reprieve from relegation", says the BBC.


30 May 2006

NOT CHANGED

Despite The Manchester Evening News saying on Saturday that the friendly at Moss Lane between Altrincham and FCUM had been switched back to 26 July (7.45pm), this is not the case. It is still scheduled for 19th July!

RULES ARE RULES

The Bodleian Library, Oxford, has today published a reprint of the first Football Association Rule Book from 1863. It costs just £5.99. Bobby Charlton says in the preface that the Rules "do not simply make it possible to play football, they embody the spirit of the game". Seems like something changed between 1863 and 23 May 2006.

SUPPORT THE YOUTH TEAM

There may be only 33 days to the first-team's first friendly of the 2006-07 pre-season but the Altrincham Youth Team has yet to complete the 2005-06 campaign. Tonight (Tuesday) they attempt to win their fourth cup of the season as they take on Morecambe "A" in the first final of the Neil Thomason Memorial Trophy at Woodley Sports (7.45pm k.o.). Neil was formerly the coach of Alty Youth and winning the trophy would mean a lot to manager George Heslop and the lads, so please come along and support them if you can - entry is expected to be free. Alty will, however, be without captain Richard Gresty who played in the English Colleges' first match of their international tournament in Italy this weekend. England beat Spain 2-1 and meet Northern Ireland in their next match. If they win that, they will play the hosts, Italy.

CONFERENCE NEWS

The BBC reports that "Utility man Matt Bloomer will wait to consider his options following his release by Lincoln City. Bloomer, 27, is a target for Cambridge United, after a successful loan spell there last season. But he told the Lincolnshire Echo: 'There's no rush. I enjoyed my time at Cambridge, but ideally I want to stay in the League. I will assess the offers - as and when they come in'".

"Former Kidderminster striker Ian Foster was overjoyed to be asked to return to the club as their new physiotherapist... [He] won the Conference title with both the Harriers and Chester City. When the call came from (boss) Mark Yates, I nearly broke his wrist in trying to snap his hand off', Foster, 29, told Kidderminster's website".

Meanwhile, the BBC also reports that "Forest Green Rovers boss Gary Owers has snapped up former Bristol City and Barnet midfielder Simon Clist. Clist, 24, has signed a two-year deal at The Lawn after being released by Barnet.

"Defender Ashley Vickers has joined Conference newcomers Weymouth after being released by Dagenham & Redbridge. The 33-year-old played under Weymouth boss Garry Hill at Heybridge and St Albans, as well as with the Daggers. Meanwhile, Hill told the Dorset Echo he recently made a 'tentative enquiry' for Bournemouth striker Steve Fletcher, who is currently out of contract".

OLD BOYS

NL Daily reports that "Bradford Park Avenue boss Phil Sharpe and assistant Clive Freeman [both ex-Alty] have been handed the task of lifting the club back into the UniBond League Premier Division. Both will be in charge for the 2006/07 season and the announcement ends weeks of speculation over their future at Horsfall Stadium. Director of Football Alan Hirst confirmed that their appointments had been made permanent... Despite being unable to keep the club in the Premier Division Sharpe and Freeman did enough to suggest, given more time, they could turn things round. Last season Avenue suffered a second successive relegation" says their website.
29 May 2006

AFTERMATH

The NL Paper reports on the Altrincham points deduction and quotes chairman Geoff Goodwin. Geoff says, "We will go down to Conference North and we will carry on. It will be business as usual for us. If no one has any common sense when making decisions like this, I cannot do anything about it. The whole affair is ridiculous. I object to being made to look like a criminal. In three years I have pulled this club back from a £700,0000 deficit and, in five months' time all debts will have been cleared. We've proved we were good enough to play in the Conference. Changes must be made to the way players are registered. Why don't they insist on football passports each containing a list of player's clubs over the past two years? There is no point taking any further legal action because they've made their minds up". The article repeats the FA statement that "During the hearing the club dropped all grounds for appeal other than that the penalty imposed by the Conference was excessive". This is "economical with the truth" which was that the club was required to drop its other grounds for appeal because the FA ruled them out of order.

The NL Paper's leader article on the subject bemoans the time taken to sort out the Alty case and the resulting disruption to football; it does not, however, pass any judgement on the rights and wrongs of the FA and Conference's treatment of Altrincham, who have paid a very large price for another club's failings.

Tony Sheldon, a correspondent in the NL Paper writes, "The members of the FA appeals board approved the 'holier than thou' decision of the Conference alumni that Altrincham should be hung out to dry... The FA, at least, did what they believed to be right, which is not what you can say about some members on the boards of Tamworth, Forest Green and Southport... Southport didn't say a lot publicly but often the latent are more dangerous than the overt. Forest Green were happy to let the football world know 'where they were coming from', but to me the most unpleasant behaviour came from Tamworth... So the only relegation this season [after Canvey's resignation] will be Altrincham - decided by little men in darkened rooms".

PATRONS' CLUB

Alty director Grahame Rowley writes, "Following the successful Patrons' Scheme started last year, we have decided to re-launch it for the coming season 2006-07. For the cost of £50 your name will appear throughout the coming season in the matchday programme as a Patron of Altrincham Football Club. At the beginning of the season, every member will be entered into a prize draw, with the winner being match sponsor for an appointed game along with 9 guests. Second prize will be hospitality for 5 people and third prize hospitality for 3 people in the Sponsors' Lounge. If you are interested in becoming a Patron, please speak to Grahame Rowley or Barry Pond on 07720-606897 or 07957-456375 or email Grahame.

Details of Altrincham FC's current fundraising schemes are here.

TWO TO WATCH

In its review of last season, the NL Paper identifies Kieran Lugsden as one to watch, "Young, full of promise and with pace to burn, 20 year-old Lugsden could be the ingredient Alty need to bounce straight back".

In its "Colleges' Soccer" column, the NL paper refers to the English Colleges' recent goalless draw against a Watford Academy side. The College team's administrator, Gordon Staniforth, talks of newcomer "Richard Gresty, a centre back from South Trafford College. Richard is six foot plus and Watford became more than interested in his future when he appeared against them". Richard is the captain of the Altrincham FC Youth team.

MARK'S VERDICT

SAM has Mark Maddox's column. "I was absolutely gutted about the FA's decision but I can't say I was completely surprised about it... At the end of the day, this clearance that Robbo needed was just a piece of paper so how much does that really matter, it definitely didn't make a difference to how we played on the pitch. When you look at the likes of Crawley it makes you realise just how harsh this is. They seem to have consistently broken financial regulations and gone over the wage cap but they got away with a three-point deduction. It just doesn't seem right. Something is definitely not right in the Conference for this to keep happening every year, but maybe they want full time clubs for a full time league. It's all left a bad taste in the mouth and I couldn't believe the attitudes of some other clubs to the whole situation. So it was good to see that Scarborough didn't celebrate us going down, although staying in the Conference could work against them... Even if we do get a reprieve if their financial situation isn't sorted out, it will still show what a shambles this league is at the moment. I think I'm just resigned to the fact that I'll have the worst Conference record in the history of Alty, each time I've got to the Conference we've been relegated straight away... We've got to be confident going into the Conference North next year because we are good enough to be in the Conference so we should be good enough to challenge for promotion in the division below... A few of the players Graham's been looking at were waiting to see which league we were going to be in so now we can start planning properly. Graham's planning on having a smaller squad so a few players will be leaving too and nobody can be sure of their future at the club yet, I've not even been told whether I'll be staying on! A big forward has got to be one of our priorities but they aren't exactly easy to come by. One good thing to happen this week was finishing my level two coaching badge".

CONFERENCE NEWS

Worcester City "have announced that they will be holding Season Ticket prices for the 2006-07 season... Ground Admission goes up by £1 for adults to £10 the Stand goes up by £1 for adults to £2... All paid admissions on the day of a game, will be entered into a free prize draw, with the chance to win Match Tickets, Replica Shirts, Signed Footballs, etc".
28 May 2006

FRIENDS OF ALTRINCHAM FC

The savage points deduction by the Conference which appears to have condemned Altrincham to relegation back to Conference North will mean a decrease in gate and advertising revenue. So regular income from fundraising schemes becomes ever more vital. Alty director Grahame Rowley launched a new Friends of Altrincham FC Monthly Draw scheme on Thursday night and invited all supporters to join. For just £5 a month a minimum prize of £100 can be won, with all profits going to the football club for strengthening the playing budget. Full details of the scheme and an application form are here. Please do join if you possibly can; it will be very much appreciated.

And don't forget, you have till 30 June to get your £10 discount on your 2006-07 season ticket. The season ticket will get you free admission to all the pre-season home friendlies, (which include visits by Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic and FC United), as well as representing great value for league matches. Details of the season ticket prices are here.

LINKS

The website links page has reverted to Conference North links, albeit updated. As previously it includes links to maps of each Conference North ground as well as to their official and unofficial websites. Many other links are included to local football club sites and to general football websites.

CONFERENCE NEWS

Stevenage Borough "have confirmed the appointment of Mark Stimson as their new Manager on a 3 year contract. The highly rated Stimson resigned from his position at Grays Athletic two days after winning the FA Trophy for the second successive year and taking them to 3rd place in their first season in the Conference, stressing his desire for a fresh challenge after 4 years at Grays. Boro chairman Phil Wallace said 'We had a strong list of candidates for the job lined up a week or so ago but when we heard Mark was available there was never going to be anyone else as our first choice and we were determined as a Board to do whatever was necessary to persuade him to join us. He doesn't have as much managerial experience as some of the other candidates but we believe he is destined for the top and is capable of taking this club into the Football League during the term of his contract, playing the type of football our fans love to see. His talent for getting players playing to the best of their ability has been proved time and time again over the last 4 years. This, together with his current knowledge of the level and his desire to play football in a certain style, was the main reason he was our prime target when we heard he was available. We were fully aware there was interest in him from Football League clubs but I'm delighted to say that we were able to persuade him that Stevenage Borough was a challenge he couldn't resist - one which, if he were successful on the pitch, would allow him to take the club through to the Championship without the need for significant stadia or infrastructure development. In short, we were able to persuade Mark that a financially stable club with an ambitious board and Football League facilities was the right career path to follow for the next 3 years. We're delighted he's joining us'".

But Grays Forum, Athletic's owner Mick Woodward says, "As some of you may be aware, Mark Stimson and Scott Barrett have joined Stevenage Borough on a three year contract... I am disappointed as I thought he wanted to better himself and go to a league club. However, I wish him all the luck... I'd like to reassure every one of you that all players at the club that are currently under contract will not be sold out sideways, no matter what amount is offered... We still have a great set-up here and great prospects with our new management team. So please, as Chairman, I'm asking all of you to get behind Frank Gray, Gerry Murphy and Steve Snelling".

The BBC confirms that "Margate have signed Gravesend and Northfleet midfielder Jimmy Jackson on a two-year contract".


27 May 2006

YOUTH PRESENTATIONS

Right: Alty's trophies, the Open Cup, the Cheshire County FA District Cup and the shield for winning the Subsidiary Cup.

Thursday witnessed the fifth annual Altrincham FC Youth Team Presentation Night. Though not successful in the league, the Youth team have lifted three cups this season and have the chance of a fourth next Tuesday when they play Morecambe in the Neil Thomason Memorial Trophy Final at Woodley Sports (7.45pm). As manager George Heslop said, he is especially keen to win that cup as it commemorates his former colleague, Youth team coach Neil Thomason who died last summer at a young age. Please come along and support the lads in their attempt to honour Neil in the best way they can.

A full report and pictures from the Presentation Night are in the Youth section.

