ALTY SIGN DIGIE

Digie's most recent club was Hereford FC but he has played against Altrincham for Guiseley in January 2020 as well as being an unused sub against Alty on a couple of occasions including for Kidderminster Harriers in 2018.

Digie had joined Hereford in Occtober 2020 having previously emerged from the youth system at Kidderminster Harriers in a spell which included two months on loan at York City and other loans at Midlands clubs Hednesford Town, Halesowen Town, Worcester City, Stourbridge and Nuneaton Town. During his loan at York he played at Moss Lane in November 2018.

Above: Kennedy Digie (centre) defends for Guiseley at Moss Lane in January 2020.

After his time at Aggborough, which included twelve first-team starts, he signed for Guiseley for a "nominal sum" in February, 2019, a club for whom he was to play 22 league games before moving to Hereford.

He is 24 years old, having been born on 13 December 1996 in London.

ALTY OLD BOY

"Campaigners like Trafford midfielder Astley Mulholland, whose brother Kyle died in 2005 after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing football, have pressed for debfibrillators to be made mandatory at sport facilities".

ALTY'S NEW KIT

Alty’s online shop is open for business and ready to take your orders for the return of traditional red and white stripes for the home kit, the ever-popular yellow and blue look for the away strip or training gear items.

It is hoped that, within the next couple of weeks, we will have a full complement to cover all requirements. Your patience is appreciated while we continue building up stock levels...

If you are the sort of shopper who prefers to see the merchandise close up, rather than relying on a computer screen, we are catering for you by organising a special pop-up store in the newly-refurbished Sponsors’ Lounge on three separate dates next month.

As well as examining the range of kits, it will be a chance to appreciate the work that has gone into making the lounge a facility to be proud of and to see how the drainage and pitchworks are progressing.

Refreshments will be provided to enhance the shopping experience, while director John Coyne and Head of Partnerships and Sponsorship Sam Mackenzie will be on hand to deal with any queries and it is hoped manager Phil Parkinson will also make an appearance.

Dates for those three July events will be published as soon as they have been finalised... Baby and toddler kits will be available later this summer, as part of a leisurewear range that will go all the way up to size XXXXL!" .

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The former Newcastle United defender joined Pools in December following a brief stint at South Shields... Sterry has been offered terms of re-engagement for the upcoming League Two campaign following the expiration of his short-term contract at Victoria Park.

But with several clubs including Sunderland reportedly keen on the 25 year-old right-back, Pools could struggle to keep hold of him. Oldham, Walsall and Bolton Wanderers are also keeping an eye on the defender according to NE Sports News.

The Mail understands that National League side Notts County have also offered Sterry a lucrative deal including accommodation to spend another season in the fifth tier...

Pools boss Dave Challinor admits... 'Jamie, we’re desperate to keep, but it depends where he’s at. He’s obviously happy to be playing his football but we don’t know what other offers he will have or what decisions he’ll have to make that best suit him and his family'".

The Guardian quotes Jason Stockwood, "a technology entrepreneur, visiting fellow at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and chairman of Grimsby Town FC.

'We bought Grimsby Town FC to help renew the place we love. Many clubs have been unmoored from their communities. My business partner and I want to change that in our home town

'I had gone from working on the docks in Grimsby to dealing with private equity investors in New York as a tech CEO; from waking up in a house with ice inside the windows to a home with neighbours from 'on the telly' and in the Premier League; from being the son of a single mum who worked three jobs to keep four sons fed and clothed, to becoming a parent who can afford to provide almost anything for my own children...

'I decided to buy my home-town football club, Grimsby Town FC, with my business partner Andrew Pettit. A football club that finished 92nd out of 92 teams in the English Football League in May, and was relegated to the National League. A club with one of the oldest stands in the football league, in dire need of investment, historically teetering on the edge of insolvency without the aid of local benefactors.

On paper, buying the club was a terrible financial decision and yet, when you consider the chance to rebuild civic value in the town where both Andrew and I grew up, it felt like one of the most valuable opportunities of our lives.

In Grimsby... [there was] industrial decline, the slow demise of the once-dominant fishing industry and the social problems that followed from a lack of job opportunities and a general sense of abandonment... The town continues to be failed by those who purport to care for it: framed by television cameras as a symbol of deprivation and decline...

Could a fan-friendly ownership model like Germany’s work in English football?...

Grimsby deserves better than becoming the goldfish bowl of post-Brexit Britain, gawped at by the prosperous and socially conscious, a tourist attraction on the map of social and economic deprivation... Professional football teams are one of the few institutions that have endured. Indeed, Grimsby Town FC has a 143-year history and a committed (if somewhat diminished) following today. The Mariners can still engender a sense of collective belonging and an identity that is deeply aligned to the performance of 11 men in black and white on a Saturday afternoon...

'Young people who have pride in the town and know its problems should have a much greater role in determining the policies that will shape its future. Though we clearly need the support of central government, solutions have to be built as a partnership with the community itself.

'Andrew and I became the major shareholders of the club on 4 May this year. This investment seems like the perfect counterweight to the ownership model of the “Super League” teams, a paradigmatic example of distorted capitalism where profit motives and dividend payments are regarded as the only measure of success...

'Buying Grimsby Town FC is an opportunity to place a football club and its values at the centre of a renewal that is already happening in the town, and to amplify the amazing community work that is being done by the football club’s charitable arm for education, diversity and inclusivity. We want to show that “levelling up” means recognising the myth of meritocracy and levelling the playing field, rather than assuming that opportunities trickle down. This can only work if it starts from within the community, with a shared identity that a 143-year-old football club is uniquely positioned to play a huge part in shaping'".

On the field, the Grimsby Telegraph reports that "Grimsby Town make seven players available for free transfers as Paul Hurst looks to trim squad

The names of seven under-contract players have been circulated to clubs as Paul Hurst looks to move on the players not in his plans for next season...

The Mariners have wasted no time in getting their business underway ahead of their return to the National League, with eight new signings arriving at Blundell Park over the past few weeks.

The additions have come after 10 players were released following last season’s relegation from the EFL.

The Mariners are now looking to offload those players, and in the process open up more room for more incomings this summer. Montel Gibson, Danny Rose, Ira Jackson Jr, Filipe Morais and George Williams have all been made available for free transfers.

All but one of those listed has a year remaining on their contracts at Blundell Park; Gibson has two left, with all five having been signed last summer by previous manager Ian Holloway.

Academy graduates Duncan Idehen and Joe Starbuck have also been made available, although any moves away for the pair will be subject to sell-on clauses. All seven names have been circulated as Town look to cut down their squad ahead of the return to pre-season training.

Should those players be able to find new clubs this summer, it will mean just two of the players signed last summer, Sean Scannell and Luke Spokes, will remain at Town next season.

And there could yet be more departures; Luke Hendrie looks set to be on his way out of the club, having been offered new terms at the expiry of his contract.

The right-back was in talks over a potential move to Scunthorpe United, although that now looks unlikely, leaving Hendrie to weigh up his options.

Evan Khouri is the only other player not to have had his future settled yet, having been offered his first professional contract at the end of the 2020/21 campaign".

In the Dorset Echo "Weymouth chairman Ian White has urged Terras fans to support the club in numbers for the upcoming Vanarama National League season.

Brian Stock’s part-time side finished a hugely creditable 18th on their return to non-League’s top flight following an absence of 11 years...

White said 'I’m looking forward to it, it’s going to be a huge battle. Now we really know what this league is about; it isn’t what it was 11 years ago. We want the town to embrace us, we’ve done amazingly over the last three or four years and where we are now is just incredible.

'I never believed, like a few people my age, in my lifetime we’d be back in the National League. It's a huge chance and it’s going to be interesting as well... How many people will come back. I just hope they do, because we really need them'".

The Nottingham Post confirms that "Yeovil Town sign released Notts County defender Jordan Barnett

The Glovers have... moved for the ex-Oldham defender who spent time on loan at Meadow Lane last season... after being released by Notts County at the end of last season.

The former Barnsley defender, who plays left-back, was deemed surplus to requirements by the Magpies... His appearances for Notts became limited towards the back end of last season as Calvin Miller, who has joined Chesterfield, established himself as first-choice left wingback...

Barnett said 'I’ve been talking with the club for about a week now, so I’m just delighted to get down here and see the facilities, which are really nice... I’m more of an attacking left-back than a defensive left-back, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to get my foot in as well, I love a tackle!'”

According to the Portsmouth News "Michael Green ends a decade-long Eastleigh stay [at Eastleigh and] is eyeing up a second National League South career promotion after completing his switch to the Hawks [Havant & Waterlooville].

The experienced left-back, 32, ended his 10-year stay at Eastleigh to become the 10th new face through the door at Westleigh Park this summer.

Green arrives at Hawks having won the National League South title with the Spitfires in the 2013-14 campaign...

Green, who played over 350 games for Eastleigh, told The News 'I know what it takes to get out of this league and I’m quite excited to try to do the same with Havant. I wasn’t playing as much as I’d like to (at Eastleigh), there were some young lads coming through and I wasn’t getting as much game time. I just wanted to move on to try to get some more game time, to be fair...

'I really enjoyed my time (at Eastleigh), it was hard to leave, obviously once you’ve been at a place that long. But this works for me, my family and the ambition of the club; it’s perfect'...

Green started 23 of Eastleigh’s 42 National League games in 2020/21, coming on as a sub in 11 other matches".

King' Lynn Town confirms that "Kyle Callan-McFadden has agreed terms on a new deal for the upcoming National League season.

The Irishman (26) joined the Linnets in November 2020 from Sligo Rovers, after moving back to the UK for family reasons, making 34 appearances. Although he missed the last couple of games with injury, he should be fully fit for the start of pre-season training next month.

Starting his career with Irish League side Swilly Rovers he soon moved to the Norwich City Academy at the age of 16... He made his professional debut for Norwich... in August 2014 but was released at the end of the 2014-15 season when he moved to the USA to play for Orlando City B. In December 2016 he returned to Ireland to play for Sligo making over 100 appearances before joining the Linnets...

Kyle said... 'I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club even though it was a difficult season'".

At FC Halifax Town "Kian Spence, Dom Tear and Jay Benn have all agreed new terms with the Shaymen.

Jay came through the youth ranks at Town and signed his first professional contract for the Club in January 2020.

Having previously been loaned out to Brighouse Town, Benn spent the season with the first team and made 3 league appearances.

Kian signed for the Shaymen in October 2020 following a successful trial spell. He was then loaned back to Scarborough Athletic for the remainder of the calendar year... Kian went on to make 7 appearances for the Shaymen.

Dom signed for Town at the start of the 2020/21 season from Huddersfield Town... Despite limited game time, Dom made 11 appearances last season".

ON THIS DAY: 29 June

Above: The two teams mingle for a joint photo before kick-off.

Two years ago today in a pre-season friendly match, played at Manchester Health Academy, on Saturday, 29 June 2019, an Altrincham First XI team comprising first-teamers and trialists overcame an Altrincham FC youth team 5-0 in sweltering heat on the artificial surface in Baguley.

First-teamers who took part for some or all of the game were Connor Hampson, who captained the team, Ben Harrison, John Johnston, Toby Mullarkey and Conor Branson, who all started the match, and Max Harrop who came on before the break. In the second half we also saw James Jones, Nathan Arnold and Tony Thompson. Watching the game but not participating was Matt Chadwick.

Right: Nathan Arnold.

The trialists included Hungarian goalkeeper Dan Gyollai (Stoke City), defender Zac Corbett (ex-Southport and FCUM), Lewis Salmon (Hanley Town, ex-Stafford Rangers and Leek Town), winger Jamal Crawford (ex-Chester FC), Ethan Cartwright (Newcastle Town) and Shakeel Jones (ex-Bolton Wanderers).

This was the first pre-season game of the summer.

In 30+ degree temperatures, which were to necessitate several drinks breaks during the afternoon, John Johnston opened the scoring after 15 minutes. Midway through the half came the first of several "cooling breaks", as the football authorities now seem to term them, took place.

On 34 minutes, Max Harrop replaced Mullarkey in midfield. Debutant midfielder Conor Branson doubled the lead, just before half-time, when he finished off a neat move, initiated by trialist Jamal Crawford and the ball to the scorer was relayed by Connor Hampson.

Despite the first-team naturally dominating proceedings, the youth team worked hard and had several good moments themselves.

In the second half, several changes of personnel at the interval included the introduction of new signing Nathan Arnold on the left-wing. Tony Thompson and James Jones also joined the game at this point.

Altrincham First Team continued to dominate before trialist Lewis Salmon made it 3-0. The fourth goal arrived midway through the half from another trialist, Zac Corbett, as his shot proved too hot for the keeper to save. On the right, trialist Jamal Crawford impressed before the scoring was completed at 5-0 by Max Harrop's well-taken goal as the game went into its final ten minutes.

ALTRINCHAM FIRST XI: 1. Dan Gyollai, 2. Harry Sheridan, 3. Connor Hampson (c), 15. Ben Harrison, 5, Zac Corbett, 6. Toby Mullarkey, 7. John Johnston, 8. Conor Branson, 9. TBC 10. Lewis Salmon, 11. Jamal Crawford. Subs: 4* Shakeel Jones, 10* Max Harrop, 14. Ethan Cartwright, 16. Nathan Arnold, 19. James Jones, 20. Tony Thompson.

ALTRINCHAM SEASON TICKETS

J. DAVIDSON REMAIN AT ALTY

Altricnham FC's "Major backers J.Davidson extend dual sponsorship for another year" writes Joihn Edwards, press and media officer.

|"It is a relationship that has thrived and gone from strength to strength over the years... The Broadheath-based scrap metal experts are rightly acknowledged as champions of local sport for the generous backing they have provided for a wide range of clubs and organisations, and Alty greatly appreciate being among the beneficiaries.

It was way back at the start of the 2011-12 season that the alliance with J.Davidson began to grow, when, after already taking out a couple of advertising boards, they agreed to become the club’s shirt sponsors.

Another significant step forward followed just two years later, when an historic deal was struck for their name to embrace the stadium itself. And so, in July, 2013, Alty’s iconic Moss Lane ground became known as The J.Davidson Stadium.

Both sponsorship agreements... have stayed in place ever since... J.Davidson’s backing remains as resolute as ever, and it was demonstrated once more earlier this month when they paid for a defibrillator and donated it to the club...

Said Alty's Head of Partnerships and Sponsorship Samantha Mackenzie, ‘As we navigate these turbulent and unpredictable times, there is something very special about this relationship'..

Jamie Davidson said 'It’s an honour to be associated with such a professionally run club and one that has the community at its core, and we are delighted at being able to continue moving forward together for another year'...

The scrap metal processors will [also] be sponsoring Altrincham FC In The Community for the 2021/2022 season. This new additional area of support for the club will provide new kits for the women’s first team, along with training and travel wear for the players as they embark on their new season in the North West Women’s Regional League".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Notts County are believed to be considering a swoop for Hartlepool United's promotion-winning wing-back Jamie Sterry. The former Newcastle defender is currently out of contract at Pools... He was widely regarded as one of the best players in the National League last season and is understood to be in discussions over a new deal at Victoria Park...

Should they make a move, Notts would face a significant fight to lure him away from the north east given he would be required to drop out of the Football League again...

Backed by owners Christoffer and Alexander Reedtz, Notts have already made a significant statement of intent in the transfer market in signing defender Kyle Cameron from Torquay on Friday. He rejected a move to the Football League to join the Magpies, a move that was described by head coach Ian Burchnall as a 'big coup'.

With Burchnall set to employ a 3-5-2 formation next season, Notts are eager to improve their options at wingback with Sterry regarded as one of the elite performers in that position in the lower leagues.

He made 30 appearances for Pools in all competitions last season... Notts do have Richard Brindley on the books for another year in that position, but he was employed in a more central defensive role towards the back end of the season. Right wingback Dion Kelly-Evans, who was considered by many fans as one of the players of the season, has also been offered fresh terms, but is yet to commit to a new deal at Meadow Lane.

Adam Chicksen and Jim O'Brien have also been tabled new deals to stay with the club having been key figures towards the back end of the campaign.

Notts have already seen goalkeeper Sam Slocombe, Michael Doyle and Connell Rawlinson pledge their futures to the Magpies, which was a considered major boost.

But Jake Reeves has left to join League Two Stevenage, and the centre of midfield is high on the list of transfer priorities this summer."

In the Maidenhead Advertiser comes news that "There were some striking developments at Maidenhead United this week, with Danilo Orsi-Dadomo confirming his move to League 2 Harrogate Town before the Magpies announced the arrivals of forwards Dylan Asonganyi and Emile Acquah.

Both players are already known to the club, having had brief loan spells with the Magpies in the 2019/20 season.

Acquah, who joins having scored three goals in 48 appearances for Southend United, played 12 minutes of the Magpies’ 2-1 home defeat to Stockport County in March 2020, the side’s last game before the season was prematurely ended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forward Dylan Asonganyi, who arrives having made a handful of appearances for the MK Dons and Oxford United in the Football League, was on loan at the Magpies at the same time as Acquah and played 87 minutes against Stockport...

Last week also saw the Magpies announce their retained list of players for next season. They include club captain Alan Massey and fellow defenders Manny Parry, Remy Clerima, Ryhmeem Sheckleford and George Wells.

In midfield Ryan Upward, Brad Keetch, Reece Smith, Josh Smile and Dan Sparkes have been handed new contracts while up-front Nathan Blissett and Josh Kelly have put pen-to-paper ahead of the new season. Sam Barratt has also signed a new two-year deal with the club and Kane Ferdinand has joined from Woking.

James Comley, Seth Twumasi, Jerry Wiltshire, Josh Coley and Danilo Orsi-Dadomo have left the club following the end of their contracts, while James Holden Rhys Lovett, Taye Ashby-Hammond and Alfie Egan have returned to their respective parent clubs.

Of those departures, last season’s leading scorer Orsi-Dadomo was one of the most notable. The 25 year-old becomes Harrogate Town’s second permanent signing of the summer and the striker, who netted 18 times in 38 league games last season, says he’s ‘over the moon’ with the deal."

At Southend, "Phil Brown is hopeful of further adding to his squad before the players report back for pre-season training...

After completing his fifth summer signing with Abu Ogogo joining last week, Brown continues to search for reinforcements.

'Abu’s only one of five new signings but hopefully there’s more to come,' the Blues' boss told southendunited.co.uk. 'Everybody is looking and waiting to see who our next one is and we have got more to come, that’s the beauty of it. We’re hoping that players we’ve offered contracts to will re-sign, but we’re also hoping the new players we want to bring through the door will also come...

'That character of the changing room is so important, it can win you games before you even know it. When you’re down, the character of the changing room can drag you through them [sic] type of moments. There’s lots to look forward to already this season but nothing more so than working with a new group of players that will hopefully make me a better coach.

'But I’m hoping we’re going to get another couple in before the pre-season starts'...

Ogogo adds to Blues’ midfield options along with James Dunne and Jack Bridge, while Nathan Ferguson remains under contract from last season...

'If you win the midfield battle you tend to win the game of football. That has stuck with me throughout my career, albeit I played full-back all my career...

'When you have a lot of players leave and a lot of players come into a club, the manager’s job, along with the coaching staff, is the gelling and coming together which produces wins... From a club that I left four years ago to a club that has stalled and in the fifth division of English football is testimony to what has gone on over the last few years.

'We have to stop that now and turn it around... It doesn’t matter to me that we’ve gone down a division that the crowds can be lower. I think if you play the right type of football, and successful football, you can fill stadiums and that’s what we’re trying to do'".

28 June 2021

ALTRINCHAM SEASON TICKETS

Matchday admission prices will be as follows for next season:

• Adult: £17
• Concession: £14
• Junior (12-16): £6
• Under 12: £2

And Season Tickets are priced as follows:

• Adult: £289
• Concession: £235
• Junior (12-16): £75
• Under 12: £36

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

King, who features as a right-sided wing-back, was a popular figure at Halifax, winning the Player of the Year award and being named in the Vanarama Team of the Season.

