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Altrincham FC is pleased to announce that Matt Doughty (right) has become the fourteenth current player at Moss Lane to sign on for next season at Altrincham FC.
The Club also announces that Paddy Lacey, Ryan Brooke, Danny Hall and Tony McMillan have been released and thanks them for their services during 2012-13. All four joined the club at the start of, or during, 2012-13.
Danny Hall was a first-choice centre-back for much of last season. In all, he made 41(+3) appearances, scoring one goal. Ryan Brooke made 9 starts and 30 appearances from the bench, netting six goals, four of which came in the last five games of the season. 20 year-old Paddy made 12(+20) appearances in the Alty midfield. Goalkeeper Tony only joined Alty very late in the season after his surprise release by Southport. He made a single appearance for Altrincham.
For the cost of £50, your name will appear throughout the coming season in the matchday programme as a Patron of Altrincham Football Club. At the beginning of the season, every member will be entered into a prize draw, with the winner being match sponsor for an appointed game along with nine guests. Second prize will be hospitality for five people and third prize will be hospitality for 3 people in the Sponsors' Lounge.
If you are interested in becoming a Patron for next season, please forward a cheque for £50, payable to Altrincham Football Club, for my attention. If you require any further information please speak to me (Grahame Rowley) on 07720-606897 or e-mail me. Thank you for your support.
As re-engaged players the club are entitled to compensation and this is currently under discussion between the two clubs. Stevenson made 104 starts for the club and another fourteen from the bench, scoring sixteen times along the way including eleven in the season just gone... Fitzsimons joined the Stutes permanently in the summer of 2011 having spent a period on loan from Queens Park Rangers during the previous season...
First-team manager Brian Page, whilst obviously disappointed to lose two players of such quality, was delighted to see them get a chance to shine at a higher level, commenting, 'They have both had outstanding seasons for us this year and to have 100 or so senior appearances to their names at 21 years of age shows just what good players they are. I’m sure they will grab the chance with both hands and go on to have successful careers and be good players for Luton...
All the other players at this club, whatever their age, can look at these two and see that, by working hard, making sacrifices and dedicating yourself to continual improvement as a player you can achieve things and make a successful career for yourself'".
Meanwhile "Guiseley AFC have announced that Steve Kittrick and his management team of Chris Holland and Martin Stringfellow are to remain at the club next season. As such, negotiations are already underway with players who the club wishing to retain in addition to those players on contract; Jack Rea, Wayne Brooksby, Phil Marsh, Gavin Rothery and Zack Dale.
The club are also pleased to announce that the first phase of planning for considerable enhancement to the facilities at Nethermoor is now ongoing with Watson Batty engaged as lead architects. This work will proceed over the coming months and will provide a facility fully supporting the club’s ambition on and off the pitch.
As always both the playing and ground development budgets will need to be carefully managed. To this end the club will continue to try and attract young, hungry players via the Youth Academy and other sources in order that the progress the club has made in the past five years can continue.
Work on the pitch is also underway to further enhance our playing surface.
In terms of departures, the club can confirm that Sean O’Reilly has returned to the USA, while Kevin Holsgrove has accepted an offer from newly-promoted FC Halifax Town".
The Conference adds that "Stockport County... have announced that goalkeepers Ian Ormson and Lewis King have agreed deals to remain at Edgeley Park next season. King, who has spent time at Lilleshall as he recovered from his cruciate ligament injury suffered against Southport in December, is looking forward to the challenge of getting back to full fitness and regaining the number one shirt. He said, 'Although I have initially signed on non-contract terms, I have made my feelings clear to the management that I am not just here to make up the numbers and I want to repay our fans for their support throughout undoubtedly the hardest period of my career to date'.
Ormson, who will be looking to retain the number one jersey he reclaimed at the end of last season, said, 'I am looking forward to the start of a new season and the competition with Kingy for the number one shirt. I realise that it is going to be a tough season but, having spoken to the gaffer and Alan Lord about the players they are looking to bring in, I am happy to be a part of their plans'".
The Shropshire Star tells us that "Dominic Morley, assistant manager of AFC Telford United, has challenged his club’s out of contract players to try to stake a claim for another season at the New Buck's Head.
Morley and manager Liam Watson have been targeting numerous new recruits in recent weeks... Only two of the club’s players from last season’s squad have so far been retained, keeper Ryan Young and defender Dan Preston, while 10 have been released.
Watson has also expressed an interest in retaining right-back Will Salmon for the new campaign, although no deal has been done... Morley said that the door remains open for those who want to stay at the club to try to impress the new management in pre-season. He said, 'We are trying to get a team together that can challenge for promotion but we have got no divine right to come back up. But everyone is welcome to come back in pre-season so we can have a look at them'".
The Shropshire Star adds that "Former AFC Telford United assistant manager Alex Meechan has been confirmed as No 2 at rivals Barrow. The frontman has joined the Bluebirds in a similar player/coach role to the one he held under Bucks' caretaker boss John Psaras in the closing weeks of last season.
Meechan wasn’t in the plans of new Telford boss Liam Watson, who has drafted in his assistant at Southport, Dominic Morley... Meechan made seven appearances for Telford after arriving from Colwyn Bay in March. His versatility has also attracted Barrow boss Dave Bayliss, who... explained, 'Alex is going to come in and, first of all, he’s going to be a player, but he will also help me out on the coaching side as well. He’s very good at this level of football. He’s also got a very good knowledge of this level of football'".
Meanwhile, "Oxford City boss Mike Ford says the Marsh Lane club are happy to continue to ply their trade in Blue Square Bet North... 'I had an inkling that we would remain', said Ford. 'We have got the likes of Stockport County, Barrow, AFC Telford and Hednesford Town joining us, so it doesn’t get any easier. I wouldn’t say I’m delighted, but we can cope. We are fully aware of what it takes to compete in that league and that could help us.
But I would probably have felt the same if we were put in South. That would have meant having to scout more teams. There will be extra travel costs involved, but the bonus is now we know what to expect whereas the start was such an unknown quantity. We know how teams play in this league and what you need to compete'".
In the News & Star, we read that "Workington Reds have two potential investors in the club who are expected to make a decision on their involvement in the next 48 hours. General manager Alec Graham told a meeting of supporters at Borough Park that one of the interested parties was based abroad.
'I am playing my cards close to my chest, because I don’t want to give anything away. I am optimistic but I know how these sort of negotiations can fall flat', he said... 'Wednesday has been given as a deadline to them', added Graham...
The 50-plus group of fans who attended the meeting... were told that Reds would spend about £10,000 between now and the start of the new season... Bob Atkinson, who regularly travels from Burnley to support the Reds, had organised the meeting in his role as vice-chairman/treasurer of the Supporters' Club.
'We wanted to see what ideas people had to keep the club functioning during the close season in view of the fact that three directors are to stand down', he said".
According to the North Wales Weekly News, "Manager Frank Sinclair has now pencilled in 14 of his 17 or 18 man squad for next season, with three new faces so far and 11 of last season's squad agreeing to sign on again.
They are Chris Sanna, Danny Taylor, Danny Meadowcroft, Tom Smyth, Mike Lea, Gaz Evans, John McKenna, Jamie Crowther, Rob Hopley, Paul Ellis and James Ellison. The notable absentee is Shelton Payne who won the Conference North Player of the Month award for April...
