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HELP THE CLUB - join the Friends of Altrincham FC and the Patrons' Club - full details of these and other fundraising initiatives are here.  
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Clive Moyo-Modise (right) has asked to be released from Altrincham FC to seek regular first-team football elsewhere and the Club has agreed to this. Clive joined Alty on 12 February 2010, having started his English career at Rochdale in 2005, for whom he made 2 + 26 first-team appearances. In his five weeks at Moss Lane, he made just four appearances for Altrincham, all as a substitute. The Club wishes him well in his future career. Picture courtesy of John Cawthorne.
The Northants Evening Telegraph says that "Justin Edinburgh expects another tough test away from home for Rushden & Diamonds this weekend. They head to Altrincham on Saturday in search of a third successive win on the road following 1-0 victories at Histon and Tamworth. Edinburgh will make the trip to Moss Lane tonight [Friday] for Altrincham's game against Kettering Town.
The Diamonds' boss said: 'We know it's a difficult place to get a good result – as York City found out on Saturday. It's another tough game where we will have to roll our sleeves up and show the other side where you have to grind something out. But if we can't take confidence after Saturday's game then we never will! We're looking forward to it'.
Diamonds have [had] another blank midweek and the squad were rewarded with extra time off yesterday following the eight-goal demolition of Gateshead... and on-loan forward Jefferson Louis – who struck twice with a couple of assists – earned plenty of praise from Edinburgh. He added: 'Jefferson is an important part of how we play. If we can get him into the game quickly then he brings in other players. If he doesn't do that at times we can struggle'... Craig Farrell came on against Gateshead to maintain his ever-present record".
Rushden & Diamonds have a lengthy preview of Alty's game with Rushden.
Right: Chris Senior, Peter Doran and the referee are in unison as Gavin Rathbone's image shows from Tuesday's game against Kettering.
FAT SF
'We have had no approach from Macclesfield about David, either officially or as an informal word between chairmen' said Perry. 'In fact I will go as far to say that we have had no approaches for David at all since the time he was appointed'...
Perry is pleased with the way the relationship between Holdsworth and the board is working out. Perry said: 'We are all pushing in the same direction and want to move the club forward. But at the same time there is still a gap there that we can be strong enough as a board to say 'yes' or 'no' in certain situations to requests. That is the way it should be'.
Skipper Luke Foster has been banned for two games for his sending off against York City on Tuesday. The central defender, who was shown two yellow cards, will miss Saturday's trip to Histon and Tuesday night's home clash with Altrincham. With Luke Jones still out injured, that could mean Scott Garner is recalled alongside Michael Brough".
TASC Football Predictions Competition 2010
Don’t forget to enter this competition, the deadline for entries passes at kick off TODAY. Please hand your sheets in to Anthony Wright in the club shop before then.
"My Square" pitch sponsorship
The time has come for the auction of the second ‘extra special square’ on the hallowed turf, and who will ever forget Michael Welch’s 70 yard free kick against Crawley Town last year. The auction for the Michael Welch square will start today (Tuesday), and continue on the Fans' Forum. Anyone wishing to bid off line can contact the club and these bids will be added to the internet bidding thread.
Bag2 The Future
Details of this scheme appeared in the news for 16 March, lower down this page...
Please return your bag with articles to Altrincham Football Club TOMORROW (Wednesday) between 11am - 1pm. Please look for the signs and somebody will be there to take it from you.
Race Night and Player of The Season awards
Voting forms for Player of the season will be handed out at the turnstiles today. On the form there is also a section to fill in if you want to buy a horse or sponsor a race for the race night (costing £10 and £20 respectively). Please fill these forms in and hand them in to the TASC section of the shop at your earliest convenience".
A pre-exemption clause attaching to the lease between current owners Bideawhile and Cambridge United FC gives the Club a chance to facilitate its own buy back of the ground in preference to the agreed sale to major property developer, Grosvenor Developments. This clause effectively gives only another seven days for the Club and Trust to raise an initial deposit of £350K and secure guaranteed funding to pay the remaining sum of £3.15 million pounds.
The proposal is to set up a company to buy back the stadium. This company would be formed by the sale of its 3,700 shares. Each share would cost £1,000 to buy. The sale of these shares would raise the sum required to buy back the ground from Bideawhile (including stamp duty and other set-up costs).
The company would lease the ground to Cambridge United FC at a much reduced rent. Potentially saving the club a six-figure sum each and every season. The company’s annual profits would be distributed amongst its shareholders. Even with a reduced rent there is an opportunity to provide an attractive return to investors, especially as many deposit accounts at banks/building societies are paying 1 per cent or less to their savers...
Paul Barry, Chairman of CUFC issued a statement supporting the initiative: 'This football club is blessed with some of the most loyal and imaginative fans in the country. With time being short on the option, I hope for a positive outcome that will put the club on a stronger financial footing'”.
More on this comes from the Cambridge News, which quotes CFU spokesman Kevin Robson on the need for a major investor. Robson said: 'We’re calling the person we’re looking for "The Amber Knight"...
Robson said CFU chairman Dave Matthew-Jones and Cambridge United fans’ director Colin Proctor were in talks with potential major investors and also in the process of setting up a meeting with Bideawhile and Grosvenor to see if extra time to find the money could be granted".
Above, we see Chris Senior receiving his Blue Square Player of the Month award for February before the game with York City last Saturday. Making the award are Bill King (left) and Dennis Strudwick of the Conference. Picture courtesy of Gavin Rathbone of GR Photography.
Right, courtesy of Sarah Rowley, we see the Yorkshire-based trio of Greg Young, Chris Senior and John McAliskey making the draw for the Altrincham FC World Cup competition. The full draw is below.
Heathcote marvelled at his players' enduring spirit and resolve... 'It is so important the fans keep coming through the turnstiles', said the Alty manager. 'What we get in gate money over the remaining month or so is very much going to determine what we can do next season. The last thing I want is to go to a board meeting and be told we have to reduce the wage bill, but we need sufficient income to avoid that scenario. So many people work incredibly hard for this club, and we all appreciate the support we get, but we are entering a critical phase in that respect.
