Altrincham Football Club News Archive
4 to 12 October, 2003
12 October 2003
OLD BOYS
Ex-Alty player and manager Derek Goulding guided Burscough to a 2-0 win at Spennymoor yesterday; Paul is currently caretaker manager of the Linnets.Stuart Scheuber has now moved to Stone Dominoes (NW Counties) for whom he scored yesterday. In the same league, Rob Matthews was sent off for Mossley. The following ex-Robins were also in action yesterday Mark Quayle (Scarboro'), Stuart Coburn (unused sub for Leigh), Dave Gamble (Rossendale), Leroy May (hat-trick for Wolves Utd), Adewale Ajetunmobi (Kendal T.), Stuart Terry (unused sub for Connah's Quay), Marc Limbert (Rhyl), James Glendenning and Leroy Chambers (Droylsden), Chris Timons (Gainsboro') and Matt McNeil scored for Hyde as did Keith Russell for Rushall Olympic. In the Nationwide League Kevin Ellison will be suspended after picking up his 5th booking for Stockport County and Danny Adams played for Macc. Town. In local football Darren Lyons scored for East Manchester and Nathan Comley-Excell scored for the Stonemason's Arms, Timperley. The Pink has an interview with John Davison, now manager of Witton Albion.
NL DIRECTORY
The Non-League Club Directory 2004 has now been published (ISBN 1-869833-47-5 at £19.95). Its 1,087 pages are, as ever, packed with information. Unfortunately, the Altrincham entry has several anomalies with some long-departed players (e.g. Paul Taylor, Kevin [i.e. Keith] Mairs) still listed as on the staff whilst some others who have been with us for some time e.g. Richard Acton are omitted. Nevertheless, this remains an essential volume for the NL fan.YEARS PAST
Though Altrincham's game on Tuesday 14 October has now been postponed, Howard Watts's Through the Years record for this date is here. The last two occasions we played a game on 14 October we won 5-0!UNIBOND NEWS
The Runcorn Forum reports that the club had a trading deficit of just over £71,000 at May this year.Moves:
11 October 2003
MATCH OFF
As Runcorn drew at Nuneaton today in the FA Cup, Alty's league match on Tuesday at the Halton Stadium has been postponed.Results:
FAC3QR
UniBond Premier
MANY OLD FACES
With no Alty game today, a trip to watch our neighbours Trafford today saw them include seven ex-Robins in their 14-man squad, plus Peter Band's brother, Simon. Former Alty Youth striker Rico Richards netted Trafford's first-half equaliser, before Band was sent off, in a 1-5 home defeat. An unexpected face in the Trafford side was Neil Ryan, released by Alty last month and now making his debut for the NW Counties side (seen right). The other ex-Robins on view were substitutes Mike Turner and Gareth Strange, plus ex-Alty Youth teamers Levi Kennedy and Chris Curley. Former Alty trialist John Foster was Trafford's captain.
NEXT TWO OPPONENTS
Alty have no game today (11th) but were to play Runcorn FC Halton on Tuesday. Club Secretary Debbie Quaile quoted on This is Runcorn says that "The Linnets gave a 'hands off' warning to other clubs last week over their manager [Liam Watson], refusing permission for them to talk to him. 'I don't think any of us are surprised that a team has come in for Liam," said chairman Dr David Robertson, 'he has done an excellent job on limited resources and is highly thought of in the non league football world'." One club pursuing Watson is reported to be Burscough.Alty visit Hucknall Town next Saturday (18th). Hucknall Today says that the club's social club, 'The Shed' in the carpark "is to be laid to rest, to make way for a sparkling new, £100,000 social club behind the ground's Watnall Road stand. 'The Shed' will close tomorrow as its licence runs out and after it has been demolished, there are even plans to stage a ritualistic burning of the building on Bonfire Night!... The new social club, which is four times the size of 'The Shed', should be open in time for next Tuesday's scheduled local derby at home to Worksop Town".