He is relishing the opportunity to join Chesterfield, saying 'There is a good feeling around the place and I can’t wait to get started. It is a great set-up and I want to help the club get back to the Football League.'

The 25-year-old scored seven goals in 35 appearances last season... King joined Halifax from St Mirren two years ago after playing for a number of clubs including Bolton Wanderers".

Also at Chesterfield "James Rowe is pleased to have been able to reach an agreement with Calvin Miller, who will join the Spireites on July 1 after being released by Harrogate Town.

The 23 year-old impressed for Notts County in the recent play-off match against Chesterfield but Rowe revealed that the winger was on his radar before then...

'. Miller began his career with Celtic and made four appearances for the Glasgow giants. He has been capped by Scotland at Under-21 level".

King’s Lynn Townthe signing of striker Junior Morias (25) from Scottish Premiership side St Mirren.

Starting his career at Fulham Academy he moved onto Wycombe Wanderers making his professional debut in 2012. During his spell at Wycombe he had loan spells at Hendon (twice) and Boreham Wood. On his release from Wycombe, in 2014, he joined Boreham Wood on a permanent basis...

On leaving Boreham Wood he joined St Albans City, for an undisclosed fee, in 2016 before a move to the football league to join Peterborough United were he scored 10 goals in 45 appearances.

From Peterborough he joined Northampton Town, for a six figure fee, before moving onto St Mirren again for an undisclosed fee in August 2019.

In January 2021 he joined Boreham Wood on loan for the remainder of the National League season. In total he has made 286 career appearances scoring 60 goals...

Junior said 'I’m looking at this move as a rebirth. I’ve got experience of playing at this level with Boreham Wood and feel this can help me at King’s Lynn. i’m a good finisher, will work hard for the team and can score all types of goals'...

Manager Ian Culverhouse said 'Junior brings good experience to the club, has played at a higher level and knows the National League. When he became available we jumped at the chance to bring him to the football club. He will be a good threat and is hungry to do well'".

And Lynn News reports that "Ian Culverhouse says there will be a new plan of action for next season and King's Lynn Town have got to get it right...

The Lynn boss acknowledges that he has a major rebuilding job on his hands... 'Because of us going to a full-time model and we have got to get it right. We had a free shot last year. If we get it wrong this time it will be a harsh punishment...

'I am really excited about it. The people we have gone in for have been really enthusiastic to come and listen to us... To go full-time as well, is a massive, massive step for this football club and we have got to get it right...

Lynn's boss admitted... 'There are still a couple of decisions to be made on a few of them because some of them have got very, very good jobs and they are trying to work around that... If we are going to do this model we have got to do it properly, everyone has to be committed to it. There are a couple we are still waiting on, but the majority are still with us'...

Lynn [have a] new link-up with Anglian Combination outfit Heacham, where where the team will train four times a week from next month. Culverhouse said... 'They have given us everything there; it is somewhere we can call home for a little while, and we can just turn up and use the facilities and that will be massive to us'".

The Hartlepool Mail's Dominic Scurr reflects that "The climax to the longest and most turbulent of seasons took place at Ashton Gate exactly one year on from Pools’ first day of pre-season... It was a frantic, energetic and end to end affair from the off – everything you want a final to be...

Dave Challinor’s side simply don’t lose after scoring the first goal, and that wasn’t about to change.

The Torquay fans had plenty to cheer themselves. Two controversially disallowed goals from Kyle Cameron and a penalty shout which looked to have been awarded only for referee Simon Mather to give a Pools goal kick. Hartlepool chairman Raj Singh said prior to the game that they would need luck on their side in order to clinch promotion and they were certainly getting it down in Bristol...

When goalkeeper Lucas Covolan headed The Gulls level, the sheer dejection from the Hartlepool contingency was there for all to see as the longest season ever got that bit longer... And at this point it became a test of Pools’ character...

After four remarkably missed penalties between the two sides, Mark Shelton finally broke the duck... But 21-year-old Middlesbrough loan goalkeeper Brad James, who had played just five matches prior to the final, was the young man to write himself into Poolie folklore with a fingertip penalty save onto the crossbar to make Hartlepool United the 2021-22 Football League’s final entrant...

On a modest budget, Challinor had assembled a talented squad of youngsters, loanees and trialists sprinkled with just the right amount of experience to keep things in check. There is a misfit quality to this side, an excitement and charm that had previously been lacking since the side dropped out of the Football League in 2017".

Meanwhile at Dover Athletic the club "is delighted to announce the signing of winger James Caton,for a second time!

The 27 year-old originally joined us from Southport in February 2017 and scored two goals in two games in what were his only appearances for us.

Widnes-born Caton started his career at Bolton before signing for Blackpool where he made two appearances in the Championship

He had loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Chester before signing for League One Shrewsbury in 2014. Further loan spells followed at Mansfield, Wrexham, and Lincoln City, where he scored three goals in 12 games".

Also at Dover Athletic "Manager Andy Hessenthaler has added to his attacking options with the signing of winger Khale da Costa.

Da Costa joins after leaving Tonbridge Angels in April. The 27 year-old joined the Angels in June 2019 from St Albans City and went on to make 46 appearances, scoring six goals.

He started his football career in the academies at Fulham and Luton Town before going to play senior football at Ware Town, Hendon, Harlow Town, and Concord Rangers".

Over at Wealdstone, "midfielder Alex Dyer has signed a new one-year deal with the club. The midfielder had recently returned from international duty in the Caribbean with Montserrat after becoming their joint-record appearance holder.

He joined the Stones for a second spell last summer after joining from Kuwaiti club Al Tadhamon, becoming a mainstay in the Stones' midfield last season, making 38 appearances and scoring three times.

On signing his new deal Dyer had to say... 'I'm really happy to be staying'...

Dyer had a three-year stint with the Stones in the Isthmian League between 2010 and 2013, joining from Northampton Town and making over 100 appearances before moving to Welling United in the National League.

A five-year spell in Scandinavia followed, playing in the top divisions in Sweden and Norway for Ostersunds, Elfsborg and Lillestrom before a short spell in Kuwait last year".

From Solihull Moors we learn that their "attacker Justin Donawa has been named in the Bermuda squad for the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup Preliminary Round.

The Gombey Warriors play Barbados on Friday 2nd July at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Should Bermuda progress, they will play the winner of the match between Haiti and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the second round of the Preliminary Round.

The second-round winner will advance to Group B of the Concacaf Gold Cup with USA, Canada, and Martinique.

Since making his debut in March 2015, Donawa has gone on to accumulate 20 caps and score three goals for his country".

Notts County confirm that "We have signed Torquay United’s left-sided centre-back Kyle Cameron.

The 24 year-old has been a key figure for this season’s play-off finalists since his arrival at Plainmoor in 2018 but has decided to join us on a two-year deal.

Cameron was born and raised in Northumberland and played alongside fellow Geordie Cal Roberts in the youth ranks at Newcastle United... [and] regularly trained with the first team under Alan Pardew and John Carver.

Having gained first-team experience on loan at Workington, York City, Newport County and Queen of the South, Cameron had to get over the disappointment of being released by his boyhood club in 2018 and made the brave move down to the south-west in a bid to kick-start his senior career at newly-relegated National League South side Torquay.

Cameron hit the ground running at Plainmoor, quickly earning an extension to his contract as Gulls boss Gary Johnson hailed him ‘one of the best centre-halves I’ve worked with’.

He barely missed a kick as Torquay secured an immediate return to the National League".

Pride of Nottingham reports on a "Triple boost for Notts County after a tough and frustrating season...

It was made official by Notts County earlier this week that they would keep popular midfielder Michael Doyle. However, he would now be the head coach to assist Ian Burchnall for the important season ahead...

The Magpies then confirmed a new two-year deal for shot-stopper Sam Slocombe... Their number 1 had offers coming from higher up the footballing pyramid, with strong sources linking him to former assistant manager Neil Cox's strong Scunthorpe side...

And hugely important Connell Rawlinson also put pen to paper on a new two-year deal for the Magpies".

At Aldershot Town "midfielder Alfy Whittingham has committed to the club for the 2021-22 season!

Whittingham joined Aldershot Town from Hungerford Town in July 2019 after spending three seasons at Havant & Waterlooville.

The 22-year-old has played 48 National League games for the Shots over the last two seasons scoring two goals".

Also at the Recreation Ground, Aldershot Town "announce that defender Lewis Kinsella has committed to the club for the 2021-22 season!

Kinsella joined Aldershot Town from Colchester United in 2018 having spent much of his young career in the Aston Villa academy.

The 26-year-old has since gone on to become an Aldershot Town Centurion racking up 101 appearances over the last three seasons. After a long injury lay-off keeping him out of action for much of the 20/21 campaign the left back is looking forward to pushing on back to full fitness heading into a fourth season at the club".

News of a n ew team-mate comes from Aldershot Town who confirm that "Fulham FC midfielder Jayden Harris has committed to Aldershot Town for the next two years!

Harris, who is a central midfielder by trade, is a product of the academy system at Fulham and has had a brief loan spell at Woking during the 19/20 season.

The 21-year-old now joins the Shots on a two-year permanent deal after having played 19 times and getting 5 assists in the Premier League 2 last season."

Eastleigh "announce that striker Tyrone Barnett, and defender Andrew Boyce, have signed contract extensions with the club for the 2021/22 season.

Barnett will enter his third season with the Spitfires since joining in 2019.

In his debut year with the club he finished as top scorer with 12 goals, before scoring another 11 in 2020/21 to finish as the second-highest scorer for the campaign.

Boyce will be entering his fifth season with the club, after a successful 2020/21 campaign which saw him pick up the Player’s Player of the Season, the TSSC Fans Favourite Award, and the joint Goal of the Season trophy.

Spitfires manager, Ben Strevens, added his thoughts... 'They are both massive characters on and off the pitch and key parts of the spine of our team so this is great news for us. Boycey did have some other options over the summer so to have him choose to stay is fantastic...

'Ty is so important to me on and off the pitch. He has that experience and presence in the dressing room that every manager needs in his squad, and I think it shows how much he has enjoyed his time here that he wants to stay for another season too.'"

However, for understandable reasons, news is less forthcoming at Boreham Wood

"Asked about any potential new signings this pre-season, Wood Chairman Danny Hunter said, 'Trust me, Luke Garrard, Charlie Hunter and I have all been quietly busy meeting, greeting and securing what we consider to be top class players at this level.

'I know our supporters might want to know about our new signings, especially those fans who have already renewed their season tickets or those about to renew, as well as a new exciting group of first-time season tickets holders. However, for the last few years, we have chosen to slightly delay our announcements until July 1st for a few simple reasons, but mainly out of respect for other clubs and a player’s position.

'It must be remembered that although all players coming to the end of their contract are free to talk to clubs and sign pre-agreements, many of the new lads are still on the payroll with their existing club until June 30th and we just feel that a slightly delayed announcement on July 1st, is the most respectful way for us to conduct our business, while it also builds a bit of excitement as fans will always speculate on any possible new signings'".

ALTY GOALSCORERS

In the last 17 seasons, only seven different players have been Altrincham's leading scorer in all competitions...

Above: Josh Hancock

• 1999-2000 Richard Landon/Kevin Ellison 16 (Alty at step one of NL pyramid)
• 2000-01 Steve Finney 11 (step 2)
• 2001-02 Rod Thornley 31 (step 2)
• 2002-03 Rod Thornley 16 (step 2)
• 2003-04 Ian Craney 12 (step 2)
• 2004-05 Colin Little 38 (step 2)
• 2005-06 Colin Little 17 (step 1)
• 2006-07 Colin Little 13 (step 1)
• 2007-08 Colin Little 24 (step 1)
• 2008-09 Colin Little 18 (step 1)
• 2009-10 Chris Senior 17 (step 1)
• 2010-11 Damian Reeves 19 (step 1)
• 2011-12 Damian Reeves 44 (step 2)
• 2012-13 Damian Reeves 41 (step 2)
• 2013-14 Damian Reeves 22 (step 2)
• 2014-15 Damian Reeves 21 (step 1)
• 2015-16 Michael Rankine 16 (step 1)
• 2016-17 James Lawrie 9 (step 2)
• 2017-18 Jordan Hulme 31 (step 3)
• 2018-19 Josh Hancock, Jordan Hulme 20 (step 2)
• 2019-20 Jordan Hulme 19 (step 2)
• 2020-21 Josh Hancock 12 (step 1)

JOHN CANNING R.I.P.

His friend and fellow Altrincham supporter, Barry Pikesley, has penned a tribute on the Alty Fans' Forum to John, who was better known to many supporters as the "Voice of Dissent" on the Forum. In addition, his observations from the higher reaches of the main stand at the J. Davidson Stadium will certainly be missed by regular supporters of The Robins and condolences are extended to his family and friends.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

With all four men playing key roles in Torquay’s promotion push last season, it is a huge boost to everyone at Plainmoor that they will be joining under-contract duo Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Joe Lewis in The Gulls’ camp...

Began a clearly pleased boss, Gary Johnson. 'The ones that have signed actually signed before the semi-final, which I was really pleased about, and we will build another competitive team around those very good players'...

The Gaffer also provided supporters with an update regarding the other out-of-contract players...

'Two are in contract, Connor and Joe, and we’re re-signing Olaf Koszela and Louie Slough. They’ve agreed terms. We’re just waiting on Jake Andrews; he’s been offered, and agreed, a new deal.

'Armani Little has been offered a new deal, and we are negotiating with him at the moment.

'Ben Whitfield has been offered a contract, and Aaron Nemane has also been offered a contract, and talks are ongoing with Shaun MacDonald.'

Two players who definitely won’t be lining up for the men in yellow next season are Lucas Covolan and Kyle Cameron, who have joined Port Vale and Notts County respectively...

'I’ve already met several players to take the place of the players that have left, and I’m excited by the possible outcome.'"

The GrimsbyTelegraph has the "Grimsby Town transfer plans laid out position...

Paul Hurst has wasted no time building his squad for next season with eight new signings so far, and he's not done yet...

GOALKEEPERS: James McKeown brings up 10 years with the club this summer, and it looks as though he’ll be heading into the new season as Town’s number one again...

DEFENDERS: The Mariners are now well stocked at the back following this summer’s early business, although there is one area that still needs a fair amount of work doing.

With Sam Habergham making way at the end of the season, Hurst is without a recognised left-back, and while Harry Clifton has proven he can be a more than useful deputy, you’d think the Town boss would want a specialist in the position.

It’s a different story at right-back, where Michee Efete and Ryan Sears have come in to seemingly replace Luke Hendrie, who looks certain at this point to be leaving the club...

In the centre, Shaun Pearson, David Longe-King and Luke Waterfall supply the other senior options...

MIDFIELDERS: It seems as good a bet as any that Hurst will go with a 4-3-3 to start with next season...

It would appear that Giles Coke, Harry Clifton and new signing Ben Fox are the men in possession of those starting berths...

FORWARDS: The addition of John McAtee does raise questions of just how that front three might line up.

The obvious solution might be to play McAtee and fellow new signing Erico Sousa either side of one of Ryan Taylor or Lenell John-Lewis.

But then McAtee is perhaps better suited to playing just in behind a front two, which could bring Ira Jackson Jr in the mix to partner one of John-Lewis or Taylor...

As for [ex-Alty loanee] Montel Gibson – well, the writing seems to be on the wall. That three-year contract he was handed last year though will be a big hurdle for the club to overcome if they are to move him on this summer".

We learn from the Maidenhead Advertiser that "Alan Devonshire says Maidenhead United have played their cards right in signing Woking FC’s Kane Ferdinand but was quick to dismiss the suggestion that the midfielder has been brought in to replace James Comley...

Following Comley’s departure last Wednesday, and Rohan Ince’s move to Woking, Devonshire affirmed Kane Ferdinand, who is the cousin of Anton, Rio, and Les, is... ‘totally different in his style of play and hasn’t been brought in to replace Coms or even Incey,' said Devonshire.

'It was a mutual decision for Coms to leave. Listen, it’s a big plus for the club to get Kane. He’s a midfield player we needed, one that gets forward, scores goals, good in the air, and good in both boxes...

Devonshire said that Sam Barratt extending his stay at York Road is another huge boost for the Magpies and that his loyalty will not go unrewarded.

The Magpies boss also confirmed a few more signings will be revealed before too long and said that he and son Lee have worked hard to do most of their business early.

'Sam is a good lad, he loves the club... Loyalty is always good and he knows he’s going to play in the coming season...

'We’ve signed another two or three that will be coming out soon, maybe later in the week,' added Devonshire.

'We’ve done our business early, we’ve just had to withhold the news because of the contracts and that'.”

ALTY TO VISIT A DOZEN EX-FOOTBALL LEAGUE GROUNDS

Six of last season's top nine finishers were former League clubs which will remain in the NL next season, namely Torquay United (2nd), Stockport County (3rd), Notts County (5th), Chesterfield (6th), Wrexham (8th) and Aldershot Town (15th).

Right: The town of Aldershot used to enjoy Football League fixtures both with Aldershot FC who went under thirty years ago and, more recently, with the phoenix club Aldershot Town.

Back in October, 2015 Alty visited the Recreation Ground to face Aldershot Town. Here we see that James Lawrie's path to goal was cut off by an Aldershot player during the game.

Other former Football League clubs in the National League for 2021-22 are Dagenham & Redbridge (12th), Yeovil Town (16th) and Barnet (22nd), whilst Grimsby Town and Southend United were relegated to the NL from League Two last season.

One other town formerly boasted a Football League club, which went bust, but now hosts a new incarnation playing at NL level in the same stadium. That is Halifax, where FC Halifax Town (10th) replaced the defunct Halifax Town as tenants of The Shay.

In terms of duration, the clubs in question have been out of the Football League since...

• 2002: Halifax Town (defunct, new club FC Halifax Town)
• 2008: Wrexham
• 2011: Stockport County
• 2013: Aldershot Town
• 2014: Torquay United
• 2016: Dagenham & Redbridge
• 2018: Chesterfield
• 2019: Yeovil Town, Notts County
• 2020: Barnet
• 2021: Southend United, Grimsby Town

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 30 year-old striker scored five goals in four games for Pools, including a hat-trick in a 7-2 win at Wealdstone back in April.

Bennett then returned to Stockport but couldn’t help them earn promotion via the play-offs as they were beaten 1-0 by his former loan side and eventual winners Hartlepool.

The Hatters have now cancelled Bennett’s contract at Edgeley Park, leaving him free to find a new club... Manager Dave Challinor has admitted a permanent return is ‘a non-starter’.

'Without speaking out of turn, people have asked about us doing Richie on a permanent, Richie is on more than double what any of our players earn,' Challinor told The Mail prior to Pools’ play-off success.

'There is no way we could ever afford to do things on a permanent basis with players like him. All of our loans this season, we’ve not paid more than 50 per-cent of a player’s wages so that has allowed us to get the players in that we’ve got in and in most cases, it’s a lot less than 50 per-cent.

'When you talk permanent deals, there’s a lot of players who fall well outside of our budget and that will be the case in the summer. Without pre-empting stuff, it will probably be the case where we’ll lose some players in the summer because other teams can pay them more money than what we can.'”

Newcomers to the National League, Southend United report that "Abu Ogogo has joined Blues on a one-year deal with the option of a second year!

The midfielder arrives in Essex as a free agent after two and a half years at Bristol Rovers. Last season the former Wimbledon and Arsenal trainee spent a brief two-month stint on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge... Ogogo previously enjoyed six years with the Daggers between 2009 and 2015, making over 250 appearances, before joining Shrewsbury Town and then Coventry City three years later.

The 31 year-old is another addition with a wealth of experience, having made over 450 career appearances, and adds defensive and organisational qualities to Phil Brown’s squad.

'I think the best word to use for Abu is pedigree,' said the Southend manager... 'He’s not a master technician, he’s more of a conduit in midfield to help others play the beautiful game... He goes and gets the ball off the opposition, he knows how to get a regain or a second ball and his experience lends itself to everybody on the field. For me that kind of player is priceless...