The £30,000 hand-out from the Premier League won't be there, for one thing. That was a one-off to compensate for the loss of Setanta TV revenue, so we have to bridge that gap somehow. Thankfully, we have some very attractive games coming up, starting with Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday, so I hope people will come along in numbers'"
Against Kettering, "It could easily have been four," said Heathcote. "I take my hat off to the players. They keep being tested, with all the injury setbacks we've had, but they keep responding. Their attitude against Kettering was fantastic".
Meanwhile "Skipper Robbie Lawton hopes to be fit for Saturday's home game with fourth-placed Rushden".
From Tuesday's game we see Adam Carden, who made his first start for Altrincham, in action, with Shaun Densmore looking on.
Picture courtesy of Gavin Rathbone of GR Photography.
Kettering Town report that "in one of the Poppies worst performances of the season they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat... Both teams had key players missing tonight, with both squads stretched. Surprisingly also Altrincham rested both Chris Denham and Colin Little. Kettering were without their Captain, Ian Roper, and had several players carrying knocks... Nicky Clee was sent clear on the left. His low cross was stabbed home at the near post by giant striker, John McAliskey, low to Nathan Abbey’s right and just inside the left upright.
This signalled a nightmare last 10 minutes of the half for Kettering and in particular Alton Thelwell, who was deputising for the injured Roper".
And the Northants Evening Telegraph adds that "Kettering Town's play-off hopes suffered potentially a fatal blow as they hit the self-destruct button at Moss Lane. A calamitous first-half display handed Altrincham the points... They certainly didn't look like a side with the best away record in the country.
The game was done and dusted by half-time as the Poppies gifted their hosts a 2-0 lead, the only positive to come out of the opening period was that they weren't five down because they easily could have been".
The Popies'Fans site has a commentary on the game at Moss Lane. "Kettering are all at sea and it's the home side who finish the first half strong and sitting on a 2-0 advantage at the break" is one of its comments. And it adds that "Even with 5 minutes of injury time it's just prolonging the disappointing experience for the Poppies travelling faithful as they see their side outfought for most of the match and eventually well-beaten 2-0 at mid-table Altrincham".
"With games coming thick and fast, Graham Heathcote is understandably concerned about fatigue taking its toll and is doing his best to guard against it by cutting back on training sessions. If we are playing on a Tuesday and Saturday, sometimes travelling long distances into the bargain, the boss feels it makes sense to rest in between, rather than subject weary limbs to any further punishment.
It doesn't matter that the entire process is usually accompanied by all sorts of banter from the rest of the lads, it's something he swears by as part of his fitness programme. Apparently, the powder is full of the sort of protein you get in chicken and eggs and is supposed to help with rebuilding muscle tears. Fair play to him, he has been a tower of strength in the centre of defence and has grown in confidence after arriving at the club probably thinking he was going to be a bit of a squad player.
He has taken his chance really well and formed a partnership with Greg Young that takes some beating, particularly in the air. AFC Wimbledon certainly struggled to get past them, though I still had to laugh at their manager Terry Brown's assessment of the 1-1 draw.
There were a few sour grapes flying around when he accused us of being negative, and even the accolades for Willo and Youngy struck me as a deliberate ploy to try and mask his own side's shortcomings. He did not want to damage any egos among his strike force, so he blamed external factors, when maybe he should have been looking a little closer to home.
That's not to take anything away from the shift our two centre-backs put in. They were outstanding again, and it would be remiss not to acknowledge a well-deserved call-up to the Wales under-23 semi-professional side for Willo against Portugal the other week.
The boys had their work cut out again on Saturday, when York came here absolutely desperate for the points to try and climb back into the play-off places. They really needed to win and might well have fancied their chances, given the threat of Richard Brodie and Michael Gash up front. But it was credit to the big lads at the back again that we denied them the room they needed, even if Brodie left his shooting boots at home by missing a couple of chances he would normally stick away.
To be fair, one of them was more down to Stuart Coburn than any waywardness on his part. Brodie must have thought he'd broken the deadlock with a firm low left-foot drive in the second half, but Stuart again showed that, when he's called into action, there are few better. It really was an exceptional save.
There were a few tired legs at the end, not least because the plan to play into the wind in the first half went out of the window and meant York had the elements behind them when they were pressing near the end, but it was another good point against another team challenging at the top end of the table.
We could do with a win to consolidate our position, but let's be fair - coming off the pitch on equal terms with AFC Wimbledon, Wrexham and now York is not a bad effort.
Now it's a Northamptonshire double, against Kettering Town tonight and Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday, and I'm eager to play in at least one of those games, if not both. It has been incredibly frustrating for me this season, and I couldn't believe it when I went over on my ankle at Wrexham and picked up yet another injury. As I write these notes, it will be touch and go for the Kettering game, but I should be OK for Saturday. I can't wait.
Robbie".
Stalybridge Celtic crashed to a 4-2 home defeat by Hyde United on Tuesday. Though Danny Adams played, other ex-Alty men were dropped - Richard Battersby, Joe O'Neill and Warren Peyton. However, the Football Conference adds that another ex-Robin has arrived at the Bower Fold as "Jim Harvey... has been reunited with experienced former England semi-professional international defender Tim Ryan after the demise of Chester City".
'We know that the one thing we have got in the dressing room is team spirit and we will keep going', said Holdsworth... 'We showed a lot of nerves in the first half and at half-time I told them to go out there and take an extra touch... I am not going to chastise the players after the effort they showed. The fans, in the main, showed their appreciation at the end. We are all hurting and I'm sure the fans are hurting'...
Holdsworth believed Mansfield did not get the rub of the green with some of the refereeing decisions. He felt York could have had Djoumin Sangare sent off in the second period and felt the Stags should have had a penalty for a foul on Jake Speight.
Holdsworth said: 'Sangare could have been sent off and the fact Martin Foyle (York's manager) took him off straight away said something. Jake should have had a penalty when they were tugging at him but he has almost been too honest in not going down'".
From the Cambridge News we learn that "Martin Ling believes Cambridge United could be close to safety after clinching their fourth successive victory with a 3-1 win at home to Salisbury...
