June to December 2002
22 December 2002
GAMES OFF
Both of the possible games (home to St Helens, away to Leigh) to have been played by the Youth team today have been rained off. Newly released fixtures to the end of January are here.IN THE GOALS
No fewer than five of the six goals in yesterday's NW Counties 3-3 draw between Nantwich and Flixton were scored by the former Alty Youth strike force (2000-01), Rico Richards and Wes Wilkinson.18 December 2002
OPEN CUP DRAW
After defeating Marine B last Sunday, Altrincham will play at home to Kingsley B in the last eight. The tie will be in February/March 2003.17 December 2002
DRAW
The draw for the NWYA Premier Division Cup First Round on 5 January 2003 is:Presumably Alty enter at a later stage.
15 December 2002
CUP WIN
Altrincham beat Marine B (their under-17 side) 4-1 at College Road today in a NWYA Open Cup match. The Alty goals, all in the second half, came from Josh Collins, Luke Killeen (2) and Andrew Thorpe. Pictured, right, is left-back Mark Griffiths during the game. Report and more pictures here.11 December 2002
IN THE NEWS
SAM has a large article on George Heslop and the Alty Youth team, five of whom have broken through to the current first-team squad - Steve Lunt, Jon McEvoy, Francis Evans, Luke Killeen and Vernum Rowland. George told SAM, "It is very helpful when you have a first team manger who recognises the importance of the youth team. Both chairman Geoff Goodwin and manager Graham Heathcote have stimulated interest in the youth team by declaring that in a way, youth football is the way forward". He added, "There has been a youth team at Altrincham on and off over the 50 years I have been there, but this one - which has been in existence for six years - is by far the most established one, and the longer it goes on, the better it is for the club". Of his two assistants, Neil Thomason and Mal Bailey, George says, "Neil has been a great assistance as my number two while Mal has also been a great help, not only with defensive coaching, but fund-raising as well". The Youth side are away at Marine this Sunday (15th, 2pm) and at home to St Helens College at Wythenshawe Town next Sunday (22nd, 2pm) -entry is free.8 December 2002
ALTY WIN
Altrincham beat Prestwich Heys today; match report here. More fixtures have now been released and are here.1 December 2002
GRAHAM SUPPORTS YOUTH
In today's Pink Alty first-team manager Graham Heathcote says, "Another encouraging aspect of the last few weeks has been the progress made by several of our youth players and, in particular, Stephen Lunt. He and two or three others are now knocking on the first team door and, when the time is right, they will get more opportunities to show what they can do at senior level...Age should be no barrier".22 November 2002
CHESHIRE HONOURS
Amongst the Alty Youth players in the Cheshire squad for the Northern Counties competition are goalkeeper Richard Harrison (right), captain Paul Glynn and midfielder Jon McEvoy. Also gaining representative honours is defender Marc Griffiths, who has been chosen to play for Cheshire Colleges.
18 November 2002
LANCASTER CITY 2 ALTY YOUTH 2
Goals from Joel Ekolongeni and Steve Lunt secured a point yesterday at Lancaster. Steve Lunt, Luke Killeen, Francis Evans and Jon McEvoy were all in the first team squad for tonight's match against Hyde United in the UniBond Cup. Steve scored Alty's goal in a 1-2 defeat.13 November 2002
BREAKTHROUGH
Both Steve Lunt (right) and Jon McEvoy were in the Alty first-team squad last night against Bradford Park Avenue and Steve got on to make his debut, for the final seven minutes. Another Youth player, Vernum Rowland, started the game. Match report here.