FA COMPETITION DATES

Conference North clubs are set to join the FA Cup at the 2nd Round Qualifying stage (30 September) and the FA Trophy at the 3rd Round Qualifying round. Subsequent rounds are as follows:

FA Cup

  • QR2: 30 September 2006
  • QR3: 14 October
  • QR4: 28 October
  • Round 1: 11 November
  • Round 2: 2 December
  • Round 3: 6 January 2007
  • Round 4: 27 January
  • Round 5: 17 February 2007

    FA Trophy

  • QR3: 25 November 2006
  • Round 1: 16 December
  • Round 2: 13 January 2007
  • Round 3: 3 February
  • Round 4: 24 February
  • Semi Final 1: 10 March
  • Semi Final 2: 17 March
  • Final: 20 May.

    STAR WORLD CUP BADGES

    With the World Cup approaching, don't forget that STAR has for sale an Altrincham / England World Cup badge, with proceeds going to the club. STAR's Ian Harwood says, "See how many you can sell to friends or workmates. Just one email around the office sold six badges and made £18 for Alty. You can buy the badge by going to the following eBay link. If you aren't an eBayer you can order them direct from me by sending a cheque made payable to STAR to Ian Harwood (Alty badge), 30 Clarence Road, Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 8SF. Add £1 for p&p and don't forget to include your address".

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    From Oxford we read that "The decision to grant Oxford United special dispensation to play in the Nationwide Conference National has sparked uproar in Altrincham. Having been docked eighteen points for fielding an unregistered player, which will almost certainly see them relegated, Altrincham chairman Geoff Goodwin has hit out at the league for allowing United to play their matches with a three-sided ground. League rules state that supporters must be able to watch football from all four sides – an obvious problem for Oxford. However, Conference chief executive John Moules says that the rule enables officials to use their judgement when it comes to new teams. 'There is [I think he means "are"] criteria which says [I think he means "say"] spectators should be able to view a game from all four sides', said Moules. 'The rule exists in the Football League as well, but gives discretion to the board of directors to make their own judgement.. Obviously, they are going to be one of the best-supported clubs, and probably one of the most successful as well'. It is not a view shared by Goodwin, however. He said: 'I have got nothing against Oxford at all and it doesn't matter who the club is, but what I would say is surely rules are rules? You either have them or you don't – it's as simple as that. I have had to sit through a hearing which lost us 18 points and cost us relegation because we broke the rules. It has left me with a bitter taste in my mouth and a poor view of football. I'm not really bothered about Oxford's ground, to be honest, but they didn't let Marine in under the same ruling, so why is that? It seems to me like part-time clubs get punished while full-time ones get away with it. But that will sound like sour grapes after what has happened'", quotes This is United.

    NL Daily confirms that "Weymouth have officially been deducted four points from last season's total over the Solomon Taiwo affair. Football Conference officials informed Terras of the long-awaited decision after Altrincham lost an appeal over a separate eighteen-point penalty for fielding an ineligible player. Terras` punishment means Garry Hill's men officially won the Nationwide South championship by four points, finishing on ninety points. Chairman Martyn Harrison said the Wessex Stadium outfit still believe the penalty, which does not include any financial fine, was harsh but do not plan to appeal".

    Altrincham and Weymouth are not the only ones feeling hard done by the Conference. Noel Kelly, ex-chairman of Nuneaton Borough has written to the Altyfans Forum saying, "I designed and donated the Conference Championship trophy - that Altrincham have won - and the Conference have removed my life membership. He has written , "I've always has a strong affinity with Altrincham. You were the kings of Non-league when I ran NBFC, we finished second to you twice in the days before automatic promotion! Please point your fellow Alty fans to my website and ask them to send me their comments".

    The BBC quotes Aldershot boss Terry Brown on "his biggest ever signing... the recruitment of Jason Lee. The former Nottingham Forest frontman, 35, has joined the Shots after leaving Northampton at the end of last season. 'It is a commitment from the club to state that we are trying to win something next season', Brown said. Meanwhile, "Cambridge winger Courtney Pitt and defender Mark Peters have signed new contracts... leaving the U's with 11 players under contract for next season. Boss Rob Newman has also verbally agreed a deal with an unnamed experienced goalkeeper, who will sign when he returns from holiday. In addition, Newman plans more talks with ex-Lincoln man Matt Bloomer". But "play-off champions Hereford United have parted company with midfielder Stacy Coldicott".

    From Scarborough we learn that "Ian Scobbie took the reins at the McCain Stadium today to enable erstwhile Chairman Malcolm Reynolds to concentrates on Boro's [ground] move. Reynolds... will still remain as a Director and as the Club’s major shareholder. ’Ian has kindly offered to take the Chairman’s role from me. The day to day management of the playing side does not sit comfortably with the sometimes prolonged negotiations over the new ground. Those negotiations are now in the home strait and I need to concentrate on the discussions with our development partners and Scarborough Borough Council', said Reynolds... Scobbie is a solicitor by profession. A partner at leading Leeds law firm Godloves, he has been a director at Boro for over 3 years'". Meanwhile, "Boss Neil Redfearn is looking to a positive future after his side's stay in the Conference was confirmed. 'We have been given a reprieve now and it is time to start looking forward', he said. 'We have cleared the decks, we have a clean slate and now I want to bring in players who want to win... There were mistakes made last season and we have to learn from them and start pushing on'".

    Harrogate Town "boss Neil Aspin has begun the process of reshaping his squad... To make way for anticipated exciting ew signings, 6 players have been let go. Those departing are goalkeeper Michael Price, club captain Paul Stoneman, Gareth Grant, Jamie Heard, Chris Mason and Jason Wray. Heard is heading to Australia, whilst Mason is understood to be going to Sweden [let's hope they have international clearance!] . The Harrogate Advertiser reports that "Stoneman's place has been taken by [ex-Alty captain] Chris Timons". Aspin said, "I've said to the chairman if we don't improve the squad we will stand still or fall back... Nobody asked to leave and it was the decision of myself and Lee Philpott... We are also in the process of trying to sign a very highly rated player from another non-league club [believed to be a striker]... My early thoughts are that we'll be in a stronger position at the start of next season than we were at the start of last season".

    At Moor Green "The following players are the only players not to have retained their contracts... Sean Dowdall and [ex-Alty keeper] Ashley Timms... [and] Chris Nurse has decided not to retain his contract for next season... Gary McPhee has now been put on the Transfers list and is 'open to offers'. Gary ended up as last season top scorer for the Moors, ending up with 14 league goals".

    Stalybridge Celtic "have announced that striker Jody Banim has been sold to Tameside neighbours Droylsden".

    Worksop Town announce that "Worksop Town Director Howard Raymond is hopeful of further ground developments at Sandy Lane which will see a Sports Injury Clinic, Health Club, Gymnasiam and Swimming Pool being included in a new planning permission application to the Bassetlaw District Council. The original plan to provide a new ground with top class facilities at Kilton Forest is now on hold as the club look to also provide further seating to the main stand by moving the seating at the woodyard side to the end of the main stand and behind the goal at the Rockware end".

    "Striker Gary Ricketts has signed on the dotted line to play for Hucknall Town next season... Having missed most of last season with injuries, tall targetman Ricketts will hope to regain the form that saw him become one of the first names on the team sheet under previous boss Dean Barrick. But one name that won't be on the team sheet is that of the club's only ever-present last term, defender Alistair Asher. For he has shocked everyone by leaving Watnall Road for Ilkeston Town. No fee is involved... He was offered a new contract, although that entailed a drop in wages, and he has decided to move on. He will team up with Town's top scorer last season, Robert Gill, who joined The Robins for £1,000 in March... Hucknall boss Kevin Wilson said: 'We've got a budget to work to and there is no way the club is going to go over that'. Wilson revealed that he has had to cut back on his budget and every member of the squad has had to take a pay cut... Another defender, Gary Sucharewycz, has also decided to reject the offer of a new contract and has moved to local-derby rivals Alfreton Town... But Wilson has made one new signing this week, that of young Sutton Town midfielder Danny Naylor, 21" reports Hucknall Today.

    "Danny Forrest, who spent last season on loan with Nationwide Conference National play-off final losers Halifax Town, has been told he can leave Bradford City. And the news is bound to spark speculation about a permanent switch to The Shay... Wilder will formally start the process of planning for the 2006/07 campaign when he meets up with his players on Friday. Only five of last season's squad are signed up although offers are likely to be made to a number of others" claims Halifax Today.

    LOCAL NEWS

    NL Daily reports that "Runcorn Linnets FC have agreed in principle a deal that will see them ground share at Witton Albion's Wincham Park stadium next season.. within the boundaries of the Cheshire FA. Linnets' press officer Steve Pritchard said: 'This is a great step forward for us in fulfilling our ambition of fielding a team next season in the North West Counties League'... This isn't the first time that Runcorn have ground shared with Witton. There was a spell some years ago when their Canal Street ground in Runcorn was out of action for repairs".
    26 May 2006

    CHARITY GAME

    Two more first teamers will take part in the Charity Game being organised by Neil Brown and Alan Ainsley in which an Altrincham supporter will be able to play alongside players from our first-, reserve- and youth-teams. The new recruits are Peter Band, who is rumoured to be playing some of the game in goal (the only position he has never played in for the first team) and striker Kieran Lugsden. Follow the link above for details of the game .

    CONDOLENCES

    The FA decision against Altrincham this week pales into insignificance alongside the news that John Whitehead, an Altrincham supporter, has died at the age of 45. Alty fans will know John as a "gentle giant", a tall, bearded man with a pony tail who until recently often accompanied one of our oldest supporters, Norman Brown, on trips to away matches on the STAR supporters' coach. We offer our condolences to his family and friends.

    YOUTH NIGHT

    Altrincham FC Youth team held a very enjoyable Presentation Night on Thursday. Details and pictures of the award winners will follow.

    Above: Altrincham Youth team with their three trophies. L to R back row: Tony Spilsbury (coach), Michael Risk, Rick Crawford, Reza Zareh-Ourang, Ashley McGrath, Stefan Fielding, Ben Deegan, Andy Keogh, Lewis Bishop, Kieran Raynes, Tom Barclay, Julieann Gresty (physio). Front row: Hassan Zareh-Ourang, Matty Williams, Astley Mulholland, Richard Gresty, George Heslop (manager), Anthony Davies, Danny Browne, Dean White.

    Above, Peter Band, Altrincham FC first team Player of the Year, presents midfielder Andy Keogh with the Youth Team Players' Player of the Year Award. Andy is on crutches, having emulated Wayne Rooney by fracturing his metatarsal. More on the presentations and more pictures to follow...

    WORLD CUP DRAW

    The Altrincham FC World Cup Competition draw was held last night - details here, with Dalton Steele and Peter Band the men making the draw, ably assisted by Sarah Rowley.

    JAMES ROBINSON SPEAKS

    Thursday's Manchester Evening News has an interview with James Robinson, the other innocent party in Altrincham's loss of 18 points and £1,000 fine administered by the Conference and supported by the FA. "I heard the news from my dad and I'm gutted for the club", he told the paper, "I don't feel it was their fault and I'm devastated for them. A lot of things have been said about me in the press but, as far as I'm concerned, I didn't do anything wrong. Both Geoff Goodwin (the Altrincham chairman) and Graham Heathcote (the manager) have told me they don't blame me for what happened. I knew about international clearance regulations because I'd played in Iceland after leaving Crewe. And both Accrington and Altrincham asked me for my playing history before I signed for them. As far as I was concerned I was free to play. It's only when Richmond [his new club in Australia] applied for my clearance that the FA told them my registration was still in Iceland. I really enjoyed my time at Altrincham. It was a great club to be part of. Everyone worked hard and battled for each other".

    The article adds that "Alty's last hope of staying up rests with long-standing rivals Scarborough, who face a reprieve after finishing bottom of the table. They have until May 31 to prove to the Conference they are financially solvent after recently coming out of administration. Boro Director Ian Scobbie said: 'We've got about 12 pieces of information we need to show to the Conference about our financial situation. Some they accept are out of control. We're confident this will be done by Friday but just what the Conference makes of it after that, I'm not sure. I asked them at a meeting last week what breach of rules we would be charged under if we failed to provide the information and they couldn't tell me. But there would be no complaints from us if Altrincham ended staying up. To be honest, the whole thing stinks. We feel terrible about what's happened. It's a mistake that could happen to us all'".

