Altrincham FC

ALTRINCHAM FC PLAYERS OF 1961/62

From Alty v Oswestry Town 28/8/61. In those days the amateurs were listed apart from the professionals!

PROFESSIONAL PLAYING STAFF

JOHNSON, Gerard: Goalkeeper, 5ft 11in., l2st. Second season at Moss Lane. The only professional retained from last season, Signed professional by Blackburn Rovers, full time at Blackburn for two seasons. Former Manchester City amateur.

ALLEN, Bobby: Goal, 5ft 10in. l1st. Last season with Pwllheli following a three year spell at Moss Lane. Selected to represent CCL. in inter-league game.

TOMKINSON, Derek: Right-back, 5ft 9in, 11st. Comes to Altrincham after three seasons at Macclesfield. Previously with Port Vale and Crewe. Played inside-left in the Port Vale team which reached the semi-final of the F.A. Cup against West Brom. in 1954.

BANKS, Tommy: Left Back, 5ft 8in. 12st. Joined his only senior club, Bolton Wanderers straight from school. F.A. Cup winners' medal in 1958. Six international appearances for England. A great character both on and off the field. A much sought after player who has settled down quickly at Moss Lane.

PERRY, Ray: Full-back, 5ft 11in, 11st.7lb. One of three players signed from Stockport County. Another former Manchester City amateur.

LOWIS, Paul: Half-back, 5ft 11 and a half in. 12st. Formerly with Blackpool before signing for Stockport. A strong player in any of the half-back positions. A dental Surgeon by profession.

GREENALL, George: Centre-half, 6ft. 12st.7lb. Played 31 first team games for Oldham Athletic last season. Signed professional forms for Manchester City after leaving the Army.

HILL, Tommy: Wing-half. 5ft 9in. 11st.7lb. Joined Manchester City as a schoolboy and signed professional forms at 17. At 18, the baby of the side but like most red-heads, a great worker.

SMITH, Wilf: Half-back, 5ft 10 and a half in. l3st. Four seasons at Stockport. Last season played for Winsford.

FAGAN, Paddy: Player Manager. Winger. 5ft 6in, l0st.7lb. Played for Eire against Scotland as recently as May. Voted fontballer of the year in Eire, 1960. First Player-Manager at Moss Lane for quarter of a century. Won F.A. Cup Winner’s Medal with Manchester City before moving to Derby County.

TAYLOR, Ernie: Inside Forward, 5ft 4in, 9st.7lb. Completes a trio of internationals and F.A. Cup Medal winners at Moss Lane. One of the greatest schemers to grace the game. A Manchester United post-Munich hero and a popular favourite.

FLETCHER, Jimmy: Centre Forward, 5ft 10 and a half in. 11st.7lb. Forty-three first team appearances at Stockport last season. Joined County frons Doncaster. Signed professional for the Yorkshire Club by Peter Doherty.

ROBINSON, Eric: Inside Forward, 5ft 9in. 11st. A local product who joined West Brom. from Moss Lane for £1,000 five years ago. Moved to Rotherham for £5,000 two seasons ago.

BROWN, Jimmy: Winger, 5ft. 4in. 9st.7lb. Five seasons at Rochdale for whom he made 25 first team appearances last season.

MURRAY, Hughie: Winger. 5ft 6in. 10st.7lb. Signed from a Scottish Junior Club by Manchester City and after a six year stay moved to Moss Lane,

AMATEUR PLAYERS

WILLIAMS, Clive: Full Back, 5ft 9in, 11st. Ten first team and 22 second team games last season.

SPEAR, Peter: Half-back. 5ft 9in, 11st.7lb. Joined Club six weeks before end of last season. Three first-team and four second-team appearances.

MORTON, Neville: Half-back, 5ft 11 and a half in. l2st. An experienced player. 27 first-team and ten second-team appearances last season.

BARTON, Mike: Half-back, 6ft, l2st. Fancied by several league clubs last season. 42 first-team appearances.

LEIGH, John: Half-back/Inside Forward. 6ft. 11st.7lb. First term at Moss Lane. Brother of Crewe and former Manchester City full-back, Peter Leigh.

CLANCEY. Kevin: Forward, 5ft 11in. 11st.7plb. Local boy signed after trials.

MONKS, Arthur: Forward. 5ft 11in. 12st. A promising player "dogged" by injury last season. 28 first-team appearances.

PROLZE, Brian. Forward. 6ft. 12st. Longest serving player on the staff. 25 first-team appearances last season.

SPILLETT, Ken: Forward. 5ft 10in. 11st. Came to Moss Lane in March and played eight first-team and three second-team games.

MANUEL, Derek: Forward, 6ft. 11st.7lb. Eight first-team and 22 second-team appearances last year.

BURGESS, Len: Forward. 5ft 10in. 11st. Five first-team and 26 second-team games last season. Scored 12 goals.

LYONS, Brian. Forward, 5ft 9in. 11st. Twelve second-team games last season.