He said: 'We're not out of the woods yet because 42 points isn't enough to stay up. I think 44 points might be enough, but I don't think we should settle for that. I think we should be pushing on and trying to finish the season in some sort of style and start to build for next season... They played a diamond against our flat 4-4-2 and picked up an awful lot of ball in the middle of the pitch... We got both Antonio Murray and Scott Neilson on the ball and brought the full-backs joining in as well, and it looked better once we worked out the areas where there was space was out wide'.
Meanwhile, Mark Beesley has joined Telford on loan until the end of the season".
From another ex-League club facing a further season in the Conference, Wrexham say that "Dean Saunders emerged from the dressing room at Holker Street to bemoan his team's luck this season, having conceded yet another lead. 'Some of my staff are saying the referee has killed us tonight,, but from my point of view their first goal has killed us - it was a joke!' he said... 'We scored our goal, a great goal, and that that we could go on and win two or three nil. Then minutes later we concede a goal which will be on DVDs for years to come. It was just a ball rolling across the box, Sam has managed to drop it and Ashley has somehow managed to kick it in his own net. I can't believe it! You couldn't make it up, but you have to keep trying'".
From the BBC comes news that "Fleetwood Town will appeal against the decision to expunge Farsley Celtic's results for the season. The Football Conference's move saw Fleetwood lose six points, which reduced their lead at the top of Blue Square North to one point. Chief executive Steve Curwood said: 'We are absolutely furious. Not only is this unjust but there has been very serious and fundamental flaws in the whole process which has led to this decision'.
Fleetwood enjoyed two 2-0 wins against Farsley this season before the Yorkshire club were wound up. Curwood said: 'Advice has been taken from a firm of solicitors who have considerable experience in football regulation and they believe we have a very strong case to put to the Conference over having our points reinstated. Like many of our fellow clubs in the Conference North, Fleetwood Town have suffered bookings, injuries, and have paid bonuses for the games against Farsley. To have the whole fabric of the league altered at the stroke of a pen with just a few games remaining is unfair. The club intend to contest the decision as far as we need to go'. Fleetwood have until Friday, 26 March to lodge an appeal with the Conference".
BSP
Tuesday 16 March
The full report is here.
"For tonight’s programme, I am reviewing an edition of The Cheshire Comet, which was a newspaper that appeared in the mid-sixties and had a Sale and Altrincham edition. My brother-in-law, Max, worked as a photographer for this paper and was regularly despatched to Moss Lane to take photographs of Altrincham’s matches. The Comet utilised ground breaking technology and was the first newspaper outside London to feature colour photographs and you can sense the formative roots of tabloid journalism with front page headlines often focusing on celebrities or sports stars and the odd picture of a local scantily clad attractive young lady ......artistically posed of course!
In this particular edition, published on February 9th 1966, there is a story about the imminent opening of the Red Robin Club at the ‘allotment’ end of the pitch and adjacent to this article is an advert for a town centre store called Elvidge with the killer line of copy ‘You are invited to see our full range of slumber and underwear’.......marvellous!!
These were clearly fast moving times at Moss Lane as there is also an article speculating on Altrincham’s potential opponents for the official opening of the club’s first set of floodlights. To my knowledge, neither Wolves nor Newport County did in fact visit Moss Lane and no doubt one of our three historical musketeers (Terry Surridge, Barry Pikesley or Thomas George Boyd Heslop) will provide the answer to that one!
I’ll be back with more nostalgic ramblings based on The Cheshire Comet for Saturday’s match against Rushden and Diamonds.
Brian"
Sometimes One Point is a Good Result
Welcome to everyone for tonight’s game against Kettering Town, who had an excellent result at Oxford on Saturday and will be a really tough test for us tonight as the games come thick and fast. Our lads are going to have to be really strong mentally and dig deep when the going gets tough.
I believe that is what they did in all three games last week – AFC Wimbledon and Wrexham away and then again on Saturday when, having played with a strong wind behind us first half, we didn’t really do enough, which meant with the score-line 0-0 at half time we were going to be under the cosh a bit second half and we defended really well throughout the whole game with the injuries really stretching us.
Everyone in the squad is going to have to play their part and that’s not going to be easy for the lads who have come in and have not played a lot of football lately. They all did well on Saturday and its going to be really important we get our tactics right as it is not going to be possible to be playing a high tempo game for 90 minutes. We know the teams we are playing have to go for the wins to carry on their fight for the league or a play-off spot or indeed to avoid relegation. We can use these situations to our advantage but we must be more precise with our passing – the last thing we want to be doing is chasing around after the ball.
So the players need to use their brains and think their way through the game.
Your support so far this season has been superb but you will have to be patient with our approach to games some time. The players know how important it is to us all to finish the season in good form and I honestly believe the better the teams we play football wise, the better we will play but some of the teams at the top end of the league are ruthlessly strong and away from home, no frills. This has got them at the top end of this league so they are not going to change now. We must be prepared and sometimes to draw and win a good point. I believe Saturday against York was a good point. The other results proved it.
Graham
Right: Ryan Brown arrived at Moss Lane on loan from Northwich Victoria on 16 February. Before the game with Kettering, he had appeared seven times for the Robins, including starts in the last three games. Photo courtesy of Gavin Rathbone.
Opportunities at The Lamb have been limited and Hurren was offered a contract at AFC Telford United until the end of the season after a successful loan spell with the Bucks at the end of 2009... Looking for a longer deal, and hoping to stay in the Blue Square Premier, Hurren... returned to Tamworth. Lambs' manager Gary Mills, however, has told the midfielder he does not figure in his plans".
"In the form Newport County have been in for so long this season, it was difficult to expect Havant & Waterlooville to spoil the Blue Square South promotion party at Spytty Park on Monday night" reports the Football Conference. "A record crowd of 4,221 saw County take the league title and become one of the earliest champions in recent times... Manager Dean Holdsworth, who took a fair amount of stick early in his tenure, deserves huge credit for guiding the Exiles to an extemely impressive home record of fifteen wins and three draws from eighteen games".
Kettering Town, our opponents on Tuesday night have only got until the end of March to ensure that they have a 10-year lease or ownership of their groundsatisfy football league requirement which is having ownership of a stadium or a ten year lease. Currently their lease has three years leftand if the Poppies cannot meet the criteria, they would not be allowed to participate in the play-offs. In that case, the club finishing second would get a bye to the play-off final. There is an interview with Colin Peake (of the conference and FGR) on the BBC iPlayer.