    What a pleasure to hear Scarborough's comments, which contrast with those of certain other clubs who finished below us in the Conference table.

    THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATION: Lessons 1 and 2

    Lesson One: HOW A CLUB GETS DOCKED 18 POINTS

    The Sale & Altrincham Messenger gives over its front page to the FA and Conference's punishment of Altrincham. It quotes chairman Geoff Goodwin "I just feel sick. We had gone down there hoping that justice would be done but not long after the hearing had started I knew they were just going through the motions. They told us rules are rules but I just feel like they have stuck the knife in because they didn't even consider that we had never knowingly done anything wrong. At the end of the day, I'm still baffled that we have got a letter that the FA sent us when they first found out about this incident that says we have no charges to answer and then we have to go through all this nonsense". Alty director Grahame Rowley added, "We have dealt with Accrington many times in the past and when we signed James Robinson we expected Accrington to have done the right thing. In an ideal world you would always phone the FA to check for international clearance before signing a player but if every team did that they would need a call centre to deal with the amount of calls. They told us they couldn't overturn the Conference's decision because those were the rules. But we can't understand why didn't they tell us that an appeal would be useless, because we wasted a lot of time and money going through with this when they knew all along it would come to nothing". The appeal was heard by a panel comprising three County FA representatives.

    Lesson Two: HOW A CLUB GETS DOCKED ONLY 3 POINTS

    In Sussex, The Argus confirms news that "Sacked Crawley Town managing director Steve Duly has been awarded almost £35,000 for unfair dismissal as the crisis-hit football club considers going into administration. Mr Duly, 35, told an employment tribunal he was forced out of his £28,600-a-year job soon after his father John sold the club to the SA Group last summer. The group, led by Azwar Majeed and his bankrupt brother Chas, then launched a smear campaign, criticising Mr Duly's management skills and wrecking his chances of getting a new job, the Croydon tribunal heard. He is the third former member of staff to successfully sue the club after being sacked, following in the footsteps of former manager Francis Vines and his assistant Dave Swindlehurst. Mr Duly spent five months without a job after he was shown the door at Crawley Town last November and now has a casual job as an £11-an-hour sports club bar manager. He said: 'Chas Majeed went to the press and said I had left the club in a huge mess which has made it very difficult for me to find another senior job in the sports and leisure industry, where I have worked all my life'... Mr Duly said: 'They told me they were bringing in a new general manager but were making me director of football and that I would be more involved in the playing side in terms of scouting and strategy. Shortly afterwards former England captain and Brighton and Hove Albion manager Alan Mullery was drafted in as a consultant. Mr Duly said: 'Effectively he was director of football and I no longer had a role'. That month his wages were docked £50-a-week with no explanation and Chas Majeed asked for his resignation, he added. When he refused he was ordered off the premises and told he was on 'gardening leave'... Later he received his P45 in the post informing him his employment had ended on New Year's Eve, the tribunal heard... The tribunal found Mr Duly was wrongfully and unfairly sacked, the club had failed to follow statutory dismissal and grievance procedures and withheld £5,133 in wages plus £1,980 for holiday entitlement. He was awarded £25,000 compensation, £2,115 for unfair dismissal plus a further statutory payment of £375... The Majeeds were not at the tribunal to contest the claim. A statement issued by the club later said: 'His decision to sue the club contradicts his claims to have the best interests of Crawley Town at heart because it is the club who will suffer the financial repercussions of his claim'. Crawley Town have admitted they are in serious financial trouble. The Nationwide Conference has docked them three points from this season's table and fined them £5,000 for exceeding their agreed annual players' budget. Spokeswoman Gil Roberts said yesterday the club was considering administration".

    Lesson Three: HOW TO APPLY RULES CONSISTENTLY (OR NOT, AS THE CASE MAY BE)

    The points deductions continue as now League Two side Bury have been deducted one point for fielding Colin Marrison as a substitute after his loan from Sheffield United had officially ended. The game in question ended in a draw. Bury were also given a suspended fine of £5,000 only payable if they commit another offence before the end of next season. Interestingly, Bury say that they are "disappointed by this outcome as all past precedents of similar/more serious offences, in our opinion, made by clubs in the same division as us and also League One & Championship level, have never had any points deducted and only received fines or suspended fines".

    ALTY IDOLS

    As promised, here is the link to the Alty Idols website - for more on the Idols see below in yesterday's news...

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    NL Daily says that "Terry Brown, manager of Aldershot Town, has added two more players to his squad for next season. Experienced striker Jason Lee arrives at the Recreation Ground after leaving Northampton Town. The 35-year-old former Nottingham Forest forward has agreed a two-year contract and has appeared for a number of Football League sides, including Charlton Athletic, Watford and Grimsby. Also joining the playing staff for next season is former Reading youngster Louis Soares, who is a midfielder from Barnet. Soares, who has signed a one-year deal at The Rec, made twenty-five appearances for the Underhill outfit last season and had a loan spell in the Conference National with Tamworth in 2004/05".

    "Striker Darryn Stamp has signed a new contract with managerless Stevenage Borough. Stamp, signed from Chester City in 2005, has this week agreed new terms... Meanwhile, the club have confirmed that the following players have not been re-engaged for next season: goalkeeper Shane Gore, defender Micky Warner, midfielders Simon Weatherstone and Rob Quinn and forwards Jefferson Louis, Olly Berquez and Tunisian Dino Maamria. An announcement on the appointment of a new manager is expected at the weekend" adds NL Daily.

    "It will be a short summer for Nuneaton Borough players as they are set to return to training on July 1st as manager Roger Ashby strives to make it third time lucky in the club's Nationwide North promotion stakes... Ashby insists he's leaving no stone unturned in their bid for title honours in 2006/07 and he reckons fitness is a major key to that ambition, hence the appointment of James Ellis recently as the club's fitness coach... 'I'm one of the old school who insists on players looking after themselves all year round and not just the nine months they are playing. Preparation is crucial and I want the players in good shape when they come back for pre-season. They owe it to the club, fans, me and themselves'. Ashby has scotched rumours linking him with moves for ex-Boro striker Mark Quayle, released by Scarborough at the weekend, and Tamworth striker Kirk Jackson" reports IC Coventry.

    "Oxford United have failed in a bid to sign former Oxford City and Wycombe striker Jermaine McSporran. The 29-year-old was released by Doncaster Rovers last week... 'Oxford have already said that they want me, but I have turned them down as I do not want to go back into non- League'", he said.

    "Forest Green Rovers have announced their second new signing for 2006/07. Manager Gary Owers has secured the services of Liverpool-born, 22-year-old wide player Les Afful... Afful has been at Exeter City all his football career, playing in the Football League and the Conference for the Grecians".

    "Weymouth have clinched the signing of Hereford United captain Tony James. The Welsh semi-professional international defender has penned an initial one-year deal... [He] spent eight years at Edgar Street before he was released following an injury-hit campaign" reports the Dorset Echo


    25 May 2006

    GEOFF'S RALLYING CALL

    As he prepares to go on a well-earned week's holiday, Altrincham chairman Geoff Goodwin (right) spoke to the website today about his positive vision for next season. "Although what happened on Tuesday was a travesty and an injustice, it was not life-threatening. It's not a disaster; a real disaster was when our youth team trainer Neil Thomason died at a young age last year. As a Conference National team relegated on a technicality, everyone in Conference North will be out to beat Altrincham, as we will be the favourites for the title. We need to get ourselves dusted down now, come back fighting and go into next season in a positive way". Geoff wants the club to respond to the challenge of being favourites, whereas last season economics alone dictated that we had had to aim at mere survival in Conference National. Next season, he believes, gives us an opportunity to assert ourselves once again. Geoff wants the whole club to get together, act professionally, and get the job done. He wants the players to go out and win games, the supporters to get behind the team and enjoy themselves and for everyone to show the footballing world what Altrincham FC is all about - that we will overcome what happened to us at the hands of the FA last Tuesday. Geoff is refusing to talk publicly about the efforts of other Conference clubs to get the points deduction enforced, saying "We're bigger than that".

    Although the inevitable drop in attendances next season will affect the budget, the Board is doing its best to ensure that the effect on the playing budget is minimal. In this respect there is a role for everyone who supports the Club. Geoff is concerned that the club's fundraising gets sorted out immediately rather than becoming delayed in the process of sorting out the relationship between STAR (the supporters' trust) and the Club. "We can't afford to wait to get this sorted out. I want to see it resolved by the time I come back from holiday", said the chairman. As director Grahame Rowley revealed at the STAR SGM, on Tuesday night, a "Friends of Altrincham FC" is to be launched to bring in regular income for the playing budget and everyone is urged to support this and the other fundraising ventures of the Club. Everyone needs to do their bit to maximize the fundraising effort. (The Friends scheme will be launched at tonight's Youth Team Presnetation Night, details of which are below).

    Geoff confirmed that both he and manager Graham Heathcote are committed fully to the club for next season despite what happened at the FA this week. Leading scorer Colin Little, amongst others, has rung Geoff to express his continued dedication to the club despite the relegation. And even Australian cricketer, Shane Warne, has rung Geoff today to express his support for Altrincham.

    YOUTH PRESENTATION NIGHT

    The Youth Team's presentation night will take place tonight (Thursday 25th, 7.30pm for 8pm) at Moss Lane. Everyone is welcome; entry is £2 and a buffet will be provided. Peter Band will be there to present one of the trophies and STAR will be presenting the Jackie Swindells Trophy to the Player of the Year. The event will also witness the draw for the Altrincham FC World Cup competition.

    THIS SPORTING LIFE?

    The shambles that passes for the relegation process from Conference National deepens. Not only have Canvey Island had to resign from the Conference and accept demotion for financial reasons and Altrincham have been deducted 18 points for another Conference club's failure to get international clearance for a player whom they subsequently signed, but now both Scarborough and Crawley Town have financial problems which possibly threaten their future in non-league's premier division.

    The Conference is demanding financial assurances from the Seadogs, despite the Yorkshire club's recent emergence from administration. The BBC quotes Scarborough chairman Malcolm Reynolds "following Altrincham's enforced relegation. Scarborough finished bottom of the table but could now stay up... 'It's a hollow feeling the way it has come about. But we are going to take it and make the most of it', he said. Scarborough will beat the drop if they meet the Conference's demands. There are some details over the ground and financial issues which must be satisfied"

    Meanwhile the Crawley Forum reported yesterday that Crawley Town's "Steve Duly successfully won his claim for unfair dismissal at his employment tribunal earlier today. He was awarded [damages totalling] £34,228.33" of which £25,000 was for breach of contract. "There was no representation from the football club at the hearing. After the hearing Steve said, 'I am proud and privileged to have have held the position of Managing Director and Director of Football at Crawley Town Football Club for a period of 6 years, especially as they were the most successful period in the club's existence. I would like to thank the numerous messages of support from supporters and officials of the club leading up to todays hearing. There has been a lot of scurrilous accusations of mismanagement of the club over the past few months and this decision exonerates any blame on my part". The club is now believed to owe some £65,000 to ex-employees as well as a £3,000 fine to the Conference for previous financial irregularities which cost them a three-point deduction.

    On the Crawley forum a Woking fan writes, "Apologies if any of these assumptions are wrong. It would seem that those running Crawley FC have broken rules by employing a non-discharged bankrupt as Chairman, have breached players' contracts, have broken rules regarding the wage cap, and have the club in a precarious financial position. If all of that is correct, and the rumours of administration are true, do you think that it is possible that Crawley may have difficulty in retaining Conference membership at the Conference AGM?". So far, Crawley have suffered a "maximum penalty" for their offences of a three-point deduction. If they now go into administration a 10 point penalty would apply, but only next season. It is "interesting" to compare this catalogue of failings (and playing advantage gained by exceeding the wage cap) and the punishment meted out to Altrincham on Tuesday following Accrington Stanley's failure to get clearance for James Robinson before he moved on to Moss Lane.

