2012-13 First-Team Squad.

ALTRINCHAM FC 2012/13

Photo by Gavin Rathbone of GR Photography. Pictured, back row, left to right are: Gianluca Havern, Danny Mitchley, Stuart Coburn, Simon Richman, Adam Reid, Ryan Brooke, Scott Leather. Middle row: Duncan Watmore, John Skelhorn (kitman), Luke Pickering (kitman), Scott Phelan, Danny Hall, Nicky Clee, Damian Reeves, Ian Senior (coach), Alan Ainsley (physio), Sam Grimshaw. Front row: Patrick Lacey, Carl Rodgers, Grahame Rowley (chairman), Lee Sinnott (manager), Shaun Densmore (captain), Neil Tolson (assistant manager), Paul Daine (director), James Lawrie, Matt Doughty.

Squad 2012-13

  • Adam BEZZINA also youth team
  • Danny BOSHELL
  • Ryan BROOKE
  • Stephen BULLEN also youth team
  • Nicky CLEE
  • Stuart COBURN
  • Joe COLLISTER
  • Shaun DENSMORE
  • Matt DOUGHTY
  • Rob GILROY also youth team
  • Sam GRIMSHAW
  • Danny HALL
  • Gianluca HAVERN
  • Patrick LACEY
  • James LAWRIE
  • Scott LEATHER
  • Tony McMILLAN
  • Daniel MITCHLEY
  • Callum MOONEY also youth team
  • Jake MOULT
  • Derryn OFORI also youth team
  • Damian REEVES
  • Adam REID
  • Simon RICHMAN
  • Oliver RILEY also youth team
  • Carl RODGERS
  • Josh SAMBERG also youth team
  • Duncan WATMORE
  • Alex WEATHERBY also youth team

  • Pen pictures kindly provided by Gavin Rathbone of GR Photography, except where shown.


    PHOTO/SQUAD N0.
    GOALKEEPERS
  • Stephen BULLEN (d.o.b. 21 August 1996)

    Altrincham Youth's current goalkeeper (2012-13), Stephen signed BSBN forms in the 2013 New Year. Between January and March 2013 he made 12 successive appearances on the bench as an unused substitute.

  • Stuart COBURN (d.o.b. 5 May, 1976, in Manchester, height 6ft 1in, weight 14st.)

    Stuart is Altrincham's senior professional, who passed the 500 appearances mark for the club in January 2011. He first joined Altrincham from Trafford in 1997/98 season, having been at Trafford since 1994/95 after spells at Irlam Town and Maine Road. Injury meant that Stuart played only nine games in his first Conference season (99/00) and his absence probably cost the club survival at that level in that campaign.

    In May 2002, the lure of Conference football took him from Alty (then in the UniBond Premier) to Leigh RMI on a 2-year contract. Leigh surprisingly released him in October 2003 after he had been their player of the year. He rejoined Alty on 17 October 2003 and made his (second) Alty debut at Hyde on 21 October 2003. Stuart underwent a hernia operation in May 2004 but was fit to star in season 2004-05 when, once again, he enhanced his reputation. A groin injury sidelined him after 9 games of the 2006/07 season but he returned in early November 2006. However, injury struck again and sidelined him in September 2007 but he recovered to play most of the season as first-choice keeper. He was first-choice again in 2008-09, during which he had the dubious distinction of being suspended for receiving five yellow cards, an unusual occurrence for a keeper.

    In 09-10 he again distinguished himself with numerous excellent saves but after six games of 2010-11 he lost his place for eight matches to James Coates, before regaining the keeper's jersey. He was then sidelined by injury again but was first choice once more for 2011-12, a season in which his form was such that he was voted runner-up in the Player of the Season competition. Again, in 2012/13, he has excelled bewteen the sticks.

    In his private life, Stuart is manager of a hire shop business in Altrincham. Appearances to June 2012: 547, 1 goal.

  • Joe COLLISTER (d.o.b. The Wirral, 15 December 1991)

    Joe returned to Moss Lane on 8 February 2013, signing till the end of the season from AFC Telford United, who had just released him. He had previously enjoyed a loan at Altrincham, from Tamworth, in 2011-12 season. On that occasion he had joined on 27 January 2012, for a one-month loan period, and made an impressive start when he saved a third-minute penalty on his debut at Gainsborough the next day. However, his loan spell was interrupted by two postponements, which limited him to four starts for Altrincham.