11 November 2002
NWYA
The NW Youth Alliance, in whose league Altrincham play, report that they will be "starting an Under-19s section in 2003/2004 season, in addition to the Under-18 and Under-17 sections already in operation. Also, there will be a new Saturday open-age competition starting, called the North West Alliance, and applications are invited during the rest of this season for this competition".9 November 2002
TABLE
The NWYA Premier league table has been updated, here.FIXTURES
Altrincham Youth now play Lancaster City away on 17 October and Euxton Villa on 24 November at home.7 November 2002
LAST TO GO
Burscough, who defeated Alty in the FA Youth Cup, became the last UniBond club to go out of that competition when they lost 1-2 to Blackpool last night.3 November 2002
ALTY YOUTH 4 MORECAMBE A 1
In a late change of fixture, Altrincham today gave a fine performance to beat Morecambe "A". A match report is here.28 October 2002
MARK POVER
It is with deep regret that Altrincham FC record the death of one of
their current Youth Team players, 17 year-old Mark Pover (left). Mark
died on Saturday after collapsing whilst playing in a local league
game in the Stalybridge area, where he lived. His collapse came just
five minutes into the match. The condolences of everyone
at Altrincham FC go to Mark's family, his team-mates and friends.
Mark was the son of the Stalybridge Celtic FC physio, Dave Pover, who was formerly at Leigh RMI. Mark himself played for the RMI Reserves last season before joining Altrincham for 2002-03. A tall midfielder/defender, Mark had already broken through into the Altrincham Youth team's starting line-up. He had also won representative honours with the Stalybridge & District F.A. side.
27 October 2002
GAME OFF
Today's inter-league match between the NW Youth Alliance and the Northern U-19 Alliance at Pontefract Collieries was postponed.26 October 2002
GRAHAM COMPLIMENTS YOUTH TEAM FITNESS
In today's match programme, first-team manager Graham Heathcote wrote "I have, this week, integrated into our training some of the youth team and I was delighted with their level of fitness, opportunity knocks - do you want it? Can you take it? We'll see". Graham himself broke through to Alty's first-team at the age of 17.24 October 2002
ALTY DRAW
Altrincham drew 4-4 at St Helens College last Sunday, after leading 3-1 after 27 minutes. By half-time they trailed 3-4 but got a second-half leveller.BURSCOUGH GO ON
Burscough, who just beat Alty after extra time and then knocked out Rochdale 2-1 in the FA Youth Cup to reach the 2nd Round Proper, now have a home draw against Blackpool in Round Two.21 October 2002
CHAIRMAN'S PLEDGE
In his article in Saturday's Robins' Review, Alty Chairman Geoff Goodwin pledged support for the Youth system at Altrincham FC. "We need a good youth policy which, as Chairman, I will see to when we get the finance sorted out", said Geoff Goodwin. See the Home Page news for 21 October for more of Geoff's article.12 October 2002
YOUTH GAME OFF
Tomorrow's youth team game against New Mills has been postponed.8 October 2002
ALTY F.A. DRAW
An Altrincham FA side comprising many Altrincham FC youth players drew 3-3 against Stalybridge FA on Sunday in the Cheshire County FA District Youth Challenge Cup competition. Altrincham scored a late equaliser after leading earlier by two goals. Alty now need to beat Stockport FA in November to qualify for the final. More on this game to follow.ALTY'S VICTORS WIN AGAIN
Burscough, who narrowly beat Altrincham Youth last month in the FA Youth Cup, after extra time, went to Scarborough in the next round recently and won 3-2. They now play at home to Rochdale in the next round of the competition. Burscough Club Secretary Stan Strickland said "We do not believe any other non-league club can match our consistency in the FA Youth Cup, which isn't bad for a village club".4 October 2002
YOUTHS DEFEATED
The Youth team has a rest from league action this weekend but many of its members will be turning our for the Altrincham FA side against Stalybridge & District on Sunday (6th) at Dukinfield Town, (Birch Lane, k.o. 11am). The next league game is at home to New Mills (Sunday 13th at 2pm at Wythenshawe Town FC).30 September 2002
YOUTHS DEFEATED
Altrincham Youth lost 4-1 in Liverpol yesterday to Kingsley United "A", who are a new team in the NW Youth Alliance League. Luke Killeen was Alty's scorer. Match report here.26 September, 2002
FIXTURE CHANGES
The Youth team's forthcoming fixtures have been amended yet again; see here.RESULTS AND TABLES
Last Sunday's other NW Youth Alliance results were:Ashton A. 0 Morecambe 3 / Euxton Villa 0 S. Sefton 9 / Lancaster C. 2 Kingsley U. 3 / Marine 3 N. Mills 1 / Prestwich Heys 0 St Helens C. 0.
