Altrincham FC
2015-16 First-Team Squad.

Above: Gavin Rathbone's official team photo of the 2015-16 squad and club officials, (click to enlarge); pictured left to right are:

  • Back Row: Michael Rankine, Josh O'Keefe, Sam Heathcote, Tim Deasy, Stuart Coburn, Tom Marshall, Scott Leather, Gianluca Havern.
  • Middle Row: Alan Ainsley (physio), Barry Pond (assoc. director), Luke Pickering (kitman), Anthony Griffith, Joel Swift, James Lawrie, Jake Moult, Ryan Crowther, Jordan Sinnott, George Bowerman, Simon Richman, Ian Senior. (goalkeeping coach), Neil Faulkner (director), John Skelhorn (kitman).
  • Front Row: Adam Griffin, Shaun Densmore (capt), Lee Sinnott (manager), Grahame Rowley (chairman), Neil Tolson (asst. manager), Nicky Clee, Damian Reeves.

Squad & Squad Numbers, 2015-16



PHOTO/SQUAD NO.
GOALKEEPERS

No.1
Stuart COBURN (d.o.b. 5 May, 1976, in Manchester, height 6ft 1in, weight 14st.)

The Club's all-time appearance record holder, Stuart is the Club's senior semi-professional and hugely popular with supporters. He first joined the Club from neighbours Trafford in 1997/98 season, having been at Shawe View since 1994/95, after earlier spells at Irlam Town and Maine Road. Injury meant that Stuart played only nine games in his first Conference season (99/00) which saw the Robins relegated.

In May 2002, the lure of Conference football took him from Alty (then in the Northern Premier League) to Leigh RMI on a two-year contract. However, Leigh surprisingly released him in October 2003 after he had been voted their player of the season. He rejoined Alty on 17 October 2003 and made his (second) Alty debut at Hyde United on 21 October 2003.

Stuart can also make several claims unmatched by other keepers; he has scored twice whilst playing in goal, (once for Alty [at Runcorn] and once previously), has an outfield league-match substitution to his name, (in April 1998 versus Emley)... and was once suspended in mid-season for picking up five yellow cards!

In his private life, Stuart is manager of a hire shop business in Altrincham. Stuart was injured against Dover in the fifth match of 2015-16 and was sidelined with a groin tear. After a gruelling recovery schedule, Stuart sadly announced his retirement on 23 April 2016. Appearances to June 2016: 687(+2), 1 goal.


No. 17
Tim DEASY (d.o.b. 1 October, 1985)

On 7 May 2015, Altrincham announced the sgining of Tim Deasy from Northwich Victoria. Tim had previously signed dual-registration Conference forms for Altrincham on 13 March 2014 whilst still playing for Northwich Victoria. However, he did not make an appearance for Altrincham before that season ended.

His career began at Macclesfield Town, where he made three first-team appearances before leaving in summer of 2006. From there, he signed for Stockport County but moved on on at the end of the 2006/07 season, without making a first-eleven appearance..

For 2007-08 he joined Barrow, where he gained promotion to the national level of the Football Conference. In all, he made 93 appearances for the Bluebirds before leaving Holker Street in summer 2010. He moved east to Gateshead, for whom he made 55 appearances before his release in April 2012. Next, came a spell with Bradford Park Avenue (19 appearances), a club he left at the end of the 2012-13 season. After that he joined Northwich Victoria.

He made his Alty debut in the sixth match of the 2015-16 season, following injury to Stuart Coburn and proved himself as a very reliable keeper. He was deservedly voted the supporters' and players' Player of the Season for 2015-16.

Appearances to June 2016: 47.


No. 23
Callum WILLIAMS (d.o.b. 6 May 1997)

In early October 2015, Altrincham FC Reserves' goalkeeper, Callum Williams signed National League forms for the club. Callum was previously with Blackburn Rovers and played regularly for their under-18 side in 2013-14 season. He made his Conference debut a a substitute against Welling United on 23 April 2016, though he had kept goal in the Cheshire Senior Cup earlier in the season.

Appearances to June 2016: 0(+1).

 
DEFENDERS

No.2
Shaun DENSMORE (d.o.b. 11 November 1988, in Liverpool)

Signed initially on a month's contract 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. Shaun, a hardworking right-footed defender/midfielder, made his Alty debut on 16th September 2008. 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 of the 1980s, 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. He now normally plays at right-back but is also impressive in midfield. His wholehearted approach and his excellent freekicks make him a key member of the team. His 2014-15 season was disrupted by injuries but he again impressed. However, 2015-16 was also disrupted with two significant injuries by mid-October and in early January 2016 it was announced that a knee operation would terminate his season. Appearances to June 2015: 299(+9), 25 goals.