'I offered Shelts a new contract, but I am not surprised that a number of clubs are showing interest in him and he has decided the time is right to move on', said Frank. 'I am disappointed because I would have liked more time to work with him and believe I could have made him into an even better player, but he has decided against that and I wish him good luck... But we also have Paul Ellis who will be working hard in pre-season and will be like a new signing for us'.
Frank has also agreed terms with three new players so far, who include Rhyl-based striker Luke Wandless and young goalkeeper Josh Ollerenshaw, both of whom have just been released by Oldham Athletic. The 22-year-old Ollerenshaw...had a spell on loan at Altrincham...
Wandless, 18, is a former Wales youth international and was a member of Oldham's youth team last season...
'Josh is a young keeper who I believe will provide strong competition for Chris Sanna, while Luke Wandless is an ambitious young player who I have seen play a couple of times and has a lot of ability. He will provide good back up for Rob Hopley and Jamie Ellison', said the manager. Frank has also reached agreement to sign 24-year-old Conwy Borough winger/striker Steve Connor, who started his career at Everton... Since being released by the Goodison Park club he has had spells in the Welsh Premier with The New Saints, Bangor City and Airbus, and was a key player for Conwy last season...
The manager is now looking to add three quality signings to the squad if he can before pre-season training starts at the end of June. Frank says he will also register himself as a player again as defensive cover but adds, 'My hope is that I will not be needed and the team will be strong enough without me'".
On Tuesday, Altrincham FC Youth comprise the Altrincham & District FA Youth team which plays in the Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup Final against Chester & District FA at Warrington Town (postcode WA4 2RS), k.o. 7.15pm. Support will be very welcome!
Right: Nick King's camera captures the delight after the shoot-out.
The non-league family have been really important to me, especially everyone at Alty because, without them, I wouldn't even be here'".
News of a team promoted to the Conference North comes from the Leamington Courier, which reports that "Leamington chairman Jim Scott says the rising cost of ticket prices at the New Windmill is an inevitable by-product of promotion. It will cost adults £11 to see Brakes next season, an increase of £2 on 2012/13, with concession[aries]s now paying £7, up a pound.
However, Scott believes the club have struck the right balance between revenue generation and keeping the cost of watching Conference North football affordable. He said, 'It costs more to play at that level of football. It’s largely wages but mileage is up a third and there’s ground grading... We know times are hard for supporters but if the squad is not competitive they’ll stop coming through the gate. We saw that in 2012 when we went on that bad run'.
In a nod to the younger generation, the admission price for under-16s has been frozen at £3, while a new student rate of £5 has been introduced. Fans can also take advantage of an early-bird deal which offers an adult season ticket for £185 until July 31 and Scott says that is where the value can be had. He said, 'It means you can watch Conference football at Southern League prices'".
Fellow newcomers, North Ferriby United report that "North Ferriby United's Ryan Kendall has been voted the Step 3 & 4 Player of the Year in this season's National Game Awards. The trophy was sponsored by SK Kits... He scored 36 league goals to play a major part in North Ferriby's Evostik Northern Premier League Premier Division title...
Kendall has also lifted the NPL Golden Boot award and Ferriby's own top goal-scorer trophies. He also came third in the Strike Force national goal-scorers competition. Kendall is studying sports coaching at Hull University and living and playing locally has made it easier for him to study. Kendall commented, 'I've really enjoyed my time at Ferriby this season. It's been the perfect answer for me to commit myself to both studying and football'".
And Welsh Premier tells us that "Liam Brownhill is the first confirmed departure from Bangor City since the Citizens' season ended with defeats in the Welsh Cup final and the Europa League Play-Off semi-final... Altrincham-born Brownhill, who had trials with his home-town Conference club, joined Bangor for the first time in the summer of 2005 after being released by Stockport County. A right-sided full-back or wing-back, he moved on to Connah's Quay in October 2005 before being released to return to Witton Albion. He rejoined City last summer from Chester FC".
The plans for Altrincham FC to construct a community sports hall at Moss Lane were put before two meetings on Saturday. The first gethering was for local rtesidents and the second for Altrincham supporters and other interested parties. At both meetings the plans had a good reception. Courtesy of Ian Watmore, the adjacent images shows supporters inspecting the architect's plans for the new facility, which will be located around the area where the current Robins' Shop is sited.
A few days ago, Altrincham FC issued the following Press Release:
"Altrincham FC has announced plans to build a community hall at Moss Lane in a bid to inspire local people to get involved in sport.
The venue will provide a home for local sports clubs and leisure groups including indoor bowls, martial arts, cricket, pilates and dance.
Chairman Grahame Rowley said, 'We were all inspired by London 2012 and as a club, we want to play a leading role in helping Altrincham people play sport, not just football! It’s coming up to a year since the Games and we’ve been working hard to get this project off the ground. I’m delighted we’re now in a position to submit to planning and we’re hoping local people and businesses really get behind it'.
The new low-rise facility will significantly improve what is currently a run-down section of the ground. The development includes improvements to the car park on Golf Road to make sure all traffic is accommodated for.
The venue will house a bar for club use on match-days and also feature a museum to celebrate Alty’s famous giant-killing FA Cup exploits. The museum will also detail the town’s rich and colourful history.
Altrincham FC recently established a non-profit trust and, as a result, the club can access funding from the Premier League and other organisations. The development is expected to cost up to £750,000, with the club looking to raise around £200,000 from a series of fund-raising activities and sponsorship support from local businesses".
On Tuesday, 21 May at 7.15am, the Altrincham and District FA (under-17s) side plays Chester & District FA in the final of the Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup at Warrington Town's Cantilever Stadium.
Courtesy of Samm Lewis, we see the guests at the successful Tony Sanders Tribute Evening, which took place on Thursday. More details of the event will appear here in the near future.
Pictured are Tony Sanders, John Rogers, John King, Jeff Johnson and Graham Heathcote,
Greygoose comes with a wealth of experience having played professionally as a goalkeeper for Cambridge United, Leyton Orient, Crystal Palace and Crewe Alexandra. He then played semi-pro for Northwich Victoria, Stevenage, King’s Lynn, AFC Sudbury, Soham Town Rangers and Bury Town.
He was then head goalkeeping coach at Crewe, a goalkeeping coach for Manchester City, joint manager of Bury Town, assistant manager of Histon, then Kettering Town, then joint manager of Ely City...
Greygoose will draw together a five year plan with chairman Ali Shulver and confidently expects to be able to guide Rovers into the Ryman League during that time. 'This is one of the biggest appointments we have ever made at this club as it’s a long time since we had someone with his credentials, so we’re very excited', said Shulver. 'He is a winner and he knows how to win'".
The 22-year-old went on to play more than 70 games for the Celts over the past three seasons, scoring 10 goals during his time with the club.
'I spoke to Richard [Money, Head Coach] and Jez [George, Director of Football] and they were really keen for me to come down and have a look around', Austin told Cambridge's official website. 'I saw the training ground and had a look around the stadium and was impressed by the facilities, plus I really liked the city. I know the kind of crowds Cambridge get and that's a change from what I'm used to so I'm really looking forward to that.
