ALTRINCHAM FC SEASON 2020-21
Statistical Review

ALTY'S SEASON: PART ONE

Over the next few days, the Alty Files will look at season 2020-21 from a statistical point of view. We start with Season Comparisons, Goals For and Against, Clean Sheets, and League Sequences.

SEASON COMPARISON

  • 2020-21: National League P42 W12 D11 L19 F46 A60 PTS47 POSN 17th
  • 2019-20: National League North P33 W16 D9 L8 F62 A40 PTS57 POSN 5th* plus playoffs, in which: P2 W3 D0 L0 F6 A2
  • 2018-19: National League North P42 W20 D11 L11 F85 A56 PTS71 POSN 5th plus playoffs, in which: P2 W1 D0 L1 F3 A3

Footnote: In 2019-20 Alty were on course for 72 points.

Altrincham lost 19 games in 2020-21, the same number that they had lost in the previous two seasons but they were obviously playing at a higher level last season.

Above: Phil Parkinson and Neil Sorvel

GOALS

In 2020-21, excluding the expunged game at Dover, Altrincham netted 46 goals, an average of 1.09 per match and conceded 60 times, an average of 1.43 per game.

The 2020-21 season's total of 46 goals scored was the fourth lowest total scored by Altrincham (in a league season of 42 games or more at any level) in their history.

In 2019-20 Altrincham scored 62 league goals in 33 matches, an average of 1.88 per match. They conceded 40 league goals in 33 outings. When the play-offs are added they scored 68 league goals in 36 matches, at an average of 1.89 per match.

In 2020-21 the top scorers were led by Josh Hancock, who led the league goalscoring tally for the third successive season.

  • 12 Josh HANCOCK (all in league and incl. 5 penalties) in 35(+3) appearances in all competitions
  • 8 Ryan COLCLOUGH (all in league) in 23 (+5) appearances in all competitions
  • 6 Tom PEERS (3 in league, 3 in cup) in 15 (+21) appearances in all competitions

In 2019-20 the top scorers were:

  • 19 in all competitions: Jordan HULME (14 league and 5 in cups) in 43(+2) appearances including play-offs.
  • 18 Josh HANCOCK (16 league and 2 in cups) in 38(+1) appearances including play-offs.
  • 9 Tom PEERS (5 league and 4 in cups) in 16(+20) appearances including play-offs.

Right: Josh Hancock and Matty Kosylo

In 2018-19 Altrincham scored 85 league goals plus 3 in the play-offs and conceded 56, plus 3 in the play-offs. The individual goal scorers were led by...

  • 20 in all competitions: Josh HANCOCK (19 league) and Jordan HULME (17 league)
  • 15 John JOHNSTON (14 league)
  • 7 Max HARROP

GOAL TIMES (LEAGUE exc play-offs)

The 2020-21 season saw a higher proportion of first-half goals scored by Altrincham than in recent seasons...

In 2020-21 season:

  • First half: 19 (41.3%)
  • Second half: 27 (58.7%)

In 2019-20 regular season:

  • First half: 24 (38.7%)
  • Second half: 38 (61.3%)

In 2019-20 regular season and play-offs:

  • First half: 26 (38.2%)
  • Second half: 42 (61.8%)

In 2018-19:

  • First half: 33 (38.8%)
  • Second half: 52 (61.2%)

CLEAN SHEETS

In 2020-21 Alty has two goalless draws in the league; coincidentally, these were in their first and their last fixtures. Over the whole season they recorded ten shut-outs (23.8%) excluding the Dover game which would have made it eleven.

Right: Goalkeeper Tony Thompson.

That is exactly the same rate as in 2018-19 (see below). In 2020-21 six of the clean sheets were at home.

Nine clean sheets were kept in 33 regular league games in 2019-20, a better rate (27.3%) than the ten clean sheets which were kept in 42 league matches in 2018-19 (23.8%). Four clean sheets came at home but five were earned on the road.

In 2019-20 a further two clean sheets came in the three play-off games making 12 clean sheets in 36 league matches (33.3%).

LEAGUE SEQUENCES

2020-21 was curious season insofar as the first seven games (excluding the expunged win at Dover) witnessed no wins, whilst the next 13 matches saw eight wins, three draws and only two defeats! Well over half of the season's points' total (27 out of 46) was gained in just those 13 fixtures.

In the first half of 2020-21 Alty won nine, drew six and lost six. In the second half they lost twice as many games (12) and won just four times, drawing the other five fixtures.

Their longest league sequences in 2020-21 were...