No.3
Adam GRIFFIN (d.o.b. 26 August, 1984 )

Altrincham signed left-back Adam Griffin from Hyde FC, where he had been captain, on 13 December 2013. He made his Altrincham debut in a friendly against Southport, the next day, and then immediately established jimself as the first-choice left-back at Moss Lane for the rest of the season and for the whole of 2014-15. Prior to his time at Hyde, Adam had amassed nearly 250 Football League appearances in a career which had seen him play for Oldham Athletic, Oxford United and Stockport County. He has also had a season with Darlington.

With his only goal of the campaign, Adam won the Alty Goal of the Season competition in 2014-15, a stunning volley. Appearances to June 2016: 125, 1 goal.


No.5
Gianluca HAVERN (d.o.b. 24 September 1988 in Gorton, Manchester)

Gianluca Havern signed for Altrincham in early July 2012. He spent his early footballing days at Stockport County, where he was captain of their under-18 side. Whilst at Edgeley Park 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 Conference North 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, captained the side. Throughout 2014-15 he was a consistently outstanding performer, generally in partnership with Scott Leather until the latter's suspension led to an equally fruitful partnership with Tom Marshall at the heart of Altrincham's defence. He again deputised for Shaun Densmore as captain when Alty's right-back was injured.

Season 2015-16 started badly for him with a hamstring problem in just the second match of the campaign, which sidelined him. However, he returned to the side in mid-September. Appearances to June 2016: 181(+1), 6 goals.


No. 12
Sam HEATHCOTE (d.o.b. 5 August 1997)

Sam was a junior striker at Manchester United and, following his release, he graduated through Altrincham's youth team and reserves to sign Conference forms, as a back-up for the first-team, in March 2015. Converted to a centre-back in the Alty Youth team, he was included for 2015-16 in the first-team squad. The son of former Alty player and manager, Graham Heathcote, Sam has represented Cheshire County FA Youth.

He made a remarkable debut for the first team, coming on as an injury-time substitute against eventual champions Cheltenham Town on 5 September 2015. Within some ninety seconds he had scored the winning goal!Appearances to June 2016: 11(+10), 1 goal.


No. 28
Marcus HOLNESS (d.o.b. 8 December 1988 at Swinton, Lancs).

Marcus Holness signed a one-month loan deal from Tranmere Rovers on 26 January 2016. He had arrived at Prenton Park on a two-year deal from Burton Albion in summer 2014. However, he started his career with Oldham Athletic, before going out on loan to Rochdale in autumn 2007, a club he then joined in early 2008. Another loan followed, to Barrow, in January 2009. He was an ever-present for Rochdale in 2010/11 season but after five seasons at Spotland he moved on and spent two more campaigns with Burton Albion.

He then joined Tranmere but, early in 2015, he was sidelined by a knee ligament injury. Ironically his first game back after that injury was on 29 August 2015 against Altrincham. Another injury then sidelined him once more in September and he was suspended for three matches in April but proved a positive addition to the squad. Appearances to June 2016: 14, 1 goal.


No.6
Scott LEATHER (d.o.b. 30 September, 1992 in Manchester)

Scott swept the board with three Player of the Season awards at Moss Lane in summer 2014. A local lad, he signed on a non-contract basis for Altrincham on 19 July 2012, having only figured for 29 minutes on his Altrincham debut a friendly against Morecambe two days earlier.

A central-defender, who can also play at right-back, 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 in 2012-13, Scott seized his chance when injuries and suspensions gave him a chance and he showed his versatility by playing across all of the back four positions. On 4 December 2012 was rewarded with a contract. For 2013-14 he was a virtual ever-present and weighed in with some important goals. A sending off during 2014-15 cost him his place at centre-back but he got back into the side as a more than capable right-back. Off the field, Scott is a lift engineer.

Scott re-established himself as first-choice centre-back early in 2015/16 following Tom Marshall's injury. Injuries to team-mates meant that he also figured in the right-back role early in the season.

Appearances to June 2016: 155(+24), 7 goals.


No. 16
Tom MARSHALL (d.o.b. 16 November, 1987 in Lichfield)

On 20 December 2013, Altrincham signed 6ft 4inch central defender Tom Marshall from Stafford Rangers. Tom started out at Hednesford Town where he made 170 appearances for The Pitmen, from the age of 17. He was then signed by Eastwood Town (summer 2010) but a shoulder injury, sustained in a car accident, hindered his progress. However, he moved to Tamworth, where he had two spells (2010-11 and 2012-13), with a period in between with Kidderminster Harriers (2011-12).

