JAMES RECALLED BUT TWO RENEWED

On a happier note, it has also been announced that Rotherham United have agreed to extend the loan periods of midfielder Liam King and striker Tom Cahill till 2nd April, which will be the last day permitted under the loan rules which only permit a 93-day period in total.

GEOFF WINS A RENEWAL

DEVON REFLECTIONS

Right: With a ban on match photography rigorously enforced at Plainmoor, the adjacent pre-match image is the best we can produce. It shows the good array of Alty banners on display at the game.

Tuesday's draw at Torquay means that Altrincham have extended their haul to 13 points from 10 games in 2008.

This is South Devon says "You can NEVER take anything for granted, and Torquay United let lowly Altrincham off the hook on a night of frustration at Plainmoor. Chris Zebroski's 44th minute goal - a rasping shot for his 14th goal of the season - seemed to point Paul Buckle's Gulls towards all three points.But their failure to turn almost non-stop pressure into more goals, plus one mistake in defence, let Altrincham back into the game. The Cheshire side, which played with only one man up front all night, was never going to score from open play. But Mark Ellis' push on substitute Joe O'Neill gave Warren Peyton the chance to score from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute, and he took it. Almost the only thing that debutant goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen had to do all night was pick the ball out of his own net...

The Gulls also rotated the captaincy yet again - loan signing Kaid Mohamed becoming the 13th man to wear the armband this season. Altrincham... made their intentions clear when they lined up with a lone striker, Tom Cahill, and five men in midfield... Referee Andy Halliday didn't help matters by giving 17 fouls in the first 28 minutes, many of them harsh decisions... When Altrincham defender Greg Young [it was actually Ryan Shotton] booted the ball away in a blatant display of time wasting, Mr. Halliday called him over - and then let him off. United's pressure was relentless, with Altrincham intent only on not conceding a goal...United finally broke through in the 44th minute... Zebroski... slammed a right-foot shot from the edge of the area just inside the left-hand post 1-0. Coburn had no chance... Altrincham stuck to their 4-5-1 formation at the start of the second half, so it was clear that they weren't about to throw caution to the wind... And by the 65th minute Buckle was ready to give his attack some fresh legs, Lee Phillips for Mohamed on the right. Phillips also took the armband. Seconds later Altrincham reminded everyone that the game was not over by nearly equalising. Liam King got round the outside on their left, floated a good cross to the far post and Richard Battersby's header deflected off Nicholson's head and behind for a corner... In the 72nd minute, with the ball running out of play for a goal kick, Ellis needlessly pushed O'Neill over and referee Halliday had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Peyton stepped up and drilled the penalty low to Andersen's right hand, while the Dane went the other way... Altrincham were hanging on desperately, but in the 84th minute Ellis' concentration slipped again, allowing O'Neill to get away again on a simple long ball. But Ellis did make amends with a good recovering tackle just when it looked as if the visitors might snatch the lead...All United's pressure was to no avail".

CSC OPPONENTS

NEXT OPPONENTS

OLD BOYS

BSP NEWS

NL Daily reports that "Weymouth have signed young striker Jake Hyde on loan from Swindon Town until the end of the season... Swindon boss Maurice Malpas said: 'He needs to go out and get some experience. Weymouth could be the ideal place for him to get some games under his belt'". Meanwhile, "Weymouth chief executive Gary Calder has confirmed that the club is hoping to release a statement in response to speculation surrounding Wessex Park Limited's expected takeover of the administration of the land at the Wessex Stadium in the next 24 hours", according to This is Weymouth. The Terras' manager John Hollins "has revealed that striker Gavin McCallum is wanted by Havant & Waterlooville. The Terras' boss made the admission after his side were dumped out of the quarter-finals of the Setanta Shield by Woking... To make matters worse for Hollins' struggling side, Altrincham claimed a draw at high-flying Torquay United in the Blue Square Premier to leapfrog the Terras into 19th place. Hollins... said, 'Things did not go our way again. I could not see whether the ball went over the line or not for their first goal but the assistant referee said it did. A couple of the lads told me at half-time that it hadn't but that is just the way things are going for us at the minute. 'Their second goal was also a bit fortunate because it came from a headed clearance that hit the back of one of their forwards' heads and put them through. We made three of four great chances but did not take them and in the end they got a third from a free-kick into the box that found one of their strikers, who put it through Jason Matthews's legs'. Hollins made two changes to his starting XI, drafting in Scott Doe and Anton Robinson for Justin Roberts and Simon Weatherstone, but he stuck with the 4-5-1 system that he adopted in Saturday's defeat against Histon. He then went three up front in the early stages of the second half by bringing on Michael Malcolm and Swindon Town youngster Jake Hyde, who has signed on until the end of the season. Hollins said: 'It is important we stay positive and keep working hard and creating because if we do that sooner or later something will break our way'... Hollins is still looking for new blood but as yet he has not found the type of player he is after... The Terras have now not found the net in their last three games and since the turn of the year have fallen to defeats in eight of their 13 encounters".

And Crystal Palace confirm that "Moses Swaibu has gone on a month's loan to Weymouth. The young defender, who was an unused substitute in the Championship game against Watford in October 2007, hopes to gain first team experience with the Conference club".

"Darren Patterson, manager of Oxford United, has signed midfielder Jamie Hand on emergency loan from Lincoln City until the end of the season. Hand played in the friendly at Witney United on Tuesday night and is in contention to start in Saturday`s trip to Forest Green Rovers. It will be Hand`s second spell with the U's, having played a dozen times on loan from Watford in 2004". Hand made a "permanent move to Chester in the summer of 2006... He becomes Patterson`s fifth loan signing, along with Matt Green, Justin Richards, Michael Howard and Michael Blackwood and the United boss was delighted to have him back at the club". The nature of the "emergency" is not clear especially as manager Patterson told the Oxford Mail, "He'll be another good addition to the squad, in an area I felt we needed strengthening".

IC Cheshire will, at least, have to redigest its words after reporting that "Northwich Vics’ survival hopes could be franked Made in Devon. And Surrey, of course. It was in injury time at Woking on Saturday that skipper Mike Welch fired a goal that might inspire a revival at last. It enables manager Dino Maamria to declare 'the fightback starts here' – and mean it. And if it started in the home counties then it may well be given impetus in Devonshire. Vics have to catch fifth-from-bottom Altrincham who were at Torquay last night and then return to Devon on Sunday to play Exeter City. Both are chasing promotion and the Robins could return from their 1,000 mile ventures and not be a single point better off. Vics, meanwhile, host beatable Ebbsfleet on Saturday and will find themselves favourites to win on Tuesday at rock bottom Droylsden. By this time next week Vics could be just three points behind their neighbours and have a game in hand".

Cambridge News which reports that "Steve Fallon believes Histon are still genuine promotion contenders despite seeing his side throw away a two-goal lead and draw 3-3 with Stafford Rangers last night. The Stutes' boss was distraught after Steve Bull's men made it 3-2 from a contentious 89th-minute penalty following an alleged push by Roscoe Hipperson, and Djoumin Sangare bagged a stoppage-time equaliser... Fallon said: 'We had three points and we've ended up with one - we're gutted and our play-off hopes have been dented, but it's not the end of them... The referee's seen a foul for the penalty near the end which was a real mystery. And their guy's just swung a boot at it and it's gone in for their third goal, but we should have put our chances away before that and won the game. At 3-1, they looked dead and buried, but we just didn't kill the game off and got ourselves stretched, although we looked comfortable before the penalty'".

The Halifax Courier confirms that "A winding-up petition has been brought against Halifax Town Football Club by Raymond Moreland, of Market Drayton, Shropshire. Mr Moreland is a former chairman of the club. The Stoke solicitor who was at the helm for three-and-a-half months until resigning in March 2004... Mr Moreland became a Town fan aged 11 when his family moved to Halifax and joined the club as a director in the summer of 2002. The petition will be heard at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, on March 17... Halifax Town Football Club said it would be issuing a statement later".

There is news of another Yorkshire club embroiled with officialdom from Farsley Today, which says that "A housing and sports ground development scheme drawn up to help secure the long-term future of Farsley Celtic has been rejected by councillors. The Blue Square Premier League outfit and Bellway Homes wanted permission to build 26 houses and 31 flats on part of the club's Throstle Nest ground and use the proceeds to redevelop the clubhouse, main stand, sports hall, outer pitches and car parking areas. A report to the council's West Plans Panel recommended the application be approved but the councillors voted to reject it. Coun. Colin Campbell, panel chairman, told the Yorkshire Evening Post that members had a number of concerns, including allowing land designated as greenfield to be built on. He said: 'Council policy is not to allow building on greenfield sites unless there is no alternative'. Coun Campbell added that the panel considered the design of the proposed homes was poor and that car parking should not be allowed to intrude on green spaces. A petition signed by 26 people objecting to the proposal had been sent to the council, which had also received 11 letters of support.

The report to the panel said that despite Farsley Celtic's recent promotion to the Blue Circle Premier League, the club's financial position remained diifficult. It wanted to go ahead with a development scheme to ensure its long-term future. The report acknowledged that as an existing sport and recreation site, the land was designated greenfield and it was council policy that previously developed brownfield sites should be built on first... But it added: 'However, the scheme will enable the long-term retention and improvement of a sport and recreation use on this site'... The club does have the right to appeal against the councillors' decision and is now considering its next step. Chairman, Andy Firbank, said: 'As a football club and major community partner we are very disappointed in the decision that was reached. A large part of the area we wanted to develop is just unused land. Under our proposal we would put something like £1.5m into sports facilities in west Leeds'".

"Grays Athletic have signed 24-year-old left sided midfielder, Marlon Patersson, on one month's loan from Dagenham & Redbridge" says the Thurrock Gazette. "Pattersson joined [the] Daggers in the close season on a non-contract basis and has played five times. Previously he joined Yeading at the start of summer 2006 from relegated Carshalton Athletic. His former clubs include Fisher Athletic, Dulwich Hamlet, Billericay Town and Crawley Town. He began his career in the youth ranks at Millwall then Chelsea, also had a brief spell in Eastern Europe".

From The Argus we learn that "Crawley boss Steve Evans accused his side of defending like a pub team following their Setanta Shield extra-time capitulation. Reds scored a late equaliser... before conceding four goals in the added 30 minutes. Evans said: 'The defending in extra-time was totally unacceptable. We thought we defended poorly at times against Torquay (last Saturday) and we did it again.. We looked like a pub team defending like that... Sometimes you have to say it was totally unacceptable. We apologise to our supporters for our extra-time performance and we will go back to the training ground, that is all we can do'. Shots boss Gary Waddock had insisted before kick-off that his title-chasers would take the game seriously... But it was not reflected in his team line-up as he made eight changes from the side that secured their place in the FA Trophy semi-finals on Saturday... Crawley also tinkered with the team who were dumped out of the Trophy by Torquay three days previously. James Krause replaced defender Bradley Thomas in the back-four and winger Mustapha Carayol returned at the expense of Josh Dutton-Black... They swapped a 4-3-3 approach for their more familiar 4-4-2 and looked more of a cohesive unit".

TORQUAY UTD 1 ALTRINCHAM 1

Match report here.

The Torquay United website has a match report, too, which ends with the Gulls' manager's post-match comments. "'I was delighted with the players at half-time but I did say to them that with all the possession we were having and all the attempts on goal we had to be careful not to be countered. One slip up, one ball down the side, I'm not even sure it was a penalty but there you go, Altrincham have had two shots on target all night and they get a goal. The performance level was there, we were becoming desperate at the end because we want to win the game. The effort, work rate and quality in the first half was ten out of ten. I asked the players to come out quickly at the start of the game and we did that. I thought the lads did brilliantly to break them down and we should probably have been two goals up at half-time. It was a great finish from Chris (Zebroski) and Roscoe (Dsane) hit the bar, I thought we had a real go; we mixed things up well and caused them all sorts of problems. All the while the score is one nil and you are pushing for a second you leave yourself slightly vulnerable and that proved to be the case tonight'".

THIS WEEK

BSP

Setanta Shield 5

Setanta Shield QF

SHIELD

PLAYER MOVEMENTS

Stalybridge Celtic have confirmed that "winger Carlos Roca has left the club. Roca has joined Blue Square Premier strugglers Altrincham, and Celtic boss Steve Burr is sorry to see him go. 'Carlos has been with me for three years and hasn't been a moment's bother. I've enjoyed working with him and I'd like to thank him for what he's done while he's been with me. I'd like to wish him all the best at Moss Lane, and hope to meet up with him in the Blue Square Premier next season".

BSP NEWS

TORQUAY UTD 1 ALTRINCHAM 1

Match report here.

The Torquay United website has a match report, too, which ends with the Gulls' manager's post-match comments. "'I was delighted with the players at half-time but I did say to them that with all the possession we were having and all the attempts on goal we had to be careful not to be countered. One slip up, one ball down the side, I'm not even sure it was a penalty but there you go, Altrincham have had two shots on target all night and they get a goal. The performance level was there, we were becoming desperate at the end because we want to win the game. The effort, work rate and quality in the first half was ten out of ten. I asked the players to come out quickly at the start of the game and we did that. I thought the lads did brilliantly to break them down and we should probably have been two goals up at half-time. It was a great finish from Chris (Zebroski) and Roscoe (Dsane) hit the bar, I thought we had a real go; we mixed things up well and caused them all sorts of problems. All the while the score is one nil and you are pushing for a second you leave yourself slightly vulnerable and that proved to be the case tonight'".

THIS WEEK

Tuesday 26 February FAT QF Replay Ebbsfleet U. 1 Burton A. 0 aet BSP Histon 3 Stafford R. 3 Torquay U. 1 ALTRINCHAM 1 Setanta Shield 5 Kidderminster H.1 Rushden & D. 3 Nuneaton B. 0 Halifax T. 1 Setanta Shield QF Crawley T. 2 Aldershot T. 6 aet Woking 3 Weymouth 0

Colin Little and Chris Senior, Alty's leading scorers this season.

Saturday 1 March Aldershot T. v Kidderminster H. Burton A. v Histon . Cambridge U v York C. Exeter C. v ALTRINCHAM Forest Green R. v Oxford U. Grays A. v Torquay U. Halifax T. v Weymouth Northwich V. v Ebbsfleet U. Rushden & D. v Woking Salisbury C. v Droylsden Stafford R. v Farsley C.

SHIELD

PLAYER MOVEMENTS

Stalybridge Celtic have confirmed that "winger Carlos Roca has left the club. Roca has joined Blue Square Premier strugglers Altrincham, and Celtic boss Steve Burr is sorry to see him go. 'Carlos has been with me for three years and hasn't been a moment's bother. I've enjoyed working with him and I'd like to thank him for what he's done while he's been with me. I'd like to wish him all the best at Moss Lane, and hope to meet up with him in the Blue Square Premier next season".

BSP NEWS

GEOFF TO STAY AS ALTY STAY IN THE BLACK

Testimony to the success of the current board was that they declared a profit of £70,336 over the year to 31 May 2007. As manager Graham Heathcote said, "You can't let Geoff resign, he must be the only chairman in non-league to have produced a profit!" Vice-chairman Grahame Rowley underlined how well the Board worked together. He and Geoff Goodwin were both re-elected for a further three-year period whilst the remaining members of the Board (Andrew Shaw, Barry Pond, Derek Wilshaw, David Burns and Carole Hassan) all remain in office.

It was confirmed that income in the 2006-07 financial year had included the £75,000 sell-on monies for Ian Craney's transfer whilst this year, the club had already received the monies owing from the development of the Moss Lane car park. Outgoings had included the new floodlights, the new toilet block which is taking shape, the payment of historic debts as well as a small increase in the playing budget. The Board revealed that it had held a special meeting to consider going full-time but had concluded it was not viable. Graham Heathcote referred to one unnamed player who had recently moved between two BSP clubs and was on a weekly wage of £1,700.

Tribute was paid to Barry Pond, the club's commercial director, who is retiring but who pledged to remain "in the background" to support his successor. Without Barry's hard work the club's financial statement would not be so healthy. A welcome attendee at the AGM was former Altrincham and Liverpool chairman, Noel White.

After the formal meeting there was time for a brief question and answer session. Asked why the club had no reserves team, Graham Heathcote reiterated his belief that the standard of the local reserve leagues was not at a high enough level. He also pointed out that a reserve side cost money to run and its games added to the wear on the pitch which he described as one of the best in the league. Graham preferred to organize ad hoc games against good-standard local sides instead. He believes that youth team players should show their potential by the age of 18 and therefore future first-teamers should be spotted at that stage or picked up from other local non-league teams. As for keeping first-teamers fit after injury or lay-offs, he preferred to loan them out to local teams in competitive leagues as had happened with Pat McFadden at Radcliffe and Steve Aspinall at Ashton United. Graham had good relationships with a number of local managers where our players could be accommodated for loan periods.

Graham was particularly proud of the rise on the club's community profile, with teams now operating at all school ages. He was also pleased that an Easter Summer School was taking place at Moss Lane this year and that the Saturday morning skill sessions had been so successful.

Graham indicated that the football authorities were threatening to be tighter on ground improvement deadlines this season, with 31 March the date when a number of clubs have to have works completed. He also stated his belief that 10 points as a deduction for going into administration was far too little a punishment. He believes that relegation is the most appropriate sanction for going into administration.

Asked about new signing Carlos Roca, Graham said he had "genuine pace" but had not enjoyed the best of times since dropping into non-league after spells at Oldham Athletic and Carlisle United. Hopefully the move to Moss Lane will benefit both the player and the team. In terms of team-building Graham thought we had gone backwards as we are now reliant on five loan players and will have to rebuild this summer again. However, he paid tribute to the commitment shown by the loan players who had done well since arriving.

TORQUAY TONIGHT

Torquay's last game was a 4-1 win over Crawley in the FA Trophy. The Argus says that "Crawley were given a rude awakening from their Wembley dreams after some dozy defending at Torquay. But manager Steve Evans blamed the FA Trophy exit on a nightmare decision by the referee early in the second half. Reds were 1-0 down in the quarter-final at Plainmoor when Gulls defender Lee Mansell fouled debutant Josh Dutton-Black. The right-back had already been booked for a similar misdemeanour... Mansell escaped with a telling off ... Evans said: 'We are disappointed. Torquay are a good side and if they get 3-0 up against you, they are going to pass it and move you around. They have good players and they pay fortunes for them at this level in terms of wages'". Mansell has a one game ban starting this Saturday so is eligible to play Altrincham tonight.

This is South Devon says that "Torquay United manager Paul Buckle will tell his players to forget all about the FA Trophy and a trip to Wembley after today's semi-final draw... 'The Trophy is put to bed', said Buckle in the wake of United's 4-1 quarter-final win over Crawley Town... 'And I'm not interested in talking about any double'. United now face a spell of three crucial BSP games in the space of seven days - Altrincham at home tomorrow night, Grays Athletic away on Saturday and then the key 'six-pointer' against leaders Aldershot a week tonight. 'We have to put all our focus into Altrincham', Buckle stressed. The Gulls' boss is also trying to strengthen United's hand in the goalkeeping department, either by persuading Southampton to return loanee Michael Poke or by going elsewhere. With Simon Rayner out on loan at Boston United, United have only one 'keeper, Martin Rice, at the club... Tomorrow's match against Altrincham is one of the two that United have in hand on Aldershot and most of their promotion rivals. Victory over Crawley stretched the Gulls' current unbeaten run to eight league and cup games, a spell which has seen them concede only three goals. Mohamed's two second-half strikes made it four goals in the last two games for the Welsh-born Swindon forward, who has just agreed a second month on loan. And although leading scorer Tim Sills appeared to walk off the field a little stiffly when he was substituted in the 68th minute at the weekend, Buckle said: 'Tim will be fine for Tuesday'. There was one 'casualty' against Crawley - right-back Lee Mansell's yellow card was his fifth of the season, and he will now be suspended for next Saturday's trip to Grays".