'He’ll be first on the teamsheet if he keeps his fitness levels to the extent I know he can... He’s a great character, always got a smile on his face and that will brighten things up around the place'...

Ogogo said 'I met the manager and he was very down to earth. We had a good chat and he basically said the aim is promotion... I like to be the glue in the team that keeps everything ticking together.'"

The Grimsby Telegraph reports that "Grimsby Town among early favourites in 2021/22 National League title odds...

Confidence is high though among fans amid improvements at the club after Jason Stockwood and Andrew Pettit’s takeover, and the glut of signings made so far this summer, with eight new players having arrived.

Town will be aiming to make their second spell in non-league a much shorter spell on this occasion, having spent six years previously in the National League before finally securing their Football League return in 2016... The Mariners have been set as third favourites with BetVictor to finish top of the pile in the 2021/22 campaign, along with Wrexham.

Stockport County, who finished third in the recently-ended 2020/21 season, are the favourites at 4/1, with Notts County at 5/1 to make their return to the EFL after being relegated in 2019...

Southend United, who suffered relegation from League Two alongside the Mariners, haven’t been backed too heavily to make an immediate return though, with the Shrimpers at 12/1.

King’s Lynn Town, Weymouth, Altrincham and Wealdstone are all considered rank outsiders at 250/1 each, while things don’t look too good for Dover Athletic, who are set to incur a 12-point deduction for the new season after being forced to end their involvement in last season’s competition; they’re at 500/1".

National League 2021/22 title odds

• Stockport County 4/1
• Notts County 5/1
• Wrexham, Grimsby Town 6/1
• Chesterfield 7/1
• Torquay United 9/1
• Southend United 12/1
• Solihull Moors 16/1
• Dagenham & Redbridge 20/1
• Yeovil Town 25/1
• Eastleigh, Bromley 33/1
• Boreham Wood 40/1
• FC Halifax Town 50/1
• Aldershot Town, Maidenhead United, Barnet 66/1
• Woking 100/1
• King’s Lynn Town, Weymouth, Altrincham, Wealdstone 250/1
• Dover Athletic 500/1

Newly-promoted Blackpool are hot favourites to secure the services of Carey... Lynn have already turned down a big-money offer from Luton, believed to be in the region of £100,000, while the likes of Swansea, Ipswich Town and Bournemouth have been tracking the progress of a player who still has a year left on his contract at The Walks...

Culverhouse said 'I think Sonny deserves his move and hopefully he gets it, but it has also got to be right for this football club... He's got gears in him and is capable of going on to the next level'...

The youngster spent seven years in Norwich City’s academy before arriving at The Walks after a brief spell at Wroxham".

Dover Athletic "confirm the signing of versatile defender Seth Twumasi.

The 31 year-old has spent the past three seasons with fellow National League Club Maidenhead United. He joined the Magpies from Maidstone United in November 2017... Seth started his career at Chelsea and earned a professional contract with the Blues...

He can play anywhere across the defensive line or in midfield and he has played in the Football League for Yeovil Town, Peterborough United, Northampton Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, and Newport County".

Also from Dover Athletic comes news that "winger Travis Gregory is back at Crabble for a second season after agreeing a new contract.

According to One Vale Fan, "There could be two Port Vale old boys upfront at Dover next season. Athletic have announced the return of Ricky Miller, 32, who enjoyed a prolific spell at Dover, and also the signing of Ben Williamson, also aged 32. Miller had a solitary season with the Valiants between 2017 and 2018 while Williamson spent three years at the club, winning promotion in 2013".

Elsewhere, "Wealdstone have signed winger Rhys Browne on an initial one-year contract. Former Valiant Browne, 25, made one appearance on a short-term deal last season for the Stones before joining Sutton United until the end of the campaign. The Antigua & Barbuda international made 14 appearances to help Sutton to the National League title."

Weladstone themselves add that they "have signed winger Rhys Browne... on a one-year deal, with an option to extend.

Browne played briefly for the Stones last season on a non-contract basis... but he made only one appearance... He was then signed by Sutton United... He began his career with Charlton Athletic before joining Aldershot Town. He made a great impact at the Shots in his first season in National League football, scoring seven times in 41 appearances from the wing.

That form earned him a move to EFL side Grimsby Town and from there he has also played for Macclesfield Town on loan and Yeovil Town...

Browne said, 'I was here last year and the football the management team want to play really impressed me. It was good to be at Sutton and in and around that winning mentality they had last year and I want to bring that to Wealdstone'".

ALTRINCHAM PRE-SEASON GAMES

• Saturday July 24th @ 12pm: West Didsbury & Chorlton
• Saturday July 24th @ 3pm: Ashton United
• Tuesday July 27th @ 7.45pm: Nantwich Town
• Saturday July 31st @ 2pm: Brightlingsea Regent
• Tuesday August 3rd @ 7.45pm: Bradford (Park Avenue)
• Saturday August 7th @ 3pm: Curzon Ashton
• Tuesday August 10th @ 7.45pm: Trafford
• Saturday August 14th @ TBA: Huddersfield Town 'B' @Canalside Training Ground, Huddersfield.

On the opening day of pre-season, Alty face Ashton United. They last visited Hurst Cross in April 2019 and played out a 1-1 draw in National League North.

Above: Jake Moult, between Ashton's no.5. and no.9, heads Altrincham's goal at Hurst Cross in 2019.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

A vice-chair of The FA since 2015 and divisional representative on the FA Council since 2001, Pearce has served on The National League Board for more than a decade.

Pearce replaces outgoing Brian Barwick, who officially stood down from the position following Sunday’s Promotion Final.

Pearce was formerly a player and manager of Bognor Regis Town and continues to serve the club as its general manager and vice-chairman. He also represents Sussex County FA and is a trustee of the Football Foundation...

A National League spokesperson said, 'After a thorough recruitment process, which included national advertising for the position and a two-stage interview process with our shortlisted candidates, we are delighted to appoint Jack Pearce as Chairman of The National League.

'Jack’s vast knowledge and number of prestigious roles within football, in addition to a strong relationship with Member Clubs, made him the outstanding candidate'”.

The Maidenhead Advertiser reports that "Midfielder James Comley admits he is a little disappointed by the club’s decision to let him go this summer after five and a half successful seasons at York Road.

The popular playmaker, who was seen as the missing piece in the Maidenhead jigsaw when the side claimed the National League South title back in 2017, announced on Twitter last week he was leaving the club, and most assumed the Montserrat international had found a new club or was ready to take on a new challenge.

However, this week he admitted it was the club’s decision, rather than his, to call time on his five and a half seasons at York Road.

Although there is no ill-feeling towards manager Alan Devonshire, who he says has shown a lot of patience with him, he says it’s ‘a little disappointing’ the club hasn’t shown more loyalty in him.

'It was more a decision on the club’s behalf rather than myself,' said Comley... 'Maybe they felt it was time to go in a different direction, to switch things up a bit, which is fine. There’s no ill feeling towards it.. This off season has come along, and Dev wants to go down a different path, which is fine..

'I don’t want to be disrespectful because there’s no ill feeling there... Whether that’s bringing someone younger in, I don’t know'.

Comley’s lack of goals from midfield has been touted as a possible reason for his departure, with the more prolific Kane Ferdinand arriving from Woking this week as a possible replacement...

'With the greatest respect I’ve given a lot to Maidenhead and put a lot of loyalty into Maidenhead, and there’s a good old saying that you see from a lot of footballers when it comes to loyalty, sometimes it just feels like clubs can drop you when they want...

'Dev’s had a lot of patience with me since I came, I wasn’t the easiest player to handle, and I still don’t say I am. I’ve got a lot of passion and sometimes that goes the wrong way. Alan Devonshire has been good to me over my five and half seasons with the club. The same way I’ve shown loyalty.

'Yeah, I’m a little disappointed, it was a home from home'...

However, he’s set to link up with his Montserrat teammates for Gold Cup semi-final play-off matches this week...

He said 'I have spoken to some people. They never thought I’d leave Maidenhead... When I was in the professional game and I was trialling... I went to Canvey, but I didn’t really enjoy it. At St Albans, I found a club that I loved. The next club was Maidenhead and the gaffer. I went from being at a good family club and feeling at home, to being at another one, which was great...

'Hopefully, I can go and make a difference somewhere. For the last five years at Maidenhead and the four years before that at St Albans I’ve been part of two good changing rooms, two good non-league set ups and it’s not often they come about'".

We learn from the Birmingham Mail that the "Solihull Moors Foundation needs £1 million to build a new community centre.

The new hub will host youth clubs, holiday camps, musical therapy groups, and a food and hygiene bank

Plans have been revealed to build a new community centre at Solihull Moors Football Club...to deliver support services for struggling and low income families... During school holidays, the hub will play host to alternative holiday camps and initiatives to feed children and support families on low incomes".

Southend's Echo states that "Southend United manager Phil Brown wants their pre-season to mirror the gruelling schedule they will face in the National League... They will take on two newly-promoted Premier League sides at Roots Hall in August.

A Brentford XI will face Southend on Wednesday August 4, while Norwich City U23s will be the visitors on Tuesday August 10... But Brown is hoping to add more friendlies so they will be playing twice a week, in order to mirror the hectic schedule they will face in the National League.

He said... 'I want to go Saturday, Tuesday to emulate what we’re going to be doing next season... The preparation for the campaign next year has to be as difficult as we can possibly make it. It certainly will be physically, it will be a challenge on the fitness front...

Brown admits... 'The players will look forward to the type of pre-season that I’m going to put out for them, but it will be difficult there’s no doubt about it.'”

Yeovil Town "announce the signing of goalkeeper Grant Smith on a one-year-deal. The 27-year-old goalkeeper boasts a wealth of experience in the National League, having plied his trade in the division for Boreham Wood, Chesterfield, Maidstone & Wealdstone, reaching the play-off final with the Wood during the 2017/18 season.

After a fine season with Chesterfield, keeping 10 clean sheets in 18 appearances, Smith now ventures to Somerset with the hope of continued form.

The shotstopper said.. 'I’m coming into here with a positive mindset'".

PITCH FUNDS

It meant pulling out all the stops to raise the necessary finance, appealing to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund for grant aid and involving local companies and you, our unfailingly loyal and supportive fan base... So the Pitch In Appeal came into being, with all sorts of attractions and benefits for supporters and businesses to buy into...

In total, the Indiegogo page generated £13,024, which, with an additional £6,600 coming from the proceeds of extremely well supported five-a-side and 11-a-side tournaments on the old pitch... boosted the final figure to £19,624...

We can announce that the Pitch In Appeal has run its course and is now closed. All that remains is to reiterate the debt of gratitude owed to all those who helped make it happen".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

League Two side Port Vale have signed the Brazilian goalkeeper from Torquay United on a two-year contract.

The deal comes just three days after the 30 year-old headed a dramatic added-time equaliser in the National League promotion final at Ashton Gate...

'Lucas had a very good season with Torquay and has earned his right to move up the ladder,' boss Darrell Clarke told the Vale website.

'He is hungry to prove he's a league-level player and we feel he has all the attributes to succeed at this level'.

Covolan played in Brazil, where he came up against future Premier League stars Philippe Coutinho, Oscar and Alisson, and Spain before heading to England in 2016 to join non-league Whitehawk.

He moved on to Torquay in May 2019 and made 26 appearances last season.

As well as scoring in the National League promotion final, Covolan saved two penalties in the shoot-out against Hartlepool".

Devon Live reports that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson has revealed his retained list and two of his Play-Off Final heroes are NOT on it. The

Players who are not being retained include midfielder Matt Buse, whose crucial penalty... was saved. Also going is fellow Play-Off Final player Billy Waters, who missed the target with his penalty at the beginning of the shoot-out.

Striker Josh Umerah is not being retained, and neither is experienced defender Liam Davis, who missed the whole of last season through injury. Striker Andrew Nelson, who also missed the entire season through injury, is being released, as is former Exeter City defender Gary Warren.

Young players JJ Evans and Owen Price are also being released...

Johnson said... 'We need to cull some and bring in others'...

The remaining players in the Torquay squad have been offered new contracts, and Johnson said 'six or seven' of them had accepted... 'Three or four' players, however, were keeping their options open and had not committed themselves yet... You've got all the vultures outside who want to nick your players, but it's a compliment really@...

But he promised fans 'exciting' new signings".

The Nottingham Post tells us that "Regan Griffiths admits to Notts County shock after signing a new Crewe deal

The midfielder spent time on loan at Meadow Lane as the club reached the play-offs... Griffiths conceded his loan spell at Notts County had 'ups and downs' as he ended speculation over his future by signing a new contract at Crewe...

He made 12 appearances in total although many of those towards the back end of the campaign were on the substitutes' bench as Notts missed out on their bid to return to the Football League.

Crewe have now rewarded Griffiths with a new two-year contract...

He said 'I was there for two and half months, it was a good learning curve. I had a good time and I can use the experience. I know that when I am left out of the team, I can handle the situation better now.

'When I first went to Notts County, I was shocked how good the league was... I got a bit caught out just by how quick it was. It is a really good level and I had to adjust to it because they were real, competitive games. The experience will help me with that and now I want to come back to Crewe and get in the team as quickly as possible and do well.'”

The Grimsbuy Telegraph reports that "Former Grimsby Town striker Padraig Amond is busy forging a second career as an agent for his old club... The Irish striker... has already worked his magic for two of Town’s signings so far this summer.

Amond played a big part in David Longe-King making the move to Blundell Park from Newport County, with the defender admitting speaking to the striker made it an 'easy decision' to join the Mariners.

And the 33 year-old has been at it again with another of his former Exiles team-mates, with Ryan Taylor completing his move from South Wales on Tuesday.

'I spoke to Podge a couple of weeks ago,' Taylor told GrimsbyLive. 'He speaks very highly of the club... He's played under the gaffer so he knows what he’s all about as a manager, and he definitely put his point across to sign'".

Also from the Grimsbuy Telegraph we learn that "The Mariners have made eight signings so far this summer as they've wasted no time in their preparations for their National League return

Grimsby Town chairman Jason Stockwood has promised there’s 'more to come' after the club’s encouraging start to the summer...

Erico Sousa, Michee Efete and Ryan Taylor became the latest players to sign up for next season, following on from Shaun Pearson, John McAtee, Ryan Sears, Ben Fox and David Longe-King...

'As a fan I am really excited how the squad is shaping up for next season and pre-season has been meticulously planned and scheduled,' Stockwood tweeted.

'Paul (Hurst), Chris (Doig) and the team are working really hard and doing brilliantly to get the right characters at the club for the job at hand. More to come.'"”

According to the Halifax Courier, "Town boss Pete Wild says he is excited about the potential signings the club is working on.

The Shaymen are yet to announce any new signings since the end of the season, and have seen prized-assets Jeff King and Jack Earing leave the club.

Wild is calling for patience from the Halifax supporters... 'It’s a slow process, we have to take our time with these things, you have to get these things right and we have to understand that some people will accept what is on offer, some people will want to dwell on what’s on offer and some people are happy to stay,' said Wild.

'That’s life at lower league level, I’m really relaxed with where we are and I’m really excited about the people we’re talking to.'

Wild had previously said out-of-contract players would have around seven-to-ten days to accept what was on offer from the club. 'We’re at the end of that now, and hopefully there’ll be some good news over the next seven days on people who have re-signed for the club,' he said...

'You have to go through the contracts, which doesn’t happen overnight, there’s a lot of toing and froing that goes with even the simplest of contracts... No one is having time off I can promise you! It all takes time. I appreciate you only hear the bad news stories because they’re easier to put out, people want to hear the good news stories but they take time because you have to get the contracts right...

'It’s probably been the busiest summer I’ve had in terms of having to do things, having to try and keep deals where they need to be, it’s been very, very busy,' he said...

'People think in the summer the managers go on holiday and sit there with a pina colada, but that’s certainly not the case here, we’re working ever so hard to make sure the football offer we’re putting on the table to players is better than the offer was last year...

'It’s like a roadshow, you’re like a salesman, selling the offer, but we think we’re getting a really good name for ourselves in terms of our football offer, people know if they come to Halifax, the football offer is solid and that the coaches deliver on it, which is probably getting us in front of people that maybe wouldn’t want to speak to us in any other sense.'

The Town boss said he is looking to work with a squad of 20, or 21 at the most, next season'... He said 'I don’t like a soccer school, I like all players to be in danger of playing and in danger of not playing... We’re confident that we’re putting the right deals in-front of the right people again.

'The chairman’s been phenomenal in his support in probably the toughest time of his tenure as chairman, he’s been phenomenally supportive...

'In terms of finances in this league, I am getting blown away on a daily basis with what clubs are offering players. I think I spit my coffee out every morning when I get a text, phone call or e-mail and just laugh, I speak to the chairman and he just goes "wow".

'So the richer and getting richer, which makes it even more important that our football offer is as good as it can be... We will be competitive again. The first season, that team did well, last season that team did well, and we’re looking now to build another squad that hopefully can challenge and do well.'

The Town boss says... 'The budget doesn’t change, which again is where the chairman deserves immense credit... I know teams in our league that have had to work on reduced budgets, don’t get me wrong, he’s not saying I can go and spend the whole budget straight away, there are permutations within that where we’ll have to be careful until we get some money back through the door...

'We hope to have the majority of the squad ready for the first day of pre-season.'

Town are looking at loan deals as well as permanent signings, but Wild doesn’t expect any loans to happen soon... 'We have got three or four targets that we would like to do if they were available for loan, but the answer generally at this time of year is "we’ll see"...

'We’ve got some trialists confirmed to come in for pre-season, as probably every club has... 'That’s where I feel the bargains are to be had.'

One player Town won’t be bringing back is former Stockport forward Nyal Bell. 'We had Nyal last year and he’s a good young player,' Wild said. 'He’s not somebody that we’ve been talking to'..

On the departures of King and Earing, the Town boss said 'The offers the two lads have had far and away outweigh what we could provide... I think the most pleasing thing for me, Chris and Joe is that we’ve made both players better, they’ve been very complementary of us when they’ve left about how much we’ve developed them and we have to be pleased that we’ve helped their development...

'One thing I think we got right last year was recruitment'...

There have been calls for the number of substitutes in the National League to be increased to seven next season, an idea which Wild supports... 'It needs to happen as soon as possible,' he said. 'It was mooted at the manager’s pre-season meeting last year, not enough managers supported it. “I think some of the clubs with the lesser budgets in the league would try and stop it because if you think about overnight stays, costs go up with two more subs, I get that.

'But I will always put a sub keeper on the bench, some people have their own view on that... We always worked in the Football League with seven subs, and if the National League’s looking to replicate the Football League in as many ways as possible, then for me, it’s a no-brainer and it should be happening.'"

NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

New opponents this season will be relegated duo Southend United and Grimsby Town but, with no promotion to the National League from below, there will be no new faces from the Vanarama National League North.

Alty have never met Southend United previously but have played Grimsby Town, albeit not since 2016 when the Lincolnshire side was promoted back to the Football League and Altrincham were simultaneously relegated to National North.

Right: Altrincham's last encounter with Grimsby Town was a 5-0 drubbing in Lincolnshire in 2016, although Alty had won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Moss Lane. Here Tim Deasy collects an aerial ball at Grimsby, as Michael Rankine and Jake Moult look on.

JOIN THE ALTY PATRONS

The Patrons are "an ever-expanding number of loyal backers whose contribution to the club’s wellbeing cannot be overemphasised for the vital income stream it provides... A full list appears on the pages of the Robins Review matchday programme every home game as well as on the club’s website.

The scheme has grown in popularity over the years, with record numbers pledging their support last season and seeing for themselves exactly how the money was spent as the campaign unfolded... Every last penny of your £50 goes directly into manager Phil Parkinson’s playing budget.