The updated league table is here, below the fixture list.
22 September, 2002
ALTY YOUTH WIN
No.3 Mark Griffiths's shot is about to curl into the top corner of the net in today's Youth game. Unfortunately it was ruled out for offside.
Altrincham Youth beat Leigh RMI Academy today 1-0. The goal came from Luke Killeen. Match report here.
REPRESENTATIVE CUP
When Altrincham & District FA beat Mid-Cheshire FA last week, the game was part of the Cheshire County FA District Youth Challenge Cup competition. All of the Alty squad were Altrincham FC players except Nick Killeen from Styal. The competition consists of two groups of four teams who each play three games. Curiously, the Cheshire FA still awards only two points for a win. Alty have still to play Stalybridge (A) and Stockport (H). Alty's fixture details are here. In the other group are the Runcorn, Wirral, Macclesfield and Crewe FA sides. Results so far:19 September 2002
BURSCOUGH YOUTH 2 ALTRINCHAM YOUTH 1 (aet)
Match report here.15 September 2002
ALTY YOUTH 1 LANCASTER CITY 1
Altrincham scored both goals in this 1-1 draw today at Wythenshawe Town. The team is pictured above before the game. Match report here..More league and representative fixtures have now been added to the fixture list, as has the current league table. Next Wednesday Alty travel to Burscough in the FA Youth Cup. For directions click the Links/Maps link in the red box above.
13 September 2002
YOUTH FRIENDLY
An Alty Youth side played a friendly/trial game at Abbey Hey last night against a Wright Robinson College side. The College won 3-0 but the game finished prematurely when one of Alty's players, Adam Girdlestone, suffered a serious leg injury and had to be taken to hospital. It is to be hoped that the injury turns out to be less serious than it appeared.12 September 2002
YOUTH CUP
Whoever wins the Burscough v Altrincham FA Youth Cup match next Wednesday will be away to either Scarborough or Chadderton who won their qualifying matches against Whitley Bay and Guiseley respectively.YOUTH LINKS
The links to websites of Alty Youth team's opponents have been updated in section 8 of this site's Links page.9 September 2002
LEAGUE RESULTS
Whilst Alty players were involved yesterday in a representative match (see below), several NW Youth Alliance league games were played:
Sept. 8
Last week- Sept. 1
In the league Alty lie 9th out of 11 but have only played one game (a 4-4 draw at Morecambe). They are at home to Lancaster City at Wythenshawe Town FC this Sunday (15th) at 2pm.
8 September 2002
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA 5 MID-CHESHIRE FA 4
In an amazing game, the Altrincham & District side, (comprising Altrincham FC's youth team), cruised into a 4-0 lead after just 13 minutes. They were then pegged back to 4-4 four minutes before the end of normal time but Steve Lunt's hat-trick goal from the restart clinched the game. Match report here.
3 September 2002
YOUTH GAME OFF
Ashton Athletic were reportedly "unable to raise a team" for Sunday's league encounter with Altrincham Youth last Sunday. The rules of the NW Youth Alliance do not permit a walkover in such circumstances and the game will have to be played at a different date. Ashton were said to have only six of their 20 players available.2 September 2002
NW YOUTH ALLIANCE
Ashton Athletic are one of four new teams in Alty's league, the NW Youth Alliance Premier League. The other newcomers are Kingsley United, Leigh RMI Academy and New Mills, whilst Burscough have left for another league. There are 12 in the division altogether this season, those remaining since last year being Euxton Villa, Lancaster City, Marine A, Morecambe A., Prestwich Heys A, South Sefton A, St Helens College A. and Altrincham.Results so far:
25 August 2002
MORECAMBE 4 ALTY YOUTH 4
Alty Youth put in a fine performance to draw at Morecambe in today's opening league fixture. A match report is here courtesy of George Heslop.YOUTH DATE
Alty's FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round match at Burscough will be on Wednesday 18th September at 7.45. Visit the Links and Maps page of this site to find a map of the Burscough ground locality.24 August 2002
YOUTH TEAM BEAT FRICKLEY
Altrincham Youth tonight put in a fine performance to beat Frickley Youth 5-0 in the FA Youth Cup and earn a 2nd Qualifying Round tie, away, at Burscough next month. Central defenders Greg Byrne and Michael Bailey led the way with goals after 25 and 34 minutes, before Luke Killeen added a third just before the interval. Although Frickley had a good spell after the break, goals from Francis Evans (75 mins) and Killeen, again, (82 mins) sealed the victory. Match report here.