EXETER ON SATURDAY

BSP NEWS

The Halifax Courier says that "Having called for his side to keep a clean sheet – and seen them achieve it - it was almost inevitable that Chris Wilder's Town side would fire blanks in attack. It has been that kind of a season. It is true to say that Stafford were not the most adventurous away team to be seen at the Shay in recent months. But they always kept two men up and anything they could muster was easily diffused by Halifax's new-look back four. In attack themselves, Town had more than enough chances to have wrapped up the game with something to spare. Their problem was a combination of poor quality delivery into the box, some disappointing finishing, the woodwork and Rangers keeper Danny Alcock. It is not uncommon for players making their debuts to catch the eye. And loan centre back Tom Clarke certainly did just that with an assured display in the heart of the Town defence. The former Sowerby Bridge youngster only arrived at the Shay on Friday. But the Huddersfield Town defender looked like he had been here all season as he slotted in next to Adam Quinn".

This is Staffs tells us that "Stafford Rangers produced a gusty defensive performance as Steve Bull's managerial reign started with a point and a rare clean sheet at Halifax. The draw extended Rangers' unbeaten run to three games, following victories in the two previous outings, and took them to within 10 points of fifth-from-bottom Altrincham... 'Overall I'm pleased with the performance and they way the lads responded today. I can live with seven points out of nine', said Bull. 'We've had some bad parts of the game when we didn't close the ball down and there were good parts as well. We could have nicked it 1-0. Streety picked the team because I haven't really got involved. He's been looking after the players for the last three months. I've not taken a training session. I'll see the game on Tuesday, then I'll take training on Thursday ready for Saturday... I've got to get these strikers hungry. You've got to throw the kitchen sink at it', he added".

The FA Trophy Semis will be two-legged on 8th and 15th March. The first legs are:

NL Daily says that "Harrogate Town have completed the permanent signing of striker Gareth Grant. Grant returns to Wetherby Road from Farsley Celtic, and was on the bench for Saturday`s 1-0 win at Gainsborough Trinity".

ALTY SIGN ANOTHER CARLOS

TORQUAY FOCUS ON 3 POINTS

CSC OPPONENTS

PAT GETS AROUND

YOUTH UPDATES

OLD BOY

WELL DONE, LEE

LOCAL SPORTS NEWS

Plans for the new facility include the demolition of the existing single-storey building and the erection of a two-storey health and fitness club with a swimming pool, gym, treatment rooms and changing rooms. There will also be additional car parking and a cycle storage area. Existing access to the club will be closed and the new access will be shared with the adjoining Bowdon rugby club... Peter Noble, regeneration manager for the Altrincham town centre partnership, objected to the plan. He said: 'Clearly I'm supporting retail in Altrincham and don't want to see this competition from the Timperley area. The development is out of town and I support Total Fitness in the town centre, Trafford Community Leisure Trust and a new centre we're building within Altair. To have competition so nearby is a bit worrying'".

ALTY 1951 - AND STANLEY MATTHEWS!

Players of 1951-52:

Brian Parkinson: Left-back, who played for Altrincham (Reserves), Hyde United, then Altrincham (1951-52 36 games), Hyde United (52/53)

Harold (Alf) Rawding: Right-back, who played for Oldham Athletic, Altrincham (1950-51, 51-52 (53 games 3 goals). He was 24 years old on joining Alty.

Adam Wasileski: Centre forward. A 6ft 2inch Pole, who was born on 8th April 1925. He played in the Manchester League and was recommended to the club by Kon Kapler (see below). He played for Altrincham in 1951-52 but only in four games, in which he scored once. He was also at Rochdale (from July, 1953 for 1953/54 season). He died tragically young in 1956. See also Polish Players in Terry's Altrincham A to Z.

Robert 'Bob' Barrie: Born in Scotland, Bob was a goalkeeper who played for Torquay United, Hyde United (1948/49), Altrincham (1949-50, 50-51, 51-52). He was released at the end of the 51/52 season after 126 games for the club and then played for Mossley (1952/53, 4 appearances)

Brian Phillips Centre half - see details in the news below for 23 February 2008.

Gordon Smith: Born at Bowdon in 1923, Gordon had been with Witton Albion (1947/48-48/49) before joining Altrincham for 1949-50 where he stayed until the 1953-54 season. He amassed 151 appearances, and scored 25 goals. Gordon then joined Mossley (1954/55-55/56 39 games-1goal), Linotype Trainer (56/57) Then became Manager of Linotype till end of 59/60 season. Altrincham reserve team manager 67/68. Left Half or inside left.

Kon Kapler: Born at Tychy, Poland on 22nd February 1925. A left-winger, Kon was a Polish schoolboy International who arrived in Scotland with the Polish armed forces in the Second World War and started playing for Third Lanark (wartime) and later Forres Mechanics before he joined Glasgow Celtic for two seasons 1947/48-48/49 playing 7 first team games. However, he failed to establish himself in the first team and headed south and joined Rochdale (May 1949) and in 1949/50 season he played 4 games for them. He then signed for Morecambe (1950/51), playing 37 league games and 10 cup matches, scoring two league goals. After a spell at Congleton, he joined Altrincham uhere he played from season 1951-52 to 1956/57 inclusive, making 258 apperances. He then moved on to Stalybridge Celtic (1957/58), Mossley (1958/59). He died at Rochdale on 23 October 1991.

Robert 'Bob' Dale: Born at Irlam on 31st October 1931, Bob was an inside-right and another player to have joined Alty from Lancashire Steel. He joined Altrincham in December 1950 and played a total of 33 games, scoring 5 goals.. In September 1951 he joined Bury where he stayed until 1953/54 season, making 15 appearances and scoring twice. Next came a move to Colchester United in December 1953, where he stayed until the 1956/57 season, during which his career was ended by tuberculosis after 127 games and 11 goals for the Essex side. He died of cancer on 17th January, 2007.

Alf Morris: Born at Cadishead, Alf was a right-half who weighed 12stone and stood 5ft10 and a half inches tall. He played for Accrington Stanley (as an amateur) from 12 May 1945 and then as a professional from 18 October 1945. In 1946/47 season he played 7 legaue games for Stanley, in 1947/48 he played in 8 league matches before he joined Altrincham in 1948-49, staying till 1951-52 and appearing in 168 games for the Robins. He then moved to Hyde United (1952/53).

Cyril Barclay: An amateur player and club captain, Cyril started at Altrincham in 1946-47 and stayed until 1955-56, making 359 appearances. He then became player/trainer for Altrincham Reserves in 1956/57. By profession he was involved in banking and later retired to North Wales.

Walter Jones: An Altrincham FC Legend.

Terry adds that "The key individual to Altrincham in the late forties and fifties was Arthur Gale, who was brought in to coach the reserves and later the first team and eventually became the assistant manager to Jimmy Morris. He had been a forward with Chester, WBA and even Altrincham in the 1939 and 1940 war leagues. He was a school teacher and headmaster at a school in Lower Kersal and had a tempestuous relationship with the Altrincham board, resigning more than once (e.g. Feb 1953). He was the one that found hidden talent (Lancashire Steel [Irlam] being a particularly rich source and was referred to as "Altrincham's pet nursery club"). He had strong ties with the Northern Nomads.The talent that Gale found was often sold on to league clubs and it was this revenue that helped keep Altrincham afloat. One particular fall-out concerned Joe Kennedy who went on to be regarded by many as the best un-capped centre half of his generation whilst at WBA. He was played almost exclusively in the reserves much to Gale's chagrin (similar to Tommy Mort in the post First World War period- who went on to be a full England International but only played for Altrincham's reserves and quickly moved to Rochdale, then Aston Villa). Arthur Gale himself once scored 102 goals in a season for Chester - in their last season in the Cheshire County League before joining the Football League. In the league alone, Gale hit 73 League goals in 39 games before moving on to WBA.

Another notable figure from the period was Frank Hart who came to Altrincham in 1952/53 as a 20 year old. The previous season he had played for Manchester United's 'A' side and Linotype. He played the 1952/53 and 53/54 seasons at Moss Lane prior to National Service. He was again at Alty for 1956/57 and 57/58 but only had one full season at Moss Lane, playing 52 games in 1952/53 before adding 5 games at the start of the 53/54 season and 20 games in the 56/57 season but just 1 game the season after.

And last but not least, Ronnie Matthews, Sir Stanley Matthews's younger but less famous brother, played for Altrincham in the 1950s!

BSP NEWS

YOUTHS LEAVE IT VERY LATE

A 90th-minute goal from Charlie Weir, who dispossessed an opponent on the half-way line before running into the box to score, secured a deserved 1-0 home win for Altrincham Youth on Sunday afternoon against Woodley Sports. Report to follow.

Next Sunday (2nd March), Alty are again at home, this time in the Neil Thomason Memorial Cup Quarter Final against FC United of Manchester. Kick off, at Wythenshawe Town, is at 2pm.

AGM

HAPPY 50TH

GAME GOES AHEAD

OLD BOYS

BSP NEWS

Maidenhead United boss "Johnson Hippolyte has signed 27-year-old left back Narada Bernard from Weymouth... Bernard is a Jamaican international who started his career with Tottenham Hotspur before moving to North London rivals Arsenal. He then spent three years at AFC Bournemouth... He then moved into non-League football... before arriving at the Wessex Stadium in January 2007" according to NL Daily.

ALTY IN THE FIFTIES

Keith who now manages the catering outlet at the away end at Moss Lane, adds that "The building in the background is the old changing rooms which later became the supporters' building and social club at Moss Lane. It was demolished in the 1960s by Ken Robinson (groundsman), John Broughton (assistant groundsman) and Keith Davey to make way for the new turnstiles adjacent to the Red Robin Club".

Coincidentally more recollections of the same era came to the website recently from Steve Hann, whose mother was joint secretary of the Altrincham FC supporters' club in the 1930s. He recalls attending matches in the 1950s and seeing "Brian Phillips [pictured above] who went to Middlesborough. He is the one that got involved with 'match fixing' and went to prison". He adds "Brian Phillips was a talented centre half who attracted some interest,and was eventually sold to Middlesborough for £1,000 (a lot of money in those days). He got involved with others and went to prison. This scandal was before the Peter Swann, Tony Kay scandal at Sheffield Wednesday".

Terry Rowley, a fount of knowledge on Alty past and present, adds that "Brian Phillips was born in Cadishead, Manchester. He was 5'11" and weighed 13st. and played for Lancashire Steel before he joined Altrincham (in December, 1950). He played for Alty in seasons 1950-51, 51-52, 52-53 and 53-54 before he was transferred to Middlesborough in June 1954. Brian played on Teesside from 1954/55 to 1959/60, making 121 appearances and scoring 2 league and 1 FA Cup goals for Boro' before joining Mansfield Town in June 1960, where he stayed till 1962/63. He was given a lifetime suspension for his part in illegal betting and bribery and was sentenced to 15 months in gaol at Nottingham Assizes in 1965. He was re-instated in 1971 and became the manager of the Notts FA representative side from 1975-78. He was also manager and general manager of Rainworth Miners' Welfare who were FA Vase finalists in 1982.

Another player of the 1950s was, says Steve, "Frank Hart - the ever present goalkeeper in the early 1950's - went in the Army (national service) after his ever present season and couldn't displace Billy Marshall when he returned". Terry adds that "Frank Hart got called up to do National Service in the Army. As playing for Altrincham was not his main job he did not get the preferential treatment that full time footballers got. Therefore he disappeared for nearly two years". Other players of the time included the former German prisoner-of-war, Konrad Kapler "who played on the left wing. If I remember, people said if he was younger he probably would have gone further. There was a right half Gordon Herrick", whilst Alf Lythgoe, the manager at the time, played with Steve's father at Stockport".

SATURDAY

Altrincham have no game due to Crawley's involvement in the FA Trophy.

BSP

FA Trophy QF

BSP NEWS

The Cambridge Evening News says that "Jack Jeffery was today (Friday) snapped up by Cambridge United on loan from West Ham and will go straight into the squad for tomorrow (Saturday)'s home match with Forest Green. The 18-year-old striker has been drafted in on a month-long deal from the Premier League club to help fill the gap left by top scorer Scott Rendell's move to Peterborough. Jeffery was a prolific scorer for the Hammers' youth team and has been a regular in their reserves this season, but has yet to feature in the first team at Jimmy Quinn's former club. The teenager has already had a successful spell on loan at Blue Square South side Hampton & Richmond this term".

The Telegraph & Argus says that "Farsley Celtic were left bemused by reports that three of their players had been signed on loan by Bradford Park Avenue and categorically refuted any such moves had taken place. Farsley's matchday secretary Alan Hirst, a former Avenue employee, is part of the team that deals with administration at Throstle Nest and he said: 'Two of the players mentioned are in our squad for tomorrow's game at Exeter City so they would have to be pretty light on their feet to get from Exeter in time to be involved at any stage for Avenue at Horsfall Stadium'. The speculation appears to have begun on a fans message board but Farsley say there is absolutely no truth in the rumours. Former City striker Gareth Grant, Simeon Bambrook and Roy Stamer were the Celts linked with loan moves to Avenue. 'We are not going to allow players of their calibre to go out on loan when we are fighting to maintain our status in the Blue Square Premier League', added Hirst".

"Grays Athletic continue to rebuild their coaching structure following the departure of Justin Edinburgh, with the appointment of ex-Woking captain and Wellong manager Neil Smith" states the Thurrock Gazette. "Smith had a long and distinguished football career including stints with Gillingham, Fulham and Reading. Smith played 142 games for Woking where as captain he was fondly remembered as a committed, hard working,no-nonsense midfielder. He was released in May 2007. In July, he took his first steps into full-time football managment, taking up the reins at Blue Square Conference South side Welling United. It was to be short-lived. He was sacked last month after a run of heavy defeats saw the Kent side hovering above the relegation zone".

Sadly, "Grays midfielder Ernie Cooksey has been diagnosed with cancer. The 27-year-old utility player has battled cancer in the past but a recent scan showed it had returned. Cooksey joined Grays in the summer after stints with Crawley, Oldham, Rochdale and Boston... At Rochdale he played 64 games scoring 8 goals and was a firm favourite among the fans... A Grays Athletic press spokesman said: 'The chairman, board and staff of Grays Athletic wish Ernie all the very best and hope he has a speedy and full recovery'". Meanwhile, "Dagenham and Redbridge striker Jamie Taylor has become the first signing of the new Mick Woodward regime. 25-year-old Taylor has signed on a one-month's loan. Taylor's career has seen stints at Horsham, Woking, Aldershot as well as the Daggers. In six-and-a-half years he has scored four goals in 28 appearances".

The Halifax Courier reports that "Town have boosted their defence ahead of tomorrow's clash with Stafford Rangers at the Shay by signing Tom Clarke from Huddersfield Town and ex-Chesterfield right back Gareth Davies. Halifax-born Clarke, a former England under 19 international, joins the Shaymen on a month's loan from the Terriers while Davies joins to the end of the season having been released by the Spireites in January. Centre back Clarke, who is 20, has made 38 appearances for Huddersfield with just four of them from the bench. But recovery from injury has restricted him to just one Johnstone Paints Trophy game this season".

From the Oxford Mail there is news that "Rob Duffy has played his last game for Oxford United. Wrexham have confirmed that the Welsh striker will be signing a new loan deal with them next week, when his current agreement runs out on Wednesday. It was originally thought, because the Conference season finishes a week earlier than the Football League campaign, that Duffy would return to Oxford for a week and then go back to Wrexham for the rest of the season. But Wrexham manager Brian Little believes it's more important to have the tall forward around now with the Red Dragons, seven points adrift of safety... Oxford have agreed to Duffy staying at Wrexham, but it will mean him missing the final week of the season at the Racecourse Ground".

According to This is Staffs "Wolves legend Steve Bull has admitted Stafford Rangers are taking a gamble in appointing him as their new manager. The former England star, who has been involved in PR work at Molineux... was honest enough to admit Rangers were taking a punt on someone who has never managed a club before. 'Stafford have given me the chance', he said. 'They're taking a bit of a gamble and I'm taking a bit of a gamble, but no-one is going to lose. If Rangers can help me and I can help them, we'll both end up winners'... The fine details of his contract have yet to be signed and sealed, but it will be a full-time posting - and nothing will hinge on Rangers' fate this season. 'There is no pressur' he added. 'The attitude seems to be Stafford are going down and beating the drop would be a bonus. Well, it's not impossible and I'll be telling the players: We have a chance of stopping up and only you can do it'. Bull has not yet seen Rangers play and plans to be just an observer at both tomorrow's game at Halifax and the re-arranged game at Histon on Tuesday night.

'I'm going into the dressing room before the game at Halifax to introduce myself and talk to the players. I will tell them 'you are either playing for yourself, the club or your contracts, but all I want from you is 100 per cent'. It'll be the same at Histon'. In the meantime, Bull will be relying on former caretakers Neil Grayson and Kevin Street to organise the team... 'I think we have done enough for Steve to have faith in us, to start off with, but we have to impress him if we want to continue to work with him in the future'" said Street. A club statement added "Steve has a profile which, we believe, will bring supporters, both old and new to Marston Road"

This is Weymouth reports that "boss John Hollins has snapped up Dagenham & Redbridge defender Magnus Okuonghae on a month's loan. The former Fulham trainee, who is six-feet-three-inches tall, will go straight into tomorrow's squad for the clash against Histon... Hollins said: 'I always look forward to home games and tomorrow will be another opportunity to keep our run going because we are unbeaten here in our last two... John Beck is their manager. I have known John since he was just a little lad at QPR and he has got a different style of play. It's very similar to Torquay in terms of trying to push you back and getting in people's faces so we will have to come out and go for it because we need the three points'... Hollins added: 'We have got games in hand on most of the teams below us and the other major advantage we have is that we have - more home games in the run in than away but we have to get out there now and make that count'... Ashley Vickers and Marcus Browning are both recovering well from injuries but are not expected to be involved tomorrow while Stuart Douglas, who was suffering from a throat infection earlier this week, remains suspended.

"Swindon midfielder Kaid Mohamed is set to extend his loan at Torquay United by a further month" according to Confguide. "The 23-year-old has failed to hold onto a first team place with the Robins since signing from Carmarthen in 2007".

Forest Green Rovers report that "Following his excellent performances so far this season for the Reserves and an outstanding game... when we loaned him across to Gloucester City, 18 yr old Ben Ashford has signed forms for the Blue Square Premier. He will feature in the 1st team squad at Cambridge United and has been allocated Squad No 15. Ben has already represented English Colleges in 10 internationals and is considered by the management team to be a very bright prospect and now ready to be involved with the 1st team on a regular basis".