But there are other attractions, too, not least every member being entered into a draw at the start of the season, with 10 lucky winners awarded a hospitality package for four people, where you will be thoroughly spoiled in the Manchester Glass Sponsors' Lounge at a nominated game...

With the launch of Alty Direct, you could simply click to sign up".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

But the Pools boss is expecting to be in the dugout for his side’s first...

'There has been speculation over the past two months in terms of different jobs for me and it’s great to be linked but I haven’t had a phone call off any single football club'. Challinor is contracted at Victoria Park until next summer but chairman Raj Singh has made it one of his priorities to secure his manager’s future beyond that...

'From my perspective, the chairman spoke about contracts and how we move forward, obviously things need to be right,' Challinor admitted. 'The bigger thing for me is not about where or what it means to Dave Challinor it’s about where the football club wants to get to and where the chairman sees the club, not just short term but medium term and long term...

'Going into the Football League... is as big as going from the Championship to the Premier League. He told BBC Radio Tees 'Funding wise, we’re going to get 20 times what we get in the National League and for this football club it’s huge'".

According to the Examiner Live, "Former Sheffield United midfielder Michael Doyle has announced his retirement from football after accepting an assistant manager role at Notts County.

The midfielder spent four and a half years at Bramall Lane as the Blades searched for promotion from League One. Doyle was captain... The 39-year-old joined Portsmouth in 2015 and has now decided to call time on a 23-year playing career, hanging up his boots to take on a coaching role at current club Notts County, where he has spent the last two seasons...

He will remain as a registered player for the club, meaning that he could make the occasional appearance in England’s fifth tier next season".

Meanwhile the Nottingham Post reports that "Sam Slocombe has ended speculation over his future by committing to a new contract at Notts County.

The goalkeeper was attracting the interest of numerous clubs with League Two Scunthorpe said to be among the list of suitors.

But Slocombe has decided to stay at Meadow Lane where he has become a pivotal figure for the Magpies since arriving on a free transfer from Bristol Rovers two seasons ago.

The 33 year-old is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the National League...

Head coach Ian Burchnall said 'Retaining Sam is a huge positive for us... Everyone knows that we like to play out from the back and Sam’s distribution, composure and vast experience make him the perfect fit for us.

'He enjoys the way we play, too, and I think his decision to stay is a great reflection of the excitement players have for what we’re trying to build'...

He made 39 appearances for the club last season and has helped the club to two consecutive play-off finishes... The former Scunthorpe goalkeeper is the second player to commit his future to the club in the space of 24 hours after Michael Doyle was appointed assistant head coach on Monday...

Notts are now hopeful that Connell Rawlinson will sign his contract this week with the defender having been offered fresh terms. Tiernan Brooks, Adam Chicksen, Dion Kelly-Evans and Jim O’Brien have also been offered new deals".

SIMON RICHMAN

As announced during Monday (see below), Altrincham midfielder Simon Richman has been released after more than ten years at the club. His arrival at Altrincham was announced on 3 May 2011 and he made his Altrincham debut as a 72nd minute substitute for Shaun Densmore in a match at home to Workington on 16 August 2011.

His versatility is underlined by the fact that in those league seasons when Alty wore shirts numbered one to eleven, he played in nine outfield positions, only no.3 evading him.

Right: Simon receives a commemorative shirt to mark his 300th appearnce from club chairman at the time, Grahame Rowley.

Now 31, Ormskirk-born Simon started out as a winger at Altrincham, having been manager Lee Sinnott's first signing. Simon had played under Sinnott in the Football League at Port Vale.

Simon was a product of the Bolton Wanderers' academy and the Port Vale youth system and he went on to make 48 League appearances for the Valiants, 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 appearances for Vale in 2009-10, he was released at the end of that campaign. Earlier in his time at Port Vale, there had been interest in signing him from both Grimsby Town and Ayr United.

In summer 2010, he had trials with Southport and Worcester City, before joining City. He played 37 National League North games for Worcester City, scoring 4 goals, in addition to making three appearances for the club in the FA Trophy, in which competition he netted another goal.

After joining Altrincham in summer 2011, his early career at Moss Lane was marred by injuries and illness. HAving mostly beem deployed in right midfield, Simon completed the campaign in central midfield, a position he also occupied 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.

Outside football, Simon gained a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Manchester whilst studying alongside his Moss Lane career. On the field he was famously one of the fittest players at the club.

His 2015-16 season was disrupted by an injury in late August but he then re-established himself as a regular starter in that and the following campaign. Early 2017-18 also saw him miss games through injury before re-establishing himself as a regular starter. Towards the end of that season he played impressively at right-back as well as in midfield.

Simon figured chiefly as a substitute during the early part of 2018-19 season and by the end of that campaign he had made twenty appearances each as a starter and as a used substitute. Simon had re-established himself in midfield before suffering a hamstring injury in January 2020.

In 2020-21 Simon generally was named as a substitute, making only four starts plus nine appearances from the bench.

His career appearances by the end of 2020/21 season totalled 368, comprising 270 starts and 98 substitute appearances. He netted 24 goals.

All Altrincham supporters will wish Simon well and thank him for his selfless dedication to the club.

ALTRINCHAM SEASON TICKETS

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Notts County are believed to be looking at Cambridge United striker Andrew Dallas as a potential addition to their attack.

The former Rangers player scored 12 goals in 25 games for National League side Weymouth on loan last season sparking a huge amount of interest in the 21 year-old.

Cambridge are eager to keep Dallas at the Abbey Stadium where his contract has expired...

Kyle Wootton finished top scorer with 19 goals for the campaign, but there is a feeling he could do with support to help share the burden...

Head coach Ian Burchnall eventually put Ruben Rodrigues upfront with Wootton and it was a move that reaped dividends with the Portuguese attacker scoring eight goals in the last 10 games of the season.

Scunthorpe United are showing an interest in goalkeeper Sam Slocombe but Notts are confident the goalkeeper will remain at Meadow Lane...

Solihull Moors had also shown an interest with former boss Neal Ardley also said to be keen on signing him...

Captain Michael Doyle has already put pen to paper on a new deal at Meadow Lane with Notts eager for Slocombe and defender Connell Rawlinson to also commit to the club.

However, Jake Reeves has departed after exercising a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave for a Football League club if Notts did not win promotion".

And Stevenage confirm that they have "agreed terms with midfielder Jake Reeves…

The 28 year-old has made over 200 appearances in the English Football League for the likes of Brentford, AFC Wimbledon and Bradford City, before joining former manager Neil Ardley at Notts County last season...

Manager Alex Revell said... 'His playing style fits our midfield profile, with his energy and intensity without the ball. His range of passing and ability to create is something I am excited to watch and develop even further'".

Torquay United have issued a statement by Chairman Clarke Osborne.

"I am sorry that we did not win yesterday, sorry for everyone connected with and supporting Torquay United. It was a cruel end to a season of such effort and determination. I am sorry that everyone suffered from the refereeing decisions that were in hindsight, questionable.

I am sorry that we were denied the experience of a Wembley final and I send my thanks to the management team at Ashton Gate who staged a great show under difficult conditions...

It is one step on our journey that we have delayed until next season. A season when we will see the yellow army return to their home and provide the 'extra man'. A season where we will all give our best, work hard with determination to take that next step to Division 2...

Defeat is just a moment; it will not halt the Yellow Army".

According to Teesside Live "There was as much relief as there was jubilation was both Dave Challinor and Gary Liddle on Sunday as Hartlepool United sealed their return to the Football League.

Hartlepool sealed promotion in the most remarkable fashion by defeating Torquay United in a penalty shootout in the National League play-off final at Ashton Gate.

Brad James, on loan from Middlesbrough, was the Pools hero saving from Matt Buse to end four years of pain for Hartlepool supporters after they were relegated from the EFL for the first time in 96 years in 2017.

Pools were within seconds of sealing promotion during normal time after Luke Armstrong had given them a first half lead before Torquay goalkeeper Lucas Covolan broke Pools hearts with a 95th-minute equaliser.

Despite their devastation Pools were able to rally and force a shootout, and after missing their opening two spot kicks, were able to seal it 5-4 in sudden-death.

On-loan goalkeeper James had already previously escaped conceding twice in the game from two Kyle Cameron headers thanks to the referee’s whistle but in the final minute of the game he came and missed another cross allowing his opposite number, Brazilian keeper, Covolan to equalise.

But James, who has previous for shootout heroism 12 months ago where he helped Gateshead into the National League North play-off semi-finals with his exploits, went from villain to hero for Pools...

'You don’t want to know what was going through my head,' said boss Challinor. 'I wasn’t happy with our second half performance, we sat on our lead...

'Brad has made a mistake but he goes from the villain in the 95th minute to hero in the penalties so we’re delighted for him'...

Gary Liddle... the veteran midfielder said, 'We conceded in the 95th minute and at that time I don’t mind saying I was gone... It felt like I had let them down a little bit.'"

According to the Derbyshire Times "Chesterfield have written to the National League requesting clubs be allowed to name seven substitutes next season.

Teams could only name five substitutes in a matchday squad and bring on three during a game in the last campaign.

This was despite Football League club being able to use five and name seven. Those in the Championship were allowed as many as nine on the bench.

Manager James Rowe has spoken about the issue numerous times during the season, making the point that seven subs should be allowed just as other ‘elite’ leagues do.

With teams only allowed to name five players on the bench, many managers, including Rowe, choose not to name a goalkeeper among the subs so as not to limit their outfield options.

Goalkeeper James Montgomery had to play the last half an hour of Chesterfield’s play-off quarter-final defeat against Notts County injured because the Spireites had no other keeper to call upon...

Notts are another club who want the rule changing and Magpies boss Ian Burchnall has called for change.

'I think it's absolutely Mickey Mouse that the league doesn't allow seven substitutes,' he told Nottinghamshire Live...

In other news, Chesterfield have sold almost 2,000 season tickets so far for the 2021/2022 campaign... The Technique Stadium pitch is set to relayed [sic] to ensure Rowe’s men have a better surface to play on and the new Puma kit will be in the club shop early next month".

RICHMAN RELEASED

Right: Simon Richman in 2015 in a match against Tranemre Rovers.

'Simon has been a fantastic servant for this club, but sometimes decisions have to be taken and often they are difficult ones at this time of year,' said Alty boss Phil. 'This one was as tough as they come. Through the course of well over 350 appearances in Alty colours, Ringo built up a reputation for reliability, commitment and, of course, phenomenal energy levels, and those qualities contributed greatly to the success story that has unfolded during the first couple of seasons of my time here.

'He is a dependable player, and I knew that whatever job I asked him to do in whatever position, he would give it his all and deliver for the team. I always appreciated that, as did his team-mates, and I am immensely grateful for everything he has done for the club over so many seasons well beyond my time. He is a true Alty legend.

'I know he's a popular figure with fans, and rightly so, but time moves on and, as manager, I have to plan for the future and make difficult calls to try and move the club forward. Without doubt, this was tougher than most, but Ringo moves on with the best wishes of everyone here, and I certainly hope it's not the last we'll see of him; he knows he's welcome back at Alty anytime he likes.'"

More on Simon's contribution to the Club will follow here later tonight...

HARTLEPOOL WIN PROMOTION

That came after the match went to extra time when Torquay's Brazilian goalkeeper Covolan headed home an equaliser deep into added time, making the score 1-1 after ninety minutes.

One team that Hartlepool could not beat in 2020-21 was Altrincham, who secured two draws against the promoted club.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Right: Jude Oyibo in action for Altrincham FC Youth in a 1-0 win over Warrington Town Youth on 30 August 2015.

As well as signing former Alty winger James Hardy this summer, Chester FC have also now added former Alty Youth and Reserves' winger Jude Oyibo to their squad.

The Non-League Paper says that joint manager Anthony Johnson "believes that former Curzon Ashton winger, Jude Oyibo 22, will be a big hit with the Deva Stadium faithful.

'He's absolutely lightning quick and has got quick feet. He can cause defenders absolute nightmares'".

Amongst the players retained at Hyde United for the coming season are goalkeeper Craig Ellison and midfielder/defender Kyle Brownhill. Manager Dave McGurk told the NLP, "Kyle is the fittest player I've worked with".

Altrincham signed Kyle Brownhill from Hyde United in December 2016. Though signed initially as a left-back, Kyle was later deployed by Alty in central midfield that season.

Also in the news is Nathan Arnold who is the new manager of Nottinghamshire side, Newark. The Chad reports that "The 33-year-old has had previous management experience with Melton Town and Bourne Town as well as a management role at Boston United.

Now he will further enhance his managerial experience with the ambitious Central Midlands League North Division club.

His ambitious appointment is being supported by Newark-based company, Gusto Group...

Gusto Group Chairman, Steff Wright, added... '[After] our 10 years as chairman and CEO respectively at Lincoln City, I, alongside club secretary Dave Roberts, will be wholeheartedly supporting Nathan to deliver success for this great club'.

Arnold came through the youth ranks at Mansfield Town... In June 2018 he joined Boston United on a one-year contract... After six months away from football he played three games for Altrincham, then joined Bourne Town in August 2020 as joint player manager alongside Simon Dawes.

But the team only played nine games before the season was abandoned due to Covid 19 and he left them this May".

NW NEWS: SUN SETS ON DROYLSDEN

Above: The sun is seen setting over the Butcher's Arms, Droylsden as Alty lost 3-1 on New Year's Day 2012..

“The club may hopefully survive this crisis and continue into the future in less challenging circumstances than we find ourselves in during the present”'

Under Dave Pace's stewardship the club reached the top flight of non-League football for 2007-08 season but finished bottom after winning just five of their 46 fixtures. They last competed in the league with Alty in 2012-13 season in National League North when Alty won the match at the Butcher's Arms 5-0 and the reverse fixture at Moss Lane, 6-0.

The Manchester Evening News added that "Droylsden FC withdraw from competition for second year due to financial impact of Covid.

Coun. David Mills, Tameside councillor for Droylsden East, told the Manchester Evening News 'It's a massive loss and it is devastating for Droylsden that they won't be taking part in the upcoming season. Dave and [wife] Stella are cornerstones of the community, they have a great club. Dave has been there a very long time.

'We are obviously worried about the future of the football club as this is the second season they won't be able to take part but hopefully with the easing of restrictions in a few weeks the financial situation at the club will improve...

In the statement issued today (May 26), Mr Peace said he had 'heavily subsidised' the club since taking over as chairman more than 30 years ago... Last August, the club announced it had resigned from the Northern Premier League and withdrawn from all cup competitions for the 2020-21 season...

Droylsden FC, nicknamed 'The Bloods', was founded in 1892".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

There were ugly scenes in the National League Play-Off final on Sunday after Hartlepool beat Torquay...

In a hugely dramatic encounter, Luke Armstrong gave Hartlepool a first-half lead in the 35th minute by firing a powerful shot in off the crossbar.

But deep into injury time Torquay's Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Covolan sensationally equalised with a brilliant header to give the Gulls hope...

There was no breakthrough in extra time, but the shoot-out saw further drama as both sides missed their first two penalties each.

It eventually went to sudden death, and Torquay's Matt Buse missed the decisive spot-kick to prompt a mass pitch invasion from joyous Hartlepool fans, who were celebrating their club returning to the EFL for the first time since their relegation from League Two in 2017.

Unfortunately some went overboard, and could be seen winding up a number of Gulls players, who reacted angrily and had to be separated by security...

There were also reports of both sets of supporters launching bottles at each other, and stewards had to form a cordon to keep them apart.

Hartlepool 'keeper Brad James said: “A rollercoaster of emotions. We thought it was gone. But the lads never gave up and worked so hard'...

Their captain Nicky Featherstone added 'I have been here seven years and it's been a real struggle at times. I've had three owners and eight managers.

'To be among the squad that was relegated and then to be part of the squad that has got the club back to where it belongs is massive personally for me.'”

The Hartlepool Mail adds that "Gary Johnson has revealed the Torquay United dressing room was ‘inconsolable’ after the dramatic play-off final defeat to Hartlepool United...

Pools triumphed 5-4 after a dramatic shoot-out, Brad James, who was at fault for Torquay’s late equaliser, proved the hero with a stunning fingertip save to push Matt Buse’s effort onto the crossbar...

Torquay United boss Johnson said 'Obviously Lucas was our hero saving two penalties and scoring his goal. Unfortunately, his teammates missed three penalties and you're not going to win a final if you miss three penalties.

'We're disappointed because we thought we might have had two more goals during the game. I've asked the referee to watch them back but I won't hear anything back from him, you never do in this league.

'We've got to grieve for a couple of weeks now and once we've done that you gradually get over it and start building for next season. We're inconsolable in the dressing room at the moment, what can you say?...

'I always think two teams should be promoted automatically from the National League'...

Pools have five players currently under contract and the hard work starts straight away in terms of rebuilding the Pools squad ahead of the new season."

And the Hartlepool Mail qutoes The Hartlepool manager 'We had one hand on the trophy and the Football League and then it's snatched away from you but we go on to win it in the most emotional way possible'...

'It feels absolutely amazing. The play-offs are a bit of a lottery and the penalty is even more of a lottery so when our best two penalty takers miss and their best two penalty takers miss, you start questioning what's going on?...

Challinor added, 'The last six minutes of injury time were awful, I wasn’t happy with our second half performance and I thought we sat on our lead.

'Brad made a mistake and goes from villain in the 95th minute to the hero on penalties... It was two teams who were emotionally drained for penalties. It was a game that had everything and thankfully we’ve won.'"

ALTRINCHAM SEASON TICKETS

ALTY OLD BOY

Above: James Dean (no.20) is congratulated on his superb goal for Alty at Salisbury in 2007.

The match, taking place on Sunday, August 8, will pit a Chorley Old Boys side (featuring members of the 2014 NPL title-winning squad) against a Halifax Old Boys side for the James Dean Memorial Trophy...

'We hope the event will give his boys, family and friends a chance to see that the admiration for Deano extends far and wide' said Jamie Vermiglio (Manager, Chorley FC)".

SUNDAY'S PLAY-OFF

The BBC reports that "Hartlepool United's potential return to the English Football League would be a landmark moment for the club, players and in particular boss Dave Challinor...

Challinor spent the majority of his professional career in the League... and wants the same status now as a manager.

'I want to make sure I can class myself as that,' he told BBC Radio Tees...

Four seasons out of the league have coincided with tough times for Pools, but the rebuild under chairman Raj Singh and Challinor's guiding hand have turned the club around...

'Personally you want as many promotions on your CV as you can,' the 45-year-old said. 'My ambition when I started managing in 2011 at Colwyn Bay was to be a Football League manager, and I've not had the honour to be able to do that'...

If Challinor is a relative novice at managerial level, particularly in the upper echelons of the game, then opposite number Gary Johnson is at the other end of the scale.

Having started out at Newmarket Town and then Cambridge as part of John Beck's staff, the 65 year-old has gone on to surpass 1,000 games as a manager in charge of clubs such as Bristol City, Yeovil and Peterborough over the past 30 years.

He has also twice won the National League, most recently in 2015 with Cheltenham, and wants his Torquay players to savour the scenario they find themselves in on Sunday...

Johnson told BBC Radio Devon, 'We'd rather suss out League Two than stay in this league'.

The Gulls have now spent seven seasons outside the EFL, in which they have had to battle their way back from the National League South, their lowest league placing...

'Every year big teams come out of the league into the National League,' Johnson continued. "And they don't get out straight away so it shows how difficult it is. The teams that go up do OK, they survive and compete'.

Torquay's big concern will be the fitness of veteran striker Danny Wright, whose two goals proved valuable in the semi-final victory over Notts County. The 36-year-old has been nursing a hamstring problem but was given the nod to feature against the Magpies.

Ben Killip, Brad James, and Henrich Ravas will compete for selection for Hartlepool, while Lewis Cass's availability will depend on his hamstring injury".

Devon Live adds that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson says... 'We have got to be very careful that you don't see the semi-final as the be-all and end-all,' said Johnson. 'It was such a great day for us that we have really got to make sure we are up for the final... All this week we have been drumming in how important it is and their responsibility etc, etc'...