I know about of a lot of the players, I know Tom Elliott came from Stockport and I've seen how well he's done at Cambridge. I've not played with any of the squad before but I'm looking forward to getting settled in'.
He also highly positive of the "U"s' 2013/14 campaign, saying, 'Richard and Jez have ambitions to go for promotion next season, so I want to be a part of that... I'm quite quick and hopefully I can get a few assists from the wing and chip in with a few goals too'".
According to Blue Square Football, "Manager Anthony Smith has continued the rebuilding process at Gateshead by signing 22-year-old striker Adam Boyes from relegated Barrow... having made just under 100 appearances for the Bluebirds.
Boyes netted 40 times during his two-year spell with Barrow, and he links up with fellow new signings Colin Larkin and Richard Brodie on Tyneside. Gateshead and Barrow have agreed a compensation package for the striker".
In the News and Star we read that "Gari Rowntree has admitted he was close to joining Workington’s fierce rivals Barrow, but after speaking with boss Darren Edmondson, has finally committed to another season with Reds.
The popular full back held talks with Bluebirds boss Dave Bayliss, and was offered more money to join the newly-relegated side, but said he owed Edmondson for the way he looked after him during his time out injured...
'I was torn', he said. 'I spoken with Dave a few times, and he was keen for me to move to Barrow. Last week I was going to sign for him but, last night, I had a change of heart. I spoke with Darren, and he reassured me about a couple of things. I owe him really because, when I had my knee injury, he looked after me.
It’s about loyalty really. Workington have stood by me, and now, when they need the players to be committed, I will stand by them'. Aaran Taylor’s decision to snub Barrow was also a major factor in Rowntree’s decision to stop. He said, 'A lot of the lads have spoken to Barrow, but we have made a collective decision to stay'".
We hope that we can rely on your support again this season and look forward to seeing you at Moss Lane in July. Please supply your email address if you have one as we are attempting to update people with information throughout the season. TASC, our Supporters' Association is also keen to extend its membership which costs just £10 per year".
Full details of prices and of the application process are here.
The 21-year-old centre half, who played for league rivals Corby Town in 2012/13, follows hot-on-the-heels of fellow arrivals Ashley Timms and Gary Mills. Piergianni, who played for the Pilgrims’ Centre of Excellence during his teenage years, made his Football League debut as a Peterborough player in 2010.
He made forty-four appearances for Stockport County during the 2011/12 Conference Premier campaign, scoring four goals in the process.
Piergianni also enjoyed brief loan spells with Spalding United and Altrincham during his Peterborough days. United boss Dennis Greene told bufc.co.uk, 'Carl represents another piece of the jigsaw we are putting together. He is a commanding and solid centre half and has a good pedigree'".
Pitchero Non-League reports that "Goalkeeper Aaran Taylor has snubbed a move to Barrow AFC, insisting he couldn’t leave Workington when they needed him most. The 26-year-old held talks with Bluebirds boss Dave Bayliss and Ebac Northern League First Division side Celtic Nation, but has agreed to stop at Borough Park for another year.
He sought assurances from manager Darren Edmondson that the club shared his ambitions to challenge next season, and said, 'I owe a lot to Darren for the work he has done with me over the years, and I didn’t want to jump ship when the club needed me. Workington are going through a tough patch, and I want to be here to help them.
It’s a good club, and I thought about going, but I came to the right decision', added Taylor. 'It wasn’t about money. I’m happy here. The spirit in the dressing room is great. I spoke with Barrow, but I know I’ve made the right decision'...
Reds could fold next month if a new board is not appointed, or a takeover completed. Edmondson... branding the shot- stopper the best in the league, added, 'Aaran enjoys his football here, but needed reassurances that things would move forward... To keep Aaran is massive for us because he could have easily gone to Barrow for more money'...
Edmondson confirmed both Kyle May and Mark Boyd were also set to sign contracts. Both have taken a pay cut to stay".
According to the Football Conference, "Following a meeting of the FA Leagues Committee, club allocations for Steps 1 to 4 for season 2013/14 have been released...
A commitment was made to promote more clubs from Step 5. In order to achieve this it was also agreed that the Step 3 divisions would increase to twenty-four clubs and that the two Ryman League Step 4 divisions would do likewise.
This has resulted in seventeen clubs being promoted from Step 5. Of these seventeen, Guernsey FC become the first Channel Island club to compete in the upper levels of the league structure following their second successive promotion.
They have been allocated to the Ryman League Division One South...
At Step 2 it has been possible to re allocate Bishop`s Stortford to Conference South. This step also sees Concord Rangers, Gosport Borough, Leamington, North Ferriby United and Whitehawk making their debuts in the second tier of the 'pyramid'. As in previous years, there are a number of issues that may yet impact of these allocations and therefore they remain subject to change until the dates of the AGMs of the four competitions".
Pitchero Non-League tells us that "Chester FC midfielder Scott Brown has become the latest player to be released from the club...
Brown's release followed the news of the departures of Matty McGinn and Tony Gray, both of whom leave the club due to work commitments.Gray spoke to Young and requested to be placed on the transfer list due to not being able to commit fully to the additional time due to work commitments.
Young said, 'I always knew it was going to be difficult and I am not sure people believed me when I said going into the Conference as a part-time club brings very different challenges, not only in terms of the quality of opposition, but in trying to keep your squad together. We have a major rebuilding job to be done but we have done it before'...
They join Nathan Jarman, Dom Collins, Dave Hankin, Iain Howard and the Turner twins, who went back to Leeds United following the end of their loan spells at the club".
Above, courtesy of Dan Martell, is a larger image than those issued previously of the proposed new Community Hall at Moss Lane, viewed from the Popular Side. See below for further details of the scheme. All supporters are invited to a meeting about the proposals on Saturday (18th) at Moss Lane, at 3pm.
Massay is a familiar face at Moor Lane, having enjoyed several successful spells with the club as a combative centre forward...
Power arrives with a wealth of experience having played for a number of clubs during a career that spanned well over twenty years... He started out with Northwich Victoria... moved on to Witton Albion and then played with Crewe Alexandra.
A spell with Maltese side Sliema Wanderers was followed by stints at Chorley, Barrow and Stalybridge Celitc before Power won legendary status at Macclesfield... Power moved on to a productive spell as player/assistant-manager at Altrincham before assisting Karl Marginson at FC United of Manchester...
A spokesman for the club said, 'Both lads are proud Salfordians'".
The Legends' side includes Colin Gibson, Clayton Blackmore, David Speedy, Ian Marshall, Viv Anderson, Russell Beardsmore, David May, Matt Elliott and Gerry Taggart.
The Celebrity side includes Danny Miller ("Emmerdale") Will Rush, Reece Douglas and Celleach Spellman (all of "Waterloo Road"), Anthony Quinlan, Joel Goonan and Danny Tennant (all "Hollyoaks") plus members of The Risk (an "X-Factor" group) and members of The Mend (a "Britain's Got Talent" band)".
Elvins, 26, progressed through the youth system at West Bromwich Albion... After loan spells at Cheltenham and York he was released in 2007 and immediately joined then Conference Premier side Aldershot Town... At the end of the 2008/09 season he was released and joined Worcester...