    It is also worth noting that Altrincham have steadfastly refused to use the administration route (i.e. paying your creditors only a percentage of what you owe them) and have instead battled on with fundraising and prudent financial management to repay their inherited debts. If deducting 18 points is the price the footballing authorities levy for playing James Robinson (without gaining any advantage on the pitch) whilst deducting a mere 3 points is the price for committing financial irregularities over a long period, then it is a pretty sorry state of affairs for what is supposed to be a sport whose outcomes are decided, on merit, on the pitch. Indeed, the FA has explicitly ruled that the 18 points deduction was "not excessive" and does not seem to be taking any steps at all to prevent a recurrence of Altrincham's "offence" by amending its rules - unlike the UniBond League which has set an example by revamping its registration forms to try to prevent such an occurrence.

    The Football Conference reports on the dismissal of Altrincham's appeal by the FA. All it has to say is that "Following the FA's announcement that the club's 18 point penalty must stand and that they must play next season in Conference North, chairman Geoff Goodwin struck a defiant pose", before going on to quote from an article quoted elsewhere on this page from the Sale and Altrincham Messenger.

    Conference fixtures for 2006-07 are expected to be issued on Thursday 29th June - that is assuming that they know who is in which division by then.

    GEOFF'S RESPONSE

    The Sale & Altrincham Messenger reports on the FA appeals panel's rubber stamping of the Conference's deduction of 18 points and fine of £1,000 levied against Altrincham following Accrington Stanley's failure to get international clearance, for which Stanley were fined a mere £200. "Despite this major setback, club chairman Geoff Goodwin remains positive about the Robins' immediate future. He told SAM Sport: 'We are angry at the moment but we can use that to our advantage. This decision will bring everyone at the club together and we are determined to bounce straight back again. I want to go into this league now and steamroller it. We are still going to strengthen the squad and we will still go for the same players we would have done if we had been in the Conference. You get these kind of knocks from time to time but it's how you deal with it that counts and we are going to come back from this even stronger. People better watch out. I hope the community will really get behind us now. It's important that people don't put us to one side just because we have dropped down a division now. They need to get behind us more than ever and make sure that we get back to where we belong as quickly as possible. We were good enough to stay in the Conference this year and that won't change next season. As far as I can see, we are a Conference side playing in the Conference North. Our support has been fantastic this season and I hope that doesn't change, people need to come down and support the lads again next season'".

    YOUTH FINAL RESCHEDULED

    Friday night's Neil Thomason Memorial Trophy Final involving Altrincham Youth and Morecambe at Woodley Sports FC has had to be postponed due to a double-booking at Woodley. The game will now be played at Woodley next Tuesday (30 May at 7.45pm)

    BANDY HITS THE HEADLINES

    Peter Band was the subject of an article in the excellent new North West weekly newspaper The Enquirer last week. With a full colour photo of Peter in Alty action, the article consists of an interview in which he reveals that he has been a "salesman at a flooring company for the last five years. I'm the man to come to if you need a cheap rug!". As for combining football and work, he says, "We train twice a week and work tirelessly the rest of it! It can be quite exhausting to play away in London in midweek and then be at work early the next day". Asked about pay, he reveals that "The average at the club is around £250 per week, but some full-time clubs in our league are paying upwards of £1,600 a week". As for his biggest achievement, he says (ironically in the view of the club's being shafted yesterday), "Keeping Altrincham in the Conference on merit, as well as winning three player of the season awards. Personally, it's been an excellent season". But his biggest regret is "Leaving Altrincham to join our Cheshire rivals Northwich Victoria. I'm glad the fans forgave me when I returned". His ambition is "to play in the Football League but at my age the chance has probably passed me by". His toughest opponent has been "Kevin Parr at Stalybridge. We kick ten bells out of each other for 90 minutes and then go for a drink aftewards". Asked about who is Alty's dressing room joker, Bandy says, "Gary Scott does unspeakable things in the shower that you couldn't possibly publish! And his dress sense is appalling!. I'll be at Altrincham next season. I'd love to lead them out in the Trophy Final at Wembley".

    STAR REPORT

    The STAR website has Mark Murray's detailed report on Tuesday's SGM of the supporters' trust at Moss Lane.

    MEET THE ALTY IDOLS

    Alty fan Daniel Martell - you may recognise him (above, second from right) from Moss Lane where he sells programmes on match days - has formed a five-a-side side with some other Alty fans. Daniel has sent in the above picture of the team, whom we wish good luck for the future. The Idols also have a website, the link to which will be added here later.

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    One of the Conference National's "good guys", Grays Athletic "have appointed former Farnborough Town manager, Frank Gray, on a 2 year contract... Mick Woodward, Grays Athletic Chairman, said that he is extremely happy with the appointment. Frank will be bringing in Gerry Murphy as his No. 2. Frank is a former Scotland international who had a top flight career as a defender with Leeds United and Nottingham Forest and was the only player to line up for two different English sides in two European Cup Finals".

    Assuming we are heading for Conference North, this website will once again start to cover that division as well as Conference National (at least for the time being). NL Daily says that "Alfreton Town have unveiled plans to expand their links with the local community, offer rewards and discounts for regular supporters to the Impact Arena and the formation of a `Junior Reds` section over the next few weeks... Alfreton chairman Wayne Bradley commented: 'The club accepts that communication with its support base is of paramount importance and it takes seriously comments, ideas and articles from the official website forum and through articles produced in the matchday programme... Very few clubs at this level have got a Football in the Community Scheme never mind anything else. This will be a two-way scenario with the club being taken to the community and vice versa... People will be able to meet the players, management and question the people in attendance about the club's plans'. Reds` manager Gary Mills completed the signing of experienced centre back Mark Barnard last Saturday and is "delighted" to have persuaded midfielder Matt Fisher to stay with the club for what will be his fourth season... Meanwhile, Alfreton Town are delighted to announce an England call up for one of their talented youngsters. Messiah McDonald, 16, has been invited for a five-day trial in mid-August with the England under-18s Schools side".

    Stalybridge Celtic have "announced that striker Jody Banim has been placed on the Transfer List. Banim made just 28 appearances for the Celts following his move from Tameside neighbours Droylsden. A serious knee injury was a major factor in preventing him making the impact he wanted and Jody feels that it would be in his and Celtic's best interests to restart his career elsewhere".

    "Colin Lippiatt, manager of Nationwide Conference National newcomers St Albans City, has made further moves in the transfer market over recent days with the signing of central defender David Theobald from Kettering Town, while Patrick Ada has been released" reports the club website.

    "Goalkeeper Adam Collin has committed himself to Workington next season by signing a new contract... Collin was named in goal in the UniBond League’s `dream team` last year, after keeping twenty-one clean sheets in fifty games, helping Workington to win promotion to Nationwide North. “The rest of the squad seem happy enough and all will be returning, apart from Marc Green", chairman Dale Brotherton told the News and Star.

    "Long-serving Cambridge United defender Andy Duncan has signed a new 12-month deal at the Abbey Stadium... The 28-year-old started his career at Old Trafford but did not make a senior appearance for Manchester United. Defensive colleague Mark Peters and midfielder Courtney Pitt are expected to follow suit and sign new deals".

    LOCAL NEWS

    A league manager with Cheshire connections and a great advocate of non-league players, Keith Alexander has left Lincoln City after his club lost promotion play-offs for the fourth successive season recently.
    24 May 2006

    CHANGE OF DATE

    Altrincham's pre-season friendly against FC United of Manchester will now be on Wednesday, 19 July at 7.45pm and not a week later as originaly announced. The change is at the request of FCUM. For a list of all of Alty's pre-season games, click here.

    SOME GOOD NEWS

    Geoff Goodwin announced last night that Australian Test cricketers Jason Gillespie and Darren Lehmann last night agreed to attend a fundraising event for Altrincham FC later this year. As Alty supporters know, Geoff drove the Australian cricket tourists' coach last year and established a close relationship with the Aussies.

    STAR MEETING

    Tuesday's STAR Special General Meeting in the Noel White Suite on Tuesday attracted a full house, though the news a few hours earlier of the FA's support of the Conference's "draconian" [the Conference's own word] punishment inevitably cast a cloud over the proceedings. The Altrincham FC Board of Geoff Goodwin, Andrew Shaw and Grahame Rowley had all got back from the hearing at Soho Square and Geoff confirmed that no further appeal to legal process would take place. Yesterday's fiasco and the lead up to it had already cost the club £5,000 in legal fees (and that is after the Grays Athletic chairman had very kindly assisted in this area) and to pursue the case further would have cost the Club money it can ill afford, with little chance of success against the FA and its big guns.

    The start of the STAR SGM was delayed by half an hour to allow those present to hear an interview on Five Live with Geoff Goodwin in which he affirmed the club's determination to act with dignity over the FA's upholding of the Conference's punishment of Altrincham. Geoff also expressed his best wishes to Scarborough, who survive as a result of our deduction, as unlike certain other clubs who were "stabbing us in the back", the Seadogs had indicated that they would not have appealed had the FA exonerated us yesterday. But, of course, Scarborough's survival in the Conference is itself at the mercy of football's officials who are probing their finances. There was plenty of feeling amongst supporters that we were at least back among genuine friends in Conference North next season rather than dealing with certain National teams with excessive views of their own importance.

    The first surprise at the SGM was to learn that STAR Chairperson Brian Flynn was not present and that he had resigned in the last few days. Likewise, Treasurer Paul Daine had also left the STAR Board. So, the STAR Board now comprised three members, Jacqui Forster (acting chair), Dawn Abbott and Phil Taylor. Also with the STAR Board at this meeting, as an adviser, was Dave Boyle, Deputy Chief Executive of Supporters Direct. The second surprise was the withdrawal of the last of the three motions which the meeting had been called to discuss.

    STAR's official minutes of the meeting will, no doubt, appear in due course and it is not the role of this website to provide a detailed record of the meeting. Suffice it to say that there was lengthy debate about the first motion, proposed by the STAR Board and whether it could be voted on in parts or otherwise. There was also much discussion about the compatibility of the two motions on the table and whether voting for one would preclude voting for the other. Members of the Football Club Board expressed their view that STAR had done a lot of good work but that its procedures meant that the transfer of its fundraising profits to the club was often slow and that funds were often earmarked to specific projects rather than being given the Board to use as it saw fit. After it had been revealed that the Club now faced a £5,000 bill for legal costs of appealing to the FA (on top of a £1,000 fine), STAR handed over a cheque for £2,000 to the Club. Following numerous contributions from the floor, it was agreed that the STAR Board and the Football Club Board needed to get together and try to thrash out a more cooperative future for the benefit of the Club as a whole. In this context the voting on the two remaining motions was unanimously (I think) against the first motion and therefore the status quo remains as regards STAR's role. The second motion was approved, allowing STAR to offer its shares for sale, should this be necessary. One particular concern in this regard was that if STAR were to be disbanded, it was possible that its 3,000 or so shares in the Football Club would be donated to a sporting charity outside the Club. Jacqui Forster appealed for volunteeers to join the STAR Board as, with just three members, the load was excessive on the remaining Board members.

    After the meeting, Grahame Rowley announced the formation of a Friends of Altrincham FC, details of which will appear on this website in the near future. George Heslop also invited everyone to attend Thursday's Youth Team Presentation Night at Moss Lane (entry £2) and to support the team in the Neil Thomason Memorial Trophy Final at Woodley Sports this Friday at 7.45pm.

    KEEP GOING!

