Altrincham Football Club 
Players of 1989/90

ALTRINCHAM FC PLAYERS OF 1989/90

  • JEFF WEALANDS (Goalkeeper): Jeff returned to Moss Lane for his second spell in September 1988. He made 436 Football League appearances with Wolves (0), his home town club Darlington (31), Hull City (270). Birmingham City (117), Manchester United (8) and Oldham Athletic (10) before winning an FA Trophy winner's medal in his first season with Altrincham in 1986. He made over a hundred appearances for the Robins before spending the 1987-88 season with Barrow.
  • NIGEL SHAW (Midfield): An extremely versatile player who can play either in midfield or as a full back and has also played in goal. He started his career with his home town club Stoke City as an apprentice and then played for Nantwich Town and Congleton Town before joining Macclesfield Town in 1983. He won a Northern Premier League championship winner’s medal in 1987 and was the Silkmen’s player of the year 1986. He joined Altrincham in January 1989.
  • MARTIN BAKER (Central Defender): Martin spent two seasons playing in Watford’s reserve side before his studies brought him north and he joined HFS Loans League side RhyI. He joined Altrincham in November 1988 and quickiy claimed a regular first team place with a series of impressive performances.
  • ANDY REID (Midfield): A Manchester born midfield player who spent a season with Witton Albion and four years with Southport before joining Runcorn in March 1988. He won a Cheshire Senior Cup winner's medal during his stay at Canal Street and signed for Altrincham in the close season.
  • JONATHAN CROMPTON (Forward): Jonathan is a 19-year-old forward who served an apprenticeship with Wigan Athletic before joining Altrincham at the start of December.
  • BARRY DIAMOND (Forward): Scottish born Barry began his career with Gillingham and then moved into the Scottish League with Dumbarton before playing in semi-professional football far the first time with Barrow and Workington. After a second spell with Barrow he joined Finnish side Olun Palloseura and began his Football League career with half a dozen games on loan at Stockport County before scoring 16 goals in 52 games for Rochdale. Barry had a short loan speIl with Wrexham and then made 22 appearances, scoring three goals, for Halifax Town. After spells with Gainsborough Trinity, Morecambe and Colne Dynamoes, Barry joined Mossley and was playing in South African football before joining Altrincham at the end of November.
  • PAUL ROWLANDS (Defender): A powerful six foot defender who began his career as a junior with his home town club Tranmere Rovers and then played West Cheshire League football with Heswall. He made over 150 first team appearances, winning three Cheshire Senior Cup winner's medals in a four year stay at Runcorn and left Canal Street to join Bangor City early last season. After spending the summer with Air New Zealand Soccer League leaders Mt. Maunganui, he signed for Altrincham in August.
  • NICKY DAWS (Midfield): Two seasons ago Nicky became the first schoolboy to figure in the Altrincham first team for 20 years after being spotted playing in the Bass North West Counties League for nearby Flixton. Still a teenager, he has continued to figure prominently in the first team squad.
  • GARY SIMPSON (Midfield): Signed from Boston United in October. Gary had started his career with more than 100 reserve team appearances for Stoke City before joining Boston for the fir5t time in 1980. He moved to Stafford Rangers in the summer of 1985 after skippering Boston’s side in the FA Trophy final and returned to York Street at the start of last season in a £7,500 deal. He has won five England semi-professional international caps and also captained the Middlesex Wanderers touring side, playing games in Indonesia, Holland and Hungary.
  • MARK HUGHES (Striker): Mark was 5igned from Northern Premier League outfit Irlam Town. Mark was a former apprentice at Everton Football Club then drifted into local Liverpool football where he played for Avon Athletic scoring some 50 goals last season before joining lrlam at the beginning of this season and making the headlines with his scoring exploits. -
  • EDDIE MURRAY (Midfield): A Liverpool born midfielder who played in the North West Counties League for Stork befre spending two seasons as a full time professional with Tranmere Rovers from whom he joined Altrincham in the close season after totalling 21 Fourth Division appearances.
  • JOHN McMAHON (Midfield): John was a regular in Everton’s Central League side before moving to Southport and South Liverpool. He first joined Altrincham in October 1985 and made 19 appearances (one goal) before joining Witton Albion in the summer of 1986. He then moved on to Runcorn from where he rejoined Altrincham in the close season.
  • DARREN HEESOM (Full back): Darren joined Burnley as an apprentice and then went on to make 38 Football League appearances. A talented left side player. Darren joined Altrincham midway through last season.