    After his 2013 signing, Joe suffered a hand problem which prevented his involvement with the first-team squad.

    Joe's early years were spent at Tranmere Rovers, for whom he made fourteen appearances, before his release from Prenton Park in 2011. He had made his League One debut for Tranmere as a substitute in September 2009 and made 14 appearance in all for his local Wirral club. Whilst at Rovers, Joe played at Moss Lane for a Tranmere Rovers XI against Altrincham in a pre-season game in 2010.

    After his release by Tranmere at the end of 2010-11, he joined Tamworth, who released him in summer 2012. Whilst at Tamworth, Joe went on loan to Barwell in late September 2011 before making his Lambs' debut on New Year's Day, 2012. He made three Conference Premier appearances for Tamworth in 2011-12.

    In August 2012 he signed a one-year contract with AFC Telford United, who released him early in 2013.

  • Tony McMILLAN (d.o.b. 19 January, 1982 in Wigan.)

    Tony made his move to Altrincham on 21 March 2013, just two days after playing in goal for Southport, for whom he had been first-choice keeper through the 2012-13 season. He was sent off in his final match for the Sandgrounders, thus delaying his first involvement with the Altrincham squad till his one-match suspension, for handball outside the box, was served. Despite playing much of his football in Merseyside at clubs which included Runcorn, Burscough and Southport, Tony lives near Altrincham, in Sale. His other clubs include Lancaster City, Ashton United and Colwyn Bay, though he started his career at Preston North End and Wigan Athletic.

  • Adam REID (d.o.b. 29 June, 1994)

    Altrincham Youth's goalkeeper, from 2010 to 2012, Adam signed Conference forms in August 2011. Merseyside-based, Adam made his first-team debut in the Cheshire Senior Cup in November, 2011 and his first league start, in the BSBN, came against Harrogate Town on 21 January 2012. However, after a further league start, at Blyth, Adam was unfortunate to find himself back on the bench following the loan signing of Joe Collister. Before joining Altrincham, Adam was with Accrington Stanley.

    Having been on the bench without getting on the pitch in 2012-13, Adam went on loan to Goole AFC at the start of October, 2012, with the aim of gaining match experience, and he returned to Moss Lane towards the end of that month. In March 2013 he went to Prescot Cables on loan. Appearances to June 2012: 3.

  • Josh SAMBERG (d.o.b. 27 September, 1995)

    Josh, a goalkeeper with the Altrincham FC Juniors and Youth set-up, signed BSBN forms on deadline day, 27 March 2013. He made his first appearance in the squad on 1 April, 2013 as an unused sub at Chester.

  •  
    DEFENDERS
  • Shaun DENSMORE (d.o.b. 11 November 1988, in Liverpool)

    Signed on 12 September 2008, Shaun is a former Everton Academy Player of the Year, who was released by the Toffees in summer 2008. After trials with Bradford City he joined Altrincham, following in the footsteps of his father Peter, an Altrincham favourite in the 1980s. Shaun, a hardworking right-footed midfielder/defender, made his Alty debut in the Cheshire Senior Cup on 16th September 2008. After completing his initial month's contract at Altrincham, on 13 October 2008 Shaun signed on for the rest of 2008-09 season, having impressed in a run of seven unbeaten games in the side.

    The son of former Altrincham player, Peter Densmore, Shaun followed his father into the England semi-pro international side and scored on his debut for England "C" side against Malta in February, 2009. Despite an early season suspension in 09-10, Shaun soon re-established himself as a tenacious right-back/midfielder. However, he picked up a medial ligament injury in February 2011 which sidelined him till the latter part of the season but he returned to full fitness before the end of the season.

    A regular starter in 2011-12 in central midfield, Shaun was named captain on the departure of Robbie Lawton in November, 2011, but picked up a knee injury which sidelined him briefly in mid-December. Shaun variously played at right-back and in midfield during 2011/12 but in 2012/13 has regularly played at right-back. Appearances to June 2012: 162(+4), 15 goals.