FromCambridge United announce that "Gavin Hoyte has joined Southern League promotion chasers King's Lynn on loan for the rest of the season, although after the first 28 days of the loan we have the option of recalling him at 24 hours notice".

ON THE ROAD

Howard Watts's Through the Years record for 26th February, the date of our next match, is here.

ALTERNATIVES

Blue Square North

UniBond

Vodkat League (NWCFL)

BSP NEWS

There is bad news for Farsley Celtic who report that "The application for planning which would result in the long term financial stability of Farsley Celtic was rejected this afternoon when the Leeds City Council Planning Committee chaired by Mr C Campbell turned down the application for redevelopments of the Throstle Nest site". Meanwhile, Farsley's Forum announces that Celtic's "Simeon Bambrook, Roy Stamer and Gareth Grant [have gone] to Bradford PA on loan". The BBC adds that "Scott Gardner's loan spell at Farsley Celtic will come to an end after this weekend's game at Exeter".

The Halifax Courier says that "Town have signed former Chesterfield defender Gareth Davies. The 25-year-old made 121 Football League appearances for the Spireites before being released from his contract last month".

Meanwhile the Halifax Town Supporters' Trust reports that "Plans to begin redevelopment work at the Shay Stadium are on course to start at the end of June. Calderdale Council has agreed to complete the Stadium’s East Stand through a joint funded project with the Shay Stadium Trust. The completed stand will include a number of community facilities... All tenders for the project have to be back in by March 28. Calderdale Council intends to recoup the majority of funding put into the project by renegotiating the existing lease with the Shay Stadium Trust and marketing land surplus to the operational needs of the stadium. Land has been identified at the site which could be used for offices and residential buildings. Councillor David Kirton said:' We hope to have completed the work by the end of this year'".

From the BBC comes news that "Southend United striker Charles Ademeno has joined Rushden & Diamonds on loan until May... Ademeno has previously had spells on loan at Welling United, Bishop Stortford and Cambridge United".

"Stafford Rangers have appointed former Wolves and England striker Steve Bull as their new manager. Bull takes over from caretaker managers Kevin Street and Neil Grayson... Bull told BBC Radio Stoke: 'I'm excited but also a little scared as I've got a big job ahead of me, but I feel confident that I can succeed... It is going to be a long, hard road and it is a daunting job but at the end of the day it is a challenge and I love challenges', he said. 'The fans are so loyal here, and in many ways they are similar to the Wolves fans. I hope to strike up a relationship with the fans like I had at Wolves, and that they will warm to me as I produce the goods for the team'. Chairman Jon Downing was delighted... 'To get a name like Steve Bull is massive for the club and we hope it will raise the profile of the club', he added. Bull has signed a contract at Marston Road until summer 2009".

"Promotion-chasing Aldershot have secured three of their promising youngsters until the summer of 2010. Striker Danny Hylton, central defender Dave Winfield and full back Antony Straker have all signed new deals after earning regular first-team football. Aldershot chairman John McGinty told BBC Southern Counties Radio: 'We are trying to be sensible at this football club and we are working in stages. This is a base that we can build upon. They are young, and want to learn. We haven't finished yet and we can only do so much at a time. John Grant recently extended his contract which is encouraging too', he said".

This is Exeter says that "Paul Tisdale has two major selection decisions to make for Saturday's home game against Farsley Celtic.Tisdale has been handed a defensive dilemma after George Friend replaced the suspended Matt Taylor for last weekend's 2-0 win over mid-table Grays Athletic. And the City boss has a straight choice to make between Steve Basham and Richard Logan, as to who will start up front alongside the rejuvenated Adam Stansfield... 'We brought Richard Logan in because he has been training really well and I thought with the way the pitch was up at Grays then it would be ideal for him', said Tisdale...'At the beginning of the week I wasn't expecting to play Richard but when Rob came back and reported the state of the pitch that tipped the balance'... With Rod Edwards coming through the Grays game unscathed after passing a late fitness test, housemates Friend and Taylor face a straight battle for the right to partner Danny Seaborne in central defence. Friend has proved his versatility this season having played both at left-back and at centre-half. But with nine goals to his name already Taylor's threat from set-pieces might just earn him the nod. The Grecians go into Saturday's game... having extended their unbeaten run to seven league games. And with back-to-back home games against Farsley Celtic and Altrincham, Exeter are handily-placed to step up their pursuit of a top-five place... 'Our biggest regret is that we had three long-term injuries during the first 15 games of the season and that led to an imbalance in our playing style because of that... I had a lot of offers in January to bring players in but I kept away as I have faith in the players I have got. That's not to rule out a loan signing here or there, though'" said Tisdale.

The Thurrock Gazette reports that "Following yesterday's departure of manager Justin Edinburgh, quickly followed by news that chairman Mick Woodward is to take over that role, Grays Athletic have appointed Tim O'Shea as a senior coach. Pimlico-born O'Shea, 41, was a Tottenham youth player who went on to make three first-team appearances. He also won two Ireland Under-21 caps and was part of the 1985 Under 18 squad which included the likes of Niall Quinn, Terry Phelan, Pat Dolan and Martin Russell who beat England. O'Shea has also played for played for Leyton Orient and Gillingham, where he made more than 100 appearances, before spending seven seasons in Hong Kong. He was club captain at Farnborough Town, but was on loan to Welling at the time of their glamour tie with Arsenal in the FA Cup in 2003 O'Shea has also been involved with the Millwall FC Academy".

According to the Kidderminster Shuttle "Harriers' manager Mark Yates is hopeful that loan signings Matthew Bailey and Luke Jones will be able to stay at Aggborough for the rest of the season. Jones, from Shrewsbury Town, and Bailey, from Wolverhampton Wanderers, both joined Harriers on January 31 for a month's loan. Yates is eager to keep duo until the end of the season so he can run rule over them and is set to talk to their respective clubs in the next two weeks... The manager also did not rule out the possibility of signing up the duo and fellow loan signings Chris MacKenzie and Darryl Knights for next season. Former Ipswich youth academy striker Knights has joined on loan for the rest of the season from League One side Yeovil Town... The manager also called on the rest of his squad to end a disappointing season on a high note and earn new contracts for next season. Only Russell Penn, Paul Bignot, Michael McGrath and striker Justin Richards are contracted to the club for next campaign and the manager admitted he would like to keep up to 12 of the current squad as part of his summer rebuilding plans. Yates said: 'To be successful you need to stick with 11 or 12 players each season and build from that steady base'".

Stafford Rangers "is delighted to announce that Steve Bull MBE, the Wolves ‘legend’, is to take up the position of Team Manager with immediate effect... Steve has a profile which we believe will bring supporters both old and new to Marston Road. He passionately wants to get back into the sharp end of football. He believes Stafford Rangers is the ideal environment for him to prove himself as a manager in the same way as a player, leading from the front and giving everything to the job in hand... Steve will be spending the next couple of weeks looking carefully at the strengths of all the playing staff and trying to improve the standing of the club in the league by picking up some points... Whilst we believe that Steve Bull will be great for Stafford Rangers, we want to express our thanks to Neil Grayson and Kevin Street for the magnificent job they have done in stepping in as caretaker managers at our hour of need". Steve Bull himself said 'I am delighted to fulfil a long-held ambition to begin a career in managemen... but as I developed my own events company, I suppose I didn’t actively seek out another role in football. It was during a recent appearance on Sky Soccer’s ‘Soccer AM’ programme that I acknowledged that I need ‘a kick up the backside’ if I am to follow a career in football management and this prompted a number of approaches from club chairmen. I met with the Directors of Stafford Rangers and there was an almost immediate understanding that both parties would benefit from me becoming their new Manager.I know I don’t start officially until 1st March... I will continue in my role as a Patron of Promised Dreams, the Wolverhampton-based charity that helps sick and terminally ill children. I am also proud to say I will also remain a Vice President at Wolves, and will be attending as many games as possible when not managing my new team'".

CUP FINAL DATE

OLD BOY SCORES

NEXT GAME

Mr Halliday was also the man who called off the originally planned game between Torquay and Altrincham back in December 2007 and was also an assistant referee for the Grays Athletic v Hucknall Town FA Trophy Final in 2005.

This is South Devon confirms that "Torquay United are poised to keep Swindon Town forward Kaid Mohamed for a second month on loan. Cardiff-born Mohamed's first month at Plainmoor expires after Saturday's FA Trophy Quarter Final against Crawley Town. But United manager Paul Buckle revealed: 'Kaid has done well, and we will be looking to extend the loan'... After giving him four successive starts, Buckle dropped Mohamed, 23, to the subs' bench for last Saturday's BSP game against Ebbsfleet. But the former Cwmbran, Llanelli and Carmarthen player went on after only four minutes, replacing the injured Lee Phillips, and scored twice in Torquay's 3-1 win... The Gulls' boss watched last night's Championship match between Southampton and Plymouth Argyle at St. Mary's, where he was hoping to firm up arrangements for Saints goalkeeper Michael Poke's return to Plainmoor on loan.... but the situation there has also been slightly clouded by the appointment of a new manager in Nigel Pearson". Meanwhile "Young striker Elliot Benyon gave Gulls' manager Paul Buckle a selection nudge with a busy two-goal display in Torquay United's 3-3 draw against Bristol Rovers in a reserve friendly at Plainmoor yesterday".

GRAHAM LOOKS FOR REINFORCEMENTS

Alty have no game this weekend... When they return to action, they face two tough trips in the space of five days, first travelling to Torquay on Tuesday and then Exeter on Saturday... Heathcote believes his side must aim to pick up something from both games... He said: 'I'm disappointed with our return from the past four games, picking up just five points. I thought we would've done better and I basically said to the players that we have wasted the first half of the past two games. We didn't play enough football and then left ourselves with more to do in the second half. We have two tough games now but the way I look at it is that we have to pull something back from these two games to put ourselves back on track'. But the good news for Alty is that combative midfielder Val Owen is well on the road to recovery after undergoing an operation on his problematic knee. The 37-year-old should be back in action by mid to late March".

JAMES'S VIEWS

James said, "Things are going well down at Alty and I am enjoying my time there both on and off the pitch. I have played 11 games already for them and we are picking up points and I have managed to climb out of the relegation zone. I didn't realise the rivalry until signing for them. To be fair the fans have been quite supportive, I think they are surprised really that I took the chance to play there with such rivalry between the clubs"..

Asked - Playing alongside a Macc legend in Darren Tinson must be helpful to your game? Are you learning a lot from him? James replied, "Yes, Tinno is a great pro. I was aware of what a legend he was at Macc and what a good player he was. But to play with him is a great experience as you can learn a lot from him especially playing along side him. He's very experienced and all the lads look up to him on and off the pitch... I heard through a friend that Alty were interested in me and that they were keen to take me on with my contract expiring at the end of the year (2007) however Macc decided to extend my contract and both me and the club decided the best thing for my progress was to go on loan, and it all went from there... I have been just training most days with the lads at Macc, and training twice a week with Alty in the evenings which is new to me... I went on loan at Altrincham for 3 months and with my contract at Macc expiring at the end of the season, I still hope there is time for me to make an impression and feature for Macclesfield...

I think my most natural position would be left back... I began my career playing for my local team Reddish Vulcans (Stockport) before being picked up by Man City by Gordon Hill where I played for 7 years. This was a great experience and time for me as I was captain for 5 of them years which included trips to Holland, Spain, Italy and Germany playing against teams like Barça, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Ajax and many more. It was also a good experience training full time time in the summer and playing and training every day with the likes of Micah Richards, Michael Johnson and Stevie Ireland". At Macc. "I made a dozen appearances in 2006/2007... but found it hard to cement a place in the team"

Asked whether both Macc and Alty will survive relegation this season, he said "Hopefully yes, I think we both have the quality and strength to survive and to stay in the leagues they are in. There is still plenty of time".

MAY GAMES

The Scots utilise players from the Highland, East of Scotland and South of Scotland Leagues. The English National Game side is drawn from the Blue Square leagues, while Wales mix English-based players with some from the Principality Welsh Premier. The full match schedule is as follows:

Tuesday 20th May 2008

Thursday 22nd May 2008

Saturday 24th May 2008

Admission prices for the matches will be: Adults £3 / Senior Citizens & Juveniles (Under 16) £1.

This will be the seventh year of the Four Nations Tournament. In the past, the Republic of Ireland has been involved, but this year they were not able to take part. An invitation was therefore made to the Gibraltar FA and they were very happy to accept".

BSP NEWS

The Thurrock Gazette. adds that "Within an hour of the initial annoucement [of Edinburgh's departure] the club issued a second statement, saying Woodward would take over the hot seat... Woodward briefly held the role last season before stepping down, saying he didn't have enough contacts in the game". Meanwhile, "Grays Athletic captain Jamie Stuart will stand trial accused of breaking another player's jaw during a game. Stuart is alleged to have struck York City Striker Chris Beardsley during a Blue Square Premier League match. Beardsley was left with a broken jaw after the incident... Stuart, 31 of Knole Gate, Sidcup, in Kent was charged with causing grievous bodily harm. He appeared at Basildon Magistrates' Court today (Thursday) to face the charge. Stuart, who was dressed in a suit, answered only to confirm his name, address and date of birth. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on unconditional bail. Stuart will reappear at Basildon Crown Court in April for a plea and case management hearing where a trial date is likely to be set".

"Rushden & Diamonds have once again loaned out goalkeeper Martyn Margarson" states NL Daily. "Margarson has joined Soham Town Rangers for a month. Margarson has had loan spells with Long Buckby and Rugby Town this season".

According to Confguide "Wrexham duo Conall Murtagh and Levi Mackin have had their loan periods extended at Droylsden until the end of the season... The midfielders have both made four appearances for the Bloods... Having already served more than 28 days on loan, the Dragons can recall either player within 24-hours if they are needed at the Racecourse ground".

According to Farsley Today, "Farsley Celtic striker Damien Reeves says he is in the dark over talk linking him with a possible move to Port Vale – but admits he is flattered by talk of a Potteries switch. The one-time Leeds United apprentice is eager for a second crack at the big time, with ex-Celts' boss and Vale chief Lee Sinnott reportedly in the hunt for the 23-year-old, who he brought to Throstle Nest from the comparative obscurity of Wakefield-Emley – now Wakefield FC – a few seasons ago. Reeves has fully vindicated Sinnott's decision to take the plunge and sign him since, firing 23 goals in the Celts' Conference North promotion campaign last term and continuing to impress this season... Reeves said: 'I honestly couldn't say whether there is any truth in it or not. I don't know anything, but we'll see what happens. Of course, I'm flattered as anyone would be when a League club is linked with them. To play in the League is my ultimate aim... I think I'm good enough, but we'll have to see'...

Celtic – set a 45-point safety target by boss John Deacey – still having crunch games coming up against Weymouth, Rushden and Droylsden and winnable matches at the likes of Northwich and Stafford. The 22-year-old [Reeves] said of the Altrincham game: 'Tuesday was a game of two halves. With the way they played in the second half, we couldn't grumble (with a point). We had the better of the first half and they performed better in the second and it could have gone either way... we've got to look at it as a point gained. We didn't lose any ground on Altrincham. We still have to play a few teams around us and at the minute have got two games in hand... In the last few games, our performances have picked up a bit, but we've not been picking up wins... I've got eight goals in the league.. but I've got 12 altogether and I'm fairly happy with that".

Still in Yorkshire, the Halifax Courier reports that "Halifax Town have been kicked out of the West Riding County FA Cup - and fined £1,500 - for fielding no fewer than five ineligible players in their quarter final clash with Ossett Albion. Twelve months ago the Shaymen were expelled from the competition when it emerged that youth teamer Simon Rawnsley, who bagged one of the goals in a remarkable 14-3 win over Pontefract Collieries, had also scored for Bradford Park Avenue in a previous round. This time the entire bench for the game with Ossett - Adam Legzdins, Tom Sharpe, Craig Nelthorpe, Anthony Griffith and Simon Ainge - were ineligible as they were on loan and temporary signings are not allowed under the competition rules. All five would have been allowed to play in either an FA Cup or FA Trophy tie... 'We were disappointed with the outcome despite our letter to the Committee, providing what we believed were and are more than reasonable reasons for choosing and playing the team that we did in the game against Ossett Albion', said a club statement. 'There is no right of appeal'. The statement went on to suggest that it was a fault with the West Riding County FA Cup rules which had led to this latest expulsion". Town were left with "just 11 other registered full-time Town players, all of whom played in the 4-1 win... 'What we do hope is it will allow the County FA to re-assess and if need be, bring certain rules in line with the modern game', the statement continued. 'To ask senior clubs to play in the West Riding County Cup and not play their fully registered (both with the FA and The Football Conference), regular first team players in the competition is most unusual'". There is an unfortunate side-effect for Alty, however, as "Town's expulsion will at least ease the potential fixture chaos looming with the semi-final against Bradford Park Avenue originally scheduled for March 3 - 24 hours before the Shaymen are due to travel to Altrincham in the Blue Square Premier".

A potential recipe for success comes from the Oxford Mail which says that "One of the country's top sports nutritionists could be coming in to Oxford United to try to help them achieve better results on the pitch. Manager Darren Patterson was interviewing Jon Williams last night in the hope of getting him involved at the club... He said yesterday: 'He's a leading sports nutritionist who has worked with some of our leading Premier League clubs and been involved with gold medal-winning athletes. It's more looking at pre-season and ways of improving our diet ahead of next season, but it's an important area'... Williams is at the top of his field and works with the Welsh Elite Rugby squad as well as Chelsea, Tottenham and Reading, providing nutritional advice. He runs a national company with Olympic athlete Darren Campbell [who was brought up in Sale] and all their recommended supplements are both registered and World Anti-Doping Agency tested at a WADA laboratory in Cambridge and approved... Coventry Rugby Club brought Williams in once a month... [after] their owner, Andrew Green... was horrified to discover that his players were gorging themselves on doughnuts before matches". Apparently now Coventry are running rings round their opponents and it is the opposition who are getting their just desserts...

SHIRT AUCTION

EASTER FUN WEEK

The course runs from 10am to 3.15pm (registration is from 9.30am daily) and the cost for the full week is just £55, with a discount applying for any brothers and sisters who register.

The week's activities will include

For an application form or further details, please contact Chris Bullock, either on (0161) 962 2369 or by e-mail. Alternatively you can e-mail Altrincham FC.

FRIENDS' DRAW

To join this important fundraising scheme for Altrincham FC and have the chance of winning £100 in the process, please click the above link to the Friends scheme.

NEXT OPPONENTS

BSP NEWS

And the NL Daily confirms that "Ebbsfleet United`s shareholders met on Monday night to agree the takeover of the football club by the 28,250 members in 72 countries of MyFootballClub, to become effective on Tuesday (19th February)... MyFC, which launched on 26th April 2007, has purchased a 75% stake in the club and members have so far contributed £1m. The 75% stake in the football club will cost £625,000, with £400,000 paid upfront and the rest spread over two years. Almost 2,000 members have already renewed their membership beyond the first year. That money being ringfenced until the season of that extended membership begins".