The referee tonight for Alty v Kettering is Mr P. Curry, who officiated at Burton 1 Alty 1 on January 24 2009. Saturday's ref for the visit of Rushden is Mr R. Wigglesworth who reffed Alty 0 Crawley 0 on 12 September 2009, the game in which Robbie Lawton was sent off. He also handled Alty 4 Weymouth 0 on 14 March 2009.
From the Oxford Mail we read that "Kettering player-manager Lee Harper says he thinks Stevenage now have the edge in the race for the title... Last week, Crawley boss Steve Evans suggested Stevenage were not good enough to take top spot. Harper disagreed, though, saying: 'I believe it will be Stevenage. That’s nothing against Oxford. But from what I’ve seen, they’ve got a little bit more. They’re a little tighter at the back and I think they have the edge. But it will be a great race".
And the Northants Evening Telegraph says that "Lee Harper insists Kettering Town will 'keep going' as they look to secure a top-five finish. The Poppies picked up a valuable point in a 1-1 draw at second-placed Oxford United at the weekend as their superb away form continued...
Harper added "I have said all along I won't moan about the budget and what players we have got... We know we need to pick up our home form but we will continue to go for it and see if we can finish the season well". However, "Harper, meanwhile, felt that comments made towards him by Oxford assistant-manager Micky Lewis were 'uncalled for' after the Poppies boss contested a decision with the referee during the second half. The two sets of coaching staff had to be separated".
Right: An unsung hero for Alty is midfielder Anthony Danylyk, seen here showing his customary application against York last Saturday. This and more photos are on Gavin Rathbone's GR Photography website.
Richie writes "The next few weeks are going to be exceptionally busy here at Moss Lane. From a catering point of view I am hoping to impress the old League clubs with what we are offering here at Altrincham - whilst satisfying the hungry scouts and Board at the Man. Utd reserve fixtures.
We still have some exclusive sponsor opportunities over the next few games; all against great teams as well.
Rather than do the usual Dish of The Day, I am going to give you the low down on the forthcoming half-time treats available for the next few games.
The Kettering game is one for chocolate lovers with loads of home-made ganache and drop chocolates...
The Rushden match will feature Bentley's famous beef and Budweiser pies...
And if that was not enough, our friends at Bollington Brewery have made up some Alty Legend real ale and Bentley Bitter, which will be fermented in time for the Kidderminster Harriers game. I will be bringing along my hand pumps so we can dispense it in true pub style!
Get your table booked now!
Cheers, Richie.
York City has "Reports, photos and reaction to York's 0-0 draw [at Altrincham]. City failed to take their chances... Martin Foyle's post-match interview with Radio York is available here. "York City manager Martin Foyle tells BBC Radio York he is astonished that they failed to score at Altrincham".
The Press adds that "Nicknamed the Robins, red-breasted Altrincham should have been blushing a similar shade of rouge by the end of Saturday’s home clash with York City. Embarrassment would, after all, have been the natural reaction for a team extremely fortunate to share the spoils during a one-sided goalless draw.
Graham Heathcote’s men failed to force a single save from Michael Ingham during a shot-shy 90 minutes with James Meredith’s headed backpass the nearest Altrincham came to threatening a goal. At the other end, City created a glut of chances...
Brodie moved to within three cautions of a three-game ban following yet another booking for simulation in the penalty box.
The City striker might have failed to net now in eight matches but his movement and persistence continues to unsettle Blue Square defences... Cutting out the gesticulating and appealing to referees would, no doubt, enhance his chances of staying on the right side of the officials".
Action shots of the game are here.
Elsewhere the Press says that "Suspended midfielder Levi Mackin has been told to 'grow up' by annoyed York City manager Martin Foyle.
Mackin picked up his tenth booking of the season during Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Altrincham after shoving Chris Denham to the ground.... Top scorer Richard Brodie was also cautioned for a 12th time at Moss Lane, moving him to within three bookings of a three-match suspension. Foyle said: 'Levi Mackin’s last four or five bookings have been silly and Saturday’s was as well. I wasn’t going to play him (at Altrincham) because I wanted to make sure he would be available for Mansfield and Wimbledon, but the decision he made has cost us and we need to grow up very quickly'...
“We created enough chances to win a game, as we did against Salisbury and Forest Green, but couldn’t get the ball in the net although their ’keeper made a fantastic save from Richard Brodie. Michael Ingham didn’t even get his gloves dirty" said Foyle. ""About Saturday’s tactics, the Minstermen boss, who made four changes to his starting line up, said: 'The pitch was very good and I’m trying to find a winning formula. That’s my job and that’s why we keep chopping and changing. I want to play with wingers, but you can’t do that at our place'”.
"Good Afternoon, and welcome to Kettering town for this evening’s game. Like York on Saturday, Kettering are having a good season, and will be coming looking for valuable points to keep them in the play off race.
TASC Football Predictions Competition 2010
Don’t forget to enter this competition, the deadline for entries passes at kick off against Rushden and Diamonds on SATURDAY MARCH 20th. Please hand your sheets in to Anthony in the club shop before then.
"My Square" pitch sponsorship
The time has come for the auction of the second ‘extra special square’ on the hallowed turf, and who will ever forget Michael Welch’s 70 yard free kick against Crawley Town last year. The auction for the Michael Welch square will start today, and continue on the internet on www.altyfans.co.uk. Anyone wishing to bid off line can contact the club and these bids will be added to the internet bidding thread.
BAG2 THE FUTURE IS BACK
Who are Bag2TheFuture? They are a business which specialises in collecting second-hand clothes in their original condition, these are then sold to developing countries in Africa, the Indian sub-continent and parts of Eastern Europe.
What is it? If you have any good quality secondhand clothing, bedding, curtains, soft toys, shoes (tied together please), belts and handbags you could donate, (NO Bric a Brac), please start saving these items now.
How do I do this? Bags will be available at tonight’s game and on Saturday. If extra bags are required you can just use a ordinary bin bag.