Hucknall Town's manager Steve Burr has admitted "we are still short of what I would consider to be a side good enough to be serious challengers". The article comments on "the loan spell of ex-Mansfield Town striker Mark Sale. He has failed to score and Burr must now decide whether to extend the deal or look elsewhere... Midfielder Paul Mitchell is already on the transfer list ... and the likes of Mark Nangle, Adrian Brevett, Kelvin Mushambie, Gareth Holmes and Chris Shaw are enjoying, or have enjoyed, loan spells at other clubs".
ROAD TO BARNSLEY
On Monday (13th) Altrincham Youth are away at Barnsley's Oakwell Stadium - details of this are on the Youth Page as is the updated NWYA league table.OLD BOYS
This is Cheshire says that "Vauxhall FC caretaker manager Paul Rowlands is hoping to land the position as Motormen chief on a permanent basis... Despite getting off to a losing start on Saturday, Rowlands, 42, is still trying to land the Vauxhall hotseat on a long-term basis... Rowlands, who was a much-travelled defender with Cammell Laird, Hoylake, West Kirby, Runcorn, Bangor City, Altrincham, Barrow and Worcester City, has previously been player/manager at both Altrincham and Bangor, while also having stints as boss of Conwy and Caernarfon. He said: 'The job appeals to me more and more as I work with the players. I've spoken to my family and I've told them I'd like to have another go at management if the opportunity comes around. I'm delighted that the players have reacted to me in the way I hoped they would, but the decision is ultimately in other peoples' hands. 'I was told that it is a caretaker position to at least the Bradford game and then I'll see what the club have to say. If I can get results then I'm more than happy to stay, whether it is for one more game or another 100'. Outgoing manager Alvin McDonald "has taken the majority of his backroom staff with him from Rivacre Park to Northwich Victoria, including assistant manager Peter Carroll, physio Ray Walker and goal-keeping coach Chris Holmes".This is Cheshire says that former Alty midfielder "Nigel Gleghorn, player-manager of Nantwich Town, was on the verge of quitting this week after labelling last Saturday's performance as an 'embarrassment to the club'. Having steered the club away from relegation to a decade's best finish in NWCL Division One over the last two years, Gleghorn was left contemplating his future following a 3-0 defeat at struggling Squires Gate... 'I'm still the manager at the moment', he said. 'I have a meeting with the chairman this week and it's not a case of him wanting to get rid of me, it's the other way around'". He added, "We need to look at getting rid of 5,6 or 7 players and bringing new ones in".
UNIBOND NEWS
Harrogate Town have signed 6ft 3in striker Craig Mitchell (18) from Mansfield Town, where he played for the first team. He will be on loan until November, says the Harrogate site.Spennymoor have signed 22-year-old, 6ft 4in goalkeeper John Mohan from Billingham Synthonia. He was formerly at Whitby Town and Gateshead.
10 October 2003
COBURN RELEASED
Confguide reports that "Leigh RMI [and ex-Alty] goalkeeper Stuart Coburn has been told he can leave the club
after losing his first-team place to veteran Gary Kelly... Leigh boss Mark Patterson told the Bolton Evening News: 'It's a tough decision to let Stuart go. I know there'll be a lot of people in Leigh who are disappointed to see
him leave, but I live and die by those decisions and I've chosen to go
with Gary. I don't want to detract from anything that Stuart's done, but Gary's got a better knowledge of the game and a better presence in the dressing room. I'll be looking for a small fee for Stuart'". Stuart is seen, right, with his Altrincham player of the year award for 2001-02.
The Leigh site says that the RMI manager "felt it was unfair that Coburn had to sit on the bench while he could be continuing his career elsewhere. The decision is sure to upset the RMI faithful, who rightly voted the inspirational goalkeeper as last season's player of the year".