  • Matt DOUGHTY (d.o.b. 2 November, 1981, in Warrington)

    A left-back, Matt first joined Alty from Halifax Town in mid-June 2008, having been with the Shaymen since July 2004, a club he had joined from Rochdale. He had previously also played for Chester City, for whom he signed professionally when just 16. Matt was a regular for Chester for two seasons (1999-2001) making 53(+17) League/Conference appearances for them.

    In 2001, he had moved to Rochdale and had a trial with Southampton but a broken leg halted the prospects of a move to Hampshire. At Rochdale he made 93(+12) appearances in the League. Another broken leg sadly hampered the 5ft 8inch defender's career at The Shay but he still managed 119(+12) league appearances for the club.

    Matt made his Alty league debut on 9 August 2008 and he became one of the team's most consistent players, as well as its penalty taker, but he sadly suffered cruciate ligament damage against Salisbury City in February 2010. This injury effectively ended his initial spell at Moss Lane. After leaving Altrincham, Matt joined Witton Albion before moving on, in March 2011, to Hyde.

    In 2012/13, Matt soon re-established himself as first-choice left-back. Appearances to June 2012: 79(+3), 4 goals.

  • Sam GRIMSHAW (d.o.b. 24 October, 1993)

    A youth team regular for the last two campaigns, left-back and central defender Sam Grimshaw is a product of the Altrincham youth team, which he has captained on many occasions. Before that, he spent nine years as a junior at Manchester City. As well as his defensive abilities, Sam also possesses a long throw and a good shot. After impressing Lee Sinnott in training, he signed first-team forms in mid-February 2012. In March he made his debut for Clitheroe, where he had gone to gain experience of senior football. Sam was named on the bench for Alty's final BSBN game of the 2011-12 and was signed on for 2012-13 season.

    Sam made two first-team appearances from the bench before going on loan to Goole AFC so that he could gain match experience, but he returned to Moss Lane after a month in Yorkshire. In March 2013 he went on loan to Radcliffe Borough. Appearances to June 2012: 0.

  • Danny HALL (d.o.b. 14 November 1983, height 6ft 2ins)

    Born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Danny Hall agreed terms with Altrincham at the end of May 2012, having been a key memeber of Hyde FC's championship winning side in 2011/12. His previous clubs include Oldham Athletic, Scarborough, Shrewsbury Town, Gretna, Chesterfield, Darlington, Crawley Town, Forest Green Rovers and Stockport County. His Football League appearances include 57(+7) outings for Oldham, 28(+14) for Shrewsbury and 30(+2) for Chesterfield. Danny also made 14(+1) Scottish Premier League appearances for Gretna.

    He was also at Crawley Town when they won the Conference in 2010/11, though he spent a part of that campaign on loan at Forest Green Rovers.

  • Gianluca HAVERN (d.o.b. 24 September 1988 in Gorton, Manchester)

    Gianluca Havern signed for Altrincham in early July 2012. Gianluca spent his early footballing days at Stockport County, where he was captain of their under-18 side. Whilst at County he went on loan at Radcliffe Borough and Ashton United, before making his Stockport County debut in May 2008, a game in which he also scored.

    Released by County in January 2009, he briefly joined Mansfield Town, before returning to Stockport County. He left Edgeley Park, again, at the end of August 2010 and joined Mossley before moving on to Ashton United. By June 2011, he had signed for Hyde, where he was a key member of their championship-winning side last season.

    In 2012/13 he re-formed a partnership with fellow ex-Hyde defender Danny Hall and, in the absences of Shaun Densmore, has captained the side.

  • Scott LEATHER (d.o.b. 20 September, 1992 in Manchester)

    Scott signed on a non-contract basis for Altrincham on 19 July 2012, having figured for just 29 minutes on his Altrincham debut a friendly against Morecambe two days earler. A right-back or central-defender, Scott spent some eight years at Crewe Alexandra before he moved on to Preston North End in 2009. He made two League appearances for the Deepdale club but was released by Preston at the end of 2011-12 season. Before joining Altrincham in summer 2012, he had a trial with Barrow.

    Though initially mainly named on the bench, Scott seized his chance when injuries and suspensions gave him a chance in 2012/13. He showed his versatility by playing across the back four positions and on 4 December 2012 was rewarded with a contract till the end of the 2013-14 season.

  • Alex WEATHERBY (d.o.b. 19 November 1994)

    Altrincham FC Youth team centre-back, Alex originally signed first-team playing forms at the start of February 2013 and did so, again, a year later.

