ALTRINCHAM FC PLAYERS OF 1988/89
The following pen-pictures were written in 1988/89.
JEFF WEALANDS Goalkeeper. Jeff returned to Moss Lane for his second spell in September. He made a total of 436 Football League appearances, with Wolves (0),his hometown club Darlington (31), Hull City (270), Birmingham City (117), Manchester United (8) and Oldham Athletic (10) before winning an FA Trophy winner’s medal in his first season with Altrincham in 1986. He made 103 appearances for the Robins before spending last season with Barrow.
JOHN BUTCHER Goalkeeper. Joined Altrincham in 1987 from Chester. Over 200 Football League appearances with Blackburn, Oxford and Chester and loan spell with Bury.
IAN MURPHY A Liverpool born defender who joined Altrincham earlier this season and made his debut in the Premier Inter-League Challenge Cup at Bangor City in October.
STEVE PHILLIPS Joined Altrincham from Conference rivals Chorley in September after winning an NPL Championship medal with the Magpies last season. Also played for Horwich and Witton Albion.
CHRIS BYRNE A powerfully built midfielder who was discovered playing local soccer and captained the reserves last season. Made his first team debut last March.
OSSIE SMITH Signed for Altrincham in 1987 after making over 400 appearances for Runcorn. Whilst with the Linnets he won many honours including an England semi-pro international cap in 1984.
IAN JOHNSON 2l year-old midfielder who joined the club from Rochdale in the 1987 close season. Whilst at Rochdale he made 14 first team appearances at full back.
NEIL COOK Left-sided midfield player who joined the club in the close season after spending 5 years with Warrington Town. Whilst at Warrington he won a NWCL Cup winner’s medal and played at Wembley in the 1986 FA Vase Final.
JOHN TIMMONS A front runner who came to prominence with Maine Road. He was leading goalscorer in his two seasons with Hyde United before moving to Moss Lane in the summer of 1986. Club leading goalscorer in 1986/87.
GARY STEWART Gary turned professional at Wimbledon on completing his apprenticeship. He played one game for Altrincham as a teenager before moving on to Winsford United and Northwich Victoria from whom he was re-signed in January 1987.
JOEY DUNN Played local amateur football before signing for Bass North West Counties League side Formby at the start of the season. After some impressive performances in trial matches, he signed for Altrincham in October and scored on his first team debut at Yeovil Town in December.
BARRY KNOWLES Barry started his career at Southport before joining Runcorn where he won Northern Premier League championship and Challenge Cup honours. He made 127 Football League appearances in a five-year stay at Wigan Athletic, which included two Wembley appearances and a place in the side that reached the FA Cup quarter-finals. Barry joined Barrow in the close season and signed for Altrincham in October.
NIGEL SHAW An extremely versatile player who started his career with his home town club Stoke City as an apprentice then played for Nantwich Town and Congleton Town before joining Macclesfield Town in 1983. He won a Northern Premier League championship winner’s medal in 1987 and was the Silkmen's player of the year in 1986. He joined Altrincham in January.
KEITH MOUNTFORD Keith joined Altrincham in January from Macclesfield Town in January in the same deal as Nigel Shaw. Another native of Stoke on Trent, he was spotted playing for Eastwood Hanley in the North West Counties League and joined Macclesfield in January 1985, going on to figure in their championship winning side the following season.
DANNY CRERAND Danny was spotted playing in Altrincham Sunday League football and played in Rochdale’s closing three games of last season’s 4th Division campaign. He joined Altrincham this season and made his first team debut in February.
KEVAN HAWKINS Now in his second spell with Altrincham after re-signing from Runcorn. Kevan also has experience with Witton Albion and South Liverpool and in Swedish football with Edsbro IF and Unik FC. He has had loan spells this season with HFS League sides Droylsden and Stalybridge Celtic.
TERRY FARRELL Began his career with Oswestry Town, Stafford Rangers and Witton Albion, all in the then Northern Premier League, before joining Runcorn last season, winning a Cheshire Senior Cup winner’s medal. He moved to Caernarfon Town in the close season and signed for Altrincham in January. He is ineligible for the Robins' Trophy campaign, having already played in the competition for Caernarfon this season.
ANDY GREEN Andy started his career as an apprentice with Crewe Alexandra and was playing Mid-Cheshire League football when spotted by Altrincham earlier this season. After a brief spell with the reserves he quickly took a place in the first team.
MARTIN BAKER Martin is a student at Lancaster University who spent two seasons playing in Watford's reserve side before his studies brought him north and he joined HFS Loans League side Rhyl. He joined Altrincham in November and quickly claimed a regular first team place with a series of impressive performances.