Birley is a product of Birmingham City's Academy... He made his Premiership debut at Stamford Bridge, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on New Year`s Eve 2005. He had a loan spell at Lincoln City in 2006 before being released by Birmingham in the summer of 2007".
According to Pitchero Non-League, "Steve Kittrick says he wants to know in the next week if he is to continue as manager of runners-up Guiseley AFC. He made the heartfelt plea to the club’s board after his side had lost 1-0 to FC Halifax Town in Tuesday’s West Riding County Cup final.
Kittrick, who has seen his side miss out on promotion and fail in their bid to retain the cup for a third year against their near neighbours, says he is in the dark over the club’s plans.
'I want to know this week what I am doing', he said. 'Players are asking if I am staying and I don’t know. Nobody has said anything'. Kittrick, who has been at the club for five and a half years, says he would like to stay.
'Next year if given the opportunity to stay here, and I do want to stay, we can continue to go forward. If I get a decent budget or the same budget, I think we can push it on again. I have been criticised a little bit because I said in a boardroom meeting that we were going to win the league, and I was criticised because I made that statement.
It all depends what Guiseley want. If they want to progress again I will be here, if they don’t want to progress I won’t be here. They may want a new man with new ideas'.
Looking back at the campaign he added, 'We haven’t had a bad season but we haven’t won anything. It is a progression, but I don’t know if they want to see it like that'", he told the Ilkley Gazette.
"Altrincham FC has announced plans to build a community hall at Moss Lane in a bid to inspire local people to get involved in sport.
The venue will provide a home for local sports clubs and leisure groups including indoor bowls, martial arts, cricket, pilates and dance.
Chairman Grahame Rowley said, 'We were all inspired by London 2012 and as a club, we want to play a leading role in helping Altrincham people play sport, not just football! It’s coming up to a year since the Games and we’ve been working hard to get this project off the ground. I’m delighted we’re now in a position to submit to planning and we’re hoping local people and businesses really get behind it'.
The new low-rise facility will significantly improve what is currently a run-down section of the ground. The development includes improvements to the car park on Golf Road to make sure all traffic is accommodated for.
The venue will house a bar for club use on match-days and also feature a museum to celebrate Alty’s famous giant-killing FA Cup exploits. The museum will also detail the town’s rich and colourful history.
Altrincham FC recently established a non-profit trust and, as a result, the club can access funding from the Premier League and other organisations. The development is expected to cost up to £750,000, with the club looking to raise around £200,000 from a series of fund-raising activities and sponsorship support from local businesses.
How Moss Lane will look after construction.
To help launch the Community Hall project, the club is planning a summer sport festival event to be held at Moss Lane. More details will be announced in due course".
Notes:
All of the above text in Word format is here.
There will be a meeting for supporters in the Sponsors' Lounge on Saturday, 18 May at 3pm at which the plans for the above venture can be seen and questions asked.
A report on Alty Youth's win against Northwich Victoria, last Sunday, is here.
Having won the re-played Cheshire County FA District Cup group match against Runcorn, 3-0, Altrincham & District FA, with a side comprising the Altrincham FC Under-17s, will meet Chester & District FA in the Final. This will be played on Tuesday, 21 May at 7.15pm. The venue is Warrington Town F.C., Cantilever Park, Common Lane, Warrington, WA4 2RS.
Right: We see Ollie Riley, captain of Alty Youth, on the ball against Northwich Victoria at Moss Lane last Sunday.
The Hale, Altrincham & Sale Independent has an interview by Kevin Thompson with Rob Gilroy, Alty Youth midfielder and England Schools' captain. For more on this, see the Youth Page.
Striker Chib Chilaka heads the list of departures despite finishing the 2012/13 campaign as the club's top scorer with 13 goals. Goalkeeper Jose Veiga, midfielder Luke Dean and centre forward Jonny Allan are the three other players not to have been offered a new contract...
Weaver admits he battled with the decision to let Chilaka go... He told the Harrogate Advertiser, '"It was a very difficult decision. He's given us some special moments but I want to finish higher. I need more movement up front. The ball needs to stick up there for hold up play. Chib's still working on his game. He's outstanding but I need a sustained team. I feel I have to look around and make sure I am making the right choices. I have to think what's the best for Harrogate Town'.
Weaver added, 'I want to see people face to face. They have given everything and I am putting the effort back in. I am not a coward. I will not back away. If it takes a bit more time, I apologise but everyone of our players deserve the right for me to visit'. The 35-year-old tactician revealed that Dean's performances towards the tail-end of the season almost earned him a new deal.
He said, 'Luke started the season for me as one of the best midfield players at this level. He's got to kick on. He plateaued at times and he can't do that if he wants to get to the next level. I'll be helping him find a new club'.
Defenders Dave Merris, Dwayne Samuels and Alan White, as well as midfielder Adam Nowakowski have all committed themselves to the West Yorkshire outfit for 2013/14, while Matt Bloomer and Michael Woods have both agreed to stay on for another 12 months. Weaver is still negotiating new deals with midfield duo Paul Bolland and Danny Forrest".
According to the BBC, "Workington general manager Alec Graham says a factor in the club being put up for sale is increased travel costs. Despite playing in Conference North, the Cumbrian club must travel to Histon in Cambridgeshire, Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, and Oxford City.
'It's tough financially with Conference North have so many southern clubs', Graham told BBC Radio Cumbria. 'Premiership teams, Swansea aside, must travel less than we do - it's cost us around £100,000 these past four years'...
The Reds board are currently looking for new investors and speculation has arisen that the club could go out of business... 'There's no debt so it's a brilliant situation to put in a little investment and have a good, steady Conference North club', Graham added. 'Basically the board have decided the time is right to go. They took over in 1999 when the club was two days from going out of business, cleared £120,000 of debt and have achieved four promotions. Now, with the board all in their 70s or older, it makes sense to leave with a clean slate. It isn't quite this "Reds in crisis, two weeks from going out of existence" situation as some local papers would have you believe'".
The Manchester Evening News reports that "Departing vice-chairman Spencer Fearn... explains why he decided to call it quits within weeks of County’s relegation into Conference North. When the end came, it was arguably the most unexpected development of County’s close season.
Last Wednesday, two-and-a-half weeks after relegation to Conference North – and only 24 hours after an optimistic statement on the Hatters’ website – vice-chairman Spencer Fearn announced his immediate resignation. Another statement put some meat on the bones but, a week on, Mr Fearn now tells us:
'It’s been building up for a number of months now', explained Mr Fearn when quizzed about his sudden departure... 'There have been people who have come into the club and promised help with finances, driving down costs and assisting where they can. However, there have been broken promises and I’ve found it difficult to work with some people who come in, promise the earth and don’t deliver.
One shareholder came in, agreed deals that the club had no knowledge of and then disappeared leaving us with a big bill and the finance he promised never appeared. I can’t work with people like that. I’ve given it everything I’ve got, not just in terms of money, but in terms of time. There have been some good people who have helped me along the way like Chris Bramall (fellow shareholder).