  •  
    MIDFIELDERS
  • Danny BOSHELL (d.o.b. 30 May 1981, in Bradford)

    Experienced midfielder Danny Boshell joined Altrincham on 15 March 2013 on a loan till the end of the 2012-13 season. A regular with Guiseley in the first half of the season, Danny was transfer-listed after a difference of opinion with the Yorkshire club's managerith Danny. We were not singing off the same hymn sheet and we felt it would put his younger brother Nicky in a difficult position, so we decided to put them both on the transfer list".

    Danny spent six years of his early career at Oldham Athletic for whom he made 70 League appearances before his departure in 2005. A spell with Stockport County added a further 33 League appearances thirty-three times in the League in 2005-06. Next, he signed for four years with Grimsby Town before joining Chesterfield during 2009-10. After that he joined Guiseley in late August 2010.

  • Nicky CLEE (d.o.b. 30 August 1983, in Huddersfield)

    Altrincham signed Nicky Clee from Hyde United on 17 July 2009. Nicky is primarily a left-winger and is also an accomplished batsman for Marsden CC near Huddersfield. Former Alty boss Gerry Quinn took Nicky from Ossett Albion, whom he had joined in 2002-03 from local football, to join Ashton United in the 2003-04 season.

    The following summer he moved to Hyde United, where he made his debut at the end of July 2005 and made 147(+12) appearances and scored 21 goals in all for the Tameside club. Nicky has a very long-throw in his armoury as well as the pace and skills of a wing man. Initially used as a sub, Nicky established a more regular place in the starting line-up in September and soon became a fans' favourite. In 10-11 he was a key attacking component in the Alty side but suffered with niggling injuries. His non-football job is as a finance assistant in a Huddersfield company.

    In 2011-12 he showed his versatility as he started several games at left-back. But injury interrupted his season in February/March 2012 before his return to action. In 2012/13 he has mainly started on the left flank of midfield and is one of the team's main attacking forces. Appearances to June 2012: 101(+23), 12 goals.

  • Rob GILROY (d.o.b. 1 November, 1995, in Liverpool)

    Rob signed Conference North forms on 13 March 2013, whilst on duty for the England Schools team, for whom he had scored on his debut earlier in the month. Rob went on to captain the England side to a 3-1 win against Scotland in Perth and he scored one of the goals. He is also a member of the Altrincham FC Youth team, with his preferred position being in central midfield.

  • Patrick LACEY (d.o.b. 16 March 1993)

    Patrick spent his apprenticeship with Sheffield Wednesday. In July 2011, following his release from Hillsborough, he moved to Bradford City on a one-year contract, at which point Bradford manager Peter Jackson said, "I think Sheffield Wednesday have made a bit of a mistake letting him go".

    Whilst with Bradford, Patrick Lacey had a month's loan in 2011/12 season at Vauxhall Motors, which was cut short in October, 2011, when he had to have knee surgery, following an injury sustained playing against Harrogate Town. But he returned to the Wirral side on a three-month loan in December 2011. In March 2012 he joined Droylsden, scoring for the Bloods against Gainsborough Trinity. He finished last season at the Butcher's Arms.

    He joined Altrincham on 26 July 2012, having impressed as a trialist for Morecambe in a pre-season game against Altrincham, a few days earlier. Though often a substitute in the early part of the season, Patrick has shown a maturity beyond his teenage years when brought onto the pitch.

  • Callum MOONEY (d.o.b. 28 April 1995)

    Callum is a central midfielder with Altrincham Youth's 2012-13 team. He signed BSBN forms in the 2013 New Year. Callum was first named in a first-team squad against Harrogate Town on 5 January 2013, a game in which he was an unused substitute.

  • Jake MOULT (d.o.b. 10 February, 1989)

    Following the unexpected departure of Scott Phelan on the eve of the 2012-13 season, Lee Sinnott signed midfielder Jake Moult on a 93-day loan from Alfreton Town in late August 2012. Jake had been a summer trialist at Altrincham in 2007. Born in Stoke on Trent, he joined Alfreton on 1 July 2010, before which he had been with Stafford Rangers. His earlier career was with Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle.

    In early November, Jake moved to Altrincham on a free transfer, signing a contract to the end of 2013/14 season.