Whilst at Aggbrough he was loaned to Brackley Town during their promotion push to the Conference North. He made 72(+4) league appearances for Tamworth, where he had a spell as captain, and started 23 times for Kidderminster in the Conference National. Outside football, he is a fellow member of the rock band "Stubblemelt" with ex-Alty striker Kyle Perry.

His first season at Altrincham was upset by injury but he proved a reliable defender, making most of his appearances from the bench. In 2014-15 he became the regular centre-back partner of Luca Havern after Scott Leather lost his place through suspension. Such was his success that he became the Supporters' Player of the Season 2014-15. As well as displaying aerial prowess, Tom possesses a powerful shot.

Sadly he suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle in just the fourth match of the 2015-16 season.

Appearances to June 2016: 53(+13), 3 goals.


No.
Tom WESTALL

Tom made his first-team debut in early 2016 in the Cheshire Senior Cup against Crewe Alexandra. He signed first-team forms on 18 March 2016 and operates as a left-back. Formerly, he was a winger with the Altrincham FC Youth team and now also plays for Altrincham Reserves.

Appearances to June 2016: 1.

 
MIDFIELDERS

No. 22
Harry CAIN (d.o.b. )

Harry is a speedy left-winger who was first included in the first-team squad at Colchester in the FA Cup on 6 December 2015. He made his debut in the Cheshire Senior Cup during 2015-16 season.

Appearances to June 2016: 1.


No. 11
Nicky CLEE (d.o.b. 30 August 1983, in Huddersfield)

Altrincham signed Nicky Clee from Hyde United on 17 July 2009. He is primarily a left-winger but can also play at left-back, as well as being an accomplished batsman for Marsden CC near Huddersfield. Nicky would also be first in the queue to go in goal should such an opportunity arise.

It was a former Alty boss, Gerry Quinn, who 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. Nicky made 147(+12) appearances and scored 21 goals in all for the Tameside club.

As well as his trickery on the ball, he has a very long-throw in his armoury. Nicky soon became a fans' favourite at Moss Lane and has scored some memorable goals for Alty.

His non-football job is as a finance assistant in a Huddersfield company. His start to 2015-16 was affected by an injury picked up in pre-season but he started his first game in October. But after a series of substitute appearance his season was curtailed.

Appearances to June 2016: 220(+50), 36 goals.


No. 19
Ryan CROWTHER (d.o.b. 17 September 1988 in Stockport)

On 29 May 2014, winger Ryan Crowther agreed to sign forms for the Club for the 2014-15 season. He was previously with FC Halifax Town.

As a youngster he had started out at Stockport County, before he joined Liverpool (2007-09) where he figured regularly in their Reserves. After a brief spell at Stalybridge Celtic in 2010, he joined Ashton United, then moved across Tameside to Hyde. A spell at Fleetwood Town followed before he was released in January 2014, after which he joined FC Halifax Town. Injury affected his season but in the latter part of the campaign he was a regular used sub or starter.

After several appearances from the bench, Ryan secured a starting position in September, only to be injured in October. Recurrent absences through illness and injury limited his effectiveness and it was not till April 2016 that he completed his only full 90 minutes in the league in that season. Appearances to June 2016: 43(+28), 5 goals.


No. 24
Rhain DAVIS (d.o.b. Oct. 1997, in Brisbane, Australia)

Rhain, a midfielder and captain of the Altrincham FC Youth team, signed National League forms on 3 September 2015. He moved from Australia and joined Manchester United in 2008 but, following a broken leg, was released by United in 2013. Despite being named several times on the bench, he did not make a first-team appearance in 2015-16.

Appearances to June 2016: 0.


No. 15
Josh GINNELLY (d.o.b. 24 March 1997)

Josh was signed on loan from Burnley on 8 January 2016. A speedy winger, Josh was signed by Burnley for a six-figure sum from Shrewsbury Town. He started out in the Aston Villa academy. He proved a great addition to Alty's squad and showed commendable commitment to the cause, whist also winning the Club's goal of the season competition for a solo goal against Aldershot Town.

Appearances to June 2016: 20(+1), 5 goals.


No. 4
Jake MOULT (d.o.b. 10 February, 1989)

Lee Sinnott signed midfielder Jake Moult on a 93-day loan from Alfreton Town in late August 2012. Previously, 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. Jake is also a capable centre-back when required.

In early November 2012, Jake formally moved to Altrincham on a free transfer, signing a contract to the end of 2013/14 season. He is the brother of Wrexham striker Louis Moult and Jake himself has a powerful shot. He was rewarded for his consistently good performances in central midfield with the 2014-15 Players' Player of the Season accolade.