    Altrincham fans are 100% behind manager and club secretary Graham Heathcote and will hope that he enjoys a well-earned holiday for the rest of this week - his departure was delayed by the FA hearing. Also, spare a though for captain Mark Maddox; three seasons in the Conference and three relegations (1997, 2000 and 2006), though this last one must be the bitterest to swallow. And to the rest of the players, Dalton Steele and the backroom staff, though officialdom's badly written rules may have robbed them of their deserved second season in Conference National, their efforts last season in finishing outside the relegation places was one of the club's greatest achievements in recent years.

    If the rule makers now actually do something about international clearance and amend the punishment so that it affects the real offenders and so that the penalty for falling foul of the clearance rules is lower than the maximum which clubs, (such as Crawley Town who were only deducted 3 points), suffer for breaking financial guidelines, our likely relegation may have some benefit for football. After all, playing James Robinson gave Altrincham no material advantage on the pitch whereas breaching the salary cap clearly may be advantageous. At the moment, yesterday's decision just makes the game a laughing stock to the outside observer. And there is no suggestion, to date, that any of these ill-framed rules will be amended.

    THE FA VIEW ON THE APPEAL

    The FA reports that "At an Appeal Board hearing today, Altrincham FC's appeal against a disciplinary decision by the Football Conference was rejected. Altrincham were deducted 18 points and fined £1000 by the Conference in April for fielding an ineligible player, James Robinson. The sanction was based on the points won by the club in the 13 matches Robinson played. This sanction was upheld by the Appeal Board today.

    During the hearing, the club dropped all grounds for appeal other than that the penalty imposed by the Football Conference was excessive. The Appeal Board therefore had no option but to reject the appeal as Football Conference rules do not allow discretion on the matter of sanctions for specific breaches of rules.

    Robinson joined Accrington Stanley from Iceland without gaining international clearance and subsequently moved to Altrincham in November. He has since joined Australian club Richmond Eagles".

    Though Grays Athletic chairman Mike Woodward kindly assisted Altrincham's legal case, the club's other legal costs amounted to £5,000. A collection held at Tuesday's STAR meeting raised £260 towards these costs.

    WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE...

    Whilst Altrincham FC is keeping its counsel on what went on behind the scenes, For The Good Of The Game contains alleged correspondence between Forest Green Rovers' secretary Colin Peake and Conference supremo John Moules regarding the James Robinson affair. If true, as it certainly appears to be, the correspondence suggests that Peake pushed Moules to ensure that "the strongest approach has been taken to ensure the rules are upheld" against Altrincham. Peake allegedly writes: "We would remind you finally that we reserve our rights, particularly in respect of any recourse to the Freedom of Information Act should we suspect that this matter is not dealt with in an open, fair and consistent manner. Further, we are considering how best to deal with this matter which may have a direct bearing on the future of our own club and other members of the Football Conference Ltd.". Peake also allegedly writes, "Both FGRFC and Tamworth FC received a letter from the Operations Director, stating that unless we made an official complaint about the matter, the Conference would withdraw the charges and place it before the Board. Both FGRFC and Tamworth vehemently rejected such a demand, clearly advising the Operations Director that the Conference did not need any club to complain to bring charges under Rule 6.1. and in any case they already had laid charges and called a commission. A copy of that letter is also attached and both FGRFC and Tamworth consider the letter to have been almost a threat".

    Many Altrincham fans, whilst outraged at the decisions of the Conference and FA to punish Altrincham for the failings of Accrington Stanley (who have still yet to contact Moss Lane about the James Robinson affair), will not be sorry not to be visiting certain clubs next season. On the contrary they will be returning to play old friends in the North, who may be longstanding rivals on the pitch but are open and above board in their dealings.

    STAR SGM

    After an anxious day waiting for the FA to deliver its verdict on Altrincham's appeal against a £1,000 fine and 18 points deduction, many Alty supporters turned up for a pre-arranged STAR (supporters' trust) Special General Meeting last night (Tuesday). The meeting ended at 10.40pm, after almost three hours of often "frank" discussion over relations between the Club and the Trust. Before the meeting, members were surprised to learn of the resignation of STAR Chair Brian Flynn. More on the meeting to follow...

    CONFERENCE (and CONFERENCE NORTH) NEWS

    NL Daily "Liam Watson has resigned from his job as manager of Southport, citing family and career reasons for his decision... 'With a career outside football, a wife and young family I had to make a major decision', he said. 'I have been juggling too many balls... I have experienced great times at Southport and leave with my head high plus my friendship with the chairman intact... By securing our Conference National status my time has come to an end but the club will benefit greatly by going full-time'. Chairman Charlie Clapham added: 'This has been a sad day. Liam remains my friend but we both recognised a part-time manager in a full-time club was not going to work no matter how we tried to look at it'".

    We look likely to be playing Stalybridge again next season (barring Scarborough being demoted for financial reasons) and NL Daily reports "Barrie Keeling, Stalybridge’s Celtic Player of the year for the last two seasons, is reunited with his father Alan, the Nationwide North club`s new Academy Director... Alan Keeling is the only Academy Directors Licence and Brazilian Pro Licence and UEFA ‘A’ Licence holder working in the non-League set up across the country and also works at Oldham Athletic`s highly successful Centre of Excellence... The new Academy, in conjunction with Tameside College and Navigation Education, offers players the opportunity to train as full-time professionals whilst gaining a valuable varied educational opportunity over a two-year period. The team will play in the new Conference Youth League, progressing to the new reserve team playing in the Mid-Cheshire League".

    On the Conference North Forum it is reported that "Kettering Town skipper Craig McIlwain says he had a number of decisions to make before finally agreeing to stay on for next season's Nationwide North campaign... McIlwain said he had to think matters over because of the squad turning full-time for the new season... 'I had a lot to think about because my job as a lecturer is a good career for me'".


    23 May 2006

    ALTY DOWN

    After the decision today by the FA to uphold the Conference's 18-point deduction and fine of £1,000, Altrincham FC has issued the following statement:

    After the FA today upheld the Conference's earlier decision, the Altrincham FC Board are deeply disappointed with today's decision by the FA Appeals Panel. After a successful season on the pitch, this decision has come as a complete shock. On the positive side, the management and Board are totally committed to take the club onwards and upwards on the foundations set over the last four years. We can but thank our own fans for their loyalty and also the supporters and clubs throughout the English football community for their support".

    Footnote:

    The deduction of 18 points, fine of £1,000 and consequent relegation of Altrincham follows their playing James Robinson in the Conference this season. Robinson was signed from another English club, Accrington Stanley, who failed to get international clerance for him. Last week Stanley were fined by the FA the princely sum of £200 for this offence.

    DECISION DAY

    Monday's Manchester Evening News stated yesterday that "Altrincham chairman Geoff Goodwin rates his team's chances of staying in the Nationwide Conference as no better than '50-50'.... Altrincham believe a precedent has already been set following a £50 fine for NW Counties' side, Leek Town, following a similar offence... Accrington Stanley have also been hit with a modest financial penalty for their part in the Robinson affair...Manager Graham Heathcote, who will consider his position after the hearing said, 'We can only hope justice will prevail'. Heathcote... has had to cancel his holiday to attend a three-man tribunal and is expected to give evidence... Goodwin says, 'other clubs ganging up on us has left a bad taste in the mouth... If we go down then we'll have to try to bounce straight back up with a squad of quality rather than quantity'. A top London barrister, paid for by the chairman of Conference rivals Grays Athletic, will fight Altrincham's cause in which a near 9,000-name petition ... has also been submitted".

    YOUTH FINAL OFF

    Tuesday night's Neil Thomason Trophy Final between Alty Youth and Morecambe "A" Youth has been postponed as the Robin Park pitch is waterlogged. Instead, the game will take place at Woodley Sports at 7.45pm on Friday (26th).

    STAR SGM

    A STAR Special General Meeting will take place tonight (Tuesday) at 7.30pm. All STAR members are urged to attend to discuss important proposals about the Trust's future.

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    NL Daily says that "Terry Brown, manager of Aldershot Town, has hit out at rumours linking him with the vacant hotseat at rivals Stevenage Borough while pledging his future to the Shots. Brown was looking to re-assure his loyal army of fans of his commitment to the cause after a sensational week of comings and goings involving rival Conference clubs. The week saw the shock resignation of Mark Stimson from FA Trophy winners Grays Athletic, Jim Harvey parting ways with Morecambe after twelve years at the helm and former Farnborough Town boss Graham Westley announcing he is to leave Stevenage... He said: 'There is no truth in the rumours. I don’t know where this has come from to be honest. I am 100% committed to Aldershot and I’m looking forward to the new season... The board have backed me all the way with the budget they’ve handed me and hopefully we should be able to get in some new faces this summer to strengthen the squad for a promotion push next year'. After signing up experienced left back Darren Barnard for another season, Brown now has his sights firmly set on securing the future of David Lee, while talks are ongoing with Gary Holloway and Matt Somner... The club have also been linked with Barnet pair Giuliano Grazioli and Ben Strevens, while Canvey Island striker Lee Boylan is also available for transfer this summer... Brown though has flatly denied any links with the free-scoring Boylan... Brown stated earlier in the week that talks with up to twenty players were on-going, with loan favourite Jonny Dixon and young Bognor Regis Town striker Ben Watson definitely two of them" reports This Is Aldershot.

    "Simon Russell is expected to be the next player to commit his future to Kidderminster Harriers for next season... He has told Yates he will finalise a deal for next season... Russell will join Jake Sedgemore, Russ Penn, Gavin Hurren, Luke Reynolds, Jonny Harkness and Michael McGrath in the squad for next term. Michael Blackwood is still to make up his mind on the offer of a one-year deal and Johnny Mullins is attracting interest from a string of clubs other than Harriers, including Chester and Bury, following his release from Reading". Yates added that "I started with a long list of players I might be interested in... We're at the stage where clubs are doing all the chasing and unless you offer players the earth they reckon they are holding out for better offers. But give it a few weeks and the situation will change with the players doing the chasing", he told the Harriers' website.

    "Speculation linking AFC Bournemouth's Steve Fletcher with a move to Weymouth have been scotched by Terras' boss Garry Hill. 'It's just a rumour and I don't know where it started', said Hill. 'But that's what happens at this time of the year. Names are linked with clubs left, right and centre'. Since releasing ten of his Nationwide South championship squad a fortnight ago, the Terras' boss says he's spoken to a number of possible transfer targets... 'Trouble is these days, many lads who are out of contract or considering their futures leave it until the last minute to see if any offers come along. The summer is going to be very much a waiting game for me and most other managers... I won't do is to be rushed into making snap decisions'", he told the Terras' website.

    Morecambe "are delighted to announce that Garry Thompson and club captain Jim Bentley have signed new 2 year contracts. Thompson rejected the chance to move into the football league, turning down offers from Bury and Accrington Stanley to commit his future to the Shrimps. Midfielders Jimmy Kelly and Michael Stringfellow have also been released".

    "Sammy McIlroy, in his first interview since being appointed the new manager of Morecambe FC, has pledged to do all he can to secure Football League status at Christie Park" reports Morecambe Today. McIlroy said, "We have got to get everyone tied up again. We will look at what we can add but I won't bring anyone in that I don't think will add to the squad". As for the sackin go Jim Harvey McIlroy asserted that "I was as shocked as anyone when Jimmy lost his job. I hope he realises that I had nothing to do with it". Also, "The club also announced on Friday a £1million development on the east terrace of Christie Park, the 'Carwash' side". It is currently a narrow, open terrace, with a car wash and derelict social club behind it.


    22 May 2006

    BANDY DOES WELL

    Congratulations to Altrincham's Peter Band (right), who finished 110th out of 25,000 competitors in Sunday's Manchester 10km Run. He finished the race in 36 minutes and 20 seconds.