What do I do with my bag then? Please return your bag with articles to Altrincham Football Club on Sunday 21 March 2010 between 11am - 1pm. Please look for the signs and somebody will be there to take it from you.
What happens next?
The bags will be collected by the organisers, Bag2TheFuture, on Tuesday 23rd March and taken away to be weighed. The club will receive £200 per ton. Basically, the more we collect, the more money will be made. If we don't make the ton, we still get paid for as much as the items weigh.
How much does this cost? The cost to you is nothing, apart from a bit of time filling your bag and bringing it to Altrincham Football Club on the above date. All bags are supplied by organisers.
Please note all bags are checked before weighing.
Can I bring my bag to the game on the 20th March? Yes, there will be signs and a place allocated. Please do your best to support the above scheme.
Race Night and Player of The Season awards
Voting forms for Player of the season will be handed out at the turnstiles tonight, On the form there is also a section to fill in if you want to buy a horse or sponsor a race for the race night (costing £10 and £20 respectively). Please fill these forms in and hand them in to the TASC section of the shop at your earliest convenience"
Gareth Thomas and Steve Foster (TASC Committee members)
Gateshead were spineless at Nene Park... Beleaguered boss Bogie is hoping to sign a Swedish Under-21 international midfielder and an unattached Conference schemer today... Bogie said: 'Saturday was one of my darkest days in football and an embarrassment for Gateshead Football Club... We will be eight points above Forest Green if we beat them and will go ahead of Eastbourne and Ebbsfleet with games in hand on both if we get the win we need... Rushden looked as if they could score in every attack. We failed miserably and let everyone down... There was no belief and we were devoid of character and spirit. We got rolled big style and our pride has been massively dented. The players are shell-shocked but have only themselves to blame. If we’d played 10 more minutes it would have been double figures. I have never felt so despondent in a long career in the game".
Gillingham confirm that "Promising youngster Luke Rooney today joined Eastbourne Borough on loan for the remainder of the season".
The Altrincham FC stewards are a greatly appreciated group of volunteers, expertly managed by Altrincham FC Security Officer, Darren Gregory, who writes on the Alty Fans' Forum in response to a query about the additional stewards at Moss Lane on Saturday... "They were not from York but from an outside agency called Showsec and there were eight of them. They were brought in to assist after problems at earlier games in the season. We have to make sure we have the right stewarding levels when a large away following is expected because if we have a problem and keep calling the police in they will insist on attending every match and they are more expensive.
Before you say what a waste of efffffing money just think and remember that, out of a squad of 31 stewards, only 20 could make yesterday's game due to other commitments and they don't get anything but still turn up each week. The club and the fans have to realise that times are changing ,with more and more large away followings coming to Moss Lane with yesterday being the sixth plus-350 away attendance. Hence the extra 8 from Showsec, which is only the second time this season we have had extra stewards. The attendance was 200 up on last year's game so the club will have still made a profit.
Details of large away followings this season - not including those in the seated areas- and the number of stewards per game in brackets:
In 22 matches at Moss Lane, so far this season, involving Altrincham FC, 435 stewards have been on duty and the club have only paid for 18. I bet there are 22 clubs in this league who would like our stewarding bill".
There is an unofficial Video of the Alty v York game on Harry's site.
Fandabidozi Day Out by The Thames!
Of all of our away trips this season, I enjoyed last Saturday’s foray to Kingston Upon Thames the most. A beautiful bright and sunny day and a remarkably good drive down, particularly compared with our recent trip in the FA Trophy to the same destination, meant that a decent number of Altrincham folk had arrived at Kingsmeadow by 1.00pm.
Although there were still a couple of hours to kick off, there was already a good buzz around the ground, with both the Car Park and bar filling nicely. I was a little pre-occupied at this stage as I was waiting to greet Dan Martell and my son, Niall, who were in the process of cycling the last leg of their 235 mile ride from Moss Lane to Kingsmeadow. The lads rode into town at 1.20pm and thanks must go to Graham Heathcote for taking them into the dressing room to see the players.
We adjourned to the bar as Dan and Niall voraciously set about a couple of burgers and a friend of mine, who lives in Hove, commented on how friendly he always found non-league games, whereas he was often on his guard at league matches.
I like Kingsmeadow and AFC Wimbledon seem to be a very well-run club. The experience for Press is probably the best in the league and as I took my seat in the Press area, I was delighted to see such a strong presence of Alty fans, who did a great job encouraging the team throughout the game.
At 2.55pm it was all down to the players and I thought the team played ever so well and thoroughly deserved a point. I do not subscribe to the general view that Terry Brown was critical of Alty’s tactics. That was purely the spin that journalists put on his words but, if you listen to what was said by the AFC Wimbledon manager, he was actually quite complimentary about Graham Heathcote and the players.
Chris Senior received a positive mention, whilst Robbie Williams and Greg Young were singled out as giving outstanding performances at the heart of the defence. This viewpoint was echoed during the presentations in the bar after the game as Ben Judge, the AFC Wimbledon Man of The Match, stated that 'their centre halves dominated Danny Kedwell and Nathan Elder in a way that no other team has achieved this season'.
Interestingly enough, the chap compering the presentations was also very complimentary about us saying that 'We have had three good games of football against Altrincham this season and the welcome received at Moss Lane at the game in August was possibly the warmest received anywhere since the formation of the club'.
Everything considered....a top banana day!
Brian".
'She was surely the worst referee we've ever had', Haylock fumed. 'If you're not good enough - don't come and do the job. She was truly awful. It didn't help that we came to a place like this where the bounce on the pitch made it difficult, and the small ground made it hard to make use of our wingers... In the circumstances, we did well to keep a clean sheet', claimed Haylock. 'However, if the referee had got on top of the game from the off it would have been different - but she was weak all the way through'". And Grays' bost Julian Dicks told the NLP, "I don't think women should referee men's football, that's my opinion".
From This is Sussex we learnt that "Lewis Killeen says the Crawley squad are fully behind the club's decision to cut costs this season - insisting he and his fellow professionals are happy to make financial sacrifices for the Reds. The Crawley players have been driving to games in their own cars in recent weeks without claiming petrol, but the former Halifax Town star insists there have been no complaints.