Jake captained the side for much of the 2015-16 season. Appearances to June 2016: 164(+24), 18 goals.


No. 14
Josh O'KEEFE (d.o.b. Whalley, Lancashire, 22 December, 1988

Signed by Altrincham in mid-May 2015, a former Midderminster Harriers midfielder, Josh is left-footed and an experienced penalty-taker.

Early in his career, Josh was at Walsall before he moved to Lincoln City. A loan spell with Southport followed before he joined Hereford United and then Kidderminster. Loan spells at AFC Telford United and Chester FC have also added to his experience.

His start to 2015-16 was a mixture of starts and sub appearances and he was not helped by an injury on 5 September which sidelined him for a spell. Having then re-established himself in the side he was suspended for three games after a sending off at Forest Green.

His appearances continued to be limited till the end of the campaign

Appearances to June 2016: 20(+11), 1 goal


No.26
Jimmy PHILLIPS (d.o.b. d.o.b. 20 September 1989)

Gateshead winger James (Jimmy) Phillips arrived at the J. Davidson Stadium on loan, from 18 March 2016, till the end of the current season. Jimmy had earlier been on loan at Macclesfield.

He made more than 120 appearances in the Football League for Burton Albion, after he had started his career with Stoke City. The Potters loaned him to Alfreton Town and Stafford Rangers before his release from the Britannia Stadium in summer 2009. It was then that he joined Burton.

In March 2014 he had another loan spell with Alfreton Town, in the Conference. In summer 2015 he signed for Gateshead and in February 2016, he went to Macclesfield Town on loan. After just two starts and two more appearances from the bench, injury precluded his further involvement.

Appearances to June 2016: 2(+2)


No. 8
Simon RICHMAN (d.o.b. 2 June 1990 at Ormskirk)

Midfielder/winger Simon 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.

Simon became Lee Sinnott's first signing at Altrincham in summer 2011 but his early Alty career was marred by injuries and illness. Having mostly played in right midfield, Simon completed the campaign in central midfield, a position he also played in during 2012-13. Summer 2013 saw him as an integral part of the Great Britain Universities' team which won the silver medal in the world games in Kazan, Russia.

His energy in midfield is an important feature of the team. Outside football, Simon is studying chemical engineering at the University of Manchester.

His 2015-16 season was disrupted by an injury in late August but he then re-established himself as a regular starter. Appearances to June 2016: 169(+29), 15 goals.


No.27
Adam SAVILL (d.o.b. 19 January 1998)

After making a Cheshire Senior Cup appearance, Adam was named on the bench for the Vanarama National League game at home to Bromley in April 2016. He is a former Maine Road left-sided forward who had impressed in the Altrincham Reserves.

Adam made his debut at Torquay and went on to make a further two appearances from the bench. Appearances to June 2016: 1(+3).


No. 20
Jordan SINNOTT (d.o.b. 14 February 1994)

Jordan first played for Altrincham in a six-game loan spell from Huddersfield Town, which started against Gainsborough Trinity on 8 December 2012. He had been captain of the Yorkshire club's under-18 team in 2011-12 and made 2(+3) appearances for Huddersfield’s first-team. He also had a loan spell at Bury before his release by the Yorkshire club. Jordan then signed for Altrincham on non-contract terms on 13 February 2015 and made a further 8(+5) appearances for the Club, scoring once.

Following several appearances in pre-season in summer 2015, Jordan signed again for the club on 24 July 2015. The son of former Alty boss, Lee Sinnott, Jordan is an excellent crosser of the ball and normally operates on the right flank. Injuries to Shaun Densmore in 2015 led to Jordan playing regularly at right-back in 2015-16, a position in which he performed well.

Appearances to June 2016: 62(+7), 4 goals.


No. 25
Ioannis STOUPPIS (d.o.b. August 1996)

On 4 September 2015, Ioannis, an Altrincham FC Reserves' midfielder, signed National League forms. Iannis was with the Reserves last season in their inaugural season after re-formation. He is a former student at Ashton on Mersey School in Sale but hails originally from Cyprus.

Although named on the bench several times, he did not make a first-team appearance in 2015-16.

Appearances to June 2016: 0

 
FORWARDS

No. 18
George BOWERMAN (d.o.b. 6 November 1991 in Sedgley, West Midlands)

George initially appeared for Alty as an unnamed "trialist" striker in the pre-season game against Wigan Athletic on 14 July 2015. His sgning for the Club was confirmed on 1 August 2015. A very mobile front man, he started out as a trainee at Walsall (2010-13), where he made 13(+37) Football League appearances and scored nine times. He went on loan to Redditch United in early 2011 before making his Walsall debut at the start of 2011-12 season.