On the field, Blue Square Football reports that "Ebbsfleet United goalkeeper Lance Cronin has committed to his future at the club by penning a contract extension... that will keep him at the Kent-based club until the end of the 2009/10 season. Cronin was originally drafted in as cover for long-term injury victim Craig Holloway in August, 2006 and has gone on to make the number one jersey his own".

"Veteran Burton Albion goalkeeper Kevin Poole expects to be out of action for at least a fortnight after injuring his hamstring in the defeat at Salisbury. 'I took a goal kick and my standing foot slipped', Poole, 44, told BBC Radio Derby. "I felt my hamstring go - it's going to be two weeks at least'. Saul Deeney will come in for Saturday's FA Trophy tie at home to Ebbsfleet". From the The Burton Mail comes news that "Albion boss Nigel Clough is hoping to bolster his depleted squad by signing a goalkeeper this week... The Brewers have an able deputy in Saul Deeney - but no other goalkeeper cover... Clough told Mail Sport: 'The reason we signed Saul a few months ago was because we wanted a ready-made replacement in case anything happened to Kevin... the injury he got on Saturday means he's going to be out for up to a month... The worst case scenario is that Saul might get sent off or pick up an injury himself, and then we would be in trouble. We gambled a little bit last season by having Kevin as our only recognised keeper because we knew we could always fall back on (coach) Martin Taylor in an emergency. But it's unfair to ask the same of Martin now, so bringing in another keeper as insurance seems the prudent thing to do with so much at stake'".

York City "have completed the signing of Sam Duncum on loan from Rotherham United. The 21 year old is a winger who can play on both sides of the pitch and has joined the club initially for a month".

Former England striker Steve Bull is expected to appointed at Stafford Rangers where "There will be a Press Conference at the ground on Thursday 21st February, at 11 am, when the Directors will announce the new manager".

JENNINGS SUSPENDED

1932 - ANOTHER ERA AT MOSS LANE

Eva's husband was Tom Hann, a footballer who had come from Newcastle to Stockport County, and then moved on to local Altrincham club Linotype FC. Tom also became a scout for numerous clubs and together with an Alty star of the 1950s, Brian Prolze, he worked at the Moss Lane Gas Works, just a few hundred yards from the football ground. Tom's brother, Ralph, played for Newcastle United and for Derby County in the old First Division. The story has a further Altrincham connection through Ralph's trainer at Derby. He was Steve Bloomer (1876-1938), the legendary Derby and England goalscorer who, in his time, was the greatest footballer the world. Bloomer's wife, Sarah, died at their daughter's home at 42 Acacia Avenue, Hale, Altrincham in 1936. Ralph later became trainer at Derby County and his daughter is Judith Hann, the former presenter of BBC's "Tomorrow's World" programme.

Mrs Clacher's husband was an Altrincham player of the 1930s, John Clacher, who had come to Moss Lane from Alloa Athletic in Scotland. John then went to Burnley and then on to Darlington. Altrincham FC historian Terry Rowley has kindly supplied a large amount of extra information about the 1932 side, from which I am grateful to be able to draw, below.

Steve has very kindly provided me with an autograph book of his mother's which includes the signatures of the Altrincham team which won 5-1 against Hurst (Ashton United) in 1932 and that page is reproduced, right.

Terry Rowley provides the following fascinating pen pictures which show what a different type of player was at Moss Lane 75 years ago, compared with nowadays! Altrincham finished 12th in the Cheshire County League that season, scoring 108 goals and conceding 95 in 42 matches.

The team that played Hurst (later Ashton United) on 8th October 1932 lined up as: Jimmie Whitehead in goal, George Heywood - right back; Arthur Harris - left back, Frank Williams - right-half, Robert Hughes - centre-half, Jacky Walsh - left-half, Eddie Chesters - right-winger; John Clacher - inside-right, John Jepson - centre-forward, Fred Birtles inside- left and Walter Trotter - outside-left. The scorers were Birtles 2, Chesters, Jepson, Harris and the attendance was 2,000. Birtles is one of the select band of Altrincham players to have hit 100 goals for the club.

Steve Hann and Terry Rowley have also provided some information on the 1950s which together with details supplied by Altrincham FC's catering manager Keith Davey, I will write up into a separate article in the near future. That includes details of an Alty player of the 1950s who ended up behind bars for match-fixing - after he had left Moss Lane, of course!

UNICORN

OLD BOY

BSP NEWS

"Weymouth manager John Hollins has released defender Joel Kitamirike reports BBC Radio Solent. The 23-year-old former Chelsea centre-back joined Weymouth in the summer of 2007 from Blue Square South side Fisher Athletic. 'We're now moving on. We thank him for his efforts and he's been tremendous but that's the way the game is going', said Hollins. 'I've got to make decisions and that is what I've done'. Hollins is still searching for his first league win in charge and new faces are expected soon at the Wessex Stadium".

"Halifax have released defender Brian O'Callaghan a month after signing him. The 26-year-old former Barnsley and Notts County centre-half joined the Shaymen from Cork City in January. But he managed only one appearance for the club... and boss Chris Wilder has decided he is surplus to requirements. O'Callaghan featured 90 times for Barnsley and turned out in 36 games for Notts County before making the move to League of Ireland Cork two years ago" says the BBC..

"Stafford Rangers caretaker managers Kevin Street and Neil Grayson say they will support Steve Bull if he becomes the new boss at Marston Road... Grayson told BBC Radio Stoke: 'If he comes in it will be a big boost for the club and he will get my full backing'. Street added: 'If I can help Steve in any way I'm more than willing to... After the win over Weymouth and then playing well in the abandoned game against Histon, beating Forest Green gives us a chance of staying up'... Saturday's clash at Halifax is expected to be Bull's first as manager of Rangers, with his first home game in charge coming against Farsley Celtic on 1 March. Street said the players had been lifted by the prospect of Bull being named as the club's new manager. 'The excitement surrounding Steve has given the club a new dynamic and we're hoping for a big crowd for his first home game. Hopefully he can come in and use his connections to strengthen the team'" reports the BBC.

Brad Maylett has swapped Blue Square Premier strugglers Northwich Victoria for relegation-threatened Blue Square North side Leigh RMI. The winger was released by Vics' boss Dino Maamria on Friday, before swiftly signing a deal with the Railwaymen. 'It's an excellent signing for us', said Leigh boss Steve Bleasdale... The former Boston United midfielder made surprise return to Vics' starting line up for last Saturday's home reverse to Salisbury City but was hauled off by Maamria at half time following another disappointing display... Signed by former manager Neil Redfearn back in the summer, Maylett has flattered to deceive in non-League football`s top tier despite his reputation" claims This is Cheshire.

NL Daily says that "Stevenage Borough signed Gavin Grant on loan from Millwall – and he scored on his debut in the 3-1 defeat by leaders Aldershot Town on Sunday... A Club spokesperson said: 'Gavin adds pace as an option up front, whilst Callum Willock and Tes Bramble fully recover from their injuries'... Since being at the New Den, Grant has had two separate loan spells with Grays Athletic".

According to This is York. "City boss Colin Walker claimed his side were not 'ugly' enough to avoid defeat at Histon. The Minstermen went down 3-1.. as the home side scored all their goals inside the visitors' six-yard box. It was a disappointing way for Walker, pictured, to lose his unbeaten league record as manager against a Histon team renowned for their physical and direct approach to the game and coached by former Cambridge long-ball exponent John Beck... Walker said: 'It was an ugly game and they play the ugly game well. We couldn't play the ugly game and could not cope with their ugly game and succumbed. We explained to the players how they would play. Both myself and Eric Winstanley had come up against John Beck a long time ago and they played exactly how his teams always do and did it very well. We knew they would look to play in the final third and try and get dangerous crosses in. They did and we couldn't live with it, but you can't legislate for people unwilling to work hard, put their head in or stop crosses'... While not blaming referee Amy Rayner for his side's demise, Walker also felt the Lough- borough official's appointment for the game was inappropriate. Rayner awarded City a dubious penalty for handball, while Tom Evans protested that the home team's third goal had been headed out of his hands. She also cautioned four players in a fiery first half that threatened to boil over and Walker said: 'I have to be careful what I say but, in a game like this, I'm not sure that selection of referee is appropriate unfortunately. We've seen her referee before at Kidderminster and she gets up and down the pitch well, but there was so much happening off the ball that she didn't understand or see - too many things to mention... She was not the reason we got beaten. We got beaten by a better team on the day'".

This is South Devon says that "Goalkeeper Michael Poke is poised to return to Torquay United this week after his sudden recall by Southampton.The Saints took 22-year-old Poke back, under the 24-hour recall clause, because of a thumb injury to their Polish No.2 'keeper Bartosz Bialkowski. Poke was on their subs' bench for Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Bristol Rovers... 'Southampton had to take precautions and take Michael back, but they say that Bialkowski's injury is not too bad and he should be fit by the middle of the week', said United manager Paul Buckle... 'Southampton want Michael to come back here. We hope to have him back with us this week'...His original 93-day deal took him to within three games of the end of the league season. But United will now get back the days which they are currently 'losing' on his loan, covering at least one more fixture (York H April 19) during the run-in. After an impressive spell with Poke in goal, Rice was between the sticks when United set a new club defensive 'record' of 605 minutes without conceding a goal on Saturday. The previous record was 602, but a header by Ebbsfleet striker Raphael Nade (73mins) meant that the new mark stretched by only another three minutes... Cardiff-born Khalid Mohamed's first month on loan from Swindon Town runs out after next Saturday... 'I'm really enjoying it here, and I'd be happy to stay', said the former Cwmbran, Llanelli and Carmarthen striker".

From the Oxford Mail we learn that "It was only when he had experienced the Kassam Stadium's fantastic pitch and facilities first-hand that Droylsden manager Dave Pace fully appreciated what an achievement it had been for his little team to have beaten Oxford United earlier in the season. And the Bloods were just inches away from causing another upset when they nearly forced an injury-time equaliser on Saturday. Substitute Terry Fearns somehow knocked the ball wide of a gaping goal from four yards out in the final minute of stoppage time. Pace said: 'We showed a lot of character and effort today, but we didn't play as well as we can do, or play as much football as I'd like'... Pace drooled: 'For Droylsden to be playing Oxford in a league match, and here at this stadium, is absolutely brilliant. This is where we want to be. It shows either that we're over-achieving, or they're under-achieving. We knew how difficult it was going to be, being only part-time in what is really a full-time league, but I would like us to become that. We've just got to build on this and stay in the league and build again next season... For the Oxford players, if you're playing here every week and then you come to a place like ours . . . no disrespect to our ground, we're trying to improve it every year and I've spent £4.5m of my own money on it - but at the end of the day it's nothing like this... But we've not capitalised as much on our home advantage as we should have done'... Oxford United boss Darren Patterson hopes to further strengthen his team by bringing in a central midfielder this week, and completing a deal to sign Michael Howard on a permanent contract... Patterson says United will make the left back an offer... 'Because of the rules, we now have to sign Howard, we can't now take him on loan until the end of the season'" said the manager.

TheKidderminster Shuttle says that "Harriers have written to the FA to complain about referee John Hopkins after Sunday's Blue Square Premier clash away at Crawley was controversially called off on Sunday. The Wickford official called the game off at 12pm because of a strip of frozen pitch behind one of the goals, ten minutes before Harriers had arrived at the Broadfield Stadium... The referee left before Harriers chairman Barry Norgrove could ask him to reconsider his decision to call the game off. To add insult to injury Crawley manager Steve Evans played an internal friendly on the pitch... 'It was a totally ridiculous situation. The game was called off far too early and the referee didn't stay around long enough for him to talk to us', said an angry Norgrove. 'He should have stayed and spoke to both clubs because I believe there was a number of things that could have been done to save the game... by the time of kick-off it would have been absolutely fine. He could have delayed the game by half an hour or more to make sure the pitch was thawed out, that would have been better that calling the game off. Ourselves and the fans made the effort to come down on Sunday and Crawley had been ready for the game and the referee should have taken those factors into consideration'. The club have posted a complaint about the referee's actions... Norgrove said: 'We have sent a letter to the FA because it has cost us money for petrol Crawley for the food they had put on... although I don't hold out much hope that they will support us - the FA tend to back the referees'".

From This is Glos we read that "The home fans' jeers at the final whistle were perhaps a touch harsh, but they underlined how high the bar has been raised at Forest Green this season" after defeat by Stafford... Jim Harvey's men were ponderous for most of the afternoon, and frustration at their inability to kill off weaker opposition meant a splendid first goal of the season from Michael Brough was largely forgotten... [Goalkeeper] Robinson's moment to forget came in the 12th minute when he made a complete hash of Anthony Tonkin's back-pass, sliced the ball straight to ex-Rover Grayson and watched in horror as the 43-year-old cushioned a volley into the empty net. Poor distribution has blighted the former Morecambe stopper this term... Harvey pulled no punches in his assessment of Saturday's display, in particular the error by keeper Ryan Robinson... 'The back pass was always going to be precarious on our pitch, but he (Robinson) had a lot of time to deal with it', said Harvey. 'It was a dreadful miss-kick straight to their centre forward'".

RUSHDEN GAME

Altrincham FC website match report here..

The Rushden & Diamonds site also has photos and a report from Saturday's game against Altrincham.

ALTY YOUTH 3 BOOTLE YOUTH 2

CRAWLEY DATE

PAT'S BACK

DIFFICULTIES

OLD BOY

BSP NEWS

From Woking we read that "Farsley fully deserved their win as they won battles in every area of the pitch. They were lively up front, first to every challenge and header and the defence held a high line, giving Woking’s midfielders little room to create chances – Aspden had a very quiet game in goal. The experience of Santos, Torpey and Prendergast was vital in a good performance and, if they continue to play as well as they did in this game, then they have every chance of staying in the Blue Square Premier. Woking, on the other hand, had a game to forget, with very few positive performances. They seemed slow and second to every ball and, despite creating lots of half chances, never really looked like getting anything from the game. It will be interesting to see how they react to this defeat in their next game".

Cambridge United "have rejected a six-figure bid from Peterborough United for leading scorer Scott Rendell Earlier this week the U's rejected bids from Southend United for defender Michael Morrison, who then boosted the club by signing a new two-and-a-half year contract, and today Director George Rolls said that a new bid for striker Rendell has been turned down. 'I've talked about this with Jimmy Quinn and with the other board members, and we're in agreement that we want to get back into the Football League and it would not be a wise decision or in our best interests to sell our leading scorer'".

But on Sunday evening, United announced that "Striker Scott Rendell has stunned Cambridge United by formally requesting a transfer to fierce local rivals Peterborough United, and he will join them on loan later this week. The U's rejected a six-figure bid from Peterborough for 22-goal Rendell but he handed in a written transfer request today, asking to leave Cambridge United and expressing his desire to join the League Two side. Director George Rolls revealed the latest development to cambridgeunited.com, saying, 'The club has a policy that we don't keep players who are unhappy and don't want to play for the club, so we have reluctantly agreed to allow Scott to join Peterborough on loan for the remainder of the season. We're bitterly disappointed and very, very upset that this has happened. We rejected the offer from Peterborough yesterday because we didn't want to sell him and we wanted him to stay at the club, but the player has contacted me today and has asked to leave the football club, saying that he wants to join Peterborough. So after consulting with the other Board members and Jimmy Quinn we feel that we can't keep a player who doesn't want to be at Cambridge United and doesn't want to play for us, so it's with much regret that we've got to let him go'. 21-year-old Rendell is currently on international duty with the England C squad ahead of their match against Wales Under-23 at St James Park, Exeter on Wednesday evening. United team-mates Michael Morrison and Dan Gleeson are also in the 16-man squad. Following the match, Rendell is expected to complete the move to Peterborough United, initially on loan, with a permanent six-figure transfer to take place at the end of the season. Rolls added, 'The Board of Directors and Jimmy are all very shocked and disappointed that he wants to leave us, bearing in mind that we believe we can give him League football at the end of the season. I want the fans to be absolutely clear that we didn't accept the bid, we didn't want him to leave, we don't want him to go, but Scott has forced the issue by putting in a written transfer request saying he wants to leave Cambridge United and join Peterborough. We can't keep a player who doesn't want to be at the club'".

From Burton Albion we learn that "Nigel Clough was clearly unhappy with his side after watching them slump to a third successive away defeat as Salisbury City put another dent in Albion’s faltering play-off hopes... 'I thought we were absolutely rubbish. The first half was extremely painful to watch and I don’t think we deserved anything out of the game. That is the third away league game in a row where we have conceded two goals and on the back of two away defeats we are very disappointed. Even when you are not playing well you need to grind out a clean sheet and start building something again but we didn’t even look like doing that today'... Perhaps the biggest blow for the Albion manager was the sight of veteran goalkeeper Kevin Poole limping off with a hamstring injury... 'Kevin will probably be out for a few weeks' said Clough. 'At Kevin’s age it takes longer to heal but we are very fortunate to have Saul to step in and he will get his chance again now in the Trophy next week. Saul felt he was fouled for the goal but we still can’t really take anything from the game. Good luck to Salisbury, they were better on the day and deserved the three points... Right now we have to see which of those players have got the character to see the job through. We think we know which ones can handle it but we will have to wait and see'... Clough would have preferred a game to get today’s defeat out of the system but the Conference have declared this midweek as off limits due to the England C international against Wales at Exeter City on Wednesday with Shaun Harrad and John Brayford due to link up with the squad ahead of the game".

SUNDAY

YOUTH TEAM JUST HOLDS ON

Above: Alty midfielder Dominic Lillie is seen during the game against Bootle.

After cruising into a 3-0 lead at the half-hour mark, Altrincham Youth lost their way and allowed a determined Bootle side to come back to 3-2 in today's Neil Thomason Trophy first round match at Wythenshawe Town. Sam Madeley tapped home Dominic Killilea's right wing cross to put Alty ahead in the 21st minute and then the Bootle keeper was unlucky to see his partial stop of Madeley's shot rebound off his own body into the net seven minutes later. When Jack Kimber was tripped to the right of goal, Tom Bailey made it 3-0 from the spot after 30 minutes. But the second half was dominated by Bootle and they pulled goals back in the 67th and 77th minutes before Alty rode out the remaining time to progress to the quarter finals. Report to follow.

"A POOR GAME"

Altrincham FC website match report here..

WARREN'S CHOICE

OLD BOYS

Alty groundsman and former Reserves' manager Neil Brown's Abbey Hey drew 2-2 at Colne yesterday with goals from former Alty Reserves' Lee Hendley and Astley Mulholland. Elsewhere, our neighbours Trafford beat Atherton LR with all three goals coming from ex-Alty men - Wes Wilkinson got two and Dion Depeiaza got the third goal. And another ex-Alty Reserve on the mark was Ben Deegan, whose two goals for Ashton United were their consolation at Frickley, where the home team hit four.