Although he lives in Salisbury, he tries to do as much as he can despite living hundreds of miles away. I don’t have millions in the bank, and I’ve made that clear, but there’s only so much I can do and, unfortunately, there are many shareholders that do not seem to care about the club and the sooner they move on the better...
Mr Fearn is one of the 12 shareholders comprising the "top company" which owns County. He owns 20 per cent of the 490,000 shares in said "topco" and, during his 16 months at County, it’s estimated that he has put in £365,000. The fears are that, by leaving, the club is being set up for either a spell in administration or a possible land deal concerning Edgeley Park...
'I don’t think it is', Mr Fearn reiterated when asked if the club was again heading towards administration. 'I think the club is going to be OK this month and next month while Ryan is working tremendously hard to get some investment. As for my shares, if someone wants to buy them then they can, I have had three parties contact me over the weekend and will decide over the coming weeks...
The position when I joined in January last year was desperate; if I’d known the true extent of the problems then I wouldn’t have got involved... I’d paid £95,000 for my shares and, 16 months later, it’s nearly quadrupled. Anyway, I didn’t get into football to make money. This notion people have of me getting involved for a property deal is rubbish. When I joined County, I got into it because I love football. Yes, I’ve got loans in the club but I’m not expecting it back immediately and there’s no way I’ll be putting the club at risk by claiming them back now'...
The decision to keep Ryan McKnight at Edgeley Park has also raised eyebrows with some fans wondering why County need a CEO while in the sixth tier of English football... Mr Fearn said, 'I’m gutted for the staff and the wonderful fans. There are some fantastic people there; those like [ex-Alty man] Richard Landon (kitman), Rodger Wylde (physio), Ian Bogie (manager), Alan Lord (assistant manager), Phil Brennan (media and commercial manager) and Tony Whiteside (secretary), who is an absolute rock.
As for Ryan, I know he gets a lot of stick but, if he left the club, it would collapse. The business turns over £1m, any business needs a CEO when they are turning over this much. He came in a blaze of publicity which didn’t help him and I think he’d accept that but he knows what he’s doing... He won’t walk because I’ve gone. He’s massively committed to Stockport County and he’s one of a lot of good people there'...
He said 'My other businesses have suffered because I’ve been that obsessed with County. It’s been another full-time job on top of running four or five businesses that also need my time'".
Meanwhile, "Hatters’ chief executive Ryan McKnight insists the future is getting brighter... He said, 'I have been speaking to two potential groups of investors and our existing shareholders in the last couple of days, as well as three interested shirt sponsors, so there is still tremendous interest in Stockport County'".
We read in the Shropshire Star that "AFC Telford assistant boss Dominic Morley has admitted the club are interested in bringing Mansfield Town midfielder Godfrey Poku to the New Buck's Head... Poku spent two loan spells at Southport, Morley and Watson’s former club, impressing on both occasions...
He said, '“He is someone we have had at Southport a couple of times and he is one of the possibilities we are looking at, but there are other lads as well'...
Meanwhile, the Bucks’ pre-season fixtures are taking shape as Kidderminster Harriers have announced they will travel to the New Buck's Head for a friendly on July 23. Telford already have a Shropshire Senior Cup clash against West Midlands Premier Division side Shawbury United pencilled in for July 9.
Also, the club is reminding supporters that the deadline to purchase early bird season tickets for the forthcoming season arrives this Friday".
John King, Graham Heathcote, Jeff Johnson and John Rogers, four of the most iconic players in the history of Altrincham Football Club, will also attend and become the first people to be invited into the Altrincham F.C. Players' Hall Of Fame.
The evening will start at 7.15pm with drinks in the Noel White Suite, with the main event taking place at 8pm in The Manchester Glass Limited Sponsors' Lounge. The dress code is smart casual".
Joint Media and Press Officer at Moss Lane, John Edwards, adds that 'Altrincham’s greatest ever manager and four of their most iconic players will relive the glory years of the late 70s and early 80s at a tribute evening at Moss Lane.
The Manchester Glass Ltd sponsors’ lounge will be awash with nostalgia on Thursday, when ex-Alty greats John King, Graham Heathcote, Jeff Johnson and John Rogers take their place alongside Tony Sanders for a dinner to mark eight years of unparalleled success under the former Robins boss.
Sanders had already served as assistant to Roy Rees when he took over in March, 1976 and launched a reign that brought Alty two Conference titles, an FA Trophy triumph at Wembley and no fewer than four consecutive FA Cup third-round appearances.
His remarkable achievements are being recognised officially by the club at a tribute night that will begin with drinks in the Noel White Suite at 7.15pm before transferring to the sponsors’ lounge for a meal at 8pm.
Compered by joint press officer Brian Flynn, Sanders will be introduced to the audience at the top table before being joined, in turn, by four legendary figures from a line-up widely regarded as the outstanding non-League side of its era.
After the meal, Flynn will conduct a question and answer session aimed at giving fans of all ages a first-hand account of how Sanders and his team went about establishing Alty as the nation’s leading exponents of Cup upsets.
As a fitting final touch, King, Heathcote, Johnson and Rogers will be made inaugural members of the Altrincham FC Players’ Hall of Fame, a new concept to recognise the contribution of past greats...
On a more contemporary note, manager Lee Sinnott met the Alty board on Monday, to be informed of his latest playing budget, and will now press ahead with plans for next season. Skipper Shaun Densmore and influential centre-back Luca Havern have both joined Nicky Clee, Duncan Watmore, Damian Reeves, Simon Richman, Jake Moult, Scott Leather and James Lawrie in accepting terms for the new campaign".
The statement from Hughes read, 'Colin Peake, Club Consultant, has been busy talking to a number of individuals and companies since the season ended and he has now been able to produce a restructure plan. It is hoped this new plan will allow the two current options of a site for the new stadium, at Meadow Park and Estcourt Road, to proceed without any hindrance to the playing side of the club.
Part of his endeavours has been preparing a budget, with potential investors taking a leading role, and not forgetting to embrace all the hard working club officials and Supporters' Trust. If all the strands do meet with acceptance, then this exciting way forward will be publicly announced within the next few weeks, as there is still much to do.
Fans must be mindful that the club needs to clear existing matters from the past season to allow the new investment and structure to have full and unrestricted access to enable the club to offer the best playing budget it can, alongside sensible commercial and marketing initiatives in the current climate, to supplement that investment.
A number of people are working hard to make this all happen and ensure the future of the club is more secure. Please be patient".
According to Pitchero Non-League, "New AFC Telford United boss Liam Watson has expressed an interest in retaining defender Will Salmon for the forthcoming season. Assistant-manager Dominic Morley said the new Bucks' chief spoke to Salmon at the club’s end-of-season presentation evening to discuss the possibility of him staying...
Should a deal be struck to keep Salmon at the club for next season, he would be the third player from last season’s squad to be kept on... Goalkeeper Ryan Young was given a new one-year contract last month and defender Dan Preston has also received the same deal. Salmon, who plays predominantly at right-back, said that he was delighted that Watson had expressed an interest in keeping him...
The search for further new recruits has continued this week and Morley said that a couple of transfer targets have been made offers to join the Bucks... So far the Bucks have brought in two new recruits, midfielder Sean Clancy and defender Simon Grand".