    TUESDAY WILL BE A BIG DAY

    On Tuesday, 23 May, there are three important events affecting Altrincham FC:
  • An FA panel will hear Altrincham FC's appeal against the Conference decision to dock the club 18 points and fine it £1,000 for playing James Robinson. Robinson had come to Moss Lane from Accrington, who had failed to get international clearance for him. Accrington have since been fined £200 by the FA for the offence. A decision, which will determine whether Altrincham will play in Conference National or Conference North, will be announced on the day.
  • Altrincham Youth contest the inaugural Neil Thomason Memorial Trophy Final (k.o.8pm) at Robin Park, Wigan, against Morecambe "A". Neil was Altrincham Youth's coach for several years but sadly died at a young age last summer. Alty Youth have already won two cups this season (as well as lifting the Cheshire FA District Cup as the Altrincham & District FA representative side), and will be especially keen to add this trophy as a tribute to their popular former coach.
  • STAR, the Altrincham FC supporters' trust, holds an important Special General Meeting at Moss Lane, which will determine the Trust's ongoing role. For details, see the STAR website.

    RULES ARE RULES?

    A Blackpool correspondent writes to the NL Paper claiming that one of the Conference rules is that "no club will be accepted into the Conference with a three-sided ground. A few seasons ago, Marine won the NPL and were excluded from the Conference because their Rossett Park ground was three-sided... So what is the situation regarding League drop-outs Oxford United? They have an excellent new stadium but, horror of horrors, it's three-sided. Rules are rules, Mr Moules...".But elsewhere in the Paper, John Moules "laughed off suggestions Oxford United could be refused entry to the Conference... 'There is a criterion which says spectators should be able to view a game from all four sides', he said. 'However, any situation is considered at the discretion of the directors and there is no hesitation on our part in welcoming Oxford to the league'".

    Meanwhile, Carshalton Athletic are appealing against the decision to repreive Leigh RMI from relegation from Conference North, as a consequence of Tamworth's reprieve, which in turn follows Canvey Island's resignation. Carshalton finished in Conference South with one more point than Leigh RMI got in Conference North but are being relegated whilst RMI are reprieved, even though Carshalton claim the rules say that the team with the higher number of points should be saved.

    It is perhaps no wonder then that an exasperated Mr Corbould of Crawley writes in a letter to the NL Paper:

  • The Observer, Sunday: relegated - Scarborough & Altrincham
  • The Guardian, Monday: relegated - Tamworth, Scarborough
  • The NL Paper, Sunday: relegated - Canvey Island, Scarborough

    Thanks, Mr Moules, I'm watching parks football next season.

    STUART - TOP QUALITY

    Colin Little nominates Stuart Coburn (right) as Goalkeeper of the Year in the NL Paper. "Stuart's an absolutely brilliant goalkeeper - top quality. Week in, week out, he's been in top form and won us a lot of points this season. He's had a phenomenal year. I'd say he was the best shotstopper in the league and I knew how good he was before I joined Alty. I live locally and had been to a few games. Stuart always stood out. On the rare occasions he makes a mistake we all look at each other in disbelief, because it's so rare". The NL Paper reports that last week the English Colleges' side drew 0-0 with a strong Watford Academy side which included three seniors as they warmed up for their tournament in Italy. Alty Youth captain, Richard Gresty, is in the Colleges' squad.

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    NL Daily reports that "Former Worcester City and Weymouth left sided midfielder Adam Wilde has signed for Nationwide Conference National newcomers St Albans City from Southern League champions Salisbury City. Wilde joined Cambridge City during August 1999 after surprisingly being released by neighbours Cambridge United... City [accepted] a £7,500 bid from Worcester City in October 2002 and [he then had] a five-figure move to the Terras in June 2004".

    "Exeter City manager Alex Inglethorpe wanted to sign Woking's Justin Richards following talks with the out-of-contract player this week. But Richards... is understood to have turned down the Grecians to play in the Football League... [He] is thought to be on the verge of joining a League Two club... Richards confirmed he was genuinely tempted by Exeter's offer... 'I had a chat with Alex Ingelthorpe about coming to Exeter and he is a really nice guy and it seems that everything at Exeter is moving forward very quickly. But I really want to get back to playing in the Football League, and I have got to give myself the best chance of fulfilling my ambition and not rush into things'", reports This is Exeter.

    "Striker Billy Beechers, midfielder Josh Kennett and defender Andrew Gunn have all been rewarded for their performances for Oxford United's reserve and youth sides with professional deals. But there was heartbreak for Chris Roberts, Daryl Harris, Ryan Brooks and Kyle McCoy, who were all told that they would not be taken on" reports NL Daily.


    21 May 2006

    BULLS PROMOTED

    Play-Off Final:
  • Hereford U. 3 Halifax T. 2 a.e.t..

    BBC Sport says that "Ryan Green's extra-time winner secured Hereford's rise into League Two after they overcame heartbroken Halifax in the Conference play-off final. A 20-yard Lewis Killeen strike put Halifax ahead but Andy Williams quickly levelled with a stooping header. John Grant's flicked near post shot restored the lead for the Shaymen only for a Guy Ipoua header to again level. And, just as it seemed penalties loomed during a cautious extra-time, Green floated in a left-foot shot".

    OLD BOY

    Former Alty centre back Adam Farley has renewed his contract at Marine for a further two years.

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    NL Daily reports that "Damon Searle has rejected a new deal at Forest Green Rovers and signed for Newport County. The Welshman, who missed only five games for Rovers last season and captained the side during the final month of the campaign, had been keen to stay at The Lawn. But Searle explained: 'I was offered a new contract which was worth substantially less than what I was on already. I spoke to Newport and straight away they made me feel really wanted, and that's what swayed it for me. A few little things didn't feel quite right at Forest Green'", he told the Gloucestershire Citizen.

    "Rushden and Diamonds chairman Richard Palmer says the club is in a good financial position despite being relegated to the Conference. Palmer told BBC Radio Northampton: 'The plans looks like we have made a small profit moving into next year. And that will be in spite of having one of the biggest player budgets in the league'. Meanwhile the club hope to have appointed a new manager to replace Barry Hunter in the next few days".

    The Football Conference says that "York City's on loan 23-year-old centre-back David McGurk has been offered a new one-year deal by his current employers Darlington. The Middlesbrough-born defender proved a pivotal part of the Minstermen's rearguard last term after making 39 senior appearances and scoring twice... The North East club could also claim compensation should the player decide to take up an alternative offer from one of several other interested parties. Meanwhile, McGurk has not ruled out a permanent return to KitKat Crescent".


    20 May 2006

    PRE-SEASON OPPONENTS

    "Woodley Sports chiefs are targeting the Nationwide Conference following some significant off-the-field restructuring at the club this week. Former chairman Ian Campbell has been replaced by Peter Sullivan, while Steelmen fans will be delighted to hear that team manager Ally Pickering is staying following a number of meetings with Sullivan, and club owners Mike Clarke and Stuart Vann... A club statement said: 'Woodley Sports will also strive to achieve Conference standard in the not-too-distant future'... Manager Pickering, meanwhile, who, along with his players and backroom staff, will now continue at Lambeth Grove next season after initially quitting last week, said: "The mood around the club is very positive as everyone behind the scenes will now try to drive the club forward. We’ve got four or five pre-season games booked [one against Altrincham] and I’m already looking forward to them'", reports the Stockport Express.

    For a list of pre-season Alty friendlies, click here

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    "Morecambe FC are pleased to announce the appointment of Sammy McIlroy as their new Manager. Sammy has agreed a 2-year contract with the club. Chairman Peter McGuigan said: 'We are pleased that Sammy has accepted the position as Manager and trust that our supporters will continue to give him their usual backing. On a separate note, I can confirm that details will shortly be announced for a £1 million redevelopment of the East Terrace at Christie Park which should be completed in time for the 07/08 season. The Board is confident that Morecambe Football Club will continue to progress both on and off the field'. Sammy McIlroy said: 'I am delighted to accept the position as Manager of Morecambe Football Club since I believe it is an ambitious club looking for success and I wish to play my part in that success'”.

    The Argus reflects on the news that "Crawley Town have been deducted three points and fined £5,000 by the Football Conference for exceeding their playing budget. Crawley must pay £3,000 immediately, with the rest suspended for twelve months unless they breach the rules again next season. The league opted against a maximum £10,000 penalty in recognition of the club's hard work in trying to solve their financial problems. The Football Conference sets an annual budget based on the income of their clubs from the previous two seasons. The punishment does not affect Crawley's league position. Conference chief executive John Moules said: 'We gave them until this week to explain what happened but it did not alter the fact that they have breached the agreed playing budget. They could have faced a much stiffer penalty but we took into account that there has been a change in personnel behind the scenes. General Manager Barry Munn has come in and worked very hard to sort things out so we decided against the maximum penalty of three points and a £10,000 fine. If there is repeated breach of rules then expulsion from the competition is even a possibility' . Munn, who took up his position in February, said: "When I took over, one of the things I realised is that the budget was all wrong since day one. From the very start of the season, it was always going to exceed the amount. We have had to come in and pick up the pieces... Administration has been an option since day one. Everything has been considered, including selling the club and trying to find new sponsors because the owner's pockets only go so deep".

    Above: Action from Scarborough v Alty, last February

    Scarborough Today reports that Scarborough FC "have axed 15 players from last season’s squad.Boss Neil Redfearn has decided to keep just seven players on his retained list, which includes himself, centre-back Denny Ingram, full-back Ashley Lyth, young defender Carl Cook and the teenage trio of Michael Coulson, Jimmy Beadle and Ryan Blott. Among the culled players are long-serving keeper Leigh Walker, defenders Kevin Nicholson and Steve Baker, as well as striker David McNiven", who rejected a move to Altrincham last season. Redfearn stated, "The club needed a blank canvas to work with and this has given us exactly that. A lot of these players have been here for a while and if that is the case it sometimes starts to get a bit stale. We did things wrong last summer, which was why the club struggled throughout last season". And "Boro met up with Conference officials yesterday to discuss the club's financial stability. Chairman Malcolm Reynolds and director Ian Scobbie attended the meeting at Leicester City's Walker's Stadium to confirm to the Conference that they had come out of administration... Reynolds said: 'We believe we have satisfied every criteria and we will meet up with them again at the AGM next month'".

    "Mark Stimson has emerged as the early front-runner in the race to become the next manager at Peterborough United... Peterborough`s director of football Barry Fry admitted he has spoken to Stimson about the vacancy at London Road. Fry said: 'I have contacted Mark and I have spoken to the owner of Grays, Mike Woodward. I have not offered him or anyone else the job, but Mark's record is very impressive... His teams play excellent football and he is clearly one of the up and coming managers in the game".

    Recent transfers include:

  • Craig Westcarr (Cambridge U. to Kettering T.)
  • Graham Ward (Tamworth to Moor Green)
  • John Kennedy (Canvey Island to Histon)

    NL Daily says that "Kettering Town have snapped up former Spurs midfielder Darren Caskey from A6 neighbours Rushden & Diamonds amongst six new signings announced on Friday".

    LOCAL NEWS

    "Officers of the proposed Runcorn Linnets Football Club, born out of the ashes of Runcorn FC Halton, expect to finalise negotiations over a ground deal in the next week or so. Once a home has been secured they can apply for membership of the Football Association. The club hopes to find a base in the Cheshire FA area while working towards returning to its home town... Runcorn FC Halton have resigned from the UniBond League and chairman Dr Dave Robertson must now decide whether to continue by applying for a place in the North West Counties League", says the NL Daily.
    19 May 2006

    RESERVES CHANGES

    Altrincham FC Reserves' manager Neil Brown has the difficult task of remodelling his Reserves' squad for next season and this has inevitably led to the release of a number of players, whilst one or two others are unavailable in any case due to work or other commitments. Those who will not be playing for the Reserves at the start of next season include James Marsden, Paul Monaghan, Dave Roberts, Byron Jenkins and Mike Brown. On behalf of Altrincham FC, Neil would like to express his sincere thanks to all of thes players for their dedication and hard work for the Reserves over the last season and, in several cases, two seasons. The website would also echo the club's best wishes to all concerned that they go on to enjoy a successful footballing career.