BSP NEWS

According to Blue Square Football "Stevenage Borough have completed the loan signing of Gavin Grant from League One club Millwall. The 23-year-old forward has been brought in by Boro boss Peter Taylor as a direct replacement for Ollie Allen. A Club spokesperson told the club's official website: 'Apart from pre-season friendlies and a few appearances off the bench lately, Ollie hasn't played all season. He needs games to get sharp, so hopefully he'll get that at Crawley Town and come back raring to go. Gavin adds pace as an option up front, whilst Callum and Tes fully recover from their injuries'">

"York City have decided to part ways with former Hull City and Halifax Town midfielder Russell Fry. Born in Hull, Fry managed only two starts and four substitute appearances since arriving at KitKat Crescent in September. The 22-year-old recently had a loan spell at North Ferriby United, who he is now expected to rejoin. Meanwhile, York manager Colin Walker looks set to offer terms to former Chesterfield defender Gareth Davies".

RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 1 ALTRINCHAM 0

Right; Alty's Tom Cahill competes with Rushden's white-clad captain, Phil Gulliver.

As they did against Farsley earlier in the week, Altrincham underperformed in the first half only to dominate the second period. But after conceding a 13th minute goal, when Rankine was allowed a free header from a right-side corner, Altrincham could not convert possession into an equalizing goal. Little's flashing volley across goal was the nearest they got in the second half. So, Alty remain firmly involved in the relegation battle, with Farsley now just two points behind with two games in hand.

Altrincham FC website match report here..

Rushden and Diamonds' own match report is here.

Saturday 16th

LOANS

VAL'S VIEWS

STAR QUIZ

"THE LIKES OF ALTRINCHAM"

Whilst Alty have doubts over Robbie Lawton, the BBC says that "Rushden & Diamonds' manager Garry Hill has a clean bill of health ahead of the visit of Altrincham. Curtis Woodhouse has recovered from a hamstring injury and fellow midfielder Michael Corcoran could make his first league start since joining from Oxford".

Rushden & Diamonds say that "After suffering their second postponed away game in eight days, R&DFC return home from the Essex fog to face Altrincham. After the recent string of away league defeats, coupled with the draw against near rivals Halifax Town, this is a game that the Diamonds must get something from to avoid the danger of being sucked into the relegation battle. They will also want to preserve their 100% home record against the Cheshire club... The four previous games at Nene Park have all resulted in Diamonds wins. The first game was in May 1997... The team for that game [included a future Alty man] Simeon Hodson... Alty were relegated that season, and next came to Nene Park in 2000.... Alty were relegated again and, following the Diamonds promotion to the Football League, the two teams did not meet again until last season, when the game at Nene Park under Paul Hart was notable for a Simeon Jackson hatrick and the dismissal of Val Owen. The teams also met last season in the FA Cup, under Tony Godden, with the Diamonds also winning 3-0. Earlier this season the Diamonds travelled to Moss Lane, and returned with a 2-1 victory thanks to first half goals from Michael Rankine and Simeon Jackson."

LAST GAME

OLD BOYS

BSP NEWS

"Northwich Victoria`s Michael Byrne has been drafted into Tony Pennock`s Wales under-23 squad for the upcoming International Challenge Trophy game against England `C` at Exeter City`s St James`s Park next Wednesday".

From the BBC comes news that "Crawley have signed Southampton winger Josh Dutton-Black and Stevenage striker Oliver Allen on month-long loan deals. 20 year-old Dutton-Black has yet to make his Saints debut. Allen, 21, has started just one league game for Stevenage but scored four times for Barnet in League Two last season".

Also, "Former Wolves striker Steve Bull has confirmed that he is in talks to become the new manager of Stafford Rangers. The former England man told BBC Radio Stoke: 'Things should be finalised in the next three or four days. The club have told me their plans and what they expect from me over the coming years. Stafford Rangers is a club that I want to be part of'. Neil Grayson and Kevin Street have been in charge at Marston Road since Phil Robinson left in December... Bull feels he could be the man to turn the club around. 'I think the players just need a little discipline and maybe someone to give them a good kick up the backside. I'll be trying to put Stafford on the map again'... He has often spoken of his desire to get into club management... 'I don't ever want to be looking back on missed opportunities, I want to try new things. I fell I can succeed but if don't I'll hold my hands up and walk away'". Meanwhile, Stafford Rangers report that "Striker David McNiven has been loaned to Farsley Celtic until the end of the season. However, he will not be permitted to play when Farsley visit Marston Road".

ROBBIE IS A DOUBT

THURSDAY SCORE

UNICORN AT MOSS LANE

Above: Unicorn Junior FC were the latest young visitors to Moss Lane under Altrincham FC's Featured Club Scheme for local junior football clubs. They are pictured above raising the roof of the Family Stand before the game against Farsley Celtic last Tuesday. We hope that they enjoyed their visit.

GRAHAM DISAPPOINTED

CSC OPPONENTS

OLD BOY

ALTY OFF-SCREEN AGAIN

ANDY ON ALTY

BSP NEWS

Farsley also have plans to improve their Throstle Nest ground and are contemplating a name change to incorporate Leeds in their title in a bid to gain further recognition and attract a greater fan base... 'Getting promotion was magnificent but staying in there is more difficult. It would be a bigger achievement. We have got to stay up because I think the second season might be easier', added ex-Chesterfield midfielder Deacey, 48, who combines management with running his own car body-shop business...'We had a great time with Lee Sinnott and I learned a lot', he said. 'And I have loved this. It was difficult to start with but I have got my teeth into and got some players that maybe I wanted to put in... We had to get some quality players in to blend with the young ones we've got. We've also got a big squad to cope with the demands of the league. The board backed us so we have to thank them for that... Deacey believes it is down to a three-horse race for one remaining relegation place with Northwich, Stafford and Droylsden all facing the drop. And he is backing Celtic to finish as the winners. 'I think it's between Altrincham, ourselves and Weymouth', he said. 'And I still think we have got a great chance with the acquisitions we made in January. We can definitely do it if we build on the start we have made to 2008. We have tightened up defensively. We just need to start scoring a few at the other end'".

At Cambridge United "Michael Morrison has put an end to speculation about his future by signing a new two-and-a-half year contract... Less than 24 hours after we announced that a series of offers for Morrison from League One side Southend United had been rejected, the centre-half put pen to paper on a new deal to June 2010".

The BBC says that "Torquay United manager Paul Buckle has praised his side's defending after the club went 500 minutes without conceding a goal. The Gulls drew 0-0 at Weymouth on Tuesday and their defences were last breached by Newport on 12 January. 'I'm pleased with picking up clean sheets but it is a team effort', Buckle told BBC Radio Devon. 'We lacked a finish, we lacked a final ball and I won't really be too harsh on them for that', he added. Torquay are second in the Blue Square Premier and Tuesday's clean sheet was their fifth in a row".

"Cambridge United have rejected a series of offers made over the last few days by Southend for defender Michael Morrison. Southend wanted to take Morrison, 19, on loan for the rest of the season ahead of a permanent move. Director George Rolls told Cambridge's website: 'Jimmy Quinn wants to keep our best players to give us the best chance to achieve something this season. So as a board we have decided to reject the offers'".

From the Gravesend Reporter we read that "Liam Daish has re-ignited his war of words with Conference chiefs by insisting his Ebbsfleet United side have been treated with 'disrespect' in their fixture fiasco. The Fleet travel to Crawley Town in the Blue Square Premier tonight ahead of their Torquay trip on Saturday afternoon with Daish adamant that the league hierarchy have reneged on a promise at a managers' meeting at the start of the season. The Fleet head coach said he was told that every effort would be made to avoid crippling calendar clashes and has been left less than impressed with two games in less than 48 hours. 'What we've been asked to do is unfair and the league have treated us with disrespect', Daish fumed. 'They have gone against what they told me in a managers' meeting at the start of the season. I don't really want to harp on about it, but I don't think a team like Torquay - or any other ex-league club in this league - would have been asked to do what we have been over the next two games'. The rigours of this dastardly double header is made sharply more apparent when a swift glance at the Fleet's run-in shows eight matches each in March and April and constant midweek encounters from Saturday, March 15 onwards... 'The other thing I cannot understand is why they leave so many blank weekends at the start of the season and then start filling them up at the end when clubs invariably are in cup competitions', he continued... Football Conference assistant general manager Keirina Rowland stressed that the league act solely as 'a mediator' when two clubs, Ebbsfleet and Torquay in this case, cannot amicably agree a re-arrangement and they only ever 'step in for the good of the game'. General manager Dennis Strudwick was unavailable for comment".

The Thurrock Gazette says that "Grays midfielder Karl Murray has left the club. Murray, signed from Woking in the close season, played 23 times for the Blues scoring three goals... Murray appeared to fall out with Blues boss Justin Edinburgh in the middle of a vital game against Aldershot at Christmas. A club spokesman said: 'Karl wanted to leave at Christmas but decided to stay a bit longer. Unfortunately he still could not settle and asked to leave. Both Justin and the club are disappointed but have allowed him to leave. We don't want unsettled players and prefer to have players that want to play for the shirt'".

According to the Halifax Courier "As debuts go, Mark Whitehouse had an absolute stormer. Brought on with 20 minutes of Tuesday's derby with York City at the Shay to go, he had become an instant hit with the Town fans within 10 minutes as he bagged the goal that gave his new side a share of the spoils. And all this happened within 24 hours of him putting pen to paper on a deal that saw him arrive from Unibond League Division One side Ossett Albion. As the 23-year-old admitted, it had been a massive surprise to find himself on the bench, let alone on the pitch. 'It was a shock when I was told I would be on the bench', he said. 'There are a lot of quality players here. Obviously I was pleased, but I didn't expect to get on. It was by far the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of and it could not have gone any better for me'. Whitehouse, who had scored in front of 175 fans at the Shay for Ossett six days earlier in the West Riding County Cup, showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion... 'I have been taught to pick a spot and stick to it. When it hit the back of the net I couldn't believe it and I didn't know what to do with myself'. It has been a remarkable month for Pontefract-born Whitehouse who was playing for Winterton Rangers in the Northern Counties League at the start of January. 'I played for Pontefract Collieries for a few seasons when Pete Daniels was the manager and when he moved to Winterton Rangers he took me with him', he said. 'It has gone on in leaps and bounds since then with two games at Ossett before coming to Halifax. I have signed a 13-week contract and the manager has told me it's a chance to try to prove myself. I will just do what I do and see what happens from there'".

"Northwich became an unlikely venue for some of soccer’s biggest names yesterday" reports the Mid-Cheshire Chronicle. "Manchester United stars Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez arrived in town to film a TV advert for sportswear giants Nike with Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director Guy Ritchie. The Marston’s Arena was more like a Hollywood set than a sports ground, with more than 300 cast, crew and extras constantly pouring in and out of the ground. And security has never been tighter. Vics are one of only three clubs to host Ritchie and the entourage filming the multi-million pound ad – the others are Barcelona and Arsenal. Stadium owner and former Vics chairman, Mike Connett, told the Chronicle he was approached by Nike because of the Arena’s burgeoning reputation. 'They came to us', he said. 'It’s been fantastic for everyone here and I’m honoured to be part of it'... Ritchie, married to pop icon Madonna, has been at the club all week. And the United trio arrived yesterday (Tuesday) to film their cameos. The advert is expected to hit screens in the summer to coincide with the European Championships, which begin in June. Mr Connett said: 'I can’t tell you what happens - you’ll have to wait and see it. But it’s going to be the biggest advert ever done by Nike. It’s good for the town and it will put Northwich and the club on the map. We’ve had three of the biggest players in British football and one of the best film directors in the world here and they’re absolutely loving it. They say it’s the best they’ve been looked after. And that’s a phenomenal compliment to everyone here'">

In the same vicinity, the Northwich Guardian reports that "Mike Marsh says he has every faith in Vics to survive in the Blue Square Premier. The former Liverpool midfielder was this week unveiled as Dino Maamria's new right hand man and his first impressions of Northwich are not of a team heading for relegation. 'I've been pleasantly surprised', he admitted on Friday. 'There's a lot of ability here and there's not been the doom and gloom in the dressing room that I expected of a team struggling at the wrong end of the table. In fact it's the opposite, these players believe they can pull this off'. Maamria gave his old pal a call before Christmas to ask him if he would be interested in giving a helping hand. Marsh, 38, has had to bide his time while his former Southport team mate trimmed the wage bill to make room for his arrival... 'Mike is a very, very enthusiastic kind of guy', said Maamria. 'His knowledge of the game is second to none... And he's one of the best people I have played with - he's a top professional'. The mutual appreciation does not end there as Marsh revealed he has found a much more laid back Maamria then the one he played with at Southport. 'He's a lot more even-tempered than I remember', he quipped. 'Dino is a winner and I think that's the attitude he wants to instil in his team'". Maamria added, "I need someone to bounce ideas off as I will make mistakes and having that extra voice can only be a help".

Oxford "United midfielder Danny Rose has agreed a new deal which will keep him at the club until the end of the season" states the Oxford Mail. "He had previously been on a month-by-month contract. 'I'm happy to stay here and fight for my place', he told United's website".

"Manager Paul Buckle refused to be too critical of his Torquay United players after they had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Weymouth... 'I have accused people this season of having too high expectation levels sometimes', said Buckle. 'So I must be careful that I don't go down that road myself. We did lack a bit of finish and a final ball... It's a point gained - there were a lot of other draws in the league - and Weymouth were worthy of it. I'm pleased with picking up another clean-sheet'... Buckle once again praised the near-500 supporters who cheered United on at the Wessex Stadium. 'I thank every one of them for giving up their evening and paying out their money to follow us - the players really appreciate it', he said... New Weymouth boss John Hollins said of Tuesday's match: 'Torquay are a very strong, powerful and well organised team - a good side... I think we will survive if we carry on playing like that'" reports This is South Devon.

From NL DailyGateshead are set to complete a triple raid on York City following the capture of striker Paul Brayson and defender Carl Jones. Both had been close season targets for the Tynesiders, along with midfield man Phil Turnbull, before they signed full-time contracts at the KitKat Crescent. South Shields-born Turnbull, who joined York from Hartlepool United, is now set to join Gateshead on loan with a view to a permanent signing. Turnbull`s career at York has been hampered by injury... The 21-year-old is expected to complete a second loan move to Gateshead". Meanwhile "The Durham FA have given their backing for the County Cup final to be held at the Stadium of Light and with Sunderland Reserves our opponents it would ensure a sizeable four-figure crowd. Gateshead have also made progress in their plans to build a new purpose-built 6,000 capacity stadium in the town having played at the council-owned International Stadium for over three decades".

ALTY TO FACE NANTWICH

LAST GAME

RIght: From Gavin Rathbone comes this image of Alty's Greg Young and Ryan Shotton competing for the ball against Farsley on Tuesday.

According to Farsley Today "Farsley Celtic boss John Deacey remains confident his side can avoid the drop after watching them pick up a vital point at fellow strugglers Altrincham. It was the proverbial game of two halves, with the visitors enjoying a promising enough first half and Alty by far the better side after the break.. Deacey said: 'I've got to be pleased with a point. Our first-half performance I thought was excellent but Altrincham came back in the second half. We worked like mad, like we did in our two previous games, and we have to build a platform from this to get the points back on Altrincham and Weymouth in the relegation dogfight. We've always been confident we can get out of this'. The first half was a dull, dreary encounter – a typical bottom of the table clash. Celtic did at least look marginally sharper than their hosts though... Thankfully, the game burst into life after the break, although it was Alty who had the better of the chances... Farsley held out. They might have even snatched victory late on had Andy Watson showed a touch more composure. But the sub blazed wildly over the bar".

"Farsley Celtic boss John Deacey is hoping for a speedy recovery for goalkeeper Tom Morgan, who fractured his collarbone in their Setanta Shield exit at Droylsden... Deacey said: "He will be out for six weeks and it is a real blow. We are going to miss him. He's a nice kid as well. He has been loyal to Farsley Celtic. Whenever we have asked him to step in he has done a good job. Hopefully, he will be back as quickly as possible'".

NEXT GAME

BSP NEWS

From the BBC we learn that "Oxford United striker Rob Duffy will stay on loan at Wrexham for the remainder of the season. The 25-year-old Welshman was Oxford's top scorer last season, but was initially allowed to join the Racecourse Ground club for a month. With Joel Ledgister also out on loan, Oxford seem certain to add to their squad again, with a midfielder thought to be top of United's wanted list".

This is South Devon says that ""Try as they might, especially during a one-way second half, Torquay United just could not force a winner against Westcountry rivals Weymouth in brass-monkey conditions at the Wessex Stadium last night. Paul Buckle's Gulls piled on relentless pressure, and it was Weymouth who were celebrating their mere survival at the final whistle.A fifth successive clean-sheet in defence means that United have now not conceded a goal for 532 minutes... Buckle made one change, recalling Phillips up front against his old club in place of Roscoe D'Sane, who dropped to the bench... New Weymouth boss John Hollins made several changes after the 2-1 defeat at Stafford last Saturday. In came Justin Roberts and Trevor Challis in defence and new loan signings Franklin Anzite from Swindon and Jack Compton from West Bromwich Albion in midfield. Compton, who grew up in Torquay, is the 19-year-old son of former Gulls and Weymouth stalwart Paul Compton, so the ground of his senior debut could hardly have been more appropriate. The Terras also lined up with only Stuart Beavon up front and Simon Weatherstone 'in the hole' just behind him".

RESULTS

STATTO BANKRUPTCY MYSTERY

Mr Loughran said he had been `out of the country a lot recently'... 'I have ignored letters from the local council, and probably been a bit naïve', he said. 'But it's something I can hopefully sort out. I don't honestly know what, if anything, I owe them. 'I had no idea things had got to this stage'... he said. Mr Loughran, who is the son of former Halle conductor James Loughran, first shot to fame on BBC 2's Fantasy Football League programme... The former Ampleforth College public schoolboy, who confessed to getting poor maths results, became cult viewing... His encyclopaedic memory and love of statistics is also said to have earned him substantial sums of money... A spokesman for the Insolvency Service confirmed Mr Loughran was declared bankrupt at Manchester County Court on February 4".

CARLOS LEAVES

Carlos joined Altrincham in summer 2007, having been released by Darlington. His career started as a trainee at Manchester City before having a loan spell with Chesterfield before going on a free transfer to Darlington in August 2005 where he made 27+15 appearances. A loan to Bradford City followed (2006-07, 3+1 appearances) before he joined Altrincham for whom he made 13 starts and 13 sub appearances, scoring twice (both goals being in Cup games).

ALTRINCHAM'S AWARD

England's 1966 World Cup striker Roger Hunt last night presented Alty chairman Geoff Goodwin with an award to mark Altrincham FC as the most successful non-League club in the North West over the last thirty years. The award, made on behalf of the Non-League Club Directory, was preceded by brief speeches from Alty manager Graham Heathcote and Tony Williams, founder of the Directory. Graham reminded everyone of the club's ups and downs over the past thirty years, singling out John King and the the three-man board of Geoff Goodwin, Grahame Rowley and Andrew Shaw who saved the club in 1995 and 2002 respectively. As well as these four gentlemen, a good showing of former Alty players and supporters were in attendance to mark the occasion.

Above, Geoff is seen with Tony Williams (left) and Roger Hunt (right), flanked by names from Altrincham's successful past thirty years. Seen above in the back row are former players, left to right, Mal Bailey, Mark Maddox, Graham Heathcote, Paul Cuddy, Gary Talbot, Jeff Johnson. The club is grateful to Tony and his colleagues for making this award possible.