  • Simon RICHMAN (d.o.b. 2 June 1990 at Ormskirk)

    Midfielder/winger Simon Andrew Richman is a product of the Bolton Wanderers' academy and the Port Vale youth system. He broke through into the Valiants' first team in League One in 2007-08 and made 48 League appearances for them in all, mostly in 2008-09 in League Two, when he was voted the club's Young Player of the Season. Simon then suffered a groin injury which kept him out of action for several months and, though he made five first-team League Two apperances for Vale in 2009-10, he was released at the end of that campaign. In summer 2010, he had trials with Southport and Worcester City, before joining City and making eight league appearances in the Blue Square Bet North.

    His early Alty career was marred by injury but by late November he was back in the starting eleven. Having mostly played in right midfield, Simon completed the campaign in central midfield. Appearances to June 2012: 21(+11), 2 goals.

  • Oliver RILEY (d.o.b. 28 June 1995)

    Ollie Riley made his debut for the Altrincham FC Youth team in the 2010/11 season and has been a regular in central midfield in that side since then. He signed Conference North forms in August 2012 and has been captaining the youth team this season.

  • Carl RODGERS (d.o.b. 26 March, 1983, height 6ft 2ins)

    Carl signed for Altrincham on 16 May 2012, after six seasons at FC Telford United, where he was the longest-serving player. Carl's previous clubs included Chester City (2002), Caernarfon Town (2002-03), TNS (2003-04) and Colwyn Bay (2004-06). A trainee electrician and part-time worker in the fast-food industry, Carl's hobby is being a disc jockey.

  •  
    FORWARDS
  • Adam BEZZINA (d.o.b. 8 August 1995)

    Adam spent several years with Rochdale before joining the Altrincham FC Youth team from Mossley. A regular scorer for Altrincham FC Youth in 2012-13, Adam has also played for the Manchester FA side. He signed BSBN playing forms for Altrincham at the start of February 2013.

  • Ryan BROOKE (d.o.b. 4 October, 1990, height 6ft 1in.)

    Altrincham FC agreed terms with 21 year-old Oldham Athletic striker Ryan Brooke (d.o.b. 4 October, 1990, height 6ft 1inch) who was released by Oldham Athletic at the end of June 2012. Ryan spent much of 2011/12 season on loan, firstly from September 2011, at Barrow, where he played six games and scored twice. In January, 2012, Ryan went to AFC Telford United on a season-long loan and scored on his debut, against Braintree. At Telford, he made 7(+5) appearances in all, scoring twice. He had previously made 30 Football League and FA Cup appearances for Oldham Athletic.

  • James LAWRIE (d.o.b. 18 December, 1990 in Dundonald, Co. Down)

    Signed from AFC Telford United on 31 August 2011, initially on a one-month loan, (later extended to 93 days), James is a Northern Ireland-born forward, who was brought up in Middlewich, Cheshire. At the conclusion of his loan spell, Telford released him and he signed for Altrincham in early December, 2011. In February 2013 he signed a further contract, tying him to Moss Lane till the end of the 2013-14 season.

    His footballing career began in Port Vale's youth system. Whilst at the Potteries' club, at which Alty boss Lee Sinnott was manager in 2007-08, he went on to make his first League appearances and recorded his first league goal for Port Vale in January 2009. He scored the team's Goal of the Season in 2008-09 and went on to make 27(+2) appearances for the club. A troubled Port Vale transfer-listed its entire squad in summer 2010 and, so, James left at that time. But, previously, he had had a trial at Everton (2009-10) and spent a period on loan at Kidderminster Harriers from February 2010 till the end of that season. For the Harriers, he made 12 appearances - one of which was against Altrincham at Moss Lane. After leaving Port Vale, James had trials at Exeter City, Stevenage and Morecambe before he signed a year's contract at AFC Telford United. There, his progress was hampered by an ankle injury.

    Having played at various age-levels for Northern Ireland, the six-foot striker gained his first senior international cap against Italy in June 2009 and made two further international appearances. James's spell at Port Vale coincidentally overlapped with Altrincham player Simon Richman's time there. James made his Alty debut as a sub, away to Gloucester City, on 3 September, 2011 and scored on his full debut a week later. James, who played on both flanks as well as in a central striking position, finished the season as the club's second highest scorer. Appearances to June 2012: 34(+4), 10 goals.