Bulls' News reports that "Worcester say that Thursday's 'showdown' talks with the local council and developers St Modwen will decide whether the club will seek voluntary liquidation. They are seeking renegotiation of their deal with St Modwen that has seen the builder drag its heels over building a new ground. The club faces a crippling £385,000 capital gains tax bill if a new ground isn't built by the end of the year".
From the NW Evening Mail, we learn that "Barrow AFC have reduced their season ticket prices across the board following the club’s relegation. The cost of a discounted adult stand (seating) early-bird ticket costs £250 (concession, £195), working out at £11.90 per match...
That is down on last season’s £310 price... which included 23 home games... When the early-bird period expires on June 1, all prices increase with the adult stand ticket going up by £10 to £260...
Director Tony Keen...said, 'We’re trying to get the floating fans back and after looking at other clubs we feel that this is a strong price for this league. And we need to keep the prices reasonably strong to reflect the player budget'...
All single adult matchday tickets have been reduced by £1 with £14 and £13 prices set for the stand and terraces respectively. The club are also aiming to attract more youngsters to Holker Street by extending the junior category from under-16s to under-18s. Last season’s under-16s price has also been reduced by £1 to £5 for the new age category. The junior section has also been stretched from under-sevens to under-11s with last season’s £3 price being cut to just £1...
Last season, AFC sold 105 season tickets and Keen is hoping to at least match those sales especially after the average home gate fell to 924 last season, down on the 1,271 average figure they achieved in 2011/12.
If we can maintain last season’s level that would be great and it will give us an indication about how many fans we will get through the gate next year', said Keen....
With the club also seeking a £30,000 cash injection to wipe out some of their debt this month any early season ticket revenue will greatly aid their mission... Keen added, 'We have got a cash flow problem this month so we’re offering a little discount just to entice a few more people and get us the money we need this month. Season ticket money is massive to us. People are aware that there are a number of bills we have to pay this month, not just debts... This summer we’ll be paying players’ wages four or five weeks later than we did last summer because of the level we’re at'.
This is because AFC won’t pay players’ wages until [the] start of the season as opposed to the start of pre-season".
Closer to home, "Stockport County are pleased to announce that defender Jordan Fagbola has agreed a deal to stay with the club for 2013/14... Fagbola made more than 40 first team appearances for the club last season, becoming a permanent fixture at centre-half and a big favourite with the Blue & White Army.
He first signed for the Hatters in July 2012 after spending four years in the youth set-up at Rochdale... Fagbola played for junior side Fletcher Moss from the age of 11 before joining Rochdale three years later...
Jordan Fagbola said, 'I am happy to commit my immediate future to County as I believe I will develop more as a player working with the Gaffer and Alan'".
According to the Wetherby News, "Harrogate Town players face an anxious wait to find out if they are in boss Simon Weaver’s plans for next term. Adam Bolder, Craig MacGillivray and Shane Killock have all already signed two year deals to remain at the CNG.
The gaffer will tell players their future in the coming week before starting a selective process of adding new faces. 'We are keeping a large core of the team', he said. 'I’ll be going round to speak to the players face to face on our plans for next season. I don’t want it to be a five minute phone conversation. I owe it to them. We are building from strength. The character of players is important. It needs to compliment what we have'.
Work will start on the CNG Stadium’s pitch this week and the boss hopes the early start will create a pitch conducive to Town’s passing game".
'Forest Green are a village team with a lad with a few bob', said Bircham. 'They don't have the pedigree of Wrexham Football Club but they have a benefactor with big, deep pockets'... Bircham says Wright turned down a 'very attractive package' to stay with Wrexham, dismissing the striker's claim that he was offered a lesser contract than his previous deal.
'He was offered a contract at the same level as our most experienced and valued players', Bircham told BBC Radio Wales... He added, 'I respect the fact that Danny is a professional footballer and if somebody comes to the lad and offers to increase his wages by 50% that's entirely understandable. He'll be playing... for a club that lacks the history, heritage and atmosphere of Wrexham Football Club'".
Until recently, he could often be spotted picking his way through foliage and undergrowth to retrieve footballs kicked off the pitch at the youth team's games at Wythenshawe Town and BTH. Despite not enjoying the best of health in recent seasons, Jim has continued to carry out many of the above roles and the Club is very appreciative of his work.
Jim's son, Jim Vince (junior) briefly played for Altrincham FC and has since enjoyed a successful managerial career which has taken in clubs such as Witton Albion, FC Halifax Town and, currently, Congleton Town.
Meanwhile, "Neil Young, manager of champions Chester, believes midfielder Dave Hankin could be the first of a few Blues players who decide to leave the club. The Chester boss confirmed that Hankin had been placed on the transfer list after revealing he couldn't play for the Blues in the Conference Premier Division due to work commitments.
'Dave is a trainee teacher at a school, which will count him out of a lot of our Friday overnight stays next season and any long trips in midweek. He left Kidderminster for precisely the same reason and I knew it was going to be a problem for him at Chester once we went up. We've had a good discussion and him leaving us was the obvious thing to do as it is going to be bad enough being a part-time club if a player has a job.
We must make sure that we are as professional as we can be, despite being a part time club. Having lads turning up on the morning of matches and having to travel five hours to a game wouldn't be possible for Dave, so we've come to an agreement with him and he is now on the transfer list and we will now wait for clubs to come in and make an offer for him... There may be a few other players now who are facing similar decisions to make'" reports Chester First.
We read in the Telegraph & Argus that "Bradford boss John Deacey and his squad gave their all in the struggle to secure a place in the Blue Square Bet North Division One play-offs. Although they came up just short, the manager is already talking positively about making a successful tilt next term. And, significantly, Deacey is already missing the game.
The Avenue manager said, 'It may well be time to draw breath and think about things but I love the game and wish the season wasn’t over. I can’t wait for the next one. I think it was a good one but it was a bit stop-start for a few months. There was a lot of bad weather and because of that we couldn’t get any rhythm going. It was the same for the other clubs though, so you just have to get on with it.
I would like to think it was a season in which people who came to watch us liked what they saw. We have always tried to play football the right way. It’s the way I want my teams to play and this squad has produced some decent football'.
The manager did get some criticism from the terraces and on the message boards, as every boss does. The two main bones of contention were the early release of so many players and the perception that he favoured his own son, Jordan, in team selection. The latter is dismissed out of hand as Jordan Deacey’s displays have attracted a string of scouts and coaches from Football League clubs and the midfielder will be high in the ranking for all the player of the season accolades.
However, players allowed to leave such as James Riley, Matt Dempsey, Tom Greaves, former skipper Rob O’Brien and club captain James Knowles have left huge holes in a squad that ended up being threadbare. However, not all of the information regarding their exits are in the public domain.
The Bradford boss did admit that he wished he hadn’t allowed Riley to join Farsley so soon and said he also tried in vain to persuade Knowles to remain at Horsfall. The other deals may have had more to do with financial constraints.
Deacey added, 'We didn’t have the biggest budget and we certainly weren’t the biggest club in the league. For our last four fixtures I had 12 fit players to choose from. That was a killer to be fair and I know we need a bigger squad but the budget is tied. The board have been fantastic but I will have to go to them and ask for more. I wouldn’t rule out signing players and letting them play in the lower leagues on dual registration because we can’t afford to have them all on the books all the time'.