ALTRINCHAM 0 FARSLEY CELTIC 0

Match report here.

BLUE SQUARE NEWS

The BBC says that "Histon boss Steve Fallon has allowed long-serving defender Matty Haniver to join Blue Square South neighbours Cambridge City on a month-long loan. 'Hopefully this will enable Matty to get a month of first-team experience', Fallon told his club's website. 'That will certainly hold him in good stead for our hectic end-of-season schedule', he added. Haniver, 26, has only started a handful of games for Histon this season despite being an ever-present last term".

"Oxford United winger Joel Ledgister has joined Blue Square South side Hayes and Yeading on a month's loan. The 19-year-old has made seven starts for the U's since joining from Southend in July but has struggled to hold down a regular place in the first team" says the BBC.

RESULTS & FIXTURES

JOB HALF DONE

But it is the 12th man Heathcote is counting on to make the difference at Moss Lane. He said: 'The support at Droylsden was absolutely fantastic. To run out to 500 supporters gives you a massive boost. We need more of the same tonight. Sometimes you don't get the same kind of noise at Moss Lane because people are spread out around the ground. It might be good if everyone gets together on the terrace and gets behind the team as much as possible'".

And don't forget the presentation to Altrincham FC in the bar tonight before kick off. This is from the Non-League Directory to mark Altrincham FC as the most successful non-League side in the North West over the last thirty years. As detailed below, England World Cup star Roger Hunt will be in attendance along with Tony Williams, (founding editor of the Directory), and a host of former Altrincham FC stars. The bar opens at 6.30pm.

FARSLEY GAME

Farsley Celtic lost 3-1 at home to Aldershot Town last Saturday and Farsley Today says that "Farsley's visit to fellow strugglers Altrincham tomorrow night assumes huge importance after another defeat for John Deacey's men at Throstle Nest. Victory would reduce Altrincham's advantage to two points in the scramble to avoid relegation from the Blue Square Premier League, but Celtic will be without the suspended Scott McNiven and James Knowles. Deacey also has doubts over Mark Jackson and Stephen Downes who both needed treatment for injuries received on Saturday... Deacey was critical of his side's defending... Farsley began with Reeves alone in the attack but were left chasing the game and eventually used three men at the back, five in midfield and two up front. Deacey said: 'We made three basic errors at the back'... Rory Prendergast, impressive against Droylsden in the Setanta Shield, again made a useful contribution on Farsley's left flank in his first home appearance, but Celtic will need to tidy up in defence and show a sharper cutting edge if they are to avoid the drop. Celtic: Aspden; McNiven, Jackson, Santos, Stamer (Torpey 61); Downes, Iqbal, Bentham (Knowles 52), Krief (Bambrook 85), Prendergast; Reeves. Subs not used: Gardner, Backhouse".

The BBC claims that "Altrincham midfielder Liam King is a doubt after sustaining a knock on his return from a knee injury. Richard Battersby will compete for a full-back spot after serving his one-match ban while on-loan Rotherham striker Tom Cahill is available. James Knowles is suspended for Farsley while Roy Stamer and Scott McNiven both miss out through injury. Celtic will also travel without Roy Crossley (back problem) and goalkeeper Tom Morgan (broken collarbone).".

As previously reported the referee for tonight's game against Farsley is Mr Mo Matadar whilst on Saturday at Rushden it is Mr S.R.M. Procter-Green.

TUESDAY DATE

Alty host Farsley Celtic on Tuesday evening. Howard Watts's Through the Years records for Tuesday's game (12 February) have now been added to the website. The sides drew at the Throstle Nest earlier this season but on Farsley's only previous visit to Moss Lane, they lost 4-1 in October, 2004 in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round.

OLD BOYS

Witton Albion lost in the league cup on Saturday but, according to the Northwich Guardian, their "Star Man" was former Alty reserve goalkeeper Craig Ellison. Also playing was former Alty trialist Liam Brownhill, ex-Robins defender Cavell Coo, whilst a used sub was Rod Thornley.

BSP NEWS

"Worcester City have decided not to extend defender Jonny Harkness's loan from Kidderminster Harriers... Harkness joined Harriers in January 2006 after being released by Walsall".

"On-loan Accrington striker Lee McEvilly has revealed he would consider the option of a permanent move to Cambridge United" according to Blue Square Football. "The 25-year-old has been a revelation at the Abbey Stadium and despite being away from his hometown of Liverpool, admits he feels welcome at the U's. He told Cambridge News Online: 'It's difficult to adapt with the situation I've been in. I've just had a little boy and had a few family problems as well and to be fair, I've never been away from home and it's a three-hour drive away. But that's at the back of my head now and I'm just here to play football. If you go into a new job or join a new team, the first thing you wonder is if the lads will take to you. They've looked after me in every possible way and the gaffer has taken me under his wing'. McEvilly is keen to pay the club back after regaining his form at the Blue Square Premier outfit and has insisted he would not down a permanent contract. He said: 'I'm here until the summer, but it's up to them, the ball is in their court. I definitely won't shut them out because they've done me a favour'".

WORLD CUP WINNER TO HONOUR ALTY

As well as the current Alty management of Graham Heathcote and Graham Barrow, present at the event will be other stars from Altrincham's successful past including Barry Howard, Mal Bailey, Paul Cuddy, John King, Ronnie Ellis, Ken McKenna, Mark Maddox and Gary Talbot. All supporters are welcome to attend the presentation which will take place at around 7.10pm. The bar will be open as usual from around 6.30pm.

DINE WITH FREDDIE

Alty Vice-Chairman, Grahame Rowley, writes: "The Manchester Evening News has organized a Gala Dinner for Freddie Pye (left), the former Altrincham manager on February 28th at the City of Manchester Stadium. Altrincham FC has booked a table which has already been taken up by members of the board and guests. However, we have had a couple of enquiries from supporters about the possibility of going to the event. Would any interested parties please contact me by next Wednesday (13th) and, if there is sufficient interest, the Club will book another table.

The MEN says, "Stars have promised to turn out in force for Freddie Pye at the end of the month. The former Stockport County chairman, who managed Altrincham and was on the board at City for many years, has been suffering from ill health in recent years and his friends have rushed to his aid. Sir Alex Ferguson, Mike Summerbee and Wilf McGuiness will be the guests of honour at a gala dinner to be held in the Citizens' Suite at Eastlands on February 28. There will be a question and answer session with the top table conducted by Fred Eyre and there will also be a comedian on the bill. The dinner is open to ladies and gentlemen and starts at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £40 and further details can be obtained by contacting Bernard Halford on 0870 062 1894. Colourful character Pye has long been well known in football circles particularly in the north-west. He was a non-league player of some repute with Hyde United where he was a right half and after playing in the Welsh leagues became manager of Altrincham under chairman Peter Swales and vice-chairman Noel White, who later became two of the Football Association's most powerful figures. The Robins swept all before them and Pye, whose business was scrap metal, became chairman at Stockport County before moving to occupy the same position at Wigan Athletic. Pye later hooked up with Swales again at City where he served as vice-chairman and his last position was at Sheffield United as vice-chairman".

YOUTHS GO UNDER

It was a disappointing day for Altrincham Youth who put in a below par performance on Sunday afternoon, when they lost 1-2 at home to Marine. To compound their problems, they lost striker Tom Bailey to an injury, midfielder Danny Browne was sent off and goalkeeper Andrew Jones hobbled through most of the match with a groin injury. Charlie Weir put Alty ahead midway through the second half, only for the visitors to level from the penalty spot soon afterwards. After Browne had been dismissed for his second yellow card, Marine clinched the game with seconds of the second forty-five minutes left.

Match report in the Youth section.

BSP NEWS

Ebbsfleet United say that "The Setanta Sports TV cameras will be at Stonebridge Road once again on Easter Monday for what could potentially be Ebbsfleet United's big play-off six-pointer against Cambridge United. The Bank Holiday clash on March 24 will now kick-off at 7.45pm to accommodate Setanta Sports' schedule rather than the afternoon kick-off as originally planned. This will be the Fleet's fourth televised game of the season, having played both Crawley Town and Woking, with the return clash at Crawley to come on February 14".

Stafford Rangers "celebrated their first home league victory of the season with a 2-1 win and completed the 'double' over Weymouth. Neil Grayson, with a first-half header, and substitute Courtney Shaw, with a late winner, were the men on target in the Marston Road sunshine. With Droylsden losing at home to Altrincham, Stafford moved off the bottom to 23rd position. The two [new] names on the teamsheet were Keenan Meakin-Richards, cousin of Jemiah who was previously with Hednesford Town, and winger Courtney Shaw who has played for Stafford's County Senior League side and Reserves in the past".

SUNDAY SCORE

DROYLSDEN 0 ALTRINCHAM 2

In today's NL Paper, there are four colour photos of Alty's win at Droylsden, including one for Friends of Altrincham FC coordinator Steve Foster to frame which shows him celebrating Colin Little's goal with gusto. Also in the NLP, Graham Heathcote says of the win, "Today was never going to be about the performance, it was always going to be about the result. I think we produced a professional performance. We have 16 games left to play so it's still all to play for as far as we are concerned. There's still lots for us to do and we'll scrap for every point. We have Farsley Celtic at home on Tuesday so it's a big 72 hours for us. However, we are not getting carried away with today. None of the lads are giving 'yahoos' in the changing room, but today has been a good three points". Meanwhile Dave Pace said "There's lots of points to play for... It's not over until it's over and we can't throw the towel in with 17 games to go. We could go on a ten-game unbeaten run, who knows?... Their goals were down to three mistakes by us. Chris Denham failed to close down Jennings for the first and Lee Roche and Adam Dugdale missed crucial headers to clear. Bur it was a great spin by Little for his goal and it was their day today".

There are plenty of photos from the Droylsden v Alty game on the Bloods' Photo site.

WELL DONE

OLD BOYS

BSP NEWS

The Crawley Observer says that "Crawley Town striker Jamie Cook has topped the fans' poll to be the Blue Square Premier Player of the Month for January. Cook found the net a remarkable seven times in four matches to help Crawley to three wins and a draw during the month. Having previously played for Town manager Steve Evans while at Boston, Cook joined Crawley during the summer".

NL Daily reports that "Rob Edwards has agreed a contract to become player-coach with Exeter City next season. The veteran defender has been tried out in the role for the last month and has impressed City boss Paul Tisdale. Edwards, who was due to be out of contact at the end of this season, is set to sign the new deal over the coming days. 'I am very pleased that Rob Edwards will become a permanent player-coach next year', said Tisdale".

SETANTA SHIELD QUARTER-FINALS

South

DROYLSDEN 0 ALTRINCHAM 2

Above: Altrincham celebrate victory in front of their fans at the Butcher's Arms.

Altrincham's improved form in 2008 continued as they recorded their first "double" of the season at the Butcher's Arms.

Match report here.

DROYLSDEN (Red shirts, black shorts and red socks) 1. Paul PHILLIPS (capt); 2. Lee ROCHE, 16. Adam DUGDALE, 5. Greg STRONG, 22. Steve HALFORD, 11. Chris DENHAM, 19. Levi MACKIN, 14. Connall MURTAGH, 8. Jamie McGUIRE; 9. Terry FEARNS, 12. Jody BANIM. Subs: 3. Karl MUNROE, 4. Colin CRYAN, 6. Gareth MORRIS, 15. Ashley BURBEARY, 26. Danny ELLIS.

ALTY (Pale and dark blue shirts, pale blue shorts and socks) 1. Stuart COBURN; 16. Ryan SHOTTON, 5. Darren TINSON (capt), 10. Greg YOUNG, 24. James JENNINGS; 23. Ryan TOULSON, 7. Robbie LAWTON, 25. Liam KING, 11. Warren PEYTON; 9.Colin LITTLE, 19. Chris SENIOR. Subs: 3. Gary SCOTT, 14. Tom CAHILL, 12. Joe O'NEILL, 15. Chris LANE, 22. Carlos LOGAN.

FIXTURES

YOUTH GAME CHANGED

NEXT TWO GAMES

The Tameside Advertiser tells us that "Altrincham arrive at the Butcher’s Arms on Saturday in a battle of the Blue Square Premier strugglers... Dave Pace said: 'It was one of those games where we didn’t really perform, just look at the result, but these things happen in football. There’s not a lot I can say about it other than it was a freak result which even happens in the Premier League – Chelsea beat Manchester City 6-0 and City had spent £40m... We should have had a couple of penalties but I’m not really moaning about it, I can’t really defend that sort of scoreline. If anything, it just spoils everything because we equalled the club’s best run in the FA Cup and then got the furthest we’ve ever been in the FA Trophy... Our main priority is to stay in the league. We need to bounce back and make sure we improve'... Lee Roche could be available after sustaining concussion at Crawley, while Pace is also hopeful of adding to his squad before the weekend... He said: 'Altrincham is a massive game, if people don’t say it’s a six-pointer then they never will in my opinion. It’s a game we’ve got to win, we’re under no illusions about that because we’ve put ourselves in this position and we’ve got to get ourselves out of it. I’m trying to get some new lads in and we’ll do what we can. The aim is to try and stay up, we haven’t got any other distractions now so we’ll see how that goes'".

Farsley Today reports that "Farsley Celtic may have seen their last hopes of silverware disappear at Droylsden in midweek, but boss John Deacey said: 'We have got 19 cup finals between now and the end of the season'. Those 'cup finals' are all in the Blue Square Premier and the first comes tomorrow when table-toppers Aldershot arrive at Throstle Nest. Celtic go into the game fourth-bottom of the table, just two points behind Altrincham and the safety zone, and they will be looking for another good performance before they travel to Moss Lane to take on the Robins for what is undoubtedly the biggest match of the season next Tuesday night. Deacey said: 'Now we just have one thing to concentrate on and that is survival. We have 19 cup finals left – that's what they are – starting tomorrow. We have got to get the consistency going. Every performance has got to be good between now and the end of the season if we are to stay in this league. It is a hard task when you are playing the side who are top of the league... but we have just got to try and get something out of it and then build on that at Altrincham on Tuesday because they don't come any bigger than that'.. The Celts' boss was busy in the January transfer window, bringing in the likes of youngsters Scott Gardner, Craig Bentham and Matt Lawlor on loan and goalkeeper Curtis Aspden and centre-back Georges Santos on permanent deals. He then added former Blackpool winger Rory Prendergast, a free agent having being released by Rochdale, to his squad... [Against Droylsden] Deacey said: 'We were in so much control it was unbelievable. We didn't look under any threat and then Tom [the keeper] got injured. That's the way it is going... The last three or four performances have been really encouraging, we just have to try and turn it into results now and I think we will do. I am confident we will stay up, which is the most important thing, and then we can build on it for next season'". For the future , "One enforced change will see Aspden returnin goal in place of Morgan, who will be sidelined for six weeks. Ryan Crossley is awaiting an operation on his back injury. Meanwhile, Deacey has ended his interest in Accrington Stanley duo David Brown and Mark Roberts".

OLD BOYS

Bullsnews confirms that "The transfer of Hereford United target Kevin Ellison from Chester to Stockport has finally ollapsed. The deal is understood to have failed over his contract at Chester but no further details are known. Their intended replacement for him, former Cardiff man Kevin Cooper, signed for Chesterfield until the end of the season yesterday. While the retention of Ellison at Chester is popular amongst fans, the club has been derided after announcing the return of the Chairman's son, Stephen Vaughan Jnr, to the playing staff. The 23 year old had left the club 12 months ago, with the club claiming the fans had forced him out, ending up at Boston after a failed loan spell at Rochdale".

BSP NEWS

Especially for Gary Warrington, who runs the Alty Fans' Forum, Exeter City report on "Drumming Up Support: This project is being developed between the Trust and Wren Music (based in Okehampton). The project vision is to work with Wren Musicians and Oral History experts to engage the supporters of Exeter City Football Club in developing song, chant and drumming to support the football team. The musicians we will be working with are Paul Wilson and Matt Norman of Wren Music. Paul has 25 years experience of working with communities, documenting songs and stories and supporting participants to create their own music. Matt Norman is a young folk musician who specializes in researching oral traditions and has been trained by Wren Music. Wren has a commitment to participatory and community based work. We felt that their skills and ethos reflected our approach to working with communities and their track record is exceptional. If you would like to know more about Wren please view their website www.wrenmusic.co.uk. Exciting news about the launch of this project is due within the next week or so - see the club and Trust websites for more information SOON! Also make a note that a professional drumming demonstration is expected to take place at the match on 1 March (Altrincham)". Bring your ear-plugs!

The Oxford Mail says that "Darren Patterson is stamping his mark on Oxford United by changing some of the players' routines to try to get them back into the winning mode. He has already brought in new signings who possess a strong work ethic, and he's making some alterations to sharpen others up and get them out of the comfort zone. One of the first things to go has been the pre-match lunch before away matches just down the road. And it's believed that the paid-for meals after training will also go, with a more scientific approach to fitness at the training ground introduced. Patterson was unhappy at the sluggish start the U's made at Salisbury on January 12 when there was lunch en route, and he scrapped the normal group pre-match meal for the visit to Aldershot.

The result was immediate with United - despite facing the league leaders - starting the game on fire, although they eventually went down 1-0. The U's will bring some gym equipment across to their Milton Heights training base in a bid to concentrate on improving injury prevention... 'We've been fantastic in training all season, it's been in games', he said. 'We're looking more at injury prevention and I want to bring in a nutritionist and sports scientist to look at how we do things'".

At Torquay United "Michael Poke has signed a new loan agreement that will see him remain with United up to and including the 12th April 2008... The loan finishes on the date stated due to the F.A. rules on long term loans. After this date Michael will have to return to Southampton for the remainder of the season".

From the Salisbury Journal we hear that "Ed Asafu-Adjaye has extended his loan period with Salisbury City by a further two months. The Luton Town defender has been a key player in City's last four matches... His Luton team mate Rob Sinclair joined City on loan last week, shortly before the close of the transfer window".

"Lee Hales, on loan to Rushden & Diamonds from West Ham United has today gone back to Upton Park. Hales came to Nene Park in November, initially on a month long loan, which in January, was extended until the beginning of February. The eighteen-year-old central midfielder has featured for Rushden & Diamonds several times during his loan spell".

At Histon, "Winger Dean Bradshaw today left the Glass World Stadium after agreeing mutually with the club to have his contract terminated. The player, who joined in the summer from Braintree Town, has been hampered by a number of injuries... his work commitments and training requirements no longer allowing him to train at the level that would push him into the manager’s plans. It is thought Dean will be joining...Borehamwood".

Crawley Town "have completed the signing of highly rated youngster Dominic Shimmin from Queens Park Rangers. Shimmin, 20, joins the club on a deal through to the end of the season... Shimmin is a strong and aggressive central defender who is also very useful with the ball at his feet. He joined Queens Park Rangers from Arsenal as a 17-year-old in March 2005 for a fee in the region of £80,000. After some impressive displays for Ian Holloway’s side in pre-season, Shimmin made his debut for the Hoops on 20th August 2005 against Coventry City in the Championship. The youngster made two further appearances during his debut campaign... [He made] a full home debut against Stoke City on the final day of the 2006/07 season. Shimmin linked up with AFC Bournemouth in November, 2007 making two appearances for the Cherries on a short loan spell... Despite agreeing his release from the Lotus Road club at the end of January, Dominic is said to have bags of potential".