Johnson has continued with his 'work, rest and play' philosophy... with work on the pitch at Plainmoor followed up with trips to Babbacombe, albeit it with that challenging hill climb back up from the beach at Oddicombe...

There will be just over 3,000 Torquay fans inside the stadium, the same for Hartlepool, after season-ticket holders were able to buy a first wave until Wednesday and then the rest of the tickets went on general sale... A club spokesman said the ticketing website had 790,000 hits between 10am and midday on Wednesday, and more than 35,000 phone calls came into the club’s Plainmoor offices in the same two-hour window. Those are quite frankly astonishing numbers.

Talking of numbers, striker Danny Wright broke into double figures when he scored his two goals against Notts after returning from his second hamstring injury of the season. He has now scored 11 goals in 20 National League appearances - not a bad return for a 36-year-old who has suffered two injuries in his first season with the club... Had Wright not been injured this season, surely Torquay would have beaten Sutton United to the title and gone straight up.

Asa Hall... is another player that would be hugely missed if he doesn't make it. Whether the captain's head injury will prevent him from playing will only become apparent when the teamsheet is released...

If those two players are fit, it seems unlikely that Johnson will make a change to the starting line-up, though playing centre half Kyle Cameron on the left wing will no longer be a surprise if the manager opts to do that again.

The threat up front for Hartlepool will be the dynamic duo of Rhys Oates and Luke Armstrong".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

David was a threat to all defences with his pace during the season and scored some memorable goals, Harry’s goal tally was in double figures for the second consecutive season and Ben part of a defence widely praised for it performances througout the campaign and with the second best record in teh division.

The full team is (4-4-2): Ben Hinchcliffe (Stockport); Jeff King (Halifax), Ben Goodliffe (Sutton), Liam Hogan (Stockport), David Ferguson (Hartlepool); David Ajiboye (Sutton), John Rooney (Stockport County), Connor Lemonhaigh-Evans (Torquay), Harry Beautyman (Sutton); Michael Cheek (Bromley), Kabongo Tshimanga (Boreham Wood)."

The Grimsby Telegraph tells us that "Grimsby Town have wasted no time in getting their business underway this summer, with Paul Hurst having made five new signings so far.

Shaun Pearson, John McAtee, Ryan Sears, Ben Fox and David Longe-King have all completed their moves to Blundell Park as the Mariners build up a serious head of steam ahead of their return to the National League.

It’s a far cry from the situation Town found themselves in 12 months ago, when a chaotic summer saw a flurry of players leave the club amid uncertainty about the upcoming season...

Eleven players in total left the club last summer... [amingst them] Bradley Garmston... Since being released by the club last summer, the 27-year-old has remained without a club...

Harry Davis is one of the players Town fans would no doubt liked to have kept hold of last summer. Davis went on to join Morecambe after being released... The defender found his chances becoming more limited as the season wore on,...

The 29-year-old is again on the lookout for a new club this summer, having been released by Morecambe following their promotion and a return to Blundell Park could well be on the cards...

Elliot Grandin, perhaps the forgotten man of that short spell under Ian Holloway’s stewardship at the start of 2020, Grandin made just five appearances after making the move to Blundell Park... randin has been without a club ever since being released by the Mariners.

Jake Hessenthaler's was possibly the departure that caused the most pain for Town fans, Hessenthaler’s final game lasted just a minute as he was forced off with a punctured lung... Having been released by Town, he made the move to Crawley, where he has continued the consistent performances he came to be known for at Blundell Park, playing in every league game for the Reds last season.

Harry Cardwell can certainly consider himself unlucky having been sent out on loan to try and get some game time in January 2020, his spell at Chorley lasted just one game as he picked up a hamstring injury on his debut for the club...

He ended the season on loan at Stockport County, where he scored five goals in 18 games as they fell in the National League play-offs; he’s back at Chorley, but could well be a man in demand this summer.

Ahkeem Rose... after 43 appearances and three goals, he was let go by the club. He made the move south as he joined Dover Athletic, where he scored two goals in 15 league appearances... Rose became one of the many players to be released,

Jordan Cook... never quite got his time at Town going properly. Following his release, he made his way back up to his native north-east as he joined Gateshead... and he’s on the lookout for a new club after failing to agree new terms.

Billy Clarke made quite the impact in a short space of time with the Mariners, earmarking himself as one of the standout players under Holloway. Having failed to thrash out a new deal though, the forward instead made the back to Bradford City for the third time in his career... but will be looking for a new club this summer after being released by the Bantams.

Fans were left dumbfounded when Town somehow managed to let Charles Vernam leave last summer, despite holding the option of a further year on his contract. The forward made the move to Burton Albion, but come January there were whispers that a return to Blundell Park could be on the cards.

It never materialised though, and he instead joined Bradford for a five-figure fee;he remains under contract with the Bantams for next season."

Meanwhile at Woking "Rohan Ince has agreed to sign, starting July 1st.

The midfielder, 28, will join the Club from Maidenhead United.

A product of Chelsea’s youth academy, Rohan left the Blues on loan to Yeovil Town in 2012. Between 2013 and 2016, he made 72 Championship appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion. Loan spells at Fulham, Swindon Town, Bury and Cheltenham Town followed".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 22-year-old will be joining the Spireites on a permanent deal after impressing on loan from Aston Villa last season.

The attacking midfielder made 13 starts for the Blues, scoring twice, as they marched towards the play-offs. Irish-born Clarke has been released by Villa and is available on a free transfer...

Boss James Rowe was impressed with how Clarke ‘came of age’ in the latter stages of the season, putting in big performances...

The Spireites have already signed goalkeeper Scott Loach and centre-back Jamie Grimes and tied down Liam Mandeville to a new contract".

Also in the Derbyshire Times we learn that "Goalkeeper Grant Smith has made a surprise exit from Chesterfield after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

The 27-year-old joined the Spireites in January on a free transfer and impressed with 10 clean sheets in 18 appearances last season.

He initially joined on a short-term deal until the end of the campaign but he signed a new one-year contract just two months ago.

Smith lost his place in the side towards the end of the season as James Montgomery who has also now left the club, started the last six fixtures.

The Spireites signed experienced goalkeper Scott Loach, 33, last week, who is now the only stopper on Chesterfield’s books.

Smith recorded four clean sheets in his first five games and made another four successive shutouts from the end of March to early April. One of standout moments came when he saved a late penalty against Altrincham in February"/

The Eastern Daily Press claims that "Sonny Carey is a wanted man, with six-figure bids in from Luton and Blackpool, and interest elsewhere for the King’s Lynn Town midfielder...

When Sonny Carey walked through the doors at The Walks two years ago, he was marked down as ‘one for the future'.

The Hellesdon youngster had learned his trade amongst the rising stars of the Norwich City academy...

He ended up at Wroxham in the Eastern Counties League. It’s no surprise he flourished there... Lynn were keen and he joined in their training sessions for a couple of months before signing on June 1, 2019...

'He is an exciting talent and has a great future ahead of him'... said Lynn’s director of football Robbie Back...

'For a little kid like he is, he's cute and cool as anything,' said manager Ian Culverhouse... 'He is a hell of a prospect, he is a really confident boy, and he has loads and loads of ability'...

As Lynn prepared for their historic National League bow last summer... the door was open for Carey. He didn’t jump through it, he glided through the gap, ball at his feet, not much able to stop him...

With Lynn having to furlough players because of the pandemic, Carey assumed extra responsibility. And he flourished...

Way before the last of his 30 starts, Carey’s name was being linked with a number of clubs... Bolton, Bournemouth and Swansea were the first to emerge... If there’s competition for his signature that can only be beneficial, financially at least, to King’s Lynn Town FC."

The Halifaz Courier tells us that "Jack Earing says he is gutted to be leaving FC Halifax Town but excited about the future after joining League Two side Walsall.

Earing spent two seasons at The Shay after he was signed from Bolton by Jamie Fullarton, who is now technical director at Walsall, and after a mixed first season, enjoyed a superb second campaign as one of the star performers for Pete Wild’s team...

'I’ve had two wonderful seasons at Halifax,' Earing said... 'When there was interest in League Two, especially from Walsall, as I knew Jamie Fullarton was there, and Matt Taylor, they were a big influence in me going there...

'The chance of being back in the Football League was a major factor for me'.

Reflecting on his two years at Halifax, Earing said... 'It’s just been my home, I’ve just felt loved by the fans, the players, the coaches, the environment I’ve been in.

'When I arrived after leaving Bolton, I didn’t think it’d be easy but I think I just took it for granted that I was playing in the National League, and I thought I’d just walk all over it.

'But I soon realised that it’s a bloody hard league and I was going to have to work my guns off to get where I wanted to be, which is back in the Football League...

'I feel like the loans, taking a step down into the National League North, definitely helped me, in terms of the ugly side of the game, which I felt like was what I needed to improve on, and I felt that made me more of a complete player...

'When the manager gave me the chance to play the next season, I just put my head down and went from there'...

Earing says Wild and assistant manager Chris Millington played a major part in his development...

'I rang them the other day just thanking them for what they did for me... That’s what they’re so good at, the coaching side of it'...

'I’m only 22 and I’ve just got to prove myself in the EFL, this is my chance to step up with a big club like Walsall,'he said.

'It was a hard decision because there was a contract on the table for me at Halifax... If Halifax had got promoted this season, I would 100 per cent have been at Halifax, because I knew I would be playing there and I felt loved by the fans, it was just a happy environment to be'...

Earing has joined Jeff King in departing The Shay.”

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL

• Torquay United v Hartlepool United

ALTY OLD BOY JOSH SETTLES AT HEARTS

Josh made his Alty debut in the strange surroundings of Bognor Regis in the FA Trophy, where the game was only started after several cars whad been parked on the pitch before kick-off to melt surface frost!

Josh was signed by Lee Sinnott, on loan from Burnley, on 8 January 2016. He had been bought by The Clarets for a six-figure sum from Shrewsbury Town, after starting 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.

News comes this week from the Edinburgh News that Scottish club Heart of Midlothian have "announced the signing of winger Josh Ginnelly on a permanent deal.

The 24-year-old spent last season on loan at the Tynecastle side from Preston North End and has now agreed to a two-year contract to remain with Robbie Neilson’s men after being released at Deepdale.

Ginnelly managed only nine appearances in all competitions due to injury, but made quite an impression in games where he was able to play, including a starring display off the bench in the Scottish Cup final as Hearts pushed Celtic to penalties.

Despite an injury sustained against Raith Rovers in January putting paid to the rest of his season, Ginnelly remained in Edinburgh to rehab with Hearts. He now becomes the club’s first signing of summer after securing promotion back to the top flight of Scottish football."

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The following players are under contract beyond 30th June 2021:

• Ben Hinchliffe; Josh Schofield; Sam Minihan; Macauley Southam-Hales; Ash Palmer; Liam Hogan; James Jennings; Mark Kitching; Jamie Stott; Ryan Rydel; Jordan Keane; Lois Maynard; John Rooney; Ryan Croasdale; Will Collar; Elliot Newby; Jack Hinchy; Richie Bennett; Connor Jennings; Alex Reid; Jordan Williams; Paddy Madden.

Players returning to parent clubs:

• Harry Cardwell; Tom Walker.

The following players will be released at the end of their current contracts:

• Josh Barnes; Ross Fitzsimons; Adam Owen; Finley Stanyer; Jordan Downing*; Alex Curran; Max Greenhalgh; Jack Hopkins; Harvey Gilmour; Adam Thomas; Nyal Bell. *Contract cancelled by mutual consent.

In a season that saw us finish in our highest league position in ten years, and reach the third round of the Emirates FA Cup, the Club would like to thank every departing player for their contribution this season...

The Club would also like to say a special thank you to two departing champions in Nyal Bell and Adam Thomas. Nyal made 88 appearances across three seasons at the Club, scoring 18 goals, whilst Adam scored 17 times in 152 appearances in a five year spell at Edgeley Park".

According to Get Surrey, "Woking FC skipper Josh Casey is in talks... to stay at Woking as Cook, Ferdinand and Hodges depart...

Josh Casey is determined to stay a Woking player next season and is prepared to do two full-time jobs to make it happen declaring, 'I would be forever regretful if I didn’t give it a go'.

The 29 year-old Cards skipper,who marries his fiancée Ashling next week in Northern Ireland, will continue to work in finance with his new employer Dynatrace in Maidenhead and if the company agrees, he will fit in Alan Dowson’s stringent training programme too and be there for every session.

The inspirational left-back admits he could make life easier for himself by staying part-time with a club at a similar level but 'the pull of Woking' takes precedence as well as the full-time lure...

He added 'It’s a really exciting time at the club and I feel to leave at the end of this season would be horrible and would feel like unfinished business, with the last two seasons being massively impacted by Covid-19. So I want another year of trying to finish off what we started and have a really good year in the National League.'

Casey missed the last part of last season after injuring his shoulder in January and playing through pain while the FA Trophy run continued, before he was furloughed. He came back for just one game, against Bromley...

'Dowse had a suspension and needed another body so I basically played that game with one arm,' he recalled...

He conceded 'I considered whether I want to go part-time and not have to stress about different things and not have the added pressure of doing two full-time jobs. But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me at this stage and, at my age, I think I would be forever regretful if I didn’t give it a go. So I really hope I can make it happen.

'The Woking pull is strong with the new owner [John Katz] and Dowse’s enthusiasm about next season'...

Meanwhile, Woking have released Kane Ferdinand, Jack Cook and Paul Hodges and Casey added 'It’s horrible to see them go. Cooky and Kane have been mainstays throughout my time here... It’s sad when it happens but everyone has got to do what’s right for them personally. All three leave with their heads held high.

'It’s an exciting time for Woking. You look at all the plans happening around the club. The move to full-time, the buzz, the excitement, the new kit, the sponsorships. I really do feel like it’s a fresh start, a clean new year and a massive opportunity, which I hope to be part of'".

The Grimsby Telegraph asks "Who is Ben Fox?...

The midfielder became the Mariners' fourth signing of the summer earlier this week as he signed a one-year deal at Blundell Park.

It’s been another busy week on the transfer front for Grimsby Town, with two more new signings making their way through the door at Blundell Park.

Ben Fox was first to arrive on Tuesday as he signed a one-year deal, followed by former Newport County defender David Longe-King, who put pen to paper on a two-year contract...

Fox is a 23-year-old midfielder who makes the move to Blundell Park after being released by League One side Burton Albion.

A Burton native, he spent five years working his way through the ranks with the Brewers before being handed his first professional deal in 2016.

Described as a box-to-box midfielder, Fox can also fill in as a right-back, although Chris Doig confirmed he’ll be primarily used in the middle of the park with the Mariners...

He joined National League North side Tamworth in December 2016 on an initial month-loan, before having the deal extended to the end of the season and making 20 league appearances for the Lambs, scoring twice in the process...

He spent a short time with Solihull Moors in the National League, before heading back to Tamworth, and then taking in a final spell with Gateshead.

The 2018-19 campaign saw him break into the first team picture with Burton... He’d go on to make 36 appearances in total that season...but he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury [which] ruled him out for the whole of 2019/20.

He returned from injury last season, making 12 appearances for Burton before heading out on loan to Barnet in the National League.

His debut for the Bees proved to be a real mixed bag... he received a straight red card as Barnet fell to a 3-1 defeat. This proved to be his only game for the club...

Fox was released by Burton following the conclusion of the 2020/21 season."

The Derbyshire Times reports that "Chesterfield Football Club is in a ‘far better shape’ than it was a year ago and fans are starting to ‘dream’ again, says Spireites chief executive John Croot.

The community trust took over the club last August and they have stabilised the finances and appointed a talented young manager who led them to a sixth-place finish last season...

Croot told the DT, 'We have made great strides in all directions, the club is pulling together all as one...

'Season ticket sales are going great... We are exceeding sales from what we did the year before last'...

The club is not resting on its laurels and manager James Rowe has already made two new signings with more expected in the coming weeks.

Croot joked 'I almost daren’t answer my phone to him!... The vast majority of the squad have come in early this year, and we did that to give James the best chance of getting us a good spot in this coming season.

'He has got a budget we feel we can challenge with, and James does as well///

'It is a community club now. We are playing an exciting brand of football, we have got a great, exciting manager who has brought some good players in so come down and give us a chance.'”

Relegated Southend United claim that "Now, after a difficult 18 months on and off the pitch, there is a swell of positivity building at the Club and we know that fans are starting to look forward to watching the team from the stands at Roots Hall once again!

There is a reset taking place at the Club, across all Departments. We are implementing new procedures and processes with a view to improving the customer journey and fan experience.

Phil and Ricky are working hard to ensure we have a team capable of winning the National League…and we are hoping for a cup run too! ...

We want to compensate our fans who purchased a Season Card for 2020/21 and recognise their loyalty... We are providing significant benefits for those who choose to donate [the cost]. Those benefits include honouring the price of a 2021/22 Season Card for the 2022/23 season and a unique exclusive replica shirt offer (if renewing in 2021/22), as well as free entry to friendlies and your name on the ‘Wall of Thanks’.

It would be a great if you could help the Club and donate the balance of your Season Card, however, we understand that everyone’s circumstances are different... Regardless of whether you donate or request credit, we will be issuing you with an exclusive lanyard (and Season Card if you renew). The lanyard not only provides a visual representation of your loyalty but will entitle you to benefits".

ALTY OLD BOY MOVES ON

King was named in the NLP Team of the season and the Vanarama team of the season for the 2020/21 season having played 35 of the 42 games scoring 6 goals".

25 year-old King, the nephew of former Altrincham FC manager and captain, John King, made his first-team debut for Altrincham in the Cheshire Senior Cup at Tranmere on 18 March 2014.

He made his first Altrincham league appearance, in a Skrill North squad on 12 April 2014 against North Ferriby United. Jeff then continued to play for the Altrincham FC youth team, which he had joined during the 2013-14 season.

After being on the bench for several first-team games he went to get match experience at Kendal Town before leaving Altrincham and ending the season at Trafford FC.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Jim Parmenter says Dover have been failed by the football authorities after their appeal against a £40,000 fine and 12-point deduction was rejected. Parmenter said he was 'surprised and disappointed' by the outcome and 'angered' and 'disgusted' by the FA’s written reasons.

Dover were charged by the National League with failure to fulfil four fixtures between February 16 and 27 after placing their squad on furlough..

The FA... questioned the lack of financial projections or forecasts from Dover in their evidence, saying that made it 'impossible to see whether or not the club could afford to service the loan”.

They also questioned why Parmenter had offered 'no breakdown of personal wealth... to show why he could not provide equity contributions as in previous years'.

Parmenter... said 'What it highlights is it’s not truly an independent system and the system’s failed here. I definitely believe that. I was surprised and disappointed by the result, but I was quite angered by the written reasons... The fact we weren’t able to project the next five years when we were in the middle of a pandemic doesn’t seem to me to be relevant.

'The suggestion my personal financial information should have been made public in order to support our case when we’re dealing with a football club that’s a limited company should be a warning to anybody that’s thinking of investing in a football club or supporting a football club financially, because it seems the FA deem it their right to decide how much you should be putting into a club and how much you shouldn’t, and I’m frankly disgusted by that'...

'We’ve had to cut our budget,' he said. 'Despite suggestions to the contrary, we’re going to be on probably 50 per cent of the budget we had last year but this is Dover and we’ll be fighting like hell next season. We’re going to start with a 12-point deduction but that’s something for us to target and aim at and try and get over.

'I think it’s commonly thought that we’ve been treated quite badly, and unfairly, and I still hold that true. I think the football system has failed us, I think the FA have failed us and I think the general public and the town and the area need to get behind the club to show they think we’ve been unfairly treated'.

In the Swindon Advertiser "Ben Whitfield says he has not turned down Torquay United contract after being linked to Swindon Town...

After reports emerged that the 25-year-old's signature was being hunted by League Two... the striker took to Twitter to have his say.