    Those reserves from last season who will be staying with the Club include goalkeeper Craig Ellison, defender/midfielder Ashley Brown, midfielder/defender Danny Heffernan, left-back Keith Wedge and defender Colin McAllister. The Club is looking to bolster the link between the Youth team and the Reserves and it is expected that a substantial number of this season's youth team will graduate to the Reserves next season. In addition, trials will be held on 17 and 24 June at Mersey Bank to further bolster the squad.

    Neil Brown and Reserves' physio Alan Ainsley are also arranging a charity match involving Altrincham FC for the benefit of Manchester's Christie Hospital. This is likely to involve players from all levels of the club, including chairman Geoff Goodwin, and is likely to be played on the football pitch at East Levenshulme Cricket Club. More details of this will be posted here when confirmed.

    PRECEDENTS

    The Sale & Altrincham Messenger reports that, as regards the appeal to the FA, to be heard next Tuesday, "Graham Heathcote is still hopeful of a positive outcome... 'We have done as much as we can and have been totally transparent throughout this whole issue. Now we can only hope that justice will prevail'", said the Alty boss. The paper cites the cases of Leek Town, recently fined £50 for failing to gain international clearance, and of Accrington Stanley whose failure to get clearance for James Robinson directly led to Altrincham's current predicament earned them a fine of just £200 this week. SAM concludes, "If the FA were to uphold the harsh penalty imposed upon Alty, not only would it be contrary to previous decisions regarding international clearance, it could set a worrying precedent".

    SEASON TICKETS

    Full details of Altrincham FC season tickets for 2006-07 are here. Don't forget a £10 discount applies if tickets are bought before 30 June.

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    Tamworth report that their season tickets will go up from 1 June and "Matchday admission will rise by £1 next season. TFC general manager Russel Moore said: 'This is the first increase the club has imposed for a couple of seasons. The decision reflects the Board's ambitions to move the club forward towards a more full time operation, which obviously means increased costs". The new price for a stand season ticket will be £260 - £50 more than at Moss Lane. Terrace season tickets will cost £220. "Turnstile prices for 2006-07- Adult seated £13 Adult terrace £11"

    And "Lambs' boss Mark Cooper has today completed the transfer from Alfreton Town of striker Jon Stevenson. He joins on a 12-month contract and manager Mark Cooper is delighted that the chairman and board allowed him to sign a player who Alfreton and ex-Tamworth manager Gary Mills were very sad to lose. The gaffer has also agreed a deal with Dave Bampton and he, too, has put pen to paper to stay at The Lamb".

    Halifax boss Chris Wilder has spoken to BBC Hereford and Worcester about the Play-Off Final. He said, "We're deeply determined to get into the Football League and we're not going for a day out. I want to manage at that level and the players want to play at that level so we've got another hurdle to overcome but I'm sure we can do it". Speaking to Halifax Today, he added, "If Gretna can take 12,000 supporters to the Scottish Cup final why can't we have 10,000 at the Walkers Stadium? The players certainly deserve the best possible support for their efforts this season. It is a major cup final. This club has never been in anything like it in its entire history...The fans have not had a better opportunity to get behind the team than this. It should be a great day out and it is only a couple of hours down the motorway... My ambition is to manage in the Football League and I know that the players want to play there".

    Bullsnews says that "Kidderminster's hopes of signing long term loanee Johnny Mullins have been dealt a blow with Chester making the ex-Reading man an offer. Aldershot are also unlikely to sign Barnet's Guiliano Grazioli without a fee being involved. The Conference top scorer last season has failed to set League Two alight and appears surplus to requirements at Underhill. Forest Green have lost the services of Abdou Sall, with the player signing a one year deal for St Pauli in Germany's third tier". Bullsnews also confirms that "Hereford United have confirmed that 7,900 tickets have been sold by them for Saturday's playoff final. ... The total confirmed sales to date are now at 11,968 (7900 from Hereford and 4068 from Halifax)".

    Stevenage Borough "have so far seen 4 of the 6 applicants short-listed [for the manager's post] and expect to move towards an appointment over the next week or so. Boro chairman Phil Wallace said "Our interview list for this week was drawn up on Monday morning, but the announcements that Jim Harvey and Mark Stimson are now available has added 2 more attractive names to that list. So far the board have been very impressed with the quality of the people seen and it's going to be a difficult choice.The board acknowledges the need to make an appointment at the earliest opportunity and are working hard towards seeing all the potential candidates by the weekend". Bullsnews adds that "Mickey Warner, Rob Quinn, and Ollie Berquez have all been released after failing to agree terms on new deals at Stevenage. This trio makes it fifteen player departures in two weeks at Broadhall Way. The new Stevenage manager will start with just eight players. Local paper The Comet has revealed a list of applicants for the vacant manager's job: "Names known to have also applied are Brian Talbot, Jim Harvey, Dean Austin, Jimmy Quinn, Steve Bleasdale, Peter Morris and John Cornforth".

    The BBC confirms that "Canvey Island's request to be relegated from the Conference to the Ryman Premier League has been approved. The Conference board accepted Canvey's request, a decision which means Tamworth will not now be relegated. Canvey gave written confirmation that they were seeking election to a league lower down the pyramid".

    NL Daily says that "Midfielders Steve McKimm and Lee Protheroe, who were recently released by Gravesend & Northfleet, have both signed one-year contracts at Margate.".

    "Garry Hill has urged Weymouth supporters to keep their feet firmly on the ground as they prepare for life in Nationwide Conference National. 'What we achieved last season was absolutely first class and there was no one more delighted than myself when we won the championship... But while we should treasure those memories, it's also important that our supporters are realistic as we head into the Conference. No disrespect to other clubs in Nationwide South who we faced last season, but come August we won't be the big fish in the pool anymore... And that why it's important that after seventeen years away from the Conference, people don't get carried away'... Hill plans to operate a full-time squad numbering a slightly reduced eighteen or nineteen first-teamers next season... The move is because of Conference salary cap rules which mean the Wessex Stadium outfit can only spend 65 per cent of their income on wages... Hill said: 'I've sat down with the chairman and gone over the figures and the cap won't be a problem... I've been given the same budget as last season, the only difference being that we'll be looking to have a squad of eighteen or nineteen rather than twenty-two or twenty-three first-team-players. The difference will be that I want those eighteen or nineteen to be more experienced than those who were on duty in Nationwide South'" reports the club website.

    The Football Conference reports that "Mark Stimson, former manager of Grays Athletic, has thrown his hat in the ring for the vacant managerial post at Millwall... 'That is an opportunity I would very much like to take up', Stimson told Skysports.com.

    The LDV Vans Trophy has been replaced for 2006-07 by the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and will NOT include any Nationwide Conference clubs. It will solely ionvolve League One and Two clubs with sanctions being taken agsinst any side not including six of its most regular players in the line-up.

    THE PITCH

    As promised, here is the concluding part of former Alty director Len Pollitt's 1967 account of events on Moss Lane's pitch

    From the Robins' Review:

    Tonight we continue where we left off from Saturday's programme with the second instalment of Len Pollitt's Moss Lane memoirs. Len celebrates 25 years this year as a member of the Board of Directors, but his recollections of the Robins go back much further than that.

    In the first of my articles I was talking a Iittle about the state of the ground. It was known as a quagmire for years and looking back I am not surprised really after what was thrown on it!

    At one time sheep grazed on it and their manure was used to fill the stands. I remember former chairman Ernie Odlin, the Broadheath butcher, having loads of sewerage manure thrown on the ground. When it was wet it used to get all slimy and the water could not get away. Then, to break this mess up, the directors had coke breeze (a fine coking dust) sprinkled all over the manure. This dust was brought from the nearby Altrincham Gas Works, but things went from bad to worse, and every time a player fell down he got a septic sore. Both the sewerage and the breeze all had to be eventually scraped off again and dumped, and the lethal concoction was used to form the spectators' standing area at one end of the ground.

    Many players in local teams will remember this episode because everyone who played soccer locally played in the rounds of the Hospital Cup. Football boots were rarely used and hundreds played in ordinary working boots.

    For some of these games and Altrincham's league matches I can remember hundreds of spectators arriving on bicycles from miles around. My pals and I used to store the bikes for a penny up an entry in School Road, and then many kids used to climb the trees which used to line the Moss Lane side of the ground to get a free look at the games. All these trees have now disappeared.

    The club also owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Jimmy Brookes... for providing a goat as a mascot and for giving the ground its first ever tea hut! And so I could go on and on.... but to conclude, in 1963, and bring the story more or less up to date, I bought 100 tons of riverwashed sand and had it sprinkled all over the ground during the big freeze up of that winter. We had about 12 weeks of frost and snow and no-one played football except Altrincham . . . but the pitch looked like Blackpool beach!

    After the thaw set in I got a vote of "No confidence" against me from Freddie Pye who was the manager at that time and he let it be known in no uncertain terms what a mess he thought I had made of it. However I got Eric Warburton from Ashley to deep spike the ground for a full day and the sand trickled down the spike holes, broke up all the bog-like clay and soil and since then the ground has been second to none. Today if we have a torrential downpour it takes only minutes for the pitch to drain and we have not had to call off any of our matches from a weather point of view since that day.


    18 May 2006

    STANLEY FINED £200

    I am informed that Accrington have been fined £200 (two hundred) by the FA for failing to get international clearance for James Robinson (right). As everyone will know, James subsequently moved to Altrincham who were then docked 18 points and fined £1,000 by the Conference for playing him in 14 Conference matches. Altrincham's appeal to the FA against the Conference decision is being heard on Tuesday 23 May.

    MARINE YOUTH 3 ALTRINCHAM YOUTH 0

    Congratulations to Marine "A" Youth, who beat Alty 3-0 on Tuesday night, to clinch the NW Allied Trophies Premier Division title. More on this on the Youth Page.

    THEN AND NOW

    The work to improve the drainage of the pitch at Moss Lane has now been completed and the surface has been re-seeded. This summer's pitchworks are planned carefully to ensure a good surface but it has not always been so organised at Moss Lane - for which current Alty groundsman (and Reserves' manager) Neil Brown must be grateful. The following account is taken from The Robins' Review of 11 September 1976.

    The day the Circus came!

    Len Pollitt celebrates 25 years as a director of Altrincham Football Club this year and is the longest serving member of the present Board of Directors. In today's programme Len looks back over the years at Moss Lane, recalling some of the many stories associated with the Robins

    Part 1

    When I look round Moss Lane nowadays it is hard to realise that at one time sheep grazed on the pitch and, to keep the grass down, a horse was kept at one end of the ground by an ex-groundsman to pull the mower and the roller, and even elephants and lions have graced the Moss Lane turf!

    Yes, it has all happened at Moss Lane. Since I began to support Altrincham as a youngster all sorts of weird and wonderful things have happened down at the ground and in these two articles I hope to revive a few memories for some supporters and to show others that this great little soccer stadium which is a "home" to the Robins did not just happen overnight. It took a lot of hard work and effort to bring about.

    One of my earliest memories is that of a circus which was allowed to pitch its "Big Top" on the ground and to bring in lorries and trailers. I vividly remember seeing elephants walking about and lions, and the result of this rather bizarre happening was that the lorries and trailers broke all the land drains.

    As a kid I remember the old grandstand which had gaps between the wooden planks so that consequently all the underneath of the stand was full of toffee papers and litter. One of our favourite pastimes looking for toffees and dropped money under this old stand... and I bet there are not many remember me walking round the ground selling cigarettes and toffee from a tray provided by Mr. Harry Bickerdike who used to run the shop at the corner of Stamford Park Road and Moss Lane!

    One of Altrincham's famous boxing "sons", Eric Neill, made a name for himself on the ground in the old fashioned boxing booths. He was a member of Kid Furness's boxing troupe at the time, and was one of the best boxers Altrincham has ever had. He eventually took up training the lads at the Seamons Moss Boxing Club.