According to the Argus, Alty's 2005 play-off opponents "Eastbourne Borough have announced plans to make Priory Lane fit for the Blue Square premier. Borough plan to spend £50,000 upgrading their pitch in the summer and another £50,000 on improving facilities for the club's youth set-up. The pitch will be dug up immediately after the final home game of the season to allow new drainage to be installed in a bid to reduce the number of postponements at Priory Lane... Chairman Len Smith said: 'We are hoping to go up this season and if we do, we need a pitch which is suitable for the Blue Square premier or even the Football League'.

Meanwhile, The Argus adds that "Former Crawley defender Chris Giles is hoping avoid an unusual hat-trick against his old club. The Forest Green Rovers stopper faces Crawley at The New Lawn...on [Setanta TV] Sunday. The 25-year-old has scored an own goal in each of the previous two occasions he appeared on the box".

"Stafford Rangers were today desperately hunting reinforcements for [the] game with Weymouth at Marston Road. After the bitter disappointment of their FA Trophy exit at Tamworth, Rangers have been further hit by suspensions for Ross Draper and Jimi Sangare. Draper has a two-match ban for collecting 10 yellow cards this season, while Sangare is out for one game for five bookings" reports This is Staffs. "On top of that, midfielder Matt Hazley is doubtful because of a groin strain... The eight-day embargo on loan deals following the closure of the transfer window is today lifted and secretary and financial director Mike Hughes said caretaker bosses Kevin Street and Neil Grayson were looking at the options. 'It's a good bet that we will have a loan player in for the weekend, probably a defender, but we can't make any moves until Friday'. Already resigned to losing Jemiah Richards and Marco Adaggio, Rangers are hoping that Richard Sutton and Nathan Smith will be fit enough to rejoin the squad. Definitely back in contention is midfielder Seb Arnolin, who was cup-tied for the Trophy games'".

PACE CONFIDENT

GRAHAM'S THOUGHTS

IC Chonicle reports that "A valiant performance by a depleted Vauxhall side was not enough to overcome Altrincham in a closely fought [CSC] semi-final. Motors were missing Peter Heler and Craig Robinson (ineligible), Lee Dames (illness) and the experienced Ged Brannan (work) as their last hope of winning silverware this season slipped away... The hosts took the lead when a corner whipped in from the right presented Greg Young with a simple header. The goal sparked Motors into action and the mercurial Paul Taylor began to make life more difficult for the hosts... Motors' chairman Alan Bartlam said: 'It was disappointing because we felt we deserved to at least go to extra time. But now we must concentrate on the league and our survival. It is still tight at the bottom and a few wins will improve our position a lot'".

GOAL SPONSORSHIP

Alty goal/clean sheet sponsorship

"Now that we're well into the second half of the season, the total raised so far from goal and clean sheet sponsors stands at £962. Could all sponsors please hand the first instalment of their sponsorship monies in to the Club addressed to me and labelled as 'goal sponsorship' or else send a cheque made out to Altrincham AFC to me at 86 Main Road, Wigginton, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 9DZ. Any queries, please email Jon Stack.

Here's the relevant totals so far:

Goals scored

Thanks to all sponsors and let's look forward to more goals and clean sheets in the season to come.......

Regards
Jon and Winnie Stack

BSP NEWS

From Non-League Daily we learn that "Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson says he is unworried by an operating loss of £31,359 announced by the promotion-chasing club for the year ended May 2007. 'That's a manageable figure and I'm confident we're moving in the right direction', said Robinson. The Brewers' turnover and profit and loss figures vary wildly from those of 2006 - but that was the year when the accounts reflected the completion of the Pirelli Stadium and the money-spinning FA Cup tie against Manchester United. Last year, having also hosted a capacity crowd for a friendly against United, they were able to announce a one-off profit of almost £800,000. 'It's more realistic to compare this year's figures to those of 2005', said Robinson. The Brewers lost £90,000 in 2005, the 2004/05 season being their last at Eton Park before moving 200 yards to their new home. Figures since are reflecting bigger gates at the Pirelli Stadium and the fast-increasing non-football revenue the new ground is generating. Burton's net income in 2005 was just short of £350,000 and they had gate receipts of £201,378. Gate receipts in 2007 were up to £351,758, while net income has more than doubled to £816,534. 'That's because we're building up the ground as a conference and wedding venue and we have a lot of bookings now', said Robinson. 'Our turnover is approaching £1.2m and it was more like half-a-million in 2005'. Furthermore, the Brewers' accounts demonstrate that the club is being run economically. Administration expenses of £337,354 in 2006 had been cut to £215,356 in 2007 reports This is Derbyshire.

"Crawley boss Steve Evans is refusing to talk to The Argus for the foreseeable future. He is unhappy with a report last week which stated he swore at Woking fans and directors. Evans has been charged by the Football Association for improper conduct after being sent to the stand by the referee during Crawley's 1-1 draw with the Cards ten days ago".

And the Crawley Observer reports on another ban at Crawley where "Assistant manager Paul Raynor said he is not having a haircut while Crawley continue their unbeaten run after they beat Grays Athletic 4 - 0 in the cup.The Reds beat Grays at the Broadfield Stadium in the fifth round of the Setanta Shield on Tuesday night. With four players rested for the game, Raynor reckons it has created a healthy competition for places".

This is Exeter says that "Exeter City winger Lee Elam is not fazed by the prospect of being turned into a striker at St James's Park. Jamie Mackie's £145,000 transfer to Plymouth Argyle last month left City with only three recognised strikers. And despite the club lodging a club record bid of £65,000 for a top striker in the Blue Square Premier, the transfer window passed without any signings. Tisdale has hinted that he may bring in a loan striker but he has also suggested that Elam may be capable of filling the void. Elam partnered Richard Logan in the closing stages of Saturday's 4-0 demolition of Stevenage Borough at St James's Park and also in Tuesday's second string 4-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle. And while the 28-year-old... said: 'The manager has spoken to me about it to see if I would give it a go and I said "definitely". When I was younger I used to play up front and I can do a job there'".

From the Halifax Courier we learn that "Craig Nelthorpe is expected to extend his stay at the Shay by a further month after impressing in his initial spell on loan from Doncaster Rovers. The 20-year-old winger has scored twice in four starts... 'I have spoken to the people at Doncaster and they are keen for him to come for another month', said Town boss Chris Wilder... The Shaymen beat Ossett Albion 4-1 in their West Riding County Cup quarter final. And the game was most notable for goals scored by strikers Andy Campbell and Darryn Stamp, neither of whom have been regular starters for the side in recent months.... 'Unfortunately at the club the players on the outside don't get to play enough games. I don't think you can replicate game time and game experiences for them'...Town will be away to Bradford Park Avenue in the last four in a match scheduled to be played in the week ending March 8. That is likely to mean games on successive days for Wilder's side - at Altrincham in the Blue Square Premier on March 4 and at the Horsfall Stadium 24 hours later. Rob Scott will be out for at least a month after a specialist advised him to rest his damaged Achilles for four weeks".

The Kidderminster Shuttle says that "Harriers have still had sweet FA from their FA Carlsberg Trophy Final appearance but chairman Barry Norgrove is hoping their Wembley wait will soon be over. An eight-month wrangle with football's governing body means the club is still waiting for its cut of the tickets sales from May's non-league showpiece at the new stadium. Harriers had been hoping to make an estimated £300,000 from the game, which was watched by a record breaking crowd of over 53,000 for a Trophy final... 'We're waiting for the final settlement and can't use the money until it is finally decided... I think it should all be cleared up in the next week or so. The problem is the percentage they're charging us for the commercial side of things at Wembley and the freebies given out. We don't feel we ought to be paying for these sort of things out of our takings. Stevenage feel the same, so we've both been arguing about the expenses incurred'... However, Norgrove believes the figure will be smaller than expected, despite agreeing the cost of hospitality before the final. 'I don't think it will be as big as £300,000. The expenses have come out as a lot more than we thought they would be. We had a meeting with the FA before the final and we've written down all the things that we discussed and how much they were going to take out and their percentages are different from what we have written down'.

The exit of star players James Constable and Scott Bevan for undisclosed fees to League Two neighbours Shrewsbury Town last Thursday, the tumble out of the FA Trophy and the team's fading play-off hopes in the Blue Square Premier have left the fans feeling frustrated... 'I expect we have made a slight profit from James's sale, but Walsall will get some of the fee because they have a sell-on clause', said Norgrove. 'We could have stopped him, he was under contract to us for another season, but if a person is unhappy we thought it would be better to let him go... Scott Bevan was free to go at end of the season so he could have gone for nothing'. Defender Jon Munday has had his loan stay at Worcester City extended until the end of the season"

According to The Mid-Cheshire Chonicle "Northwich Vics are close to break even point. The new regime vowed to make financial ends meet and they say they are succeeding quicker than they thought. 'There are one or two players, signed by Neil Redfearn, on higher wages than the budget allows for, but in the main we have done it', said director Jim Rushe. The club was lumbered with a huge wage bill from the start of the season as experienced players were given big contracts. The bill probably went even higher when manager Dino Maamria set about making 10 January signings. But they have been paid for by a string of departures, the latest being centre back Greg Strong, whose lucrative contract has been cancelled by mutual consent. Paul Tait, the last of the exiled trio, has agreed a settlement on his £600 a week deal.

Rushe added: 'The new players weren’t selected willy nilly, but professionally with the balance and age of the squad in mind. We fully expect inquiries for several of them in the summer... Fans are returning, though we are just grateful for whoever comes after all the negative feelings about the place'. Vics will be given a higher profile in Northwich when their shop and offices open in Witton Street this week... [By] Saturday... Maamria... will have an assistant. He wants Vics to train four mornings a week on a regular basis, which was the main reason Paul Brayson did not return to the club last week. “Paul was within our pay structure', said Rushe... Broken leg victim Jonny Allan is now in full training. Rushe has promised a new deal to keep him at Northwich. Lee Steele, understood to be the highest earner at Vics but restricted to just nine appearances, has recovered from hamstring trouble".

http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/display.var.2026224.0..php York City "boss Colin Walker blasted his players' performace as 'unacceptable' following their Setanta Shield exit [to Northwich]. The Minstermen's 14-match unbeaten streak ended in the process - their first reverse since Walker took over from Billy McEwan. 'We were very sloppy', he said. 'Nobody out there took responsibility and to lose our unbeaten run like that leaves a bitter taste'. Walker agreed that keeper Tom Evans was to blame for two of Vics' three goals but he pointed the finger at his whole back line. 'The back three have been superb for me but they weren't in this game', he said. 'No disrespect to Northwich because they had a gameplan and their three lively forwards caused us problems all night... The penalties typified the way we played... we got what we deserved".

"The flakiest of finishes saw [York] spoon three spot kicks in the shoot out. Lady Luck was wearing a green shirt tonight... It was a night to forget for the Minstermen, who hit the woodwork three times and missed a glut of glaring chances to go through... Yet a York defeat seemed far from the likely outcome during an opening spell that saw Vics struggle lamentably to function in another new Maamria formation boasting three front men". Two ex-Alty trialists conspired to give Vics the lead, as "Aaron Burns's scooped pass was sent skidding towards the target by Cayne Hanley's header that looped up and over Evans to the shock of everybody... [before York keeper] Evans mimicked his opposite number with a dreadful error of his own, dropping Byrom's flag kick at Hanley's feet for the Vics' front runner to smuggle his second goal of the game 10 minutes from time... Star Man: Aaron Burns - Gets better and better with every game. Superb movement off the ball and gifted on it, he is the real deal. Was felled for a clear penalty in the closing stages of full time and, despite suffering cramp after that, hauled himself up off the ground to steer home a cool spot kick in the shoot out... Attendance: 763 (23 from Northwich)". This is York adds that the "attendance of 763 is believed to be the lowest-ever for a City first-team game".

Stevenage boss Peter Taylor tells The Comet that "I am delighted the transfer window is closed. So until the end of the season, I won't be getting any more calls from Gillingham for any more of our players. They have now taken four of our first teamers and it would hurt any team in the world if you sold four of your current first team players. Add Craig Dobson - sold to MK Dons - to that and I'm sure you will understand that it will take time for replacements to adjust to our team work and standards. I'm delighted with our new signings but it takes time to get used to any team. We are third because of our last 10 games but I am disappointed about our last two games - a draw at Farsley Celtic and a defeat at Exeter. We didn't deserve to win at either so we have got to sort out a few things, especially on the defensive side of the team".

Reports from This is South Devon says that "Swindon town forward Kaid Mohamed is already hoping that his loan to Torquay United goes beyond the one-month deal which brought him to Plainmoor. Cardiff-born Mohamed, 23, says: 'I would be glad to play here for the rest of the season'. Mohamed, who was snapped up by former Swindon boss Paul Sturrock after a goal-laden career in the Welsh League, has started both United's last two games. He hit 20 goals in only 15 games for Carmarthen, after spells with Cwmbran and Llanelli. Now 23, he says: 'I''ve come to the pro game quite late. I've gone the long route, through the Welsh League... I was in and out of the Swindon team, and I was sent here to get games under my belt. I'm a striker really, but I'm enjoying playing on the right wing here. I'm an attacking player - I know I'm not so good in defence - and I love going forward. Everyone has been great to me here. There's been no attitude among the other lads, just really good banter and I think I've fitted in OK'...

Off the pitch "Most other parts of the Plainmoor operation are on the up this season, except matchday programmes. So Torquay United are cutting back on their print-run in an effort to break even. I think most fans agree that this season's programme is an improvement, certainly on last season's version. It looks good, and there's more in it. But, for one reason or another, sales continue to disappoint, even on gates which are nearly a thousand up on last year. 'We were showing a loss on the programme on the first half of the season', said chief executive Colin Lee, 'so we've had to have a hard look at it. We've considered lots of different options - design, content, price and distribution - and some of those may have to wait until the summer. But for now we're cutting the print run from 1,000 to 750 per game....If people want a programme now, they'll have to get in a bit quicker. But as opposed to being left with 300-plus per game, we'll make a profit for the remainder of the season instead of losing money'".

DROYLSDEN GAME

LOGAN BURIES MOTORS

WEDNESDAY GAME

SICK BAY

YOUTH GAMES

OLD BOYS

BSP NEWS

The Halifax Courier reported this week that Halifax Town "boss Chris Wilder has been dealt a major blow... with news that Rob Scott could be out for the rest of the season. The right back suffered a torn Achilles in the first half of Saturday's 2-0 FA Trophy defeat to Rushden & Diamonds at the Shay and will have a scan to determine whether an operation is required. 'With only 11 weeks of the season to go that could be it for Rob', said Wilder. 'He just turned and caught his studs in the ground'. Alex Bailey is set to start at right back" in his place.

From the Oxford Mail comes news that "Darren Patterson admits there has been a sea change in Oxford United's transfer policy, even if the club haven't come out and stated it as such. After trying, unsuccessfully last season, to win promotion with a team built on the foundations of players who had dropped down from the Football League, there is a trend towards bringing in players who have proved themselves in the Conference. Last week's capture of Michael Blackwood meant the U's boss had signed five players in January. Three have come from rival Blue Square Premier clubs - Blackwood and Justin Richards from Kidderminster and Craig McAllister from Grays - while the other two, Adam Murray from Macclesfield and Michael Howard from Morecambe, had spent most of their time in recent years in the Conference. Patterson said: 'I think it's important that they know how to handle this league. It's not an actual policy change as such, but it's something we are placing greater importance on. That's not to say there will not be players that we sign from higher levels'... Those transfer-listed players who did not leave Oxford during the January window will stay on the 'available' list. They include Eddie Hutchinson, Carl Pettefer and Matt Day".

According to This is Staffs Stafford Rangers' "defender Jemiah Richards has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his foot... while striker Marco Adaggio has been sidelined for at least a fortnight with a pulled hamstring... 'We are struggling for defenders', said secretary and financial director Mike Hughes".

"Torquay United manager Paul Buckle has issued a 'We Can Do It Together' call to Gulls supporters to help beat the growing fixture logjam which goes with trying to do a Blue Square Premier and FA Trophy 'Double' this season" reports This is South Devon... It includes the likelihood that United will have to play twice in three days at the start of next month - Saturday to Monday, March 1-3. That's because Setanta Sports TV coverage has forced the key game against title rivals Aldershot Town to be brought forward 24 hours to March 3. 'It's ridiculous, but if we have to play two games in three days because of TV, we'll do it', said Buckle. 'Management is hard enough as it is, without things like that being thrown at you. When my club tells me to play, we'll be ready to play... Let others moan about the problems. We've got a lot of home games to come... Let's look at the exciting side of all that, not go looking for excuses. We never do that at this club'. United are still waiting for an answer from Grays Athletic to their request to play the scheduled March 1 league game the night before (Friday, February 29), to give them a little more time to recover for the Aldershot match".

This is York says that "Former Barnsley, Charlton and Oldham midfielder Neil Redfearn has been appointed as York City's new youth-team coach... He started this season as Northwich manager and his arrival at KitKat Crescent will mean previous head of youth Eric Winstanley will now work permanently as Walker's assistant, while overseeing all coaching at the club".

WALKERS' SUCCESS

Above, courtesy of Alty vice-chairman Grahame Rowley, is a picture of the intrepid Altrincham FC walkers who reached Droylsden after a 17-mile fundraising trek yesterday. Beneficiaries of the sponsored walk, organised by Alty director Andrew Shaw and Radio Manchester's Jimmy Wagg, were the Autistic Society and Altrincham FC. Congratulations and thanks go to all the participants. There will be more on the walk, to follow.

ALTRINCHAM 2 VAUXHALL MOTORS 1

Match report here.

SCOTTY'S BIG WIN

Above: There is never a dull moment when Gary Scott is around. Above Gary (second left) is seen receiving his cheque from Darren Tinson as the third-prize winner in the Friends of Altrincham FC monthly draw, organized by Steve Foster. Also pictured are Paul Daine (far left), the first-prize winner, and Daniel Jones (second-prize winner). You, too, can help the club and have your chance of winning £100 by becoming a Friend.

OLD BOY

BSP NEWS

We hope you will appreciate that this is something of a step into the unknown for us and predicting the levels of sales cannot be an exact science. As such, at this time we cannot commit to providing a kit allowance for Ebbsfleet United's ladies and its youth teams (of which we are told there are around 20) next season. However, we will pledge to provide one full kit per team every 250 sales of replica shirts (or equivalent)".

Across the Thames estuary at Grays Athletic "Alan Power has been recalled from his loan spell with Grays Athletic and has returned to Nottingham Forest. Jack Obersteller has extended his loan with Grays Athletic until the end of the season".

"Torquay United's longest-serving player Kevin Hill may be loaned to Blue Square South side Dorchester Town, BBC Radio Devon understands. "Hill, 31, who has been with the club for over 10 and a half years, has made just two starts and seven substitute appearances for the Gulls this season".

