ALTRINCHAM FC PLAYERS OF 1994/95

From the Stalybridge Celtic v Altrincham programme, 11/3/95:

  • BARRY BUTLER: Vastly experienced player signed from Barrow in March 1994. Farnworth-born Barry made 268 Football League appearances during 7 years with Chester City, his only senior club, whom he joined from Atherton Town in 1986. Barry captained the Chester side knocked out of the F.A.Cup by Altrincham in 1992.
  • MICK CARMODY: A model on consistency since joining the Robins in June 1992 from Emley, Mick played league football for Tranmere Rovers and his home town club Huddersfield Town, and whilst at Emley played in the 1988 F.A.Vase final. Appointed Altrincham club captain on New Year's Day 1994, Mick crowned a superb season by taking last season's Player of The Year Award from both supporters and his fellow players.
  • PAUL COLLINGS: Paul re-joined Robins in December 1993 following a three month spell with Bury, and finally made his debut for Robins some ten months after initially signing from Accrington Stanley. A knee injury had kept Paul out of the 1993/4 pre-season friendlies when the opportunity arose to add to the four league appearances he made during a four-year spell as understudy to Eric Nixon at Tranmere Rovers.
  • STEVE CROSS: Former Bangor City full back Steve signed for Robins in November 1993, joining his former boss at Bangor, Paul Rowlands, who had recently taken the Moss Lane hot seat. Steve began his career in local soccer on the Wirral, progressing to Bangor via Heswall and Rhyl, where he was part of the Welsh Cup Final side which lost to Cardiff City. Enjoyed a spectacular debut for Altrincham, scoring twice against Northwich.
  • PAUL FRANCE: Another of the Robins' Yorkshire contingent, Paul splits his time between Moss Lane and Elland Road, where he works with Leeds United's Football In The Community Programme. A cool and commanding presence at the heart of the Alty defence, Paul played league football with Huddersfield Town, Bristol City and Burnley, arriving at Moss Lane in August 1992. In his first season, Paul was voted the Supporters' Player of The Year.
  • ANDY GREEN: One of John King's first signings on returning to Moss Lane in February 1994, Andy is one of the few players in the Conference to have sampled Belgian football, having joined Binche from South Liverpool for a five figure fee in 1990. Macclesfield brought the player back to English football in 1991, and following a brief spell at Morecambe, Andy played in the Knowsley side which lost to Carlisle United at Everton's Goodison Park in the 1993/4 F.A.Cup.
  • DARREN HEESOM: Darren is the club's only remaining playing link with the Tommy Docherty era, having been signed by the Doc in October 1987 from Burnley, where he made 38 league appearances. After two years, Darren left Altrincham for Macclesfield, and subsequently Witton Albion, where he was part of the squad which reached the 1992 F.A.Trophy Final. Following a brief spell at Hyde United, Darren joined Barrow but was amongst John King's first signings on his return in February 1994.
  • STEVE O'NEILL: Signed in August 1994 after impressing in pre-season matches. Steve comes to Moss Lane from Bootle Town, having been the Carling North West Counties side's top scorer in each of the last two seasons.
  • ANDY REID:The man nicknamed 'Hagar The Horrible' returned for a second spell at Altrincham in November 1993 after fourteen months at Bury. Brother of ex-Manchester City and West Brom skipper Nicky Reid, Andy began his career with Witton Albion before progressing via Southport and Runcorn to Altrincham in the summer of 1989. During his first spell at Moss Lane, he was part of the side which so narrowly missed promotion to the Football League in 1991.
  • CHRIS SHARRATT: A deadline signing from Macclesfield in March 1994, Chris joined the Robins in exchange for Gary Powell and Mick Hayde, and scored on his debut against Southport two days later. After beginning his career with Bangor City, Chris moved via Caernarvon and Stalybridge Celtic to Wigan Athletic. Chris spent 18 months at Springfield Park, making over 20 league appearances before leaving for Macc. in the summer of 1993.
  • NIGEL SHAW: Nigel rejoined the club in October 1994 from Runcom, for whom he scored in the 1994 FA Trophy final against Woking. Originally joined Robins from Macclesfield at Christmas 1988, going on to make over 100 league appearances for the club before a move which took Nigel and ex-Alty colleague Gary Anderson to Canal Street.
  • NEIL MORTON: Signed in November 1994 from Wigan Athletic following a successful loan period during which time he netted five goals in seven appearances. Neil returns to nonleague football after spells in the Football League with Wigan and Chester City, whom he joined from Northwich Victoria. Neil started his career with Crewe Alexandra.
  • STUART TERRY: Signed together with Bangor team-mate Steve Cross in November 1993, Stuart ended his first season at Moss Lane as second leading scorer just three years after joining West Cheshire outfit Heswall. In 1992, Stuart followed his Heswall manager to Bangor, where he played in the side which won the North Wales Challenge Cup, and was a regular until the move to Conference football.