From the match programme, 26 December 1962, Altrincham v Wigan Athletic.

This was the Year - that was!

The Highlights of the Football Year for ALTRINCHAM - The Year 1962

January

Started the year with an abandoned match, after leading Witton Albion 1-0 the fog came down. Jimmy Brown was our scorer. The following week in a return fixture we lost 1-0 at Witton. In the match against Rhyl, Paddy Fagan hit the headlines, "Fagan storms back." We won 3-1, scorers Fagan, Fletcher and Green. Tommy Banks suspended for fourteen days and missed three matches.

February

Altrincham lost at Macclesfield 3-1 after winning 1-0 at half time. The Robins played with only ten men. The line-up for this match was ALLEN, REED, TOMKINSON, EDWARDS, GREENALL, HASSELL, FLETCHER, DODGSON, GREEN, ROBINSON, FAGAN. Fagan injured. Rex Grey signed from Macclesfield for a substantial fee. Eric Robinson received fractured collar bone after the inter-league victory over Witton Albion. Tommy Hill the scorer at inside forward. Bobby Allen brilliant in this match.

March

Altrincham gain first points in six weeks. A 1-0 victory over Wrexham. Bobby Allen saved a penalty against Hyde United. The team for this match, ALLEN, PERRY, REED, EDWARDS, GREENALL, BANKS, BROWN, SCRUTON, FLETCHER, GREEN, WILSON. Reds sink to a 2-0 defeat at Bangor. Keith Wilson saved a point with a goal at Sankeys. The highlight of the month, ALTRINCHAM v. HYDE UNITED, semi-final of the Cheshire Senior Cup. After losing 4-0 at half-time the Reds saved themselves with two second half goals and finally lost 5-2 [??]. The match was played at Stockport County's ground. A great game against Buxton, 4-2 victory. Rex Grey netted two. Leading 4-1 at half-time. Last match of March against Tranmere. ALTRINCHAM came away with a 4-3 victory. Scorers, Green 2, Grey and Goodwin.

April

No score against Wigan, a draw, a fair result. Another sad defeat against Marine in the Interleague cup. Our only goal scored by Jlrnmy Brown. Bobby AlIen our hero of the day. Paddy Fagan quit as manager due to heavy business commitments. In the Buxton match we were defeated 2-1. Jimmy Brown again scored our only goal. A great winger. The key man in the BUXTON attack was a player called BRIAN WILSON. He split the Altrincham defence wide open time and time again. A great game at Wigan. FLETCHER nets 2, GREY nets 2. 500 fans travelled to Wigan to see this game. A finish to the season with a good 2-0 win over Stafford. GREEN and ROBINSON scored. GEORGE GREENALL was presented with a tankard by Club Chairman PETER SWALES for fifty-eight consecutive appearances.

Close Season

The bombshell dropped and only thirteen players were retained on the list. Tommy Hill the first to accept terms for the new season. Fletcher topped the goal scorers with twenty to his credit. Paddy Fagan was second with fifteen. Over thirteen matches were lost through the odd goal defeat. Renovation of drains carried out under the pitch. New section of boundary wall completed.

New Season- August, 1962

A match against an All Star XI opened the season which we won 2-1. All Star team included FIELDlNG, MEADOWS, BATTY, BOOT, OWEN, COCKBURN, CLARK, REVIE, ASTON, PEARSON, ROGERS. A great 2-1 victory at Chester. Perry and Grey scored. Another great victory Winsford, 4-2. Freddie Morris the man of the match. Len Dickenson sent off in the match against Sankeys which we won 1-0. ALTRINCHAM top the Cheshire league for the first time for many years. Morris sent off in inter-league cup clash with Ashton. We were defeated 1-0.

September

A great Dickenson hat trick against Oswestry. Dlckenson scores the only goal in our clash with Marine in the F.A. Cup. Again he hits the headlines but this time with a 14 day suspension. Pre-match bombshell against Stafford. Stars of the team Banks and Dickenson are dropped without notice. REDS lose 100% record, a draw 1-1.

October

ALTRINCHAM still top of the league. Four points clear. A fantastic game against Congleton, Rex Grey netted four whilst Len Dickenson had to be contented with 2. St. Helens defeated 3-1 In the F.A. Cup. Grey nets two again. Gerry Ireland and Ron Phoenix outstanding. First defeat - Buxton slammed us 2-0. Phoenix again man of the match. 6,000 witness Altrincham's F.A. Cup defeat by Rhyl. Dickenson and Grey score agam. What a combination these two are.

November

ALTRINCHAM still top of the league. One of the greatest games ever seen at Moss Lane. Altrincham trounce the Silkmen 4-1. GOODWIN scores two. McFarlane returns to Moss Lane. Brian Wilson signs on for the Robins from BUXTON. We move to second place in the league.

December

Reds take their biggest hammering against Stalybridge. The. rest of the Moss Lane story I'm sure is fresh in your minds. However we are looking forward to a very prosperous 1963.