  • Wins: Three in games 11-13
  • Unbeaten: Five, games 16 to 20
  • Draws: Two (games 3-4, 16-17, 41-42)
  • Losses: Five (games 21-25)

Above we see the league results in 2020-21 colour-coded, with red for defeat, amber for a draw and green for a win.

In 2019-20:

  • Wins: Six in games, 31 to 33 and the three play-offs; in the regular season five consecutive wins came in games 18 to 22.
  • Unbeaten: Seven, games 17 to 23
  • Draws: Two (games 12-13)
  • Losses: One (eight occasions)
In 2018-19:
  • Wins: Four, games 16 to 19
  • Unbeaten: Eight, twice. Games 12 to 19 and games 31 to 38
  • Draws: Two in main season (games 41,42) or 4 if the two play-offs are added.
  • Losses: Two, twice (games 4,5 and 8,9)

ALTY'S SEASON: PART TWO

Below, Part Two of the Review of Altrincham's 2020-21 season addresses Points Accrued, Biggest Wins, Heaviest Losses, Draws and Aggregate Scores.

Right: Jake Moult captained Altrincham through the 2020-21 season.

POINTS ACCRUED

In 2020-21 Altrincham performed far better in the first half of the season than in the second half.
  • Games 1-21: 30 points
  • Games 22-42: 17 points

In 2019-20:

  • Games 1-21: 33 points
  • Games 22-33: 24 points

In 2018-19:

  • Games 1-21: 35 points
  • Games 22-42: 36 points

LEAGUE HAT-TRICKS

For the second season running there were no league hat-tricks scored by any Altrincham player in 2020-21.

The last hat-trick in the league came in 2018-19 from Joe Piggott at Curzon Ashton

BIGGEST WINS IN LEAGUE

In 2020-21:
  • 3-0 at home to King's Lynn Town

In 2019-20:

  • 5-0 at home to Leamington
  • 5-1 at home to Hereford FC
In 2018-19:
  • 7-0 at Alfreton Town
  • 6-0 at Curzon Ashton
  • 4-0 at home to Nuneaton Borough and at home to Chester FC

Three of the best players who arrived in 2020-21 were (left to right) Joel Senior, Alistair Smith and Ryan Colclough.

HEAVIEST LOSSES IN LEAGUE

In 2020-21
  • 0-4 at home to Sutton United

In 2019-20:

  • 0-5 at Boston United
  • 1-3 at home to York City
  • 0-2 at Kidderminster, Bradford, Gateshead
In 2018-19:
  • 1-4 at Chorley
  • 0-3 at Leamington

DRAWS IN LEAGUE

In 2020-21, for the first time in three seasons, Altrincham played a goalless draw in the league; in fact they played two, one in the opening match versus Weymouth and the other in the final fixture against Torquay United. Both were games at Moss Lane.

Right: Toby Mullarkey established himself as a regular in the Alty defence, appearing in 30 league fixtures.

  • Goalless draws in league: 0

As for other scoring draws in 2020-21: 9 in league (4 home, 5 away). Seven of the draws were 1-1, the other two were 2-2.

In 2019-20, the record was identical but from nine fewer fixtures...

  • Scoring draws: 9 in league (4 home, 5 away). Seven of the draws were 1-1, the other two were 2-2.

In 2018-19 Altrincham had eleven draws in the league proper plus two more in play-offs which were settled by penalty shoot-outs. Until the end of the season Alty had never drawn two successive league matches under Phil Parkinson but they finished the campaign with a run of four draws if the play-offs are included!

  • Goalless draws in league: 0
  • Other league draws: 11 in league (6 home, 5 away), 2 more in play-offs

BIGGEST WINS IN CUPS

In 2020-21 the biggest cup win was 3-0 v Barnton in the Cheshire Senior Cup.

In 2019-20 the biggest cup wins were 2-0 at Halesowen and 3-1 at Southport, both in the FA Cup.

In 2018-19:

  • 5-0 at home to Whitley Bay (FA Cup)
  • 4-0 at home to Bradford (PA) in FA Trophy

HIGHEST AGGREGATES IN LEAGUE GAMES

In 2020-21:
  • 7: Altrincham 4 Yeovil Town 3
  • 5: Altrincham 3 Chesterfield 2
  • 5: FC Halifax Town 3 Altrincham 2
  • 5: Altrincham 2 Boreham Wood 3
  • 5: Altrincham 2 Barnet 3

In 2019-20:

  • 7: Altrincham 5 AFC Telford United 2
  • 5: Boston United 5 Altrincham 0
  • 5: Altrincham 5 Hereford FC 0
  • 5: Spennymoor Town 3 Altrincham 2
  • 5: Altrincham 4 Spennymoor Town 1
  • 5: Altrincham 3 Chester FC 2 in play-off eliminator

In 2018-19:

  • 8: Spennymoor 4 Altrincham 4
  • 8: Altrincham 5 Chorley 3
  • 7: Alfreton Town 0 Altrincham 7
  • 6: Curzon Ashton 0 Altrincham 6
  • 6: Altrincham 3 Darlington 3

ALTY'S SEASON: PART THREE

APPEARANCES IN ALL COMPETITIONS

2020-21

Only three cup matches were played, so in all there were 45 first-team matches.