Whitfield's current Torquay deal is set to run out this summer, but the former Port Vale forward says he has not turned down a new contract just yet, simply that a new deal has not been agreed so far...

The 25 year-old has previous Football League experience with Port Vale and Yeovil Town too, though the Englishman only managed 10 goals and nine assists in 101 appearances. In the National League, he has found the net 16 times and provided eight assists in 84 games".

According to the Dorset Echo, "Tom Bearwish has become the third striker to sign for Weymouth this summer.

Portland man Bearwish, 21, joins Brandon Goodship and Brad Ash as forward options.

Bearwish was released by Eastleigh at the end of the season having scored four goals in 40 appearances, mostly from the bench.

In securing Bearwish, manager Brian Stock has taken his tally to 12 signings this summer. Bearwish was with Eastleigh from the age of 16... During that time he had loans spells at Dorchester Town in 2017 and Portland United in 2018.

Bearwish said... 'I need to prove to myself and everyone around me that I can play at this level... Being a local lad and following the club since I was little means I’ve seen the club's highs and lows over the past few years'...

Stock added 'He’s technically a very good player. He can get forward, he can score goals and brings a lot of energy to the team... He’s had a really good education over the last few years being at Eastleigh full-time'">

Boreham Wood FC "announce our new, young and exciting First Team management team ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Watford legend Mr Lloyd Doyley joins Wood Manager Luke Garrard’s backroom team as the Wood’s new Assistant Manager, whilst Connor Smith returns to the Club within the First Team set up from local rivals Wealdstone to couple his current Club Academy Manager role with First Team coaching and playing duties.

Luke Garrard will also retain Martin Brennan as Goalkeeping Coach for a third season, along with Elliot Allum as our Senior Analyst...

With the recent departures on the First Team front of Cameron Mawer, David Dodds and Danny Woodards, the Club has been busy putting together a new backroom team after the conclusion of the 2020/21 season. It was important for our structure to find suitable replacements to compliment the Gaffer, who also know the club and who share the historical Club ethos of Attitude, Discipline and Desire; that ethos is often helped by promoting from within...

Lloyd Doyley will need little introduction and as has been coaching at Meadow Park periodically over the last two seasons within our Academy... His playing career saw “Lloydy” become a Club legend at Hertfordshire’s premier side Watford FC."

In the Barnet & Potter Bar Times "Harry Kewell has spoken of his desire to create a 'winning environment' at Barnet...

The Australian has been installed as new manager, with former Wealdstone boss Dean Brennan also arriving as Head of Football...

Kewell said... 'We’re now putting to the pre-season together and obviously going through players and having meetings...

'We all seem to be singing off the same same sheet here so which is great. I’m sure there’s going to be altercations between everyone, but that’s what you want, you want to create that winning environment and that’s what we’re trying to create here'.

After a very difficult season in which Barnet finished bottom having won just eight out of 42 games, Kewell knows he has a tough job on his hands".

16 June 2021

HARDY DEPARTS

Hardy had joined the Robins following his release by AFC Telford United whose National League North season had been decelared null and void.

As a youngster he was with Oldham Athletic for six years before signing for Manchester City in 2012. He moved on to play for AFC Fylde in October 2015 but, after helping them gain promotion from the National League North, he was badly affected by injury for two seasons.

A loan period from Fylde, at FC Halifax Town, followed in February 2019, before he left the Lancashire club, having made almost 100 appearances for The Coasters.

Next, he was signed by EFL club Walsall in June 2019 but, after eleven appearances, he was released at the end of 2019-20 season, whereupon he joined AFC Telford United for 2020-21.

And later, a one-line statement from Chester FC said simply that "Chester Football Club are thrilled to announce the signing of James Hardy."

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Dover Athletic, who had their results expunged after not playing beyond January, will be deducted 12 points next season and fined £40,000... Chairman Jim Parmenter, who placed all of Dover's staff and players on furlough in February to prevent the club becoming insolvent, has previously stated they will not pay the £40,000 fine.

The club has already decided to move from professional to semi-professional status, having not played a competitive fixture since 30 January.

The other 10 clubs, who all play in non-league Step Two, National League North or South, have each been fined £2,000 per breach of fixture and handed a suspended two-point deduction, also per breach.

Alfreton Town, Bath City, Bradford Park Avenue, Chippenham Town, Curzon Ashton, Darlington, Dulwich Hamlet, Kettering Town, Slough Town and Southport all had their appeals dismissed between 3 and 11 June.

Chippenham, Curzon Ashton, Dulwich Hamlet and Slough were fined £8,000 for four breaches each, Bradford Park Avenue £6,000, Alfreton and Bath £4,000 and Darlington, Kettering and Southport £2,000.

They and Dover have also been ordered to pay costs, between £1,200 and £1,600 per club, and their appeal fee of £250 will not be returned.

Three other Step Two clubs, Blyth Spartans, Farsley Celtic and Spennymoor Town, have had 50% of their fines (£6,000 for Blyth and £4,200 for Farsley and Spennymoor) suspended."

According to Football League World, "Cardiff City are interested in a potential move for Solihull Moors striker Kyle Hudlin...

Hudlin joined Solihull last year, and has so far scored 12 goals in 39 appearances... That has already seen the likes of Barnsley, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday linked with the 20 year-old, who at 6ft 9in, is said to be the tallest outfield player in British football...

This could be a decent signing for Cardiff, but it does feel like it could be one more for the future".

And there is speculation about another National League player in Football Insider which claims that "Swindon Town and Exeter City lead the race to sign Torquay United striker Ben Whitfield...

The prolific forward, 25, is available on a summer free transfer after failing to agree a new Torquay deal.

A source has told Football Insider that has led to a stampede of interest from EFL clubs... Whitfield has scored six goals in 28 games across all competitions for Torquay this term...

He has previous experience in the EFL with Port Vale and Yeovil Town. The Englishman has 10 goals and nine assists in 101 League Two appearances in spells with Vale and Yeovil.

In the National League, he has found the net 16 times and provided eight assists in 84 games">

The Leader Live reports that "Wrexham's Chief Executive Fleur Robinson has penned an open letter to Reds' supporters.. Robinson took up her role at The Racecourse on June 1 following a long spell with Burton Albion.

She wrote...'There is immense potential here and that the rightful place for this club and town is in the EFL... I have arrived at a time when there is some disappointment around after narrowly missing out on the play-offs. And this has led us into a period of transition on-the-field to match the positive changes that have been happening around the club this year...

'Everyone associated with Wrexham AFC should be proud of what has been achieved in the 20/21 season... It is striking to see the faith that the fans have put in the RR McReynolds regime. This unity between the fans and the club is the most important building-block in the foundations that have been laid so far for the mission...

'On the field we will see a refreshed management team and playing squad that will soon be cheered on in person as grounds safely open for supporters again in the 21/22 season. While, alongside this there will be new commercial partners joining us, ever-deepening relationships nurtured with our loyal local partners, and more investments in community initiatives'".

Yeovil Town have "confirmed the signature of Morgan Williams on a two-year contract.

The defender, well-known to Glovers fans following two loan spells, was excited to get started after putting pen to paper. The 21-year-old said... 'It’s a fresh start and I want to leave my mark on the club.

'The main aspiration in my time here is to get promotion to League Two. First of all, I need to knuckle down in pre-season, get some game time in and then push on'...

The former Coventry man couldn’t hide his delight at returning to Huish Park".

In the Northern Echo, "After six months with Hartlepool United, Jamie Sterry says 2021 has been his 'most enjoyable year by far’ with the club.

The Pools full-back has been crucial to the club’s success this season featuring 29 times since joining until the end of the season in December from Northern Premier League side South Shields... The 25-year-old former Newcastle United defender documented his struggles during his playing career in a wide ranging interview with The Athletic...

Sterry admits he’s loved his time playing a pivotal role at right wing-back. 'I haven’t really played at wing-back much until I’ve come here this season. Normally I’m like "we defend and when I can get forward, I’ll get forward" but it’s been really good to play higher up the pitch.

'I played a little bit there at Newcastle when Rafa (Benitez) was the manager but to be able to have that little bit of space and time and make the runs forward is a hard position to play you’ve got to be really fit to get up and down there...

'Coming in here, I only trained one day and then I played against Stockport at home but I’ve got my fitness up. I’m probably the fittest I’ve been in my career. This is the most enjoyable year I’ve had by far'...

Preparations for Sunday’s huge game down at Ashton Gate are well underway...

'You’ve got to enjoy the highs when they are around but you can’t take it over the top', says Sterry. 'The lads are celebrating in there but I’m thinking "we haven’t won anything yet"...

'It’s such a good group in that dressing room. I couldn’t tell you one bad egg who is in there... We should believe in ourselves to win next week'"

One of the latest clubs to issue its retained list is Notts County, where "Eight players remain under contract heading into the new season, while several members of the squad have been given the chance to extend their stay at Meadow Lane.

Michael Doyle has been offered the role of assistant head coach on a permanent basis, although should he accept he will remain registered as a player.

Six contracted players, including long-serving squad member Enzio Boldewijn, will sadly be leaving us, while five loan spells have come to an end...

• Under contract: Alex Lacey, Richard Brindley, Jake Reeves, Callum Roberts, Ruben Rodrigues, Lewis Knight, Elisha Sam, Kyle Wootton
• Offered new contract: Sam Slocombe, Tiernan Brooks, Connell Rawlinson, Adam Chicksen, Dion Kelly-Evans, Jim O’Brien
• Offered assistant head coach role: Michael Doyle
• Released: Luke Pilling, Luke Steele, Ben Turner, Damien McCrory, Jordan Barnett, Enzio Boldewijn
• Loan players returning to clubs: Mark Ellis, Calvin Miller, Regan Griffiths, Matty Wolfe, Jimmy Knowles

The Dorset Echo tells us that "Brad Ash has joined the Terras from Chippenham Town.

Pacy forward Ash, 25, joins from the National League South side having chalked up four goals in 14 games with the Bluebirds. In the 2019/2020 season, Ash scored once in 11 starts for Hereford, making 20 appearances in total.

Ash has National League experience with Boreham Wood, scoring five times in 22 games.

His form with hometown club Weston-super-Mare in the 2015/16 season, where he netted 14 goals in 14 matches, netted him a move to then League One side Barnsley.

Although failing to feature for the Tykes' first team, Ash was a prominent figure in Barnsley's Under-21s squad... Barnsley loaned him back to Weston-super-Mare for the 2016/17 campaign...

Weymouth boss Brian Stock said... 'He’s already had success and been spotted by Barnsley in the Football League and that shows he has quality. What I really love about him is his attitude and application, in and out of possession. He’s an out-and-out goalscorer, he will give us a lot of energy and he fits the mould of how I want my team to play perfectly'...

Ash is the 11th signing for Weymouth this summer behind goalkeeer Gerard Benfield, defenders Josh Leslie-Smith, Ben Morgan, Ollie Harfield and Calvin Brooks, midfielders Andy Robinson, Sean Shields, Cameron Murray and forwards Josh McQuoid and Brandon Goodship.

Woking "confirm the departures of Jack Cook, Kane Ferdinand and Paul Hodges...

Kane was the first of the three to join the Cards, in the winter of 2016... He went on to play 167 games at Woking...

Jack followed Dowse from Hampton & Richmond Borough in the summer of 2018 to the Cards, quickly forming a partnership with Ben Gerring at centre-half... He later played at right-back, enjoying his best spell at the Club in 2019/20 as he was voted Woking News & Mail player of the season. 127 games on, he leaves due to work commitments as the Club transitions to full-time.

Paul joined the Club from Hartley Wintney in the summer of 2018... He left the Club initially in February 2020 for Slough Town, before coming home in the Spring of 2021 to help Dowse's part-time Cards through a tricky spell. Like Cookie, Hodgey leaves after 81 games due to work commitments as the Club transitions to full-time".

ALTY AND THE 11 PLUS

Before squad numbers were introduced to football, a team's starting eleven wore numbers one to eleven, which added up to a mere 66 in total.

However, when Altrincham played at Weymouth in 2021, their starting eleven's shirt numbers totalled 206, possibly the highest ever aggregate worn by an Alty team. And their five named subs added another 89 to that total for the squad.

Altrincham's squad at Weymouth this season comprised: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. Daniel MOONEY, 8. Sean WILLIAMS, 17. Nyal BELL, 19. Reagan OGLE, 24. Joel SENIOR, 25. Toby MULLARKEY, 29. Alistair SMITH, 34. Ryan COLCLOUGH, 36. Connor KIRBY. Subs: 10. Josh HANCOCK, 15. Matty KOSYLO, 20. Shaun DENSMORE, 21. Matt GOULD, 23. Tom PEERS.

That array of high shirt-numbers prompts a look back to the introduction of dedicated shirt numbers and surnames for each player.

The Football Conference introduced squad numbers in 2002 but, in Alty's case, the first season in which squad numbers were used was 2005-06, when the club returned to the national level of football after a five-year hiatus at step two.

The Robins' first game that season was away at Stevenage when no fewer than five of the starters were wearing numbers outside the traditional 1 to 11 bracket. That starting eleven's shirts added up to 107 with the subs' bench adding a further 75 to that total, in the following line up.

Above: Peter Band (15) and Steve Hawes (12) wore Altrincham (blue) shirts bearing squad numbers for the first time at Stevenage in 2005.

Alty's squad at Stevenage in August 2005 comprised 1. Stuart COBURN, 15. Peter BAND, 4. Mark MADDOX, 5. Gary TALBOT, 3. Chris ADAMS; 17. Karl MUNROE, 12. Steve HAWES, 8. Val OWEN, 14. Lewis CHALMERS; 19. Gary WILLIAMS, 9. Colin LITTLE. Subs: 7. Colin POTTS, 10. Rod THORNLEY, 13. Richard ACTON (gk), 20. Kieran LUGSDEN, 25. Nehru McKENZIE.

That season, as a whole, saw 23 players assigned numbers above 11, with several numbers being reissued during the campaign...

• 13. Richard Acton, 14. Lewis Chalmers, 15. Peter Band, 16. Chris Butler and James Olsen, 17. Karl Munroe, 18. Chris Butler, Blake Norton and Lutel James, 19. Gary Williams and James Robinson, 20. Kieran Lugsden, 21. Stephen Rose, 22. Richard Norris, 23. Kirk Hilton, 24. George Melling, 25. Nehru McKenzie, 26. Lee Hendley, 27. Kurt Edginton, 28. Pat McFadden, 29. Kyle Wilson, 30. Steve Bushell, 37. Ged Murphy.

James Olsen became Alty's first player to score a goal when wearing a shirt numbered above eleven. That was against Aldershot Town on 27 August 2005 at the Recreation Ground. It was not until November 2005 that the Moss Lane fathful saw a home goal from a player wearing a number greater than eleven; that was James Robinson against Tamworth, one of the appearances that led to the club's massive points' deduction at the end of that season.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Ardley... will officially begin his role on July 1.

The 48-year-old takes over from Mark Yates, who took charge in March on a short-term deal until the end of the season just gone.

And Ardley says... 'After leaving Notts County I was hoping my next job could be a project that would give me the chance to take a club forward. From day one, after meeting Darryl (Eales, chairman), Tim (Murphy, vice-chairman) and Craig (Cope, technical director), it was clear there’s a huge ambition to go alongside the wonderful story of Solihull Moors...

'I’m really looking forward to starting with the players after their strong finish to last season, and working closely with Quinny (James Quinn) and all the staff at the club.

'Alongside this, Greg Abbott’s huge knowledge and contacts will help the club attract and recruit even more quality to the squad'...

Abbott was his assistant at Meadow Lane and has now taken up a consultancy role at Solihull, with a focus on recruitment and match preparation.

James Quinn will be Ardley’s No.2, having been promoted from first-team coach...

Chairman Darryl Eales said: “We are fortunate to have been able to attract a manager of Neal’s pedigree and track record. 'I first met Neal when he was at AFC Wimbledon, and I was chairman of Oxford United. I would have liked to have appointed him as Oxford manager when Michael Appleton left to join Leicester City. At that time, I deemed it inappropriate to approach a manager at another club...

'Not only is Neal a highly experienced and accomplished manager but he is also one of the most humble and genuine people I have met'".

A short statement from FC HAlifax Town tells us cryptically that "Our retained list includes all players who were contracted last season with the exception of Danny Williams and Reuben Noble-Lazarus...

Once we have more team news it will be shared".

In the Hartlepool Mail "Stockport County boss Simon Rusk reacts to play-off semi-final defeat to Hartlepool United...

During the game, Stockport’s Paddy Madden missed a glorious chance to put the hosts into an early lead and former Pools loanee Richie Bennett saw his point blank header saved brilliantly by Brad James late in the day.

'We created the better chances in the game,' Stockport manager Simon Rusk said.

'We’ve had a mistake punished and in a play-off game there’s a terminal element to it. We’ve got a great football club in place here, the infrastructure and the ambition is there and we weren’t a million miles away this year. We’ve got to make sure with all those things in place, it drives us on to get over the line next year'".

Off the field news comes in the Lynn News which confirms that "A King's Lynn Town footballer who faces drugs charges is set to be given a new court date.

Rory McAuley was due to appear before Norwich Crown Court today [Monday], charged with conspiracy to supply a class A drug and possession of criminal property.

The 31-year-old was committed to the crown court by magistrates in the city last month.

But the case will now not be heard today, with officials indicating there was insufficient capacity in court listings to schedule it... McAuley, of George Fox Way, Norwich, was suspended by Lynn nearly two weeks ago before details of the charges against him became known.

The defender featured 17 times for the club in the National League last season".

The Derbyshire Times confirms that "Captain Will Evans and striker Scott Boden are among several players who have been released by the Spireites.

Also leaving the club are James Montgomery, Luke Coddington, Josef Yarney, David Buchanan, Jonathan Smith, Milan Butterfield, Jack McKay, Luke Rawson, Jamie Sharman, Dylan Wharton and Regan Hutchinson.

Strikers Tom Denton and Nathan Tyson will remain at the club.

Meanwhile, centre-back Fraser Kerr, who joined on a short-term deal in March, has agreed a new contract...

Evans has been at the Blues for the last three years after signing in 2018 from Aldershot Town. Boden returned for his second spell in January 2019. He is currently on loan at Torquay United.

Goalkeeper Coddington has not played for the Spireites since December 2019 following injury.

Yarney made a limited number of appearances this season, while experienced duo Buchanan and Smith did not feature from December onwards...

Youngsters Rawson and Sharman... did not play under Rowe and were loaned out."

14 June 2021

ALTY'S CEREAL SPONSORS

Altrincham FC announce that "There's a continuity to Mornflake's association with Altrincham FC after they renewed their shirt sponsorship for another 12 months.

Right: Alty will continue to wear the Mornflake logo on their shirts and shorts in 2021-22.

The Cheshire-based food company, who have been rolling out a wide range of delicious and healthy oat-based products for very nearly 350 years, are now approaching a decade of unswerving support for the Robins after agreeing to have their name on our shirts again for the 2021-22 Vanarama National League campaign...

Mornflake said 'Mornflake have a long-established relationship with Altrincham FC, and it gives us great pride to continue this partnership with a progressive community owned and supported club'...

Alty co-chairman Bill Waterson said... 'Mornflake have been an important partner for Altrincham FC, and we are delighted that our relationship has been extended a further year.'"

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Pools have set up a date with Ashton Gate next Sunday where they'll face Torquay United, who beat Notts County 4-2 yesterday in extra time.

Stockport had a glorious chance in the first seven minutes as former Pools full-back Macauley Southam-Hales broke free, teed it up on a plate for Paddy Maddedn from six yards who managed to skew the ball wide with the goal at his mercy...

As Stockport piled men on in the forward position, Pools fought back and the breakthrough came from their main man. Oates found some room and took the ball to the edge of the box where he fired in a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner...

Stockport huffed and puffed to find an equaliser but Brad James was to Pools rescue as he somehow denied a point blank header from Richie Bennett, who almost came back to haunt his old side.