Following his release from the Bescot Stadium, a two-month spell at Woking followed in the early part of 2013-14 season. At Kingfield he made two appearances for the Conference club. In October 2013 he arrived at Accrington Stanley where he was released in July 2015. He made 12(+5) League appearances for Stanley and netted three times.

He made a strong start to his Alty career with three goals in August 2015. George was mainly deployed on the left wing but, after 30 appearances (15 starts) and four goals, George went on a month's loan to AFC Telford United on 22 January 2016. Soon after his return to Moss Lane, he was loaned to STourbridge for the remainder of the season.

Appearances to June 2016: 15(+17), 4 goals.


No. 7
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.

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 his first season as the club's second highest scorer and again reached double figures in 2012-13. After a spell in mid-season of 2013-14 when he started mainly from the bench, he re-established himself in the starting eleven in the second half of the season and scored vital goals in the play-offs.

2015/16 saw him operate in various midfield positions. Appearances to June 2016: 185(+39), 42 goals.


No. 9
Michael RANKINE (d.o.b. Doncaster, 15 January 1985, height 6ft 2ins)

Altrincham FC are set to sign Michael Rankine on the expiry of his contract at Gateshead on 1 July 2015. He spent 2014-15 season at Gateshead, for whom he scored the only goal when they beat Altrincham at the International Stadium!

Curiously, Michael almost joined Altrincham ten years earlier. Indeed, he scored for Altrincham Reserves at Bradford PA on 14 December 2005. six days later, he again played for Alty, this time in a friendly game, away at Witton Albion, having at that time been on the books of Scunthorpe United (2004-06). However, he started out at Doncaster Rovers and played locally for Armthorpe Welfare.

Michael's career includes two spells with Barrow (2003-04 and 2004-05), Alfreton Town (2006), Rushden & Diamonds (2006-09), Bournemouth (on loan 2008), Aldershot Town (2011-13), Grimsby Town (on loan 2012-13), York City (2013) and Hereford United (2013-14).

Michael settled into good form in mid-August and he was often deployed as a lone front man. he ended the season as the club's leading scorer.

Appearances to June 2016: 34(+10), 16 goals.


No. 10
Damian REEVES (d.o.b. 18 December 1985, height 5ft 10ins)

Doncaster-based Damian is in his sixth season at Moss Lane having been leading scorer in all but one of his previous campaigns. Like several of the Altrincham squad he has previously played for current manager elsewhere but, in his case, it was Lee's predecessor, Graham Heathcote, who signed him for Altrincham on 26 June 2010.

Despite playing in a struggling and eventually relegated side at the highest level of non-league football, in his first season at Moss Lane Damian nevertheless netted 19 times in just 35(+11) games. 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 that campaign.

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 another phenomenal haul of 41 goals in all competitions and in 2014-15 he was again the team's leading scorer by a considerable margin.

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 under Lee Sinnott. He spent two years from August 2006 to June 2008 at Farsley where, 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. For Alty in 2014-15 season he scored 21 times in all competitions.

Outside football, Damian is a self-employed plasterer and, before establishing himself in football, he had a basketball trial with Sheffield Sharks. Damian lost his place in the starting eleven early in 2015-16 but regained it and scored several goals before the end of the calendar year.

However, his appearances continued to be intermittent until the run-in to the end of the campaign.

Appearances to June 2015: 247(+39)), 158 goals.


No.21
Joel SWIFT (d.o.b. 5 September, 1994)

Joel's goalscoring in 2014 for Altrincham FC Reserves won him a place on the first-team bench for the FA Cup tie at Barwell in October 2014. He was first named in a Conference match squad on 28 December 2014 and continued in the first-team squad for 2015-16. Appearances to June 2016: 2(+3).

 
DEPARTED PLAYERS & STAFF - 2015 close season and during 2015-16
See Departed Players/Staff 2015-16
  • Peter CAVANAGH
  • Anthony GRIFFITH
  • Jonny MARGETTS (loanee)
  • Dylan MOTTLEY-HENRY (loanee)
  • Josh OLLERENSHAW
  • Andrew PARRY (loanee)
  • David PARTON
  • Kyle PERRY
  • James PHILLIPS
  • (loanee)
  • Lee SINNOTT
  • (manager)
  • Neil TOLSON
  • (assistant manager; remains at club as a coach)
  • Sean WILLIAMS
  • Greg WILKINSON
  For details of last season's squad (2014/15), visit the 2014/15 Squad Page