Aldershot Town chairman John McGinty is "pleased to announce that John Grant has signed an extended contract with Aldershot Town Football Club and is committed to playing for us through to the end of season 2009/2010"

"Three of Cambridge United's players have been called up to the England C squad to play Wales Under-23 later this month. Michael Morrison, Dan Gleeson and Scott Rendell are all included in the 16-man squad... The full squad is as follows - Lance CRONIN (Ebbsfleet United), Adam BARTLETT (Blyth Spartans), John BRAYFORD (Burton Albion), Daniel GLEESON (Cambridge United), Michael MORRISON (Cambridge United), Ronnie HENRY (Stevenage Borough), Liam BROWNHILL (Witton Albion), Ricky HOLMES (Chelmsford City), Ben HARDING (Aldershot Town), Russell PENN (Kidderminster Harriers), Lewis CHALMERS (Aldershot Town), Dean MOXEY (Exeter City), Mitchell COLE (Stevenage Borough), Shaun HARRAD (Burton Albion), Matthew TUBBS (Salisbury City), Scott RENDELL (Cambridge United)".

Nigel "Clough has missed out on one of his transfer targets after Craig Armstrong opted to join Cheltenham Town" according to The Burton Mail. "The Brewers' boss tried to bring the player in on loan last week... Clough said: 'He's decided to join one of his former clubs at a better level than we can offer him'".

Before Tuesday's defeat of Farsley Celtic at Droylsden in the Setanta Shield, Farsley Today reported that "Deacey is expected to make changes to his side tonight../ That should provide an opening in midfield for Dominic Krief... Steve Torpey, who has been on bench duty, could also be promoted to the starting line-up... Deacey won't want to risk all of his regulars, though midfielder James Knowles and defender Scott McNiven may be given run-outs in what will probably be their final game before suspensions kick in under the totting up system. Deacey said, 'Setanta have been excellent for the league this season and we will have to show the competition respect,which is what we will do. But the league is everything to Farsley Celtic. It means absolutely everything for us to stay up this season, so we will have to bear in mind what is ahead of us'. Meanwhile, skipper Ryan Crossley will see a surgeon this week to discuss what steps need to be taken to rectify his back problem. Crossley had an MRI scan last week which has revealed a problem with a disc in his back".

RESULTS

ALTY'S TWO PAIRS OF MITTENS

Meanwhile, Josh (Jozzer) Mitten is now playing at Curzon Ashton, after hitting more than thirty goals for Flixton last season.

TONIGHT

NEXT TWO LEAGUE GAMES

The referee for Saturday's game at The Butcher's Arms is Mr D. Webb (who handled our away game against York, as well as our home win over Weymouth in November).For the Alty v Farsley match next Tuesday the official is Mr Mo Matadar, who also reffed the reverse fixture at Throstle Nest. Mr Matadar's previous encounters with Altrincham include:

GATES

Top of the tree are Oxford United but from last year's average of 6357 they are down 24.34% to 4810 this season. The next three are also ex-League clubs:

Locally, we find,

Those below Alty from the BSP are;

TROPHY

BSP NEWS

At Kidderminster Harriers manager "Mark Yates has confirmed that defender Jon Munday will remain on loan with Worcester City until the end of the current season... Worcester have also expressed an interest in keeping Harriers' left-back Jonny Harkness on board for at least a second month. Boss Mark Yates told harriers.co.uk this afternoon: 'They've enquired about keeping Jonny for another month but that's not been sorted yet, I'll be speaking to Jonny before the end of the week and we'll see where we go'". "Losses of more than £30,000 have highlighted the importance of Kidderminster Harriers' Wembley windfall", reports the Kidderminster Shuttle. "A deficit of £33,459 is revealed in the club's balance sheet which will be officially presented to shareholders at their annual meeting in the Aggborough executive suite on Thursday, February 21. The figure covers the period for the year ending May 31, 2007. It does not include the money Harriers netted from their May 12 trip to Wembley when a record 53,262 crowd saw them lose 3-2 to Stevenage Borough in the final of the FA Trophy... Chairman Barry Norgrove said: 'The reason why we are having the problem is that Wembley are still trying to sort out all of their costings on the game'... Harriers' loss follows a profit of £28,695 for the previous 12 months... In his annual report, Norgrove says: 'The immediate aim is to return to the Football League, but it is no secret that we have found it difficult to bounce straight back... However, we haven't quite managed to find the consistency on the field to match the stability off it'".

"Weymouth Football Club is delighted to announce the winner of the competition to find the club's new motto. The winner, 'Forward Together', was suggested by Ben Stubbs and was the favourite in the fan's vote. At a time of change and forward thinking, the club decided that it would be fantastic to develop a motto that would reflect what the club meant to its fans and the community. Chairman, Malcolm Curtis, said: 'I've been determined to open up the club to get fans involved, which is one of the reasons why we ran this competition to give supporters the opportunity to say exactly what their club means to them'".

"Farsley Celtic captain Ryan Crossley is hoping for the beginning of the end for his frustrating spell on the sidelines" reports Farsley Today. "Crossley's season has been hampered by a persistent back problem and he hasn't kicked a ball in anger since Boxing Day... Crossley said: 'I went for a scan in Dewsbury on Tuesday and hopefully by the time we play York I should have the results, so fingers crossed I will know what the problem is. We have come to the end of the road really, we don't really know what is up with it. The pain started in the back but the problem has now gone into the hip a bit as well. We have exhausted all routes on the physio side and have stopped all treatment until we know exactly what is wrong'...

"An influx of new signings including on-loan youngsters Scott Gardner, from Leeds, and Craig Bentham, from Bradford, plus goalkeeper Curtis Aspden and centre-back Georges Santos, have got Farsley firing again... Crossley said of their draw with Stevenage, "to get a 0-0 result at Throstle Nest was great and the performance more than anything was really good. We looked organised, we looked strong and we should have got three points to be honest. John Deacey has brought a lot of good quality players in, that's put pressure on everyone to perform and it's good for the dressing room as well. It has given everybody a lift'".

The following players have been shortlisted for the Blue Square Premier January “Player of the Month” award:

The voting cane be done on the Blue Square Football site.

Blue Square announces that "Liam Daish has won the Blue Square Premier “Manager of the Month” for January... The former Coventry and Ireland defender led his club (Ebbsfleet Utd) to three straight wins in the Blue Square Premier during the month, part of a nine match unbeaten run in all competitions. The Fleet now find themselves just six points off the Blue Square Premier play-off positions".

The Halifax Courier reports on our opponents on Saturday week, Rushden. "Two goals in the last three minutes saw Rushden & Diamonds book their place in the quarter finals [of the FA Trophy]". Halifax boss Chris Wilder said , "We played too safe. The players should have realised that. It sums up where we are as a team and a club at the moment - we are the nearly men. On our day we are all right but in tight games we seem to lose them... They have left it up to someone else - a dopey linesman - and the bottom line is that we are out of the cup'. The 'dopey' linesman Wilder was referring to was the one who failed to raise his flag against Rushden's opening goal scorer Lee Tomlin who appeared to be offside... It was another example of a long ball forward catching out the Town defence... Wilder added, 'We have been done with a straight ball which has been our Achilles heel all season'... Wilder was also unhappy with a Michael Rankine challenge on Adam Quinn in the first half when the Rushden striker escaped without sanction. 'Adam Quinn will need stitches in his lip after Rankine clearly caught him', said Wilder".

SUPPORTERS' COACH FOR DROYLSDEN - CORRECTION

YOUTHS REACH SEMIS

Above: As dusk falls at Wythenshawe Town, centre-back Jake Leigh-Watson drives home the first spot-kick in Alty Youth's 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory against Ashton Athletic in the NW Youth Alliance Open Cup quarter-final on Sunday afternoon.

Altrincham Youth beat Ashton Atheltic 4-2 on penalties after their Open Cup quarter-final had ended 1-1. Report in Youth section.

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ALTY ADVANCE LITTLE BY LITTLE

BSP NEWS

Blue Square Football confirms that "Cambridge United have revealed that chief scout Willy Wordsworth has been appointed as Jimmy Quinn's new assistant manager. This follows the departure of Alan Lewer to Weymouth.... ''Willy is very happy to take this on', chairman Phil Law told the club's official website. 'He's a very experienced manager in his own right and he and Jimmy go back a long way... He may not have had a high profile but he's been one of the cornerstones of the success we've enjoyed so far this season with his detailed scouting of other clubs and identifying potential new signings... He's very well respected in the game and I know he will do a cracking job'". Meanwhile Non-League Today quotes Quinn as saying, "Alan, I'm afraid, has not handled this very well. He has not bothered making contact with me to explain his reasons. I guess it is about money... Alan has let me down big time. I was warned before he was capable of doing this. He has a reputation of pulling these stunts'".

From Cambridge United comes news that "The fans' trust, Cambridge Fans United, topped up Cambridge United's promotion fund to bring Forest Green striker Mark Beesley to the Abbey Stadium. Beesley was one of Jimmy Quinn's targets in the January transfer window but United's initial approach had been rejected. Whilst United had secured the transfers of defender Wayne Hatswell, striker Lee McEvilly (loan) and midfield duo Paul Carden (loan) and Ben Farrell, it had seemed likely that they would miss out on Beesley... That was until CFU stepped in with £10,000 to unlock the negotiations. CFU spokesman Robert Osbourn said, 'The directors have been matching contributions from the fans, and we felt that giving Jimmy the best opportunity to push for the promotion that would mean so much to the club was something we wanted to see achieved'".

According to the BBC "Kidderminster Harriers' chairman Barry Norgrove has claimed the club is still awaiting monies due from last May's FA Trophy final at Wembley. He told BBC Hereford and Worcester that Harriers have been involved in lengthy dialogue with the Football Association. 'The reason why we are having the problem is that Wembley are still trying to sort out all of their costings on the game', said Norgrove. 'There have been letters going back and forth so it shouldn't be too long now'".

FAT ON SUNDAY

IN THE PICTURE

HOME AND AWAY

So, to see the most of Altrincham, why not come and support them on their away trips? Details of the STAR supporters' coaches to our next three away matches, at Droylsden, Rushden and Torquay are now on the Away Travel page. .

BSP NEWS

OLD BOYS

Stockport County "have agreed a deal with Chester City to bring Kevin Ellison back to Edgeley Park. The winger should arrive initially on loan, and will then sign a permanent contract in the summer. Ellison first arrived in SK3 in November 2001 when Carlton Palmer, on the advice of Colin Murphy who was instrumental in taking the winger to Leicester from Altrincham, paid the Foxes £55,000.... After 52 senior appearances in County Blue he enjoyed a successful loan spell with Lincoln City before joining Chester for the first time, in the summer of 2004. His form at the Deva Stadium prompted Colin Murphy, then Director of Football at Hull City, to sign him for a third time, this time paying £100,000 for his services in January 2005. He helped the Tigers win promotion from League 1 at the end of his first season... He joined Tranmere Rovers in the summer of 2006 before moving across Cheshire, for his second spell with Chester, at the start of the current campaign. Now 28, Ellison will have to wait to make his second County debut as he is serving a three-match ban after collecting a red card in his final Chester appearance".

ACTION PICTURE

Right: Gavin Rathbone's picture shows left-back James Jennings, on loan from Macclesfield, and an important factor in Alty's improvement since New Year.

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LOCAL NEWS

BSP NEWS

The Kidderminster Shuttle reprost that "Captain Stuart Whitehead has been released from Harriers by mutual consent. The defender was released from his contract by the club after agreeing it was time to move on. Whitehead was an important figure in Harriers' success last season... [but] struggled to repeat last season's consistency... after hernia surgery at the start of the season... Manager Mark Yates has also signed striker Darryl Knights on loan until the end of the season".

This is Thurrock confirms that "Two players have returned to Grays Athletic after completing their loan spells. Adam Gross and Jack Haverson are back at the New Rec after going out on loan to Weymouth and Sutton United respectively. However the club has parted company with Mark Marshall who has signed a permanent deal with Eastleigh FC and Colin Daniel has returned to Crewe Alexandra".

This is Glos states that "Mark Beesley has admitted financial security and the chance to play for a 'massive club' lured him away from Forest Green. The 27-year-old forward has penned a two-and-a-half year deal at Cambridge United, and is understood to have more than doubled his wages in the process. Having been at Rovers since 2004, and in the midst of his most successful season for the club, Beesley was far from unhappy at the New Lawn. But with a wedding to pay for in 2009 - and no guarantee of an improved contract if he stayed put - the chance to join Jimmy Quinn's promotion hopefuls proved too good to resist. He said: 'You only have to look around the Abbey Stadium to see that Cambridge are a potentially massive club. That was the main reason I decided to join, plus I was being offered the kind of financial security that maybe I couldn't get at Forest Green. It was a difficult decision to leave, particularly as (Rovers' boss) Jim Harvey has re-launched my career since he took over. I want to thank him. But I'm hoping to marry my girlfriend (Ruth) next year and maybe start a family, and football is not a secure business at this level'".

According to This is Exeter "Paul Tisdale has been given an £80,000 cash boost from the sale of Jamie Mackie to Plymouth Argyle. The Exeter City boss has been handed £40,000 now and £40,000 has been put into next season's playing budget. Mackie became the fourth most expensive player in City's history when he was sold to the Championship club for £145,000. And Tisdale is hoping to use the money to help sustain a promotion push this term. 'The club got £125,000 up front and I am getting £40,000 to spend now and £40,000 is being added to the budget next season', said the City manager. Tisdale was last night waiting to hear if a record-equalling £65,000 bid to sign a new striker was successful... 'It demonstrates that we are trying to add quality to the team and I was prepared to go to the wire to get the right one', said Tisdale. The City boss also slapped in bids for two other players - believed to be a defender and a midfielder... 'There is always the option of loans', he added. 'But I have got a list of young players at league clubs who would relish the chance of coming into a squad that is competitive'".

From the Crawley Observer we learn that "Crawley Town have recalled Jamie Lovegrove from his loan at Worthing for the big FA Trophy tie against Droyslden... Evans needs him back with Thomas Pinault being suspended and Kevin James cup-tied".

The Conference says that "AFC Telford United have completed their biggest ever signing by capturing the signature of Kidderminster Harriers captain and former Telford United hero, Stuart Whitehead, on a free transfer".

Cambridge United "issued a clear statement of intent by rejecting further offers for leading scorer Scott Rendell on transfer deadline day. On Monday evening it was announced here that a bid from a Football League club for Rendell had been rejected. Further enquiries were received today and bids from two League clubs were turned down. Chairman Philip Law was delighted to tell cambridgeunited.com , 'We were made a good offer for Scott ... Scott himself is happy to stay '... Defender Michael Morrison will also finish the season with the U's. The central defender has so far declined to sign a new contract and is due to be out of contract at the end of the season, but the January window has passed without an offer being made for the 19-year-old".

YOUTH GAME

FIXTURES

Saturday 2nd Feb. BSP:

FAT 3:

ALTY DIPPY DAPPY

The Cardsboard has an excellent match report oin Thursday's game against Woking.

BATTERSBY BANNED

BSP NEWS

This is Weymouth confims that the Terras "have snapped up Cambridge United assistant-manager Alan Lewer... Hollins said: 'Alan and I were born in the same area in Guildford. We have always met up to go scouting and watch games and we both went for the Crawley job at the same time. The club ended up asking us to work together and once we got into that we found we worked as a team really well. We were asked to knock it into shape and now it is a survived club'. Hollins has also released on-loan pair Adam Gross and Wilfried Domoraud, and trialist Chris Saunders. He said: 'Adam and Wilfried's loans were both up anyway and I wanted to cut down the size of the squad. I also want the players to know who they are competing against for a place and what we are trying to do. We have had a couple of good sessions this week... We have still got three experienced players out in Ashley Vickers, Simon Weatherstone and Nick Crittenden, which was one of the problems Jason Tindall had, and it is important we get them back fit'. The Terras did make enquiries about a 'big centre forward' earlier this week but... Hollins added: 'The player had already spoken to someone else and gone but like I said we have some good players to come back and we also have six emergency loans left if we lose a keeper or someone in another vital position'". Meanwhile "Narada Bernard could feature after a long lay-off with an ankle injury while Justin Roberts is a doubt... Hollins said: 'It would be a bit of a risk to play Narada but he is back in training. As for Justin he has had a bit of an illness so we cannot afford to run him into the ground too much... At the moment the club captain is Simon Weatherstone but on the pitch at this time it is Marcus Browning".

The Northants Evening Telegraph From the Oxford Mail - "There were no further moves in the transfer market for Oxford United on deadline day yesterday after manager Darren Patterson had two incoming deals scuppered because a player didn't want to go out... Patterson would not reveal the names of the players involved, but was very frustrated at being unable to add to his five acquisitions in January - Craig McAllister, Adam Murray, Michael Howard, Justin Richards and Matt Green. All he would say was: 'There was the possibility of three deals being done, but it hasn't happened. It's disappointing, because the players I was going to bring in would have improved our quality in the areas I feel need strengthening'. It's believed at least one of Patterson's targets was a winger, or wide midfielder - an area that has been weak or inconsistent all season. He added: 'There is the added bonus, though, that we can take loans after the closure of this transfer window. In the Conference, we can do that when the loan window opens again next Thursday'".

The Northwich Guardian says that "Paul Brayson will not be returning to Northwich Victoria... 'We are pleased to announce that Paul Brayson has signed for the Tynsiders after their release from York City', read a statement on the UniBond Premier Division outfit, Gateshead's official website. The Guardian can reveal that Brayson has had talks with Vics today but the two parties were unable to agree terms". Meanwhile, "The exit door was the only one used at the Marston's Arena on transfer deadline day. Northwich Victoria cancelled the contracts of Greg Strong and Kevin Sharp cut the wage bill. But there were still not pennies enough to pay for Paul Brayson. Dino Maamira admitted he headed home frustrated after day spent negotiating with a former fan favourite. 'His wage demands were too high', said the Vics boss. 'Paul could only commit to training twice a week and I need more than that because of the situation we are in fighting to stay in this division'.

Brayson instead switched to Gateshead in his native north east. Maamria revealed that he had tried to contact Mark Roberts over a possible return to his home town team, but insists the player never returned any of his calls... Roberts switched to Accrington Stanley in the summer and has been a regular for the League Two strugglers so far this season but a fall out with boss John Coleman in the past fortnight has left him looking for a club".

NOT BROKEN

ALTRINCHAM 2 WOKING 2

Match report here.

OLD BOYS

Bullsnews confirms that Hereford United "have joined the chase for Chester winger Kevin Ellison, according to the player himself. The former Tranmere winger acknowledged that he had been told of interest from four clubs, but had not sought a move himself. The 28 year old is Chester's top scorer, with eight goals in 30 games. Speaking to the Chester Evening Leader, Ellison said, 'Before Saturday's game against Rotherham a few Chester fans were asking if I was leaving the club, but I hadn't heard anything. Then, on Tuesday, I was told by a few people that Chester had accepted an offer from Wrexham for me, but I hadn't heard or spoken to anyone about a move. I'm set on staying at Chester and I don't see any reason why I should leave. Then, before Tuesday night's match against Rochdale, the gaffer pulled me into his office and I was told that Wrexham, Darlington, and Hereford were interested in signing me. At the moment I'm happy at Chester and I don't want to go anywhere else. I've got to think about my little one and a mortgage. I haven't spoken to my agent or any club about a move away from Chester because I'm happy where I am'".

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BSP NEWS