Avenue have announced the prices for next term’s season tickets and a deadline date for an early bird saving. Prices prior to June 23 are adult £180, concessions/student £120 and under-16s £30. After the deadline they will be £190, £130 and £32.
The club is hoping the seventh-place finish in their first season back in the Conference North will lead to bigger attendances next season in order to give manager John Deacey a bigger budget".
The round dates for the 2013/14 FA Cup with Budweiser have been released. The list of clubs accepted into the competition, together with the early round draws, will be published on Friday 5 July.
The "panel" (seen right) comprised manager Lee Sinnott, assistant boss Neil Tolson, chairman Grahame Rowley, sports therapist Alan Ainsley and club secretary Derek Wilshaw.
What follows is by no means a full account but, hopefully, it captures the main points. The meeting took place on the eve of a meeting between the Board and the management to agree the budget for the coming season. Later in the meeting Lee made it perfectly clear that he will not destabilize the club with extravagant demands but he and Neil did indicate that there were likely to be some new faces next season, as well as the nine players who are already signed up for the next campaign.
One of those nine is Damian Reeves but, as last summer, we might not know if he is staying or leaving till well into the close season.
It was also revealed that both Duncan Watmore and Simon Richman, students at the University of Manchester, have been invited to join the British Universities' team on a three-week tour of Russia.
In fact, Neil and Lee both emphasized what a "great bunch of lads" we have playing for the club and also that many of them are still young enough not yet to have reached their peak. However, Neil's claim to have taught Duncan Watmore everything he knows about the art of being a centre-forward was not universally believed!
Lee added that Duncan epitomised what he was trying to do, namely bring players through from George Heslop's youth team into the first eleven.
Neil also singled out Scott Leather as a centre half of great promise whilst Lee paid tribute to the development of Simon Richman over the past season.
George Heslop was asked by Lee to provide more players like Duncan for next season and the youth team manager reported that his midfielder, Rob Gilroy, had just completed a series of five internationals for the England Schools team in which he had captained the side three times.
Earlier, in response to a vote of thanks from the floor, there was applause for the management and board for providing an entertaining and successful season, albeit we had lost in the play-offs. Several times during the evening, Lee and Neil emphasized that the disappointment of the manner of the defeat at Brackley would be used to stimulate the players next season. Lee's wife, who was in attendance, confirmed that the Alty boss had spent the two days after that match coming to terms with the defeat.
As regards specific players, obviously Lee and Neil could not be too explicit. However Lee did explain how useful it was to have players such as Nicky Clee who could double up as a left-midfielder or left-back - or even as a stand-in goalkeeper. Nicky has apparently told the manager that he is restricting his Yorkshire amateur cricket appearances this summer and Lee said that he would be looking regularly in the "Huddersfield Examiner" to make sure that was the case!
Questions were also asked about the goalkeeping situation with six keepers having been named in squads last season. Lee expected that two keepers would be the starting point for next season.
Asked about the Conference AGM, the panel indicated that at the present time they had no knowledge of any club failing to be accepted into the relevant divisions for off-field reasons but that nothing could be ruled out given what has happened in previous close-seasons.
Grahame Rowley emphasized the need to support the Club's fundraising events. Though attendances last season had been up on the previous campaign, turnstile income had been down, possibly due to a combination of free/reduced price tickets offerd as part of the club's community initiatives and also due to some away teams bringing very few supporters. Bar and catering income was also down in 2012-13 and a significant portion of our FA Cup prize money had had to be used to compensate for these shortfalls.
Also, income in the coming season from Manchester United, who currently host reserve games at Moss Lane, is uncertain owing to managerial and personnel changes at Old Trafford as well as yet more changes in the (inter)national set-up for under-21 games.
Asked what he would like to see improved next season, Lee cited a better start to the season than last year and a better points haul against mid-table teams. Discussion then took place about Alty's ten missed spot kicks in 2012-13. Lee explained that who took the kicks depeneded a lot on each individual game and how particular players felt at the time of the penalty award. He would not blindly insist that player x or player y must take all of the penalty kicks.
It was confirmed that the players return for pre-season training on 29 June and that Altrincham supporter and GB weightlifting coach Terry Surridge is devising a weights programme to help them build up their strength for the new season.
Lee insisted that had Altrincham got promoted this season that the existing players, with some judicious additions, would have coped with playing at the national level. The players we have are well capable of moving the ball about well on the pitch and we have "the arsenal" up front to ensure that we can "put games to bed". "I won't jeopardise the future of the club by making excessive [financial] demands. We'll progress the right way and are already moving in the right direction". Lee cited the improved statistics in 2012-13 as regards games won and goals scored, as well as a reduction in goals conceded to prove his point.
Finally, chairman Grahame Rowley paid tribute to the management duo. "It is a pleasure to work with Lee and Neil. They have the correct ethos for this club. Lee was the last of the interviewees when we appointed the manager in 2011 and I was blown away with his vision for the football club. He and Neil deserve our full support. I also want to thank everyone else at the club and to say that without the supporters there isn't a football club".
And as a marker of his commitment to Altrincham, Lee, who lives near Hull, mentioned that he has driven 75,000 miles over the last two seasons to attand training sessions and Alty's matches over the past two years. He, for one, is delighted that North Ferriby United have joined our division as he only lives two miles away from their ground, whilst other newcomers, Hednesford Town, are just a couple of miles from his father's home!
Alty Youth beat Northwich Victoria Youth 4-1 at a sodden Moss Lane on Sunday afternoon. A report will follow.
Meanwhile, pictured right, Michael King feels the weight of an opponent after a tackle in the game. Michael netted two of the goals. (Photo: Nick King).
The second half began with Halifax on the front foot and it came as little surprise when Neil Aspin`s side broke the deadlock 14 minutes from time when Gardner`s shot was parried by Turley into the path of Lee Gregory, who scored from close range".
Buckingham Today added that "Brackley Town manager Jon Brady has said he will remain with the club following their play-off final defeat... Brady said, 'We’ve already put things in place for next year so we do plan quite ahead... I’d like to keep the majority of the squad and being the next best team in Northamptonshire I don’t think the players would want to go too much further.
I told all of the players at the end of the season that I would all offer them something and go again with the same bunch of players but who knows in football, sometimes people take your players and you’ve got no hold over that... I would like to add one or two because as you could see today Halifax had a lot more strength in depth in their squad. They had three or four sitting in the stands today and we don’t have that opportunity here. But I would like to add but we’ll see if my bosses allow me'".
The same paper adds that "The visitors dominated the majority of the game and scored the crucial goal 15 minutes from time when Lee Gregory smashed in from six yards... As expected, Saints' boss Jon Brady named an unchanged side from the one that comfortably defeated Altrincham in the semi-final... Saints gradually dropped deeper and deeper, leaving Jefferson Louis and Mulligan isolated up front as every time Brackley managed to clear the danger, Halifax came back at them with wave after wave of pressure.
The pressure built and built and eventually it was too much to take as, 15 minutes from time, Gregory scored the all important goal when he fired home from six yards out after Turley had saved well from Gardner... Saints will remain in the Conference North for next season after what has been a superb 2012/13 campaign, despite today’s disappointment".