  • 44 Anthony THOMPSON (42 league, 2 cup)
  • 41 Joel SENIOR(39+1 league, 1 cup)
  • 41 Jake MOULT (38+1 league, 2 cup)
  • 38 Josh HANCOCK (33+3 league, 2 cup)
  • 36 Tom PEERS (12+21 league, 3 cup)
  • 36 Yusifu CEESAY (24+9 league, 3 cup)
  • 34 Tom HANNIGAN (33 league, 1 cup)
  • 34 Matty KOSYLO (29+3 league, 2 cup)

2019-20

As the regular season was not completed in 2019-20, the figures were necessarily lower than in previous seasons but the statistics below DO include the three play-off games.

  • 45 Jordan HULME (all starts, 35+1 league, 8+1 cup)
  • 40 Tom HANNIGAN (31 league, 9 cup)
  • 39 Josh HANCOCK (29+1 league, 9 cup)
  • 39 Anthony THOMPSON (30 league, 9 cup)
  • 38 Jake MOULT (28+1 league, 9 cup)
  • 37 Connor HAMPSON (23+7 league, 4+3 cup)
  • 36 James JONES (27+2 league, 7 cup)
  • 36 Tom PEERS (10+18 league, 6+2 cup)

Stability was a key factor in 2018-19. 12 players made 37 or more starts:

  • 49 Jake MOULT (all starts, 44 league, 5 cups)
  • 46 John JOHNSTON (44+2, comprising 40+1 in league, 4+1 in cups)
  • 46 Josh HANCOCK (39+7, comprising 36+5 in league, 3+2 in cups)
  • 44 Tom HANNIGAN (all starts, 40 league, 4 cups)
  • 44 James JONES (43+1, comprising 39+1 league, 4 in cups)
  • 41 Connor HAMPSON (38+3, comprising 35+2 league, 3+1 in cups)
  • 41 Max HARROP (28+13, comprising 25+12 league, 3+1 in cups)
  • 40 Simon RICHMAN (20+20, comprising 16+20 league, 4 in cups)
  • 39 Jordan HULME (36+3, comprising 31+3 league, 5 in cups)
  • 37 Anthony THOMPSON (all starts, comprising 34 league, 3 in cups)
  • 37 Andy WHITE (all starts, comprising 33 league, 4 in cups)
  • 37 Sean WILLIAMS (30+7, comprising 26+7 league, 4 in cups)

PLAYERS USED IN LEAGUE

In 2020-21 heavy use was made of loan players...
  • Named in a league squad incl. play-offs: 39 players
  • Loanees named in league squad: 10 (Bell, Dales, Gibson, Holgate, Kirby, Ogle, Robbins Sass-Davies, Smith, Zouma)
  • Named in a squad but never got on pitch in league game: 2 (Will Hall, Rowan Roache)
  • Used as a sub but did not start a league game: 2 (Jamie McDonald 0+3, Curtis Miller 0+6)

In 2019-20:

  • Named in a league squad incl. play-offs: 32 players
  • Loanees named in league squad: 4 (who are included in total above; they were Yusifu Ceesay, Ashley Hemmings, Josh Lundstram, Ethan Walker)
  • Never got on pitch in league game: 2 (Lewis Archer, Joel Torrance, James Hooper, Elliot Wynne)
  • Used as a sub but did not start a league game: 2 (Curtis Miller, Ethan Walker)

In 2018-19

  • Named in a league squad: 37 players
  • Loanees named in league squad: 9 (who are included in total above; they were Yusifu Ceesay, Owen Dale, Brendon Daniels, Ashley Hemmings, Josh Langley, Joe Piggott, Chris Sang, Billy Sass-Davies, Nathan Waterston)
  • Never got on pitch in league game: 3 (Ben Elliott, Josh Langley, Charlie Scott)
  • Used as a sub but did not start a league game: 5 (Bay Downing, Dontai Gabidon, Callum Harris, Billy Sass-Davies, Nathan Waterston)

ALTY'S SEASON: PART FOUR

The fourth part of the website's statistical review of 2020-21 season covers Players Used and Attendances.