Pools hung on and ran the clock down to secure a place in the National League play-off final".

Also in the Northern Echo we read that "Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor was on an emotional high after reaching the National League play-off final...

Pools ended County's 18 match unbeaten run with a huge performance in Cheshire as they held onto the victory after Oates's 75th minute strike.

'These are games that put you through the mill emotionally'... Challinor said after the full time whistle. 'It's difficult to reflect so quickly after you're on such a high. I thought we were a bit safe in the first half and once we got into the attacking half we were bang average.

'We needed to be more brave and I asked Jamie and Fergie how many balls they'd put in and they couldn't really say. At the start of the second Jamie has already put two in.

'You felt one goal would do it and thankfully we're on the right side of it'...

Oates scored his 17th goal of the season and his ninth in his last nine games...

'It's the first goal I probably haven't celebrated because I was shouting at somebody else. I'm not sure how the ball ended up with Oatesy there...

'We'd set up a certain way because of how Stockport were and their personnel. We didn't know what there team was going to be for certain so you've got to be adaptable.

'We watched the Torquay game yesterday and I've never seen them play like that. Centre back, left midfield in a four-four-two. Whether they choose to be like that again, I'm not sure. We know they've got threats all over the pitch so we know we've got to, as best we can this week, cover every eventuality'".

Meanwhile, Stockport County, report that "The Hatters’ first venture into non-league’s top-tier play-offs saw them edged out by a single goal against Hartlepool at Edgeley Park.

A socially-distanced crowd of over 2,700 saw County’s 18-match unbeaten run come to an end, courtesy of ex-Hatter Rhys Oates’s strike, 15 minutes from time, that consigned Simon Rusk’s side to a third successive season in the National League.

County took to the field for a first competitive match at EP in flaming June, showing two changes from the starting line-up at Yeovil just over a fortnight previously, with Will Collar and Paddy Madden both returning from injury in place of, respectively, Jordan Keane and Alex Reid.

The Hatters made a lively start... They went close after... Madden skewed beyond the far post. But as the game settled down, the two former Football League rivals, who had finished a single point apart at the end of the campaign-proper, proceeded to cancel each other out for a long spell...

The visitors made much of the early second-half running...

[Ex-Alty loanee] Elliot Newby was introduced for Collar on the hour... before being set up by Tom Walker from the left to poke a deflected shot just wide of the near upright.

With a quarter of an hour of normal time left on the clock, Oates broke the deadlock, and the Hatters’ hearts, after picking up the ball on the edge of the area and firing it past Hinchliffe into the bottom-right corner.

As the 90 minute mark approached, County looked for all the world to be sending the game into extra time as substitute, and one-time Pools loanee, Richie Bennett connected with a Jennings cross from the left, only to see his header brilliantly kept out by James".

THEY COULDN'T BEAT ALTY!

Alty beat Torquay at Plainmoor and drew all the other five clashes against the remaining play-off hopefuls.

Having been derprived by Covid of watching Alty's first-ever league clashes with Notts County in 2020-21, Altrincham supporters, hopefully, can now look forward to a trip to Meadow Lane and to welcoming the Magpies to the J. Davidson Stadium in 2021-22 season.

The clubs did meet in the FA Cup in 1972-73 season when Notts County won 1-0 at Moss Lane.

SATURDAY'S PLAY-OFF

• Torquay United 4-2 Notts County, after extra time, 2-2 at 90 mins.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

It was 2-2 at full time with Torquay taking the lead twice through striker Danny Wright, who was the surprise name on the teamsheet for the 12 noon kick off.

The fitness of talisman striker Wright, who has been missing since March, was a precious kept secret in the run-up to the game but he announced his comeback with an explosion, scoring the opening goal inside the first minute.

Notts hit back but Wright again found the net before another equaliser from the visitors. So the game went into extra time and captain Asa Hall made it 3-2 before Dean Moxey made the win certain with a calmly taken penalty.

Dropping to the bench was Jake Andrews, with no place for striker Scott Boden among the substitutes; the extra forwards there instead being Billy Waters and Benji Kimpioka.

Also in the team was Kyle Cameron, who played up front on his own at Altrincham as Johnson experimented in the dead-rubber game. This time he was playing an attacking role on the left of midfield and it was Connor Lemonheigh-Evans who was alongside Wright".

In extra-time at 2-2 "It looked like Notts were now on top; that was until a good Kimpioka run resulted in a corner in the 100th minute. Andrews swung in the corner and Hall rose to head the ball home for 3-2. The game didn't restart though until Hall had been treated for a head wound and bandaged up, with the game was stopped for five minutes, at least.

Almost immediately after the restart, Kimpioka caused the Notts defence some serious problems, the ball found its way to Lemonheigh-Evans in the box and the midfielder was brought down. Surprisingly, Moxey was the player to step up and take the penalty and he scored with some aplomb to make it 4-2".

From the other side, Notts County report that "We suffered a 4-2 extra-time defeat at Torquay United...

After twice coming from behind thanks to excellent goals from Ruben Rodrigues and Adam Chicksen either side of the break, we headed into an extra 30 minutes to try and book our place in the final.

But two quickfire goals from the hosts, the second a penalty which should never have been awarded against Mark Ellis, left us with too much to do in the second period as the home side progressed.

We had the nightmare start as, within 40 seconds of kick-off, Danny Wright's header took a big deflection off Chicksen and nestled in the back of the net.

But we settled into the game and created an excellent equaliser when Enzio Boldewijn did well to release Kelly-Evans, whose perfect cross was matched by a brilliant Rodrigues header into the top corner...

Shortly after the restart... a move broke down on the left-hand side, allowing the Gulls to burst forward on the counter with Wright applying an excellent finish to bag his second.

Within minutes, however, we were level again when Brindley nodded Rodrigues's corner down in the area for Chicksen to smash the ball home via the underside of the bar...

We were cursing our missed opportunities when Asa Hall got into space in the area to head his side back ahead from a corner.

Our task was made even harder shortly after the restart when, despite clearly playing the ball, Ellis was booked for what the referee deemed to be a foul on Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, allowing Dean Moxey to make the score 4-2 from the spot."

According to NL Daily "Maidenhead United manager Alan Devonshire has signed a new contract.

The former England international is now set to extend his stay with the Magpies until summer 2024.

The ex-West Ham United midfielder took over back in 2015, having previously led the club for seven years from 1996 onwards.

In his second stint, the 65-year-old has led the Berkshire side into the National League, lifting the National League South title in 2017".

DINANGA DECLARES "I'M SELFISH"

And Altrincham FC has John Edwards's transcript of his interviews with Marcus and manager Phil Parkinson.

"Phil Parkinson admits it has been 'a painstaking journey' finding a new number nine, but he is convinced it will have been worth the wait".

Phil Parkinson said that "We have been working really hard right through the season to identify the right person, and the difficulty we have is the financial restrictions we face in comparison to other clubs, which everyone knows about... but we also want players who are coachable, who want to improve, who suit our system, suit our style of play and suit our changing room...

"I really feel we have found our man in Marcus. We have done due diligence. He has got bags of potential, and the most important thing for me when I speak to a striker is when I ask them what their main strength is. The first thing Marcus said to me was ‘scoring goals’.

You don’t always get that answer, funnily enough. They hold the ball up well or hold the line, but the answer from Marcus was he scores goals, and I think everyone knows that is something we are desperate for in that number nine position.

Above: Marcus Dinanga played and scored for AFC Telford United against Alty in February 2020 but the hosts won 5-2. Here, Shaun Densmore prepares to take a freekick.

"He has been on my radar for years... I don’t think he is one of those who is going to contribute loads and loads in terms of build-up. He can do that, but the thing for me is that he really comes alive inside the box. He makes great runs and is a clinical finisher".

Asked whether he would be comfortable playing the lone striker role?, he replied "Absolutely. That is our system, and it is certainly something we identified in him that he can play that role.

"He is a confident lad. He wasn’t being cocky when he said that. He was just saying truthfully what his strength is, and that’s exactly what I wanted to hear...

"He has got a lot to offer, and the confidence and self-belief are certainly there. He just needs someone to believe in him, which I certainly do...

He has scored goals at a level below us and been signed by a club a level above, and he is someone we know really well."

In his Alty TV interview, Dinanga told John Edwards, that Alty "play a style of football I like and that suits my game. You move the ball very quickly and to feet, and I like that...

"I always back myself. Always. That may come across as cocky, but I don’t see myself as cocky. There is a difference. I back myself all the time, whether it’s the second minute of a game or the last. I always want to make things happen, and I always back myself to do it...

"I’m known mainly for being pacey and having an eye for goal, I guess. I’m good at one-on-ones as well and just try to contribute as much as I can...

"I’m up for taking penalties, for sure. I was the penalty-taker at Telford and I never missed. I had a 100 per cent record. I know Josh Hancock takes them for Alty and has a great record, but I think I might be having a word with him".

A CHESTERFIELD VIEW OF DINANGA

Amongst them he says of Alty's new signing Marcus Dinanga, who was "Signed on loan from Stevenage in January.

Showed promise at the start but he never really looked like scoring that many.

Six starts, one goal.

Verdict: I would not be pursuing him any further".

Let's hope he's wrong!

PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS

• Torquay United v Notts County k.o.12 noon

Sunday 13th June:

• Stockport County v Hartlepool United k.o.12 noon

Sunday 20th June:

• Play-off Final, k.o. 2pm.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Mark Hudson appears to be on the verge of becoming Wrexham's next permanent manager as BetVictor closed betting on him getting the job following a dramatic shortening of odds.

Nigel Clough and Jim Gannon were the initial leading contenders for the role, with high profile names such as Casey Stoney and Mark Hughes also being linked to the vacancy at The Racecourse.

However, Mark Hudson then emerged as the favourite for the job and the former Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City player had remained in pole position as his odds were stable at 3/1.

However, the Englishman's odds began to dramatically shorten today, and as a result betting on the market has now been completely suspended by BetVictor, as it is anticipated that Hudson will soon be appointed by Wrexham's owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The Examiner adds that "Former Terriers defender and coach Mark Hudson looks set to return to football after betting was suspended on the vacancy at Wrexham.

Hudson first arrived at the John Smith's Stadium from Cardiff City as a player under Chris Powell and hung up his boots after the successful playoff campaign under David Wagner in 2016/17, staying on as a coach for a further three years, including two in the top flight.

He left his position as coach of Huddersfield Town when the Cowleys were sacked last July and is believed to want to get into full-time management having had two short caretaker spells in charge of the club he helped get promoted to the Premier League as a player...

If he were to get the Wrexham job it would be Hudson’s first permanent managerial position".

Also, the BBC reports that "Wrexham's Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds say they hope the club can regain the freehold of their Racecourse Stadium.

Glyndwr University has owned the ground's freehold since 2011. Plans to redevelop the Kop as part of the wider Wrexham Gateway Project could lead to the club regaining control.

'An application for public sector funding support has been made by the Council,' the owners said of the redevelopment. 'And we have agreed to make a significant financial contribution to make it happen, which would also see the return of the freehold of the Racecourse Ground to the club's ownership....

'The need to find a long-term solution, to where the club players train, was highlighted by the constant search for venues on a weekly basis for all the clubs teams that is only going to get harder as Covid-19 imposed restrictions are removed and our requirements increase,' the statement added...

McElhenney and Reynolds said that the appointment of a new manager was their 'immediate priority'...

Wrexham's executive director Humphrey Ker said earlier in June that the club had been 'hugely encouraged by the quality of the candidates who have put themselves forward already'.

McElhenney and Reynolds said... 'The playing budget will be consistent with that of a club that wants to achieve promotion... Our goal is to grow the team, return it to the EFL in front of increased attendances at an improved stadium, while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham'".

In the Nottingham Post "Ian Burchnall says leading Notts County to the National League play-off final would be 'massive' but he feels Torquay United represent a threat to their promotion hopes.

The Magpies head to Plainmoor on Saturday hoping to secure a victory that would leave them just one win away from reclaiming their place back in the Football League.

Notts have been in sensational form over the last month having lost just once in their last nine games making them the in-form play-off team...

He said, 'When I came in, I know there was a lot of talk about a long-term vision and that's correct... but we never took our eyes off the short-term goals... But it's going to be a tough challenge down there.

For Notts to reach the final they must overcome a Torquay side led by the shrewd Gary Johnson... Both League games between the sides finished all square... Torquay will be backed by a crowd of around 1,600 for the much-anticipated clash and Burchnall is well aware of the threat they pose...

He said, 'They play forwards quite dynamically. The wingers go into pockets, they overload and they've got some quality in there... They are well organised and Gary Johnson knows what he's doing.

' He's been around this for a long while. This is not his first time in this situation. They've had two weeks to prepare and I'm sure they will be very well drilled and organised when we meet them'".

We learn from the Derbyshire Times that "Chesterfield sign former Watford, Ipswich Town and Hartlepool United goalkeeper Scott Loach...

The 33-year-old was a free agent after leaving Barnet, where he made 26 appearances last season.

Nottinghamshire-based Loach said 'It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m really, really happy'...

Manager James Rowe added 'I have followed Scott’s progress for a number of years and I am delighted we have secured his signature for next season. He will add invaluable experience to the position'...

The stopper has had various clubs, including 150 appearances for Watford and... at Hartlepool United where he played 100 consecutive games. He was capped by England 14 times at under-21 level and also featured in the full squad.

As many as six goalkeepers played for Town last season. Grant Smith looked to have nailed down the number one jersey but James Montgomery, who signed on a short-term deal from Gateshead in April, started the last six matches".

Torquay United "announce that manager Gary Johnson has signed a new contract to extend his stay at Plainmoor.

Appointed as manager in mid-September 2018, Johnson has overseen a remarkable transformation in the Club’s fortunes during his tenure. After winning the National League South in his first season, the Gaffer has continued to raise the bar in pursuit of success at Plainmoor, and this season has seen his team scale ever greater heights".

The Hartlepool Mail reports that Hartlepool United' "National League play-off semi-final at Stockport County... will be decided on the day with extra-time and penalties if necessary...

Hartlepool manager Dave Challinor admitted his side have been practising from the spot... 'You can't practice for extra-time, you've just got to be as fit as you can but we practised penalties last week,' he said.

'Players are different, from my perspective, I want to see them all take a penalty so I've got some idea of whether they're any good at them or not. Some of them don't want to practice and, as much as you want to try and replicate the [penalty shoot-out] situation, it's completely different in a game...

'It's a mental test as much as it is a technical one... I've got real belief that we can go and win the game.'

Pools have a perfect record from the penalty spot during matches this season with Nicky Featherstone scoring four and Richie Bennett and Luke Williams netting one apiece. But the side lost on penalties in the FA Trophy at Halifax Town back in December, the only shoot-out they’ve taken part in since 2015..

You’ll have to go back 15 years and five shoot-outs to find Pools’ last shoot-out victory, an FA Cup first round triumph over Rochdale at Victoria Park in November 2006".

ALTY SIGN DINANGA

The Altrincham manager has been on the look-out for a proven finisher to provide the cutting edge that was missing last season and is convinced he has found the ideal candidate after making Marcus his second summer signing, following the recent acquisition of winger Brad Jackson from Chester...

Alty's boss almost landed the 23 year old nearly 12 months ago, only for the lure of League football with Stevenage to prove decisive.

And Marcus, twice top scorer for AFC Telford United prior to joining Stevenage, announced his arrival at The J.Davidson Stadium with a bold statement of intent...

'I will deliver,' he said. 'If I get the service, I will score goals for Altrincham.'"

MARCUS DINANGA

His early career was with Burton Albion, from where he went on loan to Mickleover Sports.

2016–17 season saw him playing for Matlock Town on loan, followed by a loan at AFC Telford United from the start of the 2017-18 season and he concluded that season as the Bucks' top scorer.

He started 2018-19 with what was intended to be a season-long loan at Hartlepool United but, in December 2018, he left and signed for Telford, netting 14 times, before moving on to Stevenage in August 2020 where he made six appearances, scoring once.

Before his involvement against Alty for Chesterfield this season, he had scored against Alty when the Bucks lost 5-2 at Moss Lane in February 2020. He had also been a substitute for both games against Altrincham at Telford in 2019 and 2020.

ALTRINCHAM SEASON TICKETS

Matchday admission prices will be as follows for next season:

• Adult: £17
• Concession: £14
• Junior (12-16): £6
• Under 12: £2

And Season Tickets are priced as follows:

• Adult: £289
• Concession: £235
• Junior (12-16): £75
• Under 12: £36

Existing season ticket holders renewing for next season will have the option of a 15% discount on their purchase".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Australian football legend and former Crawley Town, Oldham Athletic and Notts County manager, Kewell will lead the Club's coaching staff heading into the new campaign...

Since retiring from on-field action, Kewell has enjoyed success at managerial level too, overseeing a successful campaign as Crawley Town boss in Sky Bet League Two during the 2017-18 season, before moving to Notts County. The 42-year-old most recently spent time at Oldham Athletic where he helped the Club move away from the relegation zone and subsequently improved their league position from the previous season before leaving the Latics earlier this year.

Kewell has also coached at youth level, overseeing the Under-23s at Watford FC...

Kewell said 'The Chairman and myself have put a really exciting backroom team together, with the view of a collective unit being the driving force behind a successful future for the football club.

That starts with me as a Head Coach, but also with all of the staff, players and of course the supporters, we need to be a collective group with the ambition of bringing brighter days back to this incredible Club. There’s plenty of hard work to do to get us going in the right direction and I can’t wait to get started!”

Meanwhile, the Club has appointed Dean Brennan to oversee all off-field football matters and manage the recruitment, performance, analysis, logistics and youth departments of the Football Club. The Irishman has achieved fantastic success at non-league level, managing Hemel Hempstead Town to their first ever promotion to The National League South, before guiding Wealdstone to The National League South title in his first season in charge.

Brennan also played for the likes of AFC Wimbledon, Luton Town and Grays Athletic during his earlier playing days, before taking a step into football management...

'We need to bring everyone together, that includes the supporters, they are the life and soul of the Club, so let’s all get together and move forwards as one. We have lots of recruitment to do and that works starts immediately, I will be tasked with bringing the very best players who want to work hard for our Club'" said Brennan.

"The Club has also offered contracts to coach Dave Anderson, Head of Performance Gary Anderson, as well as physio Ollie Galloway, to continue within their roles for the 21-22 season. The Club will also appoint a new First Team Coach in due course".

The BBC adds that "Harry Kewell has previously only managed in League Two... The 42-year-old, who was sacked as Oldham manager in March, teams up with Dean Brennan, who has been appointed as the club's new head of football...

He succeeds interim manager Simon Bassey and is the Bees' first permanent boss since Tim Flowers left in March...

Kewell won 17 of 41 games in charge of Oldham from the start of last season until his sacking in March, while at Notts County he won just four of 14 games in a two-month spell from September 2018; the Magpies went on to be relegated from League Two at the end of that season.

His first managerial role came in the summer of 2017 at Crawley, leading them to a 14th-placed finish in League Two in his one full season in charge before leaving for the Notts County job".

In the Hartlepool Mail, "Dave Challinor discusses Stockport County supporters and why Hartlepool United are 'second favourites' going into National League play-off semi-final.

Hartlepool United travel to Stockport County this Sunday (12pm kick-off) with a place in the National League play-off final at stake.

Dave Challinor’s side will be looking to carry on the momentum from their 3-2 play-off eliminator round win over Bromley at Victoria Park last weekend.

Pools face a Hatters side who are 18 unbeaten and finished a point above them in the table to secure third place and a home semi-final at Edgeley Park...

Challinor said... 'Anything can happen, there are so many emotions you go through. It’s wide open, we go there not as underdogs as such but certainly as second favourites in terms of Stockport are at home and have solely a home crowd...

'There will be 2,500 inside the ground, there won’t be any Pools fans inside but I imagine there could be quite a lot outside the ground,' Challinor added.

'It doesn’t matter, we have to use the fact that winning means we would play in front of our fans in what will be the biggest game this club has had for a long time as motivation. Hopefully that’s motivation for us to do our best and get us over the line.'