And from the other side, the Halifax Courier adds that "FC Halifax Town sealed their return to the Conference Premier five years after they were demoted from it... Look up ‘cagey’ in the dictionary next year, and you’ll probably find this fixture underneath the word. There wasn’t a great deal to jangle the nerves of either set of supporters...
One hand was easily enough to count the chances created though as the most important game of the season failed to catch fire in dreadful conditions. The rain teemed down as the second-half got underway, as the conditions also asked which of the two teams really wanted a place in the Conference Premier next season". And in the South, according to the Football Conference, "After a two-year absence, Salisbury City are back in the Conference Premier after winning a dramatic Blue Square Bet South Promotion Play-Off final... A terrific crowd of 3,408 saw a fairly even first half...
The drama started four minutes after half-time when Salisbury took the lead with a superb free-kick from Ricky Wellard... Dover`s chances diminished further when they lost influential midfielder Daryl McMahon to a second yellow card.
However, slightly against the run of play, Dover did pull back on level terms with less than a minute of normal time remaining when Lloyd Harrington`s free-kick was netted at the far post by Ian Simpemba.
Eight minutes into extra-time Salisbury re-took the lead when Stuart Sinclair chipped the ball over Walker and into the far corner... Six minutes into the second period of overtime the home side did make it 3-1 with another excellent finish by top scorer White... Two minutes before the end Dover did make it a nervy finale when Billy Bricknell slid the ball home. But Salisbury held on".
After these games, there is...
I have catered at lots of events with Sir Alex present, down the years, including two family christenings for his grand children. He even GRILLED me at one of the the last under-21 games this season at Moss Lane when I served Cod and Chips to the boardroom...
He was adamant that the best battered fish was haddock, and nothing else!
So, eat a bacon butty and have a pint in the Alty Bar in his honour then get ready to GRILL the management with some serious questions.
I, for one, have several questions.
John King, Graham Heathcote, Jeff Johnson and John Rogers will attend the evening in honour of Altrincham's most successful manager and will be invited to become the inaugural members of the 'Altrincham Football Club Players' Hall of Fame'.
Tickets are still available for this event, (priced at £20, including a two-course meal plus tea or coffee), by contacting either of the following:-
The evening will start at 7.15pm with drinks in the Noel White Suite with the main event taking place at 8pm in The Manchester Glass Limited Sponsors' Lounge. The dress code is smart casual."
Hednesford now join champions, North Ferriby United in the Conference North. Alty last met Hednesford in the 1999-2000 season in the national division of the Conference, whilst our only previous encounter with the Yorkshiremen was a defeat on their Humberside ground in the 2001-2 season.
The Shawe View club reported that "Just as in the semi-final four days earlier [at New Mills], this was an incredibly tense and nervous affair with both defences on top throughout... The second half was dominated by Trafford with Andy Smart cracking a free kick that was held by Kevin Atherton and then Lairds clearing shots off the line by Oates and Rory Fallon following a Smart corner.
Lairds' dangerman Craig Cairns then broke clear down the right but was denied by a great reflex save by Tom Read...
Extra time saw Trafford dominating possession but Lairds always looking dangerous with their long ball tactics and three minutes into injury time the home side almost snatched a dramatic winner when a shot from the left deflected off Steve Mason but Tom Read produced another brilliant reflex save.
And so to penalties and once more Read was the hero, saving two of Lairds' first four spot kicks. Martyn Andrews, Andy Smart and Tom Schofield all coolly converted theirs but the final act fell to Paul Ashton who blasted the ball into the bottom corner to signal a pitch invasion by the hundreds of Trafford fans who had made the journey over to the Wirral.
This victory means a new and tremendously exciting challenge for the Shawe View outfit as they now look forward to life in the top division of the Evo Stik Northern Premier League but they can go confidently into the new league in the knowledge that they have thoroughly deserved promotion on the strength of some superbly entertaining football".
At another club relegated into the Conference North, Stockport County report that "The Early Bird discount for season tickets ends this Wednesday... Manager Ian Bogie has thanked the fans who have already helped the club well on the way towards 1,000 tickets.
Meanwhile Chief Executive Officer Ryan McKnight says the club’s finances are showing positive signs of stabilising. Mr McKnight said, 'I have been speaking to two potential groups of investors and our existing shareholders in the last couple of days, as well as three interested shirt sponsors, so there is still tremendous interest in Stockport County. Everyone knows that County is a huge name in football, regardless of which league we play in next season'...
He added, 'Despite losing Spencer Fearn as vice-chairman, we are moving forward confidently'.
Manager Ian Bogie said, '“Spencer’s resignation came as shock to everyone, but the response from the supporters has been magnificent... I’m not remotely surprised at the way everyone has rallied around'...
Meanwhile, County have received offers from two local sports clubs to provide full-size, grass-based training facilities which would be available during the evenings. For much of last season, County trained on the artificial surface at Life Leisure in Woodley.
Ryan McKnight added... 'We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, as we resolve outstanding contractual issues with some of our players'".
From This is Glos, we learn that "Gloucetser City have admitted they remain in a difficult financial position, but they are hoping brighter times are around the corner. The ailing Tigers struggled to keep up their rent payments to the Robins this season, putting their three-year groundshare arrangement with Cheltenham Town at risk...
Chairman Nigel Hughes said the club were under pressure to attract new investment if they are to avoid a similar struggle off the field next term. He said, 'We are grateful to the small number of creditors for their patience while we work to clear away all remaining trading debts from last season. Coupled with that we are also working with a small number of businesses that owe us money to resolve issues and receive payment.
In addition, club officials have been negotiating with several potentially exciting new sponsors that we hope will bring in significant additional revenue. We have also been working hard to produce a realistic budget for the coming season that includes a competitive playing budget... Getting new sponsors on board remains essential if we are to survive, and ultimately that comes down to getting some positive news with regards to a new stadium'".
In This is Lincs we read that "Steve Housham has moved swiftly to protect his Gainsborough Trinity side from any future financial blunders this summer. The Blues' boss has re-engaged those players who are under 24 to ensure the club will receive compensation if they move on. Housham, who is already planning his next Blue Square Bet North campaign on a dramatically reduced budget due to the departure of chairman Peter Swann, has offered contracts to Luke Waterfall, Josh Wilde and Terry Hawkridge...
'I have sat down and talked to each and every one of the players individually', revealed Housham... 'The ball is in their court... We have worked out what we think we can offer the players and put that to them, so now we will have to wait. I know what it's like as a player. You want the best deal you can get for yourselves and your family, but come June, there will be a lot of released footballers looking for a club.
The players were quite positive, they have been looked after here, but now they have to weigh up their options... Players are often ringing me and texting me', he said. 'I think we have put Trinity on the map over the last few seasons and there are players out there who would like to play here'.
Off the pitch, Housham says he respects the decision of Brett Marshall not to take on the role of chairman. The former Retford United manager was the club's initial target for the position, but has turned it down this week... 'It was the right job at the wrong time', Mitchell said. 'It is a terrific football club and run by lovely people, but it would have meant a two-and-a-half hour round trip to every home game and more for away matches. I couldn't commit to that'".
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