ON THE ROAD
Alty have no game tomorrow. The next three games are away. The STAR supporters' coach times and fares for the matches at Runcorn FC Halton, Hucknall Town and Hyde United are on the Travel Page.TROPHY OPPONENTS
Alty travel to Gateshead in the FA Trophy on 1 November. The Gateshead site reports that manager Derek Bell "has been impressed with the way his young side has set about its task at gaining promotion at the first attempt, but has been annoyed at the players' poor disciplinary record. Scott Blandford became the latest player to see red joining Michael Chilton and Dave Morgan this season. Bell said: 'Some of our bookings and dismissals have been nothing short of childish and quite frankly I'm sick of it. We will address this situation again with some of the players and try to get them to cut out this childish side of the game. Players will also be hit where it hurts the most....the pocket!'"CORRECTION
Ally Pickering, sacked as Mossley manager in pre-season, has joined Woodley Sports as assistant manager.UNIBOND NEWS
Frickley report that the club has released "striker Curtis Bernard, who re-joined Frickley in October 2002 after spells with Goole AFC and Harrogate Town... [and] ex-Bradford PA and Farsley Celtic defender Kieron O'Brien, whose release comes following his recent poor disciplinary record". 36-year-old midfielder Nick Richardson has joined Frickley from Ossett Town where he was player/assistant-manager until sacked this week.The NL Daily quotes Alfreton chairman Wayne Bradley: "Obviously defeats bring disappointment to everyone but the division is such that anyone is capable of beating everyone else, every fixture is simply about two teams battling it out for the points... Last season's champions Accrington Stanley lost only four matches but they had an exceptional campaign and everyone underneath them down to the 13th place cut-off point, [which] we are aiming to be inside this time around, lost between eight (Barrow in second spot) and 17 (Marine in 11th), the average being around a dozen". Alfreton's ground development work "continues apace and terracing of the Alma Street end embankment will commence in the next week".
The Worksop manager told his club's website, "The injury list... seemed to be improving with the return to fitness of Matty Caudwell, Gary Townsend and Richard Dryden, plus the return from illness of Steve Hawes ... A few new names appeared on the team sheet for the home tie last Saturday, which included Matt Plant, Daniel Fricker, Daniel Payne, James Mitchell and Carl Hope, all promoted up from our very successful Youth Team to be substitutes for the day". Apart from Alty Youth, Worksop are the only UniBond Premier club with a side still in the FA Youth Cup, where they next meet Oldham Athletic at home.
Whitby Town's site reports that on Wednesday, "Manager Dunn decided to rest Ure, Williams, Burt & Veart ahead of the forthcoming FA Cup tie at Warrington on Saturday but the price was losing all three points" to Harrogate.
Burscough report that "The Conference ground grading committee paid a visit to Victoria Park yesterday. Although unlikely that we will progress to the Conference it is still important to reach certain ground criteria with Conference North still a distinct possibility... Burscough currently have an A grading for the Unibond League and therefore should, although not guaranteed, get the necessary grading to enter the Conference North should we get into the top 13".
9 October 2003
RUNCORN PROBLEMS
Altrincham's next game is on Tuesday (14th) at "Runcorn FC Halton who have been rocked by the loss for the rest of the season of two of their regular midfielders Lee Parle and Dominic Morley. At the age of just 20 Lee has been forced to retire from football on medical advice after tests and consultations about a neck problem... He would have been an ideal replacement for Dominic Morley who has been sidelined for the rest of the season after an accident at work a few weeks ago left him with severe internal injuries. Despite a couple of setbacks Dominic is now out of hospital and embarking on the long road to recovery at home... John Coleman and Accrington Stanley have made a generous offer of playing a match against Runcorn FC Halton in the near future with the proceeds going to Dominic", says the UniBond site.Parle scored Runcorn's goal in a 1-1 draw at Moss Lane in January of this year, whilst Morley played in both of Runcorn's league games against us last season.
CSC
The draw for the Cheshire Senior Cup quarter-finals is:Matches to be played on 11 November.
FAT
The revised FA Trophy 1st Round (1 November) draw includes:8 October 2003
TONIGHT
CHRIS'S RELIEF
Chris Adams (left) will be relieved that at least one press source, IC Newcastle does not credit him with an own goal last night. The report says, "Spennymoor United had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Altrincham, and that only thanks to a last-gasp goal from Steve Preen deep in injury time. Despite dominating almost the whole of the game, Moors conceded a 38th-minute goal through Ian Craney".ALTRINCHAM 1 SPENNYMOOR UNITED 1
Match report here.Although only 434 were at Moss Lane last night, only 7 more people were at Stalybridge for the visit by top of the table Alfreton.