He said: 'Everyone is digging in, we have a small squad but that makes us close knit and we like being the underdogs. Our run of form has been against the odds, a little bit, so we'll stick together and keep our enthusiasm. We've got an amazing spirit, we are driving to the games and things like that but everyone is happy to do that as it's what we need to do... We need to keep getting positive results if we are to have any chance of making the play-offs', he said. 'Hopefully the teams above us will start making mistakes and we can slip in there at the end'...
Like the majority of the Crawley squad Killeen is out of contract at the end of the season but says he wants to stay at the Broadfield after his current deal expires. 'I'd like to be here next season as it is a fantastic set up', he added. 'It all depends on what the gaffer's plans are for next season'".
According to the Cambridge News, "Fans' plans to buy the R Costings Abbey have been given a massive boost with around £750,000 being pledged to the scheme in just four days. Cambridge Fans United need to prove by March 24 they can find £3.5million to purchase the ground from Bideawhile to match the amount Grosvenor Developments are set to pay.
The supporters' trust aims to set up a Community Investment Company (CIC) which would own the Abbey, lease it to Cambridge United and use the club's rent to pay interest to investors... CFU member Kevin Robson, who helped dream up the scheme, said he was thrilled with the response, with more than 500 parties making pledges - some offering to buy stakes of up to £10,000".
14 March 2010
Right: Alty Youth prepare to take a first-half freekick.
After Saturday's game York City site said that "York have signed defensive midfielder Paul Harsley until the end of the season. The 31 year old is on loan from Chesterfield and made his debut at Altrincham this afternoon. Paul is a product of Grimsby Town's youth system but got his first-team break at Scunthorpe United. Since then he has played for Halifax, Northampton and Macclesfield in addition to a spell at Port Vale under Martin Foyle... He spent December on loan at League Two struggles Darlington".
It continues "Despite controlling possession and creating a host of chances, the Minstermen had to settle for a point and a clean sheet at Moss Lane... Additional width brought by Courtney Pitt and the impressive Adam Smith was, at times, a breath of fresh air even if it ultimately went unrewarded...
It was far from gripping before the interval but James Meredith did inadvertently cause a minor drama with a back-header that nearly lobbed Michael Ingham, who scurried back well to spare his team mate’s blushes. City always looked the more likely, though... Play was almost entirely in the Altrincham half but Brodie’s claims for a penalty after 75 minutes fell on deaf ears as the big Geordie was instead booked for diving by referee Jeremy Simpson".
Alty boss Graham Heathcote added, "If you are a full-time player you get looked after and the contract runs through" when you are injured. But "There are far more implications with part-time lads on year-long contracts. We will support him in the best way we can and get him back as soon as it's right.
We've built this club on honesty, integrity and looking after the players. I've had players with me who have played for years without contracts. You can only do that with the backing of your chairman, directors and the players' trust in the people who run the club".
Wrexham manager Dean Saunders was "critical of referee Steve Martin's decision to send off Sinclair but added, "Tom has broken his leg and that's more important than anything'". Sinclair said of Kearney, "He's ended up in a really bad situation and I'm disappointed with that".
For Alty captain Robbie Lawton's view on the affair, see the Captain's Log, below, in Saturday's news...
Ben Muirhead has left Harrogate Town and joined Buxton. Cavell Coo is now at Curzon Ashton, whilst Andrew Pearson scored for Rhyl at the weekend. Former loan players Greg Tansey and Paul Turnbull both played for Stockport County on Saturday.
News of an ex-Alty Reserve comes from NL Daily, which informs us that "Warrington Town`s striker Richard Chetcuti played in the UEFA Championship for Malta under-21s last week. Chetcuti played against Belgium at Lockeren`s stadium in Belgium. The score was one-nil to Belgium, but in the 93rd minute Chetcuti broke through the full-time professional defence to score, only to be given offside".
Ashton Town have signed Mike Garside.
Former youth player Osebi Abadaki "made a promising debut for Ashton United on Saturday as a substitute at Whitby, after signing that morning from Stalybridge Celtic. His powerful run and cross set up the opening for Iain Howard to score Ashton’s equalising goal in a 1-1 draw". (Information courtesy of Jeremy Sayle).
Meanwhile Tuesday's visitors, Kettering Town, "took their excellent away record in the league to the Kassam Stadium, the home of Oxford United... It wasn’t pretty as the honours were shared in a 1-1 draw". Kettering Town's line up was 31 Nathan Abbey, 3 James Jennings, 4 Darren Wrack, 5 Ian Roper (Captain), 6 John Dempster, 8 Jordan Hadfield, 11 Kwesi Appiah (16 Elliott Charles 54), 12 Greg Taylor(2 Alton Thelwell 85), 14 James Dance (10 Jean-Paul Marna 71), 17 André Boucaud, 22 Marcus Kelly. Unused Substitutes: 15 Patrick Noubissie, 20 Danny Thomas.
For the Poppies, Manager Lee Harper decided to start with James Dance and Kwesi Appiah in attack... For Oxford, Lewis Chalmers launched a couple of long throws into the six yard box which were well dealt with by the visiting defenders... The game remained a very poor affair with neither side able to make a real impression. Grant did, however, make an impression on... Roper with what looked like a bad challenge, which saw the burly defender have to leave the field... The 10 men of Kettering played the game out".
Next season I'm not doing bonuses. I'm not paying £100 an appearance any more, I'm not paying £100 for a clean sheet... and so on. I worked it out. If we win a game 1-0 many of them take home £1,000 a week - from a part-time club!...
The weekly basic we put forward was not too dissimilar to what they are geting now; it was the bonuses. I told them we couldn't afford it, they said they would sign... It is their decision not to sign, it's ours to ask them to stay away".
Manager Alan Lewer "wants only three new players in the summer... The League is still achievable. OK, it may take four years but that is our target", added the chairman.
At FGR chairman Trevor Horsley, according to the NLP, "estimated he has invested more than £2million in Rovers and said 'This could not carry on indefinitely and now the company needs to search for new investment'. Vice-chairman Colin Peake added, 'We need new investment now, wherever that may come from'". The NL Paper adds that "the club's delicate finances are not likely to be helped by an employment tribunal with former manager Jim Harvey, who claims he was unfairly sacked... The NLP understands Rovers have tried, so far unsuccessfully, to settle out of court with the current Stalybridge boss. The case was due to be heard last week but has been put back".