PLAYERS USED IN ALL COMPETITIONS

Players named in any matchday squad, league or cup:

2020-21

  • 46 of whom 10 (Gavanagh, Graham, Hall, Howarth, Mercurius, Potter, Roache, Salmon, Taylor, Torrance [pictured, right]) did not make a league appearance and seven of whom (Gavanagh, Graham, Howarth, Mercurius, Potter, Taylor, Torrance) were not named in a league squad.

In 2019-20, which was a curtailed season of just 33 league matches plus the play-offs...

  • 40 of whom 9 did not figure in a league squad (Liam Blackburn, Dontai Gabidon, Callum Graham, George Howarth, Billy Matthews, James Matthews, Raheem Mercurius, Jack Ryan, Dre Taylor)

In 2018-19:

  • 44 of whom six did not figure in a league squad (Louie Barratt, Reece Coley, Matt Cook, Callum Jones, Pat Savage, Ross Woodcock)

DISCIPLINE: YELLOW AND RED CARDS

The following totals of red and yellow cards were issued in 2020-21:
  • Red: 3 in league.
  • Yellow: 66 in league, 1 in cups.

In 2019-20 incl.play-offs:

  • Red: 4, all in the league
  • Yellow: 49 in league, 8 in cups.

In 2018-19:

  • Red: 4 of which 3 in league (inc. 1 in play-offs) (Jordan Hulme away at Leamington, Andy White away at Telford, Josh Hancock away at Chorley in play-off). 1 red in cups: Jordan Hulme, home to Stockport County)
  • Yellow: 61 in league, 6 in cups

RED CARDS

In 2020-21 individuals receiving red cards were:

  • 1: Connor Hampson, Tom Hannigan, Jake Moult

In 2019-20 individuals receiving red cards were:

  • 1: Tom Hannigan, Max Harrop, Simon Richman, Sean Williams

In 2018-19:
  • 2 Jordan Hulme
  • 1 Andy White, Josh Hancock

YELLOW CARDS IN ALL COMPETITIONS

In 2019-20:

  • 12 Matty Kosylo [pictured, right] in 31+3 appearances
  • 8 Jake Moult in 40+1
  • 6 Tom Hannigan in 34
  • 5 Tony Thompson in 44
  • 4 Ryan Colclough in 23+5

In 2019-20:

  • 8 Jordan Hulme in 43+2 appearances
  • 5 Andy White in 31+1
  • 4 Max Harrop in 9+17
  • 4 James Jones in 34+2
  • 4 Jake Moult in 34+1

2018-19

  • 11 Max Harrop in 28+13 appearances
  • 8 Jordan Hulme in 36+3
  • 7 John Johnston in 44+2
  • 6 Andy White in 37+3
  • 5 Sean Williams in 30+7
  • 5 Simon Richman in 20+20

LEAGUE ATTENDANCES

Only four league matches in 2020-21 had spectators, one was at Dagenham where only the hosts' supporters, (numbering 773), were admitted and three were at the J. Davidson Stadium.

The largest gate at Moss Lane was 1,032 home-only supporters versus Torquay United on 29 May, 2021.

Above: Spectators were admitted for the first time in 2020-21 season for the match against Yeovil and in the absence of away supporters, they could populate the away end as seen here.

2019-20 League gates: the curtailed season saw the home and away highest gates and the lowest away away attendance all occurring in a one week spell in which were played the first three fixtures of the season!

HOME

  • Highest: 1,879 v York City, 3 August 2019
  • Lowest (excl. games behind closed doors): 614 v Blyth Spartans, 7 Jan 2020

AWAY

  • Highest: 2,153 at Chester FC 6 August 2019
  • Lowest (excl. games behind closed doors): 305 at Gloucester City, 10 August 2019

2018-19 League gates:

HOME

  • Highest: 3,383 v Stockport County, 26 December 2018
  • Lowest: 695 v Nuneaton Borough, 30 October 2018

AWAY

  • Highest: 4,549 v Stockport County, 1 January 2019 and 3,446 v Chorley in play-off semi final, 5 May 2019
  • Lowest: 454 at Bradford (PA), 15 September 2018

ATTENDANCES

In 2019-20, of course, attendances were hit by the incompleted fixture list and games behind closed doors, but home gates stood up well despite several big games not being played.

  • Home avge: 1139
  • Away avge: 938

In 2018-19, excluding play-offs:

  • Home avge: 1137
  • Away avge: 1198
Link to ARCHIVE INDEX