OLD BOYS
Former Altrincham defender Dave Swanick has transferred from Rossendale United to Leek Town. Niell Hardy got two last night as Radcliffe won 6-3 at Burscough and Lee Ellington scored for Gainsborough.BOOK FOR GOOD CAUSE
Michael Cockayne, a regular at Moss Lane, has written "Derby County, the Clough Years", to be published on 1 November by Manchester's Parrswood Press. The book's ISBN: is 1 903158 44 3. It has 240 pages and 80 photos and costs £14.95. All royalties are being donated to the renal unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary, so please support this excellent venture.7 October 2003
RESULTS
COMING UP
Alty travel to play Runcorn FC Halton on Tuesday and This is Cheshire says "Runcorn boss Liam Watson admitted the players and management have some explaining to do after their miserable showing in the 2-0 defeat by visiting Marine... Locked in the dressing room for 30 minutes, the Linnets still can't fathom why they are so poor at home. The Linnets plunged to a fourth campaign defeat - their third of the season at Halton Stadium, where they have still to register a victory".UNIBOND NEWS
From Worksop's website quotes an ominous statement from club chairman Howard Raymond:- "I am very concerned about the lack of ground improvements but, unfortunately, there is nothing I can do. If permission is not granted soon, we will be in serious trouble time-wise. One thing I will state very clearly is, that I am not prepared in any circumstances to win the league twice". However, he added, "Playing-wise right now, I would rather be in our position in the league than anyone else's".Radcliffe report that "The Boro have completed the signing of ex-Manchester City star Ian Bishop. Bishop has recently been involved with Burscough... He is cup-tied for the Boro's FA Cup fixture at Buxton on Saturday... [and] has a pre-arranged buSIness trip and he will not be available from the 14th-24th October". Also manager Kevin Glendon has spoken regarding Boro's possible signing of Shaun Teale, "I would like a definite answer after our F.A Cup tie on Saturday". Boro's 21 year old midfield player Davy Luker has agreed a one year contract.
6 October 2003
FA SIDE BEATEN
The Altrincham & District FA youth side, entirely comprising Altrincham FC players, lost 2-1 at Congleton today to Macclesfield FA Youth in the District Cup. Match report via the Youth Page.
Right: Josh Collins, with Alex Frost (right) and Adam Douthwaite behind him.
NEXT GAME
Tony Lee, manager of Spennymoor United whom we meet on Tuesday, was formerly manager of our bogey team Bishop Auckland. He has recently released former Alty reserve Craig Skelton but has signed striker Jonathan Milroy from West Auckland Town and midfielder Jon Cullen. After the Moors lost in the FA Cup to Warrington Town recently Lee said, "The defeat hurt me considerably, not only the result, but also the attitude of some of the players. I was very disappointed that we didn't keep our composure. We should have won a game like that", reports NL Daily.OLD BOY
Former Alty Reserve Lee Evans has undergone a cruciate ligament operation, funded by the PFA, after being injured in Hyde United's second game of the season. All at Moss Lane will wish Lee a full and speedy recovery.UNIBOND NEWS
Burscough report that "Following the resignation of Mike Marsh, reserve team coach Derek Goulding, the former Southport defender, has now been appointed to the position of Head Coach and will take charge of the first team with immediate effect". In fact Goulding had an immediate effect as bottom-placed Burscough thumped leaders Alfreton 4-1 yesterday. Burscough have signed Martin Clark, a former Southport defender/midfielder.Worksop report that "Despite rumours to the contrary the Tigers have not signed Joe Taylor on loan from Tamworth".