NICKY DAWS Nicky became the first schoolboy to figure in the Altrincham first team for two decades last season after being spotted playing in the Bass North West Counties League for nearby Flixton, from whom he was signed in October. He has continued to figure prominently in the first team squad this season.
ANDY KILNER After making 11 appearances for England schoolboys, Andy joined Burnley as an apprentice, graduating to the first team before joining Swedish side IS Halmia. He joined Hyde United on returning to this country last season before moving to Altrincham in March.
PAUL CUDDY Paul was selected for the England semi professional international squad for the last four seasons and earned three caps in the last four nations tournament in Scotland in 1987. He joined Altrincham from Chorley in October 1981 and has twice figured in FA Trophy finals for the Robins. He won Altrincham supporters’ Player of the year award in both 1985 and 1987 and started his career with short spells at Rochdale, Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers before a two and a half year stay at Chorley.
RONNIE ELLIS Now in his sixth full season for Altrincham, for whom he was leading scorer last season. He started his career with Burscough and Winsford United before moving on to Runcorn from whom he joined the Robins, initially on loan, towards the end of the 1982-83 season. Ronnie was a member of Altrincham's FA Trophy winning team at Wembley in 1986 and has scored many vital goals for the club.
MIKE FARRELLY Mike has been capped at both Schoolboy and semi-professional international level by England and joined Preston North End on leaving school. After nearly 100 first team games with the Deepdale club, Mike is now in his fourth season with the Robins. for whom he has played nearly 200 games. Skipper of the side for the past two seasons. Mike netted the winning goal in the 1986 PA Trophy final at Wembley.
DARREN HEESOM Darren joined Burnley as an apprentice and then went on to make 38 Football League appearances. A talented left sided player. Darren joined Altrincham midway through last season.
NICK RAFFERTY As a schoolboy Nick represented Staffordshire both as a sprinter and a cross country runner before starting an apprenticeship with Derby County. He joined Altrincham in February, making his first team debut in a Cheshire Senior Cup tie against Congleton Town.
BILL PARRY A teenage midfield player signed at the end of last month from Stockport County Football Club. Made his first team debut against Barnet on 1st April 1989.
GRAHAM HEATHCOTE (Assistant Manager) Graham joined Altrincham as a 16 year old and remained for 14 seasons, apart from one short spell at Northwich Victoria, scoring 148 goals from midfield in 536 first team appearances and figuring in the club’s major successes of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He joined Wiitton Albion as player and assistant manager in 1985 before joining John King as assistant manager at Runcorn in the summer of 1986 and returned to Moss Lane with John in September.
JOHN KING (Manager) John returned to Moss Lane for his second spell as manager only four games into the current season after resigning from Runcorn in the summer. John’s hugely successful playing career began as a junior with Everton end Shrewsbury Town before he played for Kirkby Town, Wigan Athletic and Northwich Victoria.
He joined Altrincham in November 1977 and captained them through their most successful ever period which included runners up spot in the Northern Premier League, two successive Alliance Premier League championships, two successive appearances in the APL Cup final, winning the Bob Lord Trophy on the second occasion to complete a league and cup double in 1981, and two FA Trophy finals as well as four consecutive appearances in the 3rd round proper of the FA Cup from 1979 to 1982.
A knee injury in the FA Trophy final against Enfield in 1982 (his third Wembley appearance in the FA Trophy) ended John’s playing career and he took over as manager of South Liverpool for the 1983-84 season. A successful start to his managerial career saw him return to Moss Lane in January 1984 and he led the Robins to FA Cup successes over Blackpool (twice) and 1st Division Birmingham City and two successive challenges for the GM Vauxhall Conference title. John led the Robins to further FA Trophy Wembley success against Runcorn in 1986, but resigned the following day and took the manager's job at Runcorn who he led to successive Cheshire Senior Cup successes in 1987 and 1988.
Additional information from Fisher Athletic v Altrincham programme, 10 September 1988:.
LAWRENCE IRO Lawrence made 10 appearances while with Altrincham as a youngster before a lengthy spell at South Liverpool, prior to further moves to Rhyl and Caernarfon Town. He rejoined Altrincham in November last season, showing his versatility by filling a variety of positions in defence and midfield.
BOBBY FRASER A vastly experienced non-league player who played in every one of Altrincham's games last season, which was his second at Moss Lane since signing from Runcorn and saw him voted "Player of the Year" by Altrincham's supporters. He started his career as a youth team player with both Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers before going on to serve Porthmadog, Winsford United, Marine and Holyhead.
RICHARD HARRIS Richard topped Ashton United's scorers during the last two seasons with 30 and 37 goals respectively and won a Bass North West Counties League Second Division chamiponship medal last season before moving to Moss Lane this summer.