  • Daniel MITCHLEY (d.o.b. 7 October, 1989, in Liverpool; height 5ft 11ins)

    Altrincham signed Liverpool-born striker Danny Mitchley on 18 June 2012. After starting out with Skelmersdale United as a youngster, Danny was at Oldham Athletic before going to Blackpool. His career at Blackpool, where he made two Championship appearances in 2008-09, was halted by a broken foot, which led to moves on loan to Southport (March 2009), Burscough (August 2009) and Wrexham (March 2010) before he found himself at Mansfield's Field Mill (November 2010), following a second brief spell with Burscough. He was loaned to Nuneaton Town late last September and made a great start, scoring twice in the first quarter of an hour of his debut.

    After one start in the CSC and ten sub appearances for Alty, Danny went on loan in December 2012 to Marine for a month to gain match experience. In mid-March Danny started another one-month loan, this time at Kendal Town.

  • Derryn OFORI (d.o.b. 27 October, 1994)

    Derryn started off with Bury as a junior before playing as a striker with the Altrincham FC Youth team. He was one of a group of youth players who signed BSBN forms on 21 March 2012. After figuring in the summer 2012 pre-season games, he re-signed Conference North forms in August 2012.

  • Damian REEVES (d.o.b. 18 December 1985, height 5ft 10ins)

    Altrincham FC signed striker Damian Reeves on 26 June 2010 and he became the club's leading scorer and "Supporters' Player of the Season" at the end of the 2010-11 campaign, netting 19 times in 35(+11) games for a struggling side.

    Doncaster-based Damian is an Academy graduate of Leeds United, where he first played under Alty boss, Lee Sinnott. Subsequently, he played Conference football with Farsley Celtic, Histon and Northwich Victoria. A Liverpool supporter, Damian broke his leg badly whilst at Leeds, after which he moved to Farsley, where he spent two years from August 2006 to June 2008. In his first season he scored 23 goals and, the following season, the Yorkshire club's one campaign in the Conference, he played 44(+2) games in all competitions, scoring 11 Conference and 3 cup goals in FA competitions. At Histon he played 13(+9) games and netted 5 times, before leaving in January 2009 to move to Northwich Victoria, where he made 7(+2) appearances.

    After Vics, Damian went to Alfreton Town in 2009-10, followed by a spell at AFC Telford United and a loan spell with Bradford PA. At Telford he scored four goals in 17 appearances. He started his first game for Altrincham on the opening day of the 2010-11 season at Luton. Despite not starting more than three successive league games at a stretch in the first half of the season, Damian became a permanent starter for the second half of the campaign and went on lead the scoring charts for the club.

    In 2011-12 a rich vein of form saw him hit 44 goals, all in the league, to become the country's highest scorer at the club's level or above. It looked as if that haul might earn him a move to a League club but after a summer of rumour and speculation he re-signed for Altrincham on 22 July 2012. His scoring continued in 2012-13 with 16 goals in his first 11 outings.

    Outside football, Damian is a self-employed plasterer - and before establishing himself in football he had a basketball trial with Sheffield Sharks. Appearances to June 2012: 79(+12), 63 goals.

  • Duncan WATMORE (d.o.b. 8 March 1994)

    Duncan, a speedy and skilful striker, made his first-team debut as a substitute in the FA Trophy game against FC United on 27 November 2011. Before that he had impressed in the Altrincham Youth and Juniors teams as well as for the Cheshire County side and for his college, Cheadle Hulme School. Duncan was first named in a league squad at Histon. Before the end of the season, Duncan signed a contract to the end of the 2012/13 season and scored his first goal in his second start, against Gainsborough Trinity. Photo: www.altrinchamfc.com. Appearances to June 2012: 2(+9), 1 goal.

  •  
    DEPARTED PLAYERS & STAFF - 2012 close season and during 2012-13
    See Departed Players/Staff 2011-12
  • Matthew FEARON
  • Jamie GREYGOOSE
  • Chris LYNCH
  • Leighton MCGIVERN
  • Ben MILLS (loanee)
  • Scott PHELAN
  • Jordan SINNOTT (loanee)
  • Andrew SMART
  •   For details of last season's squad (2011/12), visit the 2011/12 Squad Page