A new Official Unibond Forum has been set up here
Moves:
5 October 2003
OLD BOYS
Ex-Robins in action yesterday included Kevin Ellison at Stockport where a Chesterfield player "was sent off for punching Ellison when the pair were rolling on the ground". The Pink has a picture of Danny Adams who is described as having "a lot of bottle" yesterday for Macclesfield - Danny was also booked. In the Conference, Stuart Coburn was again on the Leigh bench but Mark Quayle scored for Scarborough. In the UniBond Steve Porter scored for Droylsden, for whom Leroy Chambers, James Glendenning and Carl Furlong were also in the squad. Tony Sullivan played for Lancaster City. Terry Bowker played for Stalybridge and Niell Hardy was a sub for Radcliffe Borough. In the NW Counties, Stuart Walker scored Flixton's equaliser. Jez Illingworth scored in Guiseley's 7-1 rout of Kidsgrove who were under Stan Allan's charge prior to the arrival of new manager John Ramshaw tomorrow. Adewale Ajetunmobi played for Kendal who lost to Gateshead, who are now our opponents in the FA Trophy on 1 November. Andy Lovelock, a sub for Solihull Borough, had a last minute penalty saved which could have won the game at Shepshed Dynamo.The Pink has an interview with Bernard Taylor who resigned at Kidsgrove last week. "In my opinion they need a local man who can bring in local players", said Bernard who expressed pleasure in having saved Kidsgrove from relegation last season. "And, even though our results so far this season might not have suggested it, Stan [Allan] and I have left them with better players than the ones they had when we arrived". As well as Bernard and Stan, Vic Green is another ex-Alty man to be leaving Kidsgrove as John Ramshaw takes over on Monday.
ALTRINCHAM 1 BLYTH SPARTANS 2
Match report here.4 October 2003
TRIP TO GATESHEAD
Gateshead beat Kendal Town in the Trophy today and now host Altrincham on 1 November in the 1st Round Proper. Other FAT results included Guiseley 7 (Stan Allan's) Kidsgrove 1 and defeats for Witton, Hyde & Colwyn Bay.SCORES
SHOP4ALTY
STAR announces that it is holding its first "SHOP4ALTY WEEK in which it asks all Alty fans to go the STAR website www.star4alty.co.uk, visit the shop4alty page and do some shopping. Perhaps some early Christmas presents.....! Let's see how much we can raise for the Club in a single week from October 5th to October 11th, and we'll print the amount raised on our next programme page. For instance, Expedia will pay around £9 to STAR for every hotel booking through the site, Amazon pay 6% of the purchase price of their products to STAR, Sporting Bet pay £10 to STAR for every new member etc etc.... Shoppers using the shop4alty page have already raised almost £80 through commissions earned on their purchases, and we'd like to encourage everyone to start using the site in the run up to Christmas...
There is now a whole range of shops on the site, so you can buy anything from cds and books, DIY products, hotel rooms, flights and holidays, as well as having a bet through the betting shops there. There's also high street shops such as John Lewis, Debenhams, Tesco and Woolworths, Laura Ashley and some specialist toy and sports retailers if you're thinking of presents for the kids.
Every time you buy a product from one of the shops, using the link on the shop4alty page, STAR and hence the Club earn commission from the sale. The price you pay is the normal price, which is often cheaper on the internet, so not only can you buy cheaper, but earn money for the Club at the same time, as well as have the goods delivered direct to your door. You don't have to be a STAR member to use the site, so please encourage all your colleagues and friends to shop at shop4alty too during the next week!"
BLYTH CHARTER
Today's visitors to Moss Lane, Blyth Spartans "have produced a Family Charter to be posted around their ground". The Charter lists behaviour that is unacceptable: "Drunken or loutish behaviour, Insulting other visitors to the club, Threatening behaviour, Foul or abusive language".UNIBOND NEWS
Managerless Burscough have "signed a goalkeeper. It is John Bagnall who has been signed from St.Helens Town", whilst former Burscough "centre half Joe Taylor is set to go on loan from Tamworth to Worksop Town". Daniel Connell's loan from Accrington Stanley has also been extended.The UniBond Fair Play Award has gone to Ashton United whilst the Endsleigh Sports Insurance Goalscoring Awards has gone to Vauxhall Motors (20 goals in 8 games).
The recent injury to Droylsden's ex-Mossley striker Cieran Kilheeney (19) sadly means that he "is likely to be out of action for the rest of the season. He suffered a double fracture of his leg at Burscough on Tuesday evening and also incurred ligament damage in the same incident. He was detained in hospital for two nights after undergoing an operation to insert a metal plate in his leg" says the UniBond site.
Moves:
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