Left-back Mark Griffiths is seen in action tonight (left).
YOUTH GRADUATES
Two Youth team graduates, Keith Mairs and Lee Thompson, both of whom played for Altrincham's first team last season, were in Trafford's side which drew 2-2 at home to Alfreton Town in the UniBond First last Saturday.22 August 2002
YOUTH CUP
Alty play Frickley at Moss Lane on Friday (23rd) in the FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round. Entry is just £2 (or £1 for convcessionaries). The Alty Youth team reached the first round proper last season.REPORT
George Heslop's report on the recent game against Trafford Reserves is here. Coming shortly are a report on the Youth team's participation in a five-a-side tournament at Ashton Athletic and pen portraits of the Youth Team squad.19 August 2002
FIXTURES
The Youth team's league and cup fixtures for the first month of the season are now here.YOUTH CUP
The FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round match at home to Frickley Athletic takes place on Friday 23 August at 7.45pm at Moss Lane. Entry is just £2 (£1 for juniors and concessionaries). This important match comes before the new season's league games have started. The winners will be away to Burscough. Last year, Altrincham reached the 1st Round Proper, before losing to Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground.5-A-SIDE
In a recent five-a-side tournament held at Ashton Athletic, Altrincham entered two sides. One of these progressed to the quarter-finals where they lost narrowly to the eventual winners, Morecambe B, who defeated Morecambe A in the final.5 August 2002
FORMER PLAYERS SINK ALTY
An Alty youth side lost 1-2 at Trafford at the weekend and, ironically, the Trafford goals came from former Altrincham players, Mario Daniel and Melvyn Pampila. Meanwhile the Trafford first team included two ex-Robins, Ryan McMahon and Paul Tilley, in their friendly defeat at Rhyl.25 July 2002
SPONSORS
Bob Peters's 20/20 Research company will be sponsoring the Altrincham Youth team during 2002-03. Bob has been a long-term supporter of the Club and his generosity in supporting the Youth Team this season is very welcome.
FIRST GAME
Alty Youth, fielding a team largely made up of newcomers, lost 1-2 in a friendly at Warrington Town last Saturday (20th). A brief match report is here.DATES SET
Alty's FA Youth Cup tie at home to Frickley will take place on Friday 23rd August at 7.45pm at Moss Lane. Pre-season Youth games include the following of which more details are to follow:18 July 2002
COUNTY TRIALS
Ten Altrincham Youth players were called up for this week's Cheshire County F.A. trials. One of them, Steve Lunt, was unable to attend but the other nine who did were Michael Bailey, Greg Byrne, Sean Eastwood, Alex Frost, Francis Evans, Paul Glynn, Mark Griffiths, John McEvoy and Paul Nelson. Paul Nelson also played for Oldham Athletic Reserves in a trial match against Ashton United recently.LAST YEAR'S CROP
With the absence of an Altrincham Reserves' side this season, several of last season's Youth players who are now over-age for the NW Youth Alliance U-18 League, have been training with Trafford FC. It will be recalled that last season's captain, Paul Tilley joined Trafford towards the end of last season.FIXTURES
There is still no date fixed for the FA Youth Cup match against Frickley but it is likely to be at the end of August. On 3 August the Youth side play a friendly against Trafford and the league fixtures should be available by early August. When known, all the cup and league fixtures will appear here. Manager George Heslop has confirmed that the home league games will again take place at Wythenshawe Town FC on Timpson Road, Baguley, access to which is immediately behind Tesco's store.28 June 2002