16 points off the play-of places, Wrexham boss Dean Saunders told the NL Paper after defeat yesterday that you wouldn't have a bet now on the Dragons getting promoted; "I've got to build a team to get us out of here and it's going to take a bit longer than I thought", he stated.
Blue Square Football tells us that "Barrow AFC have bolstered their squad with the capture of midfielder Kayleden Brown and full-back Paul Edwards. 17-year-old Brown has joined the Bluebirds on a work experience deal and the Baggies will the option to recall the youngster after Thursday, April 8. 30 year-old Edwards has been training with Barrow recently after spending much of the season on the sidelines because of injury. Edwards was released by Port-Vale at the end of the 2008/09 season and linked up with Wrexham AFC for a trial spell at the end of last year".
According to the Cambridge News "Michael Frew's drawn-out departure from Histon could finally be completed next week as he weighs up offers from three Blue Square North sides. The striker...has been seeking a loan move away from the Glassworld Stadium for some time... [and] was expected to sign for Corby Town at the start of last month. That deal fell through...
However, goalkeeper Joe Welch, who is also not currently involved with the first-team after failing to agree a new contract, is not attracting interest. 'Michael Frew has had offers from Ilkeston Town, Hinckley United and AFC Telford United... But nobody's come in for Joe Welch'", said the club.
Jack Werndly, the West Ham United youngster who joined Histon on loan at the turn of the year, is nearing a return to action following a bout of blood poisoning. But Craig Hammond's future remains unclear... Said manager Alan Lewer "He had offers to go to Braintree Town and AFC Sudbury, but he didn't want to go there".
All three domains can be searched, separately, using the appropriate Google search box below. Make sure you check the correct button beneath each search box.
I am sorry that this is a bit messy but eventually I will get everything into just one domain. However, the above method does allow you to find everything on the site which has appeared since Spring 2000.
Curent situation
Forecast
Copyright 1999 to date: ©
NEXT TUESDAY
Next Tuesday Alty travel to Field Mill, where This is Mansfield reports that "Mansfield Town chairman Andy Perry today dismissed rumours League Two Macclesfield have made an approach for manager David Holdsworth, insisting: 'He is going nowhere'...
TASC
Ateve Foster and Gareth Thomas of The Altrincham Supporters' Club (TASC) remind supporters of a number of initiatives...
OLD BOY
FCUM report that former Alty goalkeeper Joe Paladino has left to become assistant to John Hughes [not the ex-Alty man] at Rossendale.
YANKEE
The Altrincham FC Saturday Yankee jackpot stands at £5,000, which you can win for a £1 stake - details of how to join are here. Smaller prizes are also available; this week one entrant won £200 for a Winning Treble.
BSP NEWS
According to NL News 24 "A bold scheme by fans of Cambridge United to buy back The Abbey Stadium from Bideawhile for the benefit of the club, fans and the wider community has received a huge boost with news of a single confirmed pledge of £250,000. Cambridge Fans United now has over 600 individual pledges – bringing the total to approx £1.1Million.
18 March 2010
CHRIS'S AWARD
DVD AVAILABLE FOR JUST £5
Whether you missed Tuesday's great performance against Kettering Town or simply want to re-live it, you can now buy a DVD of the full match for just £5 from Altrincham FC. Orders placed now should be delivered by Saturday for you to collect from the club. Alternatively, you can have a copy sent to you (p&p extra). To order please contact Grahame Rowley -
WORLD CUP DRAW
AWAY TRAVEL
TASC is arranging supporters' transport to both Mansfield (Tuesday, 23rd) and Forest Green Rovers (Saturday, 27th). For details please see the Away Travel page and ring the club (928-1045) to book your place.
GRAHAM APPEALS FOR SUPPORT
According to the Sale & Altrincham Messenger, "Graham Heathcote saluted Altrincham's continuing success story, after another notable Blue Square Conference triumph, and revealed how supporters can play an integral part in ensuring it is maintained next season...
TUESDAY'S GAME
CAPTAIN'S LOG
Robbie Lawton's "Captain's Log" from Tuesday night is below..
At least he doesn't have to worry about Robbie Williams (left) on that score, though. They don't come any more dedicated than Willo, in every respect. He's footy through and through and is also a firm believer in taking care of himself off the pitch and making sure he stays in tip-top condition. Lots of players have little routines they like to stick to before a game, but Willo's matchday ritual comes after the final whistle. The minute he gets back in the dressing room, he takes the top off a powdered protein shake, spoons some into a glass of water and gulps it down.
OLD BOYS
One of the Histon subs for their game on Tuesday night was former Alty loan keeper Lance Key, now aged 41 and the goalkeeping coach at the club.
BSP NEWS
This is Mansfield reports that "David Holdsworth has refused to throw in the towel on Mansfield Town's hopes of reaching the Blue Square Premier play-offs...after last night's 1-0 defeat to York City...
17 March 2010
ALTRINCHAM 2 KETTERING TOWN 0
Out of adversity - once again Alty had only 16 fit players available - came an excellent performance from Altrincham who thoroughly deserved the points against fifth-placed Kettering.
GROUND GRADING
Altrincham FC recently underwent a ground grading visit from the footballing authorities which gives us some indications of the amount of work that would be needed should the Robins ever reach the Football League.
GROUND GRADING
Brian Flynn's latest "Flynnzine" appeared in Tuesday's "Robins' Review"...
The Cheshire Comet
Images from the Cheshire Comet, 1966
GRAHAM'S VIEW
In the matchday programme on Tuesday night, Graham Heathcote wrote:
SPONSORS
The Altrincham FC Matchday Sponsors list has been updated. If you or your company would like to sponsor a match, matchball or a player, please contact the club on 928-1045 during normal office hours or speak to any club official on match days.