    As well as my anniversary year as a director, it is also another jubilee year.. 50 since the barriers round the ground were erected. A certain Mr. Feswitt, known to everyone locally as Mac Bar, enlisted the aid of Joe Coombes, Billy Warrington and a Mr. Johnson and, between them, they put up the present concrete barriers round the ground. Mac Bar got his name from being a traveller for a firm of that name selling corn.

    The ground had the reputation of being a quagmire in wet weather and there is many a time I can remember spending Saturday mornings digging channels from the middle towards the running track to get rid of the water. It was of course built on almost a swamp and most of the land at the football ground end of Moss Lane was bog. It is only in recent years that the drainage has been improved.

    Part 2 to follow...

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    On the Confguide Forum a Crawley Town press release says that "A conclusion has been reached by the Football Conference Board, in response to their meeting with Crawley Town Football Club, at Burton Albion last month. The Club exceeded their Annual Player Budget, for the 2005/2006 season, which was directly linked to the problems within the player’s contracts and bonus structure. Following a full enquiry by the Conference, the following penalties have been incurred;
    1. Crawley Town Football Club is to be deducted 3 points from this season’s playing record.
    2. The Club are fined a total of £5,000.

    The fine is divided into two elements. £3,000 is required with immediate effect and £2,000 is suspended for 12 months. This may be invoked should breach of the Annual Player Budget occur for 2006/2007. The Club will maintain their position in the Conference Division despite the deduction of points and The Reds look forward launching into the league next season".

    The Football Conference reports that "Terry Brown, manager of Aldershot Town, is still keen on aquiring the services of Barnet pair Ben Stevens and Giuliano Grazioli... 'I have been looking at Barnet over the last few weeks, both at the senior squad and the reserves, and there are a number of players that would interest me if Paul (Fairclough) decides to release them', manager Brown told Skysports.com. 'Barnet won our league last year so we are looking at one or two players there to come in and strengthen our squad. Overall I am looking to bring in a mix of experience and some hungry, quality youngsters'".

    The NL Daily says that "Chester City have received a hands-off warning from Southport after attempting to plunder star man Gary Brabin. Haig Avenue chairman Charlie Clapham has rebuffed an approach from City, who were reportedly keen on acquiring the veteran defender as a fitness coach... The 35-year-old has already agreed a player-coach role at Haig Avenue next season... City chief Stephen Vaughan. [said] 'I don't blame Southport for wanting to keep Gary. He is an extremely capable coach. Our relationship with Southport is still strong and I have agreed to play a pre-season friendly match against them'".

    At Burton, "Nigel Clough is hoping to make Scarborough skipper Lee Fowler his first summer signing... And the Brewers' boss has lined up Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson for a long-term loan at the Pirelli Stadium... Nigel Clough tried to take Fowler on loan last autumn, but the 22-year-old Cardiff-born player had already accepted a move to Scarborough. Fowler has another year to run on his McCain Stadium contract, but... Seadogs' chairman Malcolm Reynolds said: 'Lee asked to leave in the proper manner and we have agreed to release him'... Meanwhile, Clough has confirmed that 21-year-old Stuart Tomlinson is the goalkeeper likely to replace Saul Deeney at the Pirelli Stadium... 'He's been on the bench for Crewe this season and actually played in their final Championship game... If all goes to plan, he will stay with Crewe for the first couple of weeks of pre-season and then join us once the games start. He'll train with both clubs, which is an ideal arrangement because it means Crewe will be able to keep an eye on his progress. He is what I would call an active keeper. He comes for crosses and he's a good kicker and thrower'", Clough told The Burton Mail.

    Barrow report that "Boss Phil Wilson has signed former Lancaster and Southport keeper, Jamie Speare on contract forms... Speare, signed by the Sandgrounders in March 2005, was released as part of the move to full-time status at Haig Avenue. Speare will replace long-time favourite, Simon Bishop between the sticks after the Barrow manager reached his reluctant decision to part company. With Bishop now the only member of the squad left in the North East and unable to drive, getting to games, never mind training, was going to prove extremely awkward".

    The Football Conference says that "After handing in his resignation at Grays on Tuesday, Mark Stimson has admitted he is taking a huge career gamble in a bid to land a job with a league club... and he has since admitted that he did so without another job lined up. 'My wife thinks I'm mad but I can now speak to people, whether my phone rings or not, only time will tell', Stimson told BBC Essex, 'I would like to manage a team in the Football League. It's a massive gamble but the way it's gone at Grays has given me a chance to speak to other people and put my ideas across'".


    17 May 2006

    WORLD CUP DRAW

    The draw for the Altrincham FC World Cup competition will be held on Thursday 25 May at the Youth Team Presentation Night at Moss Lane, to which all are welcome. Further details of the Presentation Night will be posted here when finalised..

    OLD BOY

    Graham Barrow has joined Chester, as assistant manager to Mark Wright.

    RESERVES

    Morecambe have won the Lancashire League, in which Altrincham Reserves play, for the seventh successive season. A writer on the Morecambe FC forum explained: "With four games left and Accrington Stanley's James Robinson enforced resignation from the league we needed to win them all and overhaul a goal difference where we were 20 behind. We managed to win 7-1, 4-0, 11-2 and 6-0 (last night). We pipped Marine on goal difference by five in the end".

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    The managers of the two Conference play-off losers left their clubs yesterday in very different circumstances. Morecambe FC "have announced that they have released manager Jim Harvey from his contract with immediate effect... Chairman Peter McGuigan commented: 'The Board would like to thank Jim for his significant contribution to the development of Morecambe Football Club during the last 12 years and wish him every success for the future'". The BBC added that "Harvey was forced to stand down last November when he suffered a heart attack but after returning to health was expected to resume his duties. Sammy McIlroy was appointed caretaker manager in Harvey's absence". BBC Lancashire says "The Memorable [a misprint for Morecambe?!] manager, Jim Harvey was sensationally sacked today after 12 years service at Christie Park. The former Northern Ireland number two, who has been out of action for six months recovering from a heart attack, said he was devastated by the announcement. Club Chairman, Peter McGuigan said it was time for change after The Shrimps failed to gain promotion to the football league this season, but was keeping counsel over the exact reasons behind the decision... The Morecambe Board will meet tomorrow night to discuss the appointment the appointment of Jim Harvey's successor".

    Meanwhile Grays Athletic confirm that "Manager, Mark Stimson is to leave Bridge Road with immediate effect after handing in his resignation to Chairman, Mick Woodward following a meeting at the ground this morning... Despite the F.A. Trophy victory on Sunday Mark feels he has taken the club as far as he can and now feels the need to seek a fresh challenge". The BBC added that "Grays Athletic boss Mark Stimson has quit the Conference side just days after clinching the FA Trophy. Stimson, who led his side to the play-off semi-finals, handed in his resignation to chairman Mick Woodward following a meeting on Tuesday morning. Assistant manager Scott Barrett has also left the club. Woodward told BBC Essex: 'Mark's been here four years and he's done a phenomenal job. He's entitled to be a Football League manager'... Woodward added: 'I think losing in the play-offs knocked us all sideways. I think he wants a new challenge and the best way to put yourself in the shop window is to let people know you're available. I don't think people would approach us because of the relationship we have and I would say to any League Chairman, contact Mark Stimson because he's one hell of a manager. Mark will take his next club to a new level. His footballing knowledge is second to none and the way he plays the game is different gravy. We shook hands and I wish him and Scott all the best. I tried to talk him out of it, you've got to try to do that'".

    BBC Sport reports that "Woking boss Glenn Cockerill has secured 13 members of his squad for next season but strikers Mark Rawle and Malik Buari are being released. Shwan Jalal, Gary MacDonald, Tom Hutchinson, Karim El-Salahi, Matt Ruby, Neil Smith, Karl Murray and Steve Evans have all agreed 12-month contracts. Steve Ferguson, Liam and Sam Cockerill, Craig McAllister and Giuseppe Sole have also signed one-year deals. Woking will also speak to on-loan pair Stuart Nethercott and Shola Oyedele. The duo have returned to Wycombe and MK Dons respectively, but the Cards boss Cockerill is keen to hold talks with them".

    The Football Conference confirms that "Hendon have narrowly avoided relegation from the Ryman League Premier Division after it was announced that Canvey Island had dropped from the Nationwide Conference to Ryman Division One North". As reported here yesterday Canvey will now join the Ryman North rather than Ryman Premier division.

    "Tamworth are reportedly keen on capturing the services of former England semi-professional international striker Kirk Jackson. The striker was released by Weymouth after his request for a new two-year deal was rejected... 'We've spoken to Kirk and offered him a decent deal', Tamworth boss Mark Cooper said. 'He's moving back to the Worksop area to live, so travelling wouldn't be a problem. He has a top pedigree at this level, but I know he has three of four other deals on the table".

    "Moor Green have secured the signature of forward Dale Anderson following his release from Burton Albion". The Moors also are "in talks with his former Aston Villa and Blackpool goalkeeper Adam Rachel, who stepped in for Manchester-based [ex-Alty keeper] Ashley Timms at the end of the season", reports the Conference.

    NL Daily confirms that "Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Paul Bruce has agreed to extend his stay... and he has penned a new twelve-month deal at the Glyn Hopkin Stadium. Bruce joined the Daggers from QPR, where he played forty-nine matches, in August 2002".


    16 May 2006

    10 FRIENDLIES

    So far, Altrincham FC have arranged ten pre-season friendlies. Details of these are here.

    MAL'S MEDAL

    Malcolm Bailey, the man who scored the goal which took Altrincham to their first FA Trophy Final, in 1978, is offering for sale by auction his winner's medal from the Wembley Final, in which Altrincham defeated Leatherhead, 3-1.

    Graham Heathcote said, "The winner's medal is just like the FA Cup winner's medal; it is solid gold. We are hoping that the auction price will reach at least four figures". If you wish to make an offer for this magnificent memento of one of Altrincham FC's greatest moments, please e-mail Graham Heathcote or ring the club on (0161) 928-1045.

    Mal started his career with Northwich Victoria and Port Vale, before going to Runcorn where he spent four years, during which time he won a Northern Premier League Championship Medal. He joined Altrincham in the 1977-78 close season.

    ANDY BANNED

    Alty Youth midfielder Andy Keogh has picked up a bizarre suspension. He has been suspended for a sending-off against Bootle and under new FA rules he is banned until the Alty first team (for which he has never played) has completed three of its matches next season! So, he will miss the final Youth team league and cup matches this season and, also, however many Alty Reserve games, (for which he would be eligible in 2006-07), that may take place before the first team complete three matches in August!

    ROD & ROONEY

    Monday's Manchester Evening News has a picture of Wayne Rooney and girlfriend Colette McLoughlin at Alty striker and England masseur Rod Thornley's recent wedding.

    OLD BOY

    The Stockport Express reports that after Woodley Sports ex-chairman Ian Campbell left the club last week... Team boss Ally Pickering initially joined Campbell in quitting the club. However, following the subsequent meeting with the owners last week, the former Coventry City, Rotherham and Mossley man is now mulling over a renewed offer to stay.

    CONFERENCE NEWS

    The Surfing Seadog Forum quotes from the Scarborough Evening News: "Boro will not appeal against the Football Association’s decision if they rule to clear Altrincham of fielding an ineligible player... If the FA uphold the Conference’s decision then Boro, who finished bottom of the Conference, will receive a relegation reprieve... Chairman Malcolm Reynolds said: 'We finished bottom of the table, so we deserve to go down and we would like to get back into the Conference by on merit next season. If the FA do penalise Altrincham then we will feel very sorry for them, but at the same time accept the decision and take the reprieve. At the same time though, if Altrincham are let off then we wouldn’t actively seek to persue the matter anymore. We would leave things as they were and prepare ourselves for life in the Conference North'".

    "Scarborough officials must give assurances about state of the club if they are to have a chance of preserving their Conference top-flight status. The Seasiders announced last week that