RYAN BROWN
BSP NEWS
The Football Conference says that "Gateshead have brought in Tamworth midfielder Gavin Hurren on an emergency loan... Hurren made ninety-three appearances during a three-year spell at Kidderminster Harriers following his release from Nottingham Forest. A brief spell at Mansfield Town then saw the defensive midfielder join Crawley Town on loan and then Tamworth during the close season.
16 March 2010
HELP NEEDED TODAY!
Alty matchday secretary George Heslop is urgently in need of some volunteers for Tuesday night's match against Kettering to staff some of the turnstiles. Payment of £5 will be given; please ring the club on 928-1045 after 9.30am tomorrow if you can help. Many thanks!
TONIGHT
It is hoped to provide the usual live MATCHDAY UPDATES tonight from Moss Lane for Alty v Kettering Town here, starting with the confirmed team line-ups before kick off.
INNOVATIONS ON THE MENU
Altrincham FC official caterer Richie Bentley is putting his heart into the job with some innovative offerings...
GATES HOLDING UP
There are some interesting attendance figures on Mike Avery's site. Altrincham are keeping up to last season's level but some BSP clubs have been suffering major drops, e.g. Histon are down 21%. However, promoted Gateshead are actually up 32% from last year from 478 to 633, and Hayes are up 60% to 549 from 344. But our neighbours Northwich Vics are down 37% from 787 to 493.
LAST GAME
Many thanks to all the collectors and donors at Saturday's game; the half-time bucket collection raised £55.17.
TASC NEWS
The Altrincham Supporters' Club (TASC) column from tonight's programme is below, courtesy of Steve Foster.
NEXT UP
Next Sunday (20th), Altrincham host FC United of Manchester at Wythenshawe Town (2.30pm) in a NWYA Premier Division match.
BSP NEWS
The Chronicle Live says that "Gateshead manager Ian Bogie faces the monumental task of lifting his side for tomorrow’s crunch six-pointer at home to Forest Green Rovers after a humiliating 8-0 defeat at Rushden & Diamonds... Gateshead – without four key players – capitulated to the second heaviest defeat since the club reformed in 1977...
15 March 2010
SALUTE THE STEWARDS
ALTY 0 YORK CITY 0
YOUTHS DRAW
There is a report on Alty Youth's 1-1 draw with Morecambe in the Youth section
FLYNNZINE
The latest "Flynnzine" from Brian Flynn is reproduced, below, from the Robins' Review...
BSP NEWS
Metaphor of the season comes from the Uxbridge Gazette which says that "Pony-tailed Amy Fearn made a horse's ass of herself, according to Garry Haylock in the 0-0 draw between Hayes and Yeading and Grays on Saturday. The United boss was fuming at the 31-year-old's handing of the game at the New Rec, blaming her for the drab draw that did neither side much good...
YOUTH TEAM HELD
Altrincham Youth were held to a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon in their NW Youth Alliance Premier Division league match. Their opponents, Morecambe, went ahead in the 31st minute, against the run of play, when they broke away following an Altrincham corner. Kieran Madden equalised with a well-taken goal three minutes later. But in a game played on a bumpy pitch in gusty winds, there was to be no further goal for either side. Report to follow.
ALTRINCHAM 0 YORK CITY 0
Giving the Alty v York game a rather harsh two points out of five for entertainment, the NL Paper's report quotes York boss Martin Foyle as saying 'We didn't get the three points we thoroughly deserved. We played some excellent football in the second half... We created enough chances to win comfortably'
TOM KEARNEY
Stuart Hammonds writes in the NLP that Tom Kearney "said he had received calls in hospital from Wrexham personnel apologising for the fans' reaction". They booed Kearney as he was stretchered off with a double leg fracture whilst cheering the perpetrator, Frank Sinclair, who was sent off for his foul challenge. Kearney has also reportedly received a "voicemail from Sinclair".
OLD BOYS
The Manchester Evening News reports on two ex-Alty men as "A woeful performance from FC United saw them slip to a shock 2-1 defeat to Durham on Saturday. Durham had previously lost all 28 of their league games this season... FC took the lead against the run of play after seven minutes when Carlos Roca headed home... Durham then took the lead just after half time through an Elliot Cutts penalty after Ludovic Quistin handled the ball in the area. The Rebels should have equalised soon after through a spot-kick of their own, but Ben Deegan’s powerful effort was tipped over the bar".
COMING SOON
Next Saturday, Alty host Rushden and Diamonds, whom they beat at Nene Park earlier this season. But on Saturday the score was Rushden & Diamonds 8 Gateshead 0. "The 8-0 victory is the record home victory in league games" for the club... It means that Justin Edinburgh has been in charge for both the Diamonds record away victory (9-0 at Weymouth), and the record home league victory. The team now have a free week to prepare for the trip to Altrincham next weekend, with their hosts playing at Kettering in midweek giving the Diamonds management team a chance to plot an approach to what will be the first of a tough run-in for the team, with all their remaining opponents in the top 12 in the table apart from Ebbsfleet".
BSP NEWS
In Sunday's NL Paper there is an interesting insight into the finances at Histon where the new chairman is attempting to reverse a previous regime's extravagance, a trend seen previously at other clubs such as Salisbury, FGR and Crawley this season. Chairman Tony Roach "who replaced Gareth Baldwin [who is now on the Cambridge Utd board] stresses he is purely on a damage limitation exercise". He said wages had "spiralled out of control"... and "things were bad, really bad. Some members of staff had not been paid for 8 months. The club had massive debts". As for the six first-teamers dropped after refusing to agree new terms, Roach said, "Someone who actually plays for Histon was suddenly renegotiating these deals. We were being strangled by one of our own players who is acting, if you like, as an unofficial agent... I simply have to get the playing budget down from £750,000 to just over a quarter of a million...
Click
here for EARLIER NEWS
SEARCHING THIS SITE
WEATHER IN ALTRINCHAM
Compiled by John
Laidlar
Counter at 1/1/2002: 69,547
At 1/1/2003: 178,589
At 1/1/2004: 296,757
At 1/1/2005: 456,114
At 1/1/2006: 697,566
At 1/1/2007: 1,001,771
At 1/1/2008: 1,385,722
At 1/1/2009: 2,036,148
At 1/1/2010: 2,648,522
http://www.luso.u-net.com/alty1.htm. Search the site here