The victors on Sunday will go on to play either Torquay United or Notts County in the play-off final at Ashton Gate on June 20 (2pm kick-off)".

According to the Eastern Daily Press, "King's Lynn Town have parted company with defender Chris Smith.

The former Ipswich Town player leaves The Walks by mutual consent as manager Ian Culverhouse continues his summer overhaul ahead of the new National League campaign.

Smith, 23, joined Lynn in July 2019, following his release from Ipswich, where he had spent most of his career.

He made 20 appearances in his first season as he helped Lynn win promotion from National League North. He was released by Ipswich at the end of the 2018–19 season and went on to make 20 appearance for the Linnets in 2019-20 and a further 27 starts last season".

Sports Mole reports from Torquay United where "Gary Johnson's men must do things the hard way by battling through the playoffs, which they enter at the semi-final stage.

Notts County have already had to overcome Chesterfield in the quarters to make it this far, earning a 3-2 victory in that one-legged tie... settled by a 90th-minute header from Mark Ellis...

The Magpies may have finished 10 points below Torquay after 42 matches of the regular season, yet there is an argument to be had that they are in better shape heading into this tie.

Whereas County have momentum on their side after beating Chesterfield, Torquay have had a two-week hiatus since their 0-0 draw at Altrincham on the final day.

That stalemate made it 13 games without defeat, though, so there is no doubt that United are the favourites of the four semi-finalists to earn promotion.

However, there was nothing to separate Torquay and County in their two league games this term, playing out a 0-0 draw in January and a 2-2 draw at Plainmoor three months later.

The pressure is now on Johnson's charges in a game that they are expected to win as they look to end a three-year exile from the Football League...

Ian Burchnall may stick with the same lineup from that late win against Chesterfield, with Callum Roberts the only confirmed long-term injury absentee.

As for Torquay, they have had two weeks to rest up for this game, though that 13-day gap is not necessarily a good thing as their players may be a little rusty. It does at least mean that influential striker Danny Wright and tricky winger Ben Whitfield could return from injury in time for Saturday's showdown.

Scott Boden, Billy Waters and Josh Umerah were named among the subs against Altrincham last time out, but one of them will likely come into the side to lead the line here...

We say: Torquay United 1-1 Notts County (AET, Torquay through on pens)... We are tipping Torquay to hold their nerve in the penalty shootout".

NATIONAL LEAGUE DATES FOR 2021-22

The regular National League season will end on Saturday 21st May 2022, followed by Play-Offs between Wednesday 25th May 2022 and Sunday 5th June 2022.

Christmas games are set to be played on Sunday 26th December, Tuesday 28th December (which is a Bank Holiday), and Sunday 2nd January 2022. Clubs will be allowed to change the first January fizture to Saturday 1st January 2022 or Monday 3rd January 2022 (both of which will be Bank Holidays)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Bassey was appointed Barnet manager in April in a bid to save them from finishing in the National League relegation places.

Although that couldn't be achieved, the former AFC Wimbledon coach made a sound impression at The Hive. In his 12 games in charge, Bassey won five matches, drew two and lost five... Kleanthous wanted Bassey to remain at Barnet to help them forge their way back to the Football League.

He told the club's website 'I was delighted with the progress we had made during Simon’s time at the club and was very keen to have him on board for the upcoming campaign. I am disappointed but understanding of Simon’s decision'".

Following their exit from the play-offs at the weekend, Bromley "confirm our retained list...

Currently contracted for the 2021/22 season:

• Mark Cousins
• Billy Bingham
• Chris Bush
• Luke Coulson
• Michael Cheek
• Courtney Duffus
• Kory Roberts
• Byron Webster
• Jude Arthurs

Released following end of contracts

• Jack Holland
• Frankie Raymond
• Joe Kizzi
• Ben Williamson
• Jack Bridge
• Charlie Fox
• Tarek Najia
• Tom Purrington
• Charlie Wakefield
• Ollie Tanner

Andy Woodman and his Management team remain in dialogue with a number of players from the 2020/21 season".

According to the Daily Echo, "Jack Payne has departed Eastleigh to join EFL outfit Crawley Town.

Following the Spitfires' failure to achieve promotion from the National League, Payne has brought an end to his two-year stay at Silverlake Stadium.

The midfielder has joined League Two side Crawley for an undisclosed fee, signing a one-year contract, with an additional one-year option.

The former Gillingham and Peterborough man played 91 times for Eastleigh, scoring twice.

Payne said... 'It all happened quite quickly but I’ve known the gaffer (John Yems) for years which made it easy for the deal to cross the line.'

Eastleigh boss said, 'He’s been a key member of the squad both on and off the pitch since he joined us permanently. I completely understand his wishes to return to the Football League and, with this move being closer to his family as well, we didn’t want to stand in his way".

Exeter City "announce the signing of winger Josh Coley from Maidenhead United for an undisclosed fee.

Josh, who signs on a two-year contract, was born in Stevenage but began his career with York City and progressed through the youth side, before moving back down south, featuring for the likes of Hitchin Town, Histon, Arlesey and Baldock Town before joining Norwich City in 2018... He featured heavily for the Canaries under-23s, before making his way to Scottish Championship outfit Dunfermline Athletic. After a short stint at Stotfold in the Spartan South Midlands League, he joined Alan Devonshire's Maidenhead.

Coley has been highly rated in the top tier of non-league football and scored five times for the Magpies last season, assisting a further seven goals in 37 appearances...

'Josh is a good attacking player and someone we've watched consistently throughout the last season for Maidenhead,' Matt Taylor said of his first summer signing... 'The fee remains undisclosed for the benefits of both sides and Josh himself'".

News of their U21 & Youth Team comes from Lynn News which announces that "King's Lynn Town have taken the decision to withdraw their sides from all competitions in the Thurlow Nunn League.

The decision has been made as part of a 'footballing restructure' at The Walks.

A statement on the club's website read... 'This decision has not been taken lightly, with the lack of a venue to both play and train for matches being a major stumbling block.

Another reason is the fact that most of the players for both teams either are or will be enrolled in the club’s highly-successful Academy partnership with KES which will see an Under-19s' team competing in the National League’s Under-19 Alliance competition.

'This means the club wouldn’t have the resources to compete in all competitions in a way which would effectively benefit all players. The Academy side will represent the club in next season’s FA Youth Cup competition'".

And the Eastern Daily Press tells us that "King's Lynn Town legend Michael Gash has a new club.

Gash has signed for Peterborough Sports, who play in the Southern League Premier Central.

The 34-year-old left Lynn at the end of the season after being unable to commit himself to full-time football in the National League next season... Gash joins another former Linnet, central defender Ryan Fryatt, who joined the Peterborough side on Monday."

According to the Halifax Courier, FC Halifax Town "boss Pete Wild is hopeful that in-demand midfielder Jack Earing will choose to stay with the club.

The 22-year-old is out-of-contract this summer and has been rumoured to be on the radar of some Football League clubs...

'Jack’s had a really good season, so he’s obviously going to demand interest, as a lot of our players have done this year'... Wild said...

'Jack’s been made an offer, he’s now taking time to consider that, he’s looking at his options and we’re hopeful, because we’ve been talking to him for quite a while, that he’ll pick us as a viable option. So we’ll see what happens.'

Midfielders Danny Williams and Reuben Noble-Lazarus have both left the club since the end of the season. Wild praised Williams’ contribution... 'We just didn’t think that Dan would get the game time that he wanted, and if we feel like that then we have to do what’s right for both parties'...

Williams combined his playing duties with coaching for Town’s academy, and could still continue in that role...

Noble-Lazarus failed to make a competitive appearance for the club due to persistent injury problems.

'I was gutted how that panned out because before he came in he trained for three months with us for no money every day, and there wasn’t an issue,' said Wild... 'He just never got into a position to play, which is unfortunate for him really because the fans didn’t get to see what a top player he was'...

'We’re speaking to agents, we want to see what agents have got, we’re trying to get our players to accept our offers, so it’s a balancing act,' he said. 'We’re spending all this week seeing what’s out there, we know what we want but we also want to know if there’s anything coming out that we don’t know about but that we should know about...

'Then over the next couple of weeks we’re reviewing the season, preparing for next season and what needs to be done, football-wise, physically and analysis-wise... I get really excited at this time of year about how we can make the team better, what we can do differently and what players are out there that we can make better, and can we sell the club to the players that are interested to try and get them to come and sign for us, because they see us as a great place to play their football'...

Wild says... 'We’re certainly an excellent football option for them, it’s whether they decide that the finances are right for them, or they decide that they want to go elsewhere. Like I say, we have to appreciate where we are in the food chain...

'Don’t get me wrong, if there’s no answers within the next seven-to-ten days, then we move on because we’re not waiting all summer for them to tout themselves around and then come back to us at the end of the summer'...

With Williams’s departure, Wild says a left-sided player is one of the positions he will look to fill".

TWO FRIENDLIES ON SAME DAY FOR ALTY

Kick-off is at noon at the Step Places Stadium.

Phil Parkinson and Neil Sorvel will spit their squad between this game and the 3pm kick-off at Ashton United on the same day".

Alty have visited West Didsbury & Chorlton in pre-season previously. Back in July 2003, Altrincham won 1-0, thanks to a 12th minute goal by Andy Tunnicliffe.

This was Altrincham's third pre-season game of the summer and was their first ever visit to the West Didsbury & Chorlton club, at Brookburn Road, Chorlton. The hosts have a history going back to 1908 but this was their first game under their new name of West Didsbury & Chorlton, having previously been just West Didsbury.

Alty blooded a few members of last season's Youth team but half a dozen of the more senior squad members started the game as well. Into the squad which had been involved the previous day against Manchester United came goalkeeper Richard Harrison, left-back Mark Griffiths, centre-back Greg Byrne and midfielder Jon McEvoy. On the bench was another of last year's youth team, Josh Collins. The spectators included Gary Scott, Barry Shuttleworth, Mark Maddox and Richard Acton.

ALTRINCHAM (Pale blue shirts, white shorts, black socks): 1. Richard HARRISON, 2. Neil RYAN (capt.), 3. Mark GRIFFITHS, 4. Stephen ROSE, 5. Greg BYRNE, 6. Steve ASPINALL, 7. Andy TUNNICLIFFE, 8. Jon McEVOY, 9. Mattie HUGHES, 10. Steve LUNT, 11.Rob MATTHEWS. Subs: 12. Josh COLLINS.

Above, this WD&C freekick was deflected past Alty keeper Harrison but Mark Griffiths cleared off the line. The other Alty men pictured were from left- Rose, McEvoy, Byrne, Ryan, Lunt, Tunnicliffe, Aspinall and Matthews.

The full pre-season schedule for 2021 is below, with all matches being away from home owing to the major pitch works being undertaken at the J. Davidson Stadium this summer.

1. Sat.24.7.21 12pm A West Didsbury & Chorlton
2. Sat.24.7.21 3pm A Ashton United
3. Tue.27.7.21 7.45pm A Nantwich Town
4. Sat.31.7.21 NB 2pm A Brightlingsea Regent
5. Tue.3.8.21 7.45pm A Bradford (Park Avenue)
6. Sat. 7.8.21 3pm A Curzon Ashton
7. Tue. 10.8.21 7.45pm A Trafford
8. Sat. 14.8.21 TBA A Huddersfield Town "B"

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Four clubs, each with a proud league history, are competing for the final spot in next year's EFL... Torquay, Notts County, Stockport and Hartlepool have all dropped out of League Two within the last decade and their relegations brought to an end long stays for each of them in the top four divisions.

Notts County were the most recent of the quartet to suffer the ignominy of surrendering their league status. That was in the 2018-19 campaign and it brought to a halt their stay in the EFL, which they'd been a part of for their entire history...

They have to find a way past Torquay at Plainmoor on Saturday in the semi-final. Their hosts relinquished their EFL status in 2014 for the second time in seven years...

Credit has to go to veteran boss Gary Johnson who led them to the National League South title in 2018-19, his first campaign at the club. They consolidated last term before Covid saw the regular season end early, and this term they finished just four points short of eventual champions Sutton United.

In stark contrast to Johnson's experience is the relatively unknown Ian Burchnall. He started coaching at university before moving to Scandinavia to take on various coaching roles, eventually succeeding Graham Potter at Ostersunds before being tempted to Meadow Lane in March.

The other end of the draw sees another two famous old League names compete, when Stockport host Hartlepool on Sunday... Whilst Pools were last in League Two in 2017, for County it's now a full decade since they were part of the EFL.

They even dipped down into the Conference North in 2013. It took them until 2019 to get back to the National League..

As for Hartlepool, they've flattered to deceive in their three previous seasons outside the EFL, finishing 15th, 16th and 12th... The presence of home fans only may well be a key advantage in both this weekend's games...

Unlike previous years, the winners of this weekend's tie will not be meeting in a showpiece final at Wembley. That's due to the famous ground being one of the host venues for this summer's European Championships.

Instead, the one-game shoot-out for a spot in the EFL will take place at Bristol City's Ashton Gate on Sunday, June 20".

The Halifax Courier tells us that "FC Halifax Town manager Pete Wild says he wants to get two or three of his out-of-contract players signed up before any retained list is announced.

Midfielders Danny Williams and Reuben Noble-Lazarus have left the club since the end of the season, but it is thought that leaves 11 other players whose deals are up with their futures still to be resolved.

'We’ve spoken to all the players, I know there’ll be a bit of frustration about why it’s (retained list) not come out yet, but we just want to get two or three players nailed down onto deals before we start making it public where player’s contracts are up to,' Wild said...

'You have to understand as well, the moment we make that live, the cattle market starts for our players, and we’re in a position where we have to be a bit coy about things so we don’t lose our prized assets'...

Wild said, 'People have been spoken to and they’ve been made offers'...

On whether there would be further departures... Wild said 'There may be a couple of others, just with the nature of offers they may get from other clubs and we have to appreciate where we are in the market, we’ve got what we’ve got.

'If players get better offers, like last year, and offers we can’t compete with, then we have to hold our hands up, shake their hands and look for the next one... but we’re quite confident we’re going to keep as many as possible.'”

The Derbyshire Times asserts that "Liam Mandeville needs to repay James Rowe's faith and unlock his true potential at Chesterfield...

In December 2016, aged 19, he was named the EFL’s Young Player of the Month, scoring five goals in six games for Doncaster Rovers in League Two. He went on to score 10 goals that campaign as Rovers won promotion...

John Sheridan, who brought him to Chesterfield two years ago, said in November 2019... 'He is our best player but he has got to be consistent... He should be doing more. He should be scoring at least 10 goals in the league'.

And then along came James Rowe who... made similar comments; 'He just needs to be more consistent in his performances,” he told the DT... 'It can’t be nine out of 10 and then five out of 10. If he does not play so well then he needs to be a minimum seven to contribute to the game'...

He never really did fulfill his potential at Rovers. He had a season on loan at Morecambe and was then released... Four goals last season and just three this time around, including two in his last two, is not good enough for someone of his ability...

I just hope his end-of-season form was not because a new contract, which he has now signed, was dangling in front of him. In Rowe’s 36 matches in charge, Mandeville has started 14 and made 16 substitute appearances... At 24, his peak years are ahead of him but it is up to him now".

ALTRINCHAM SEASON TICKETS

ALTY'S SUCCESS AGAINST PROMOTION CONTENDERS

In their eight league games, home and away, against the four clubs left in the promotion play-offs, Altrincham only lost once in the 2020-21 season. That defeat was away at Notts County.

Otherwise, Altrincham took four points from Torquay United (a home draw and an away win), two points from both Stockport County and Hartlepool United (draws at home and away), and one point from a home draw with Notts County. So, with nine points accruing from clashes with those four clubs, almost 20% of Altrincham's total points for the season came from those four high-flying clubs alone.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 32 year-old, who has been captain since arriving at The Racecourse in the summer of 2017, was offered a new contract by the Reds for the 2021/22 season and terms had been agreed with the centre-back.

However, with Pearson set to put pen to paper on Tuesday afternoon, he informed the club that he had received another offer from Mariners manager Paul Hurst.

With his wife and her family from Grimsby, and with her family still based there, Pearson subsequently elected to return to Blundell Park where he has signed a two-year-deal.

'If there was one club that was going to pull me away, it was this one,' said Pearson. 'Purely because of everything that goes with it. A lot of other clubs I wouldn’t have been interested. I was going to come back in and sign the contract at Wrexham but Paul Hurst contacted me to talk about a player, and said he wanted me back...

'I felt I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to return to Grimsby.'

Wrexham are looking for a new boss having decided not to offer Dean Keates a new deal... Pearson, only offered a one-year contract extension, admits not being able to discuss where he stood in the manager’s plans at The Racecourse did not help Wrexham’s cause.

'That was definitely a factor in the decision as well,' Pearson said about having the security of a two-year deal at Grimsby...

'That is not a dig at Wrexham but, with no manager in place, I couldn’t have that conversation to see where I would be in the plans of the new management team... I didn’t have time to wait around for that to happen because Grimsby wanted to move onto somebody else if they didn’t get me.

'I just felt this was the best for me and my family but also for me playing-wise. It was there in front of me and I have got a great relationship with Paul Hurst'...

Pearson, immediately installed as club captain when he signed for Wrexham, finished his first campaign as Player of the Season and he went on to make 132 league appearances in four seasons for the Reds".

According to the BBC "Notts County boss Ian Burchnall has urged his side to refocus for the next step in their bid to regain their place in the English Football League.

The Magpies travel to Torquay on Saturday in the second phase of the National League play-offs...

'They are a very good team, they nearly won the league, but finished secon'... Burchnall told BBC Radio Nottingham... 'We really have to focus now, we have to bring ourselves down and refocus on the next game." County lost their EFL status for the first time when they were relegated in 2019 and failed to bounce back at the first attempt when they lost 3-1 to Harrogate in last season's National League play-off final'.

They are now one game away from a return to Wembley after Mark Ellis scored a last-minute goal... Burchnall joked 'He's got a massive head. He's brave, he puts his head on everything. He doesn't mind getting his face smashed in. He's been magnificent.'

Ellis was born in Devon and made more than 130 appearances for Torquay earlier in his career.

'They're a former club, but there's only one thing on my mind and that's to go there and win and get us to the final,' the 32-year-old said".

Meanwhile, Torquay United "Manager Gary Johnson has issued a rallying call to United supporters...

'Our lads, after a training session, watched the Notts County game together, which was a good opportunity for us to discuss the tactics etc against Notts County. What we did see, was although all teams were similar in standard in both Play-Offs, the 12th man was obviously the home team’s support.

'I’m going to go a step further and ask our crowd to be our 11th man, because we need them in the team!

'I think everyone will understand that, because what a game to be involved in. We need an atmosphere that’s bouncing, and that movement will motivate the lads, I’m sure you’ll sing your hearts out for the lads, and it can make the difference. It also gives us a great opportunity to showcase our club on and off the field, and to enhance our growing reputation'".

RESERVES BEATEN IN CUP FINAL

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS

• Notts County (5th) 3-2 Chesterfield (6th), winners away to Torquay United

Play-Off Eliminator Round, Sunday 6 June 2021, k.o. 2.30pm

• Hartlepool United (4th) v Bromley (7th), winners away to Stockport County

The Hartlepool Mail stated that "Pools boss Dave Challinor has praised his players for the way they started the play-off clash at The Vic in front of 1,700 fans to set up a semi-final away at Stockport County next Sunday...

Challinor said 'We started the game really well, which you always want to do. I have been in similar situations being 2-0 up and 2-0 behind early on in play-off games...

'We probably got a little bit safe in the second half...

'The play-off final is June 20 and we came back the same date last year so it has been a long 12-months, we are managing a few little bits, it won’t be a case of doing massive amounts, we will gear up to Sunday to ensure everyone is prepared to go and perform'".

The London Football Scene reports that "It was Play-Off stage fright for Bromley as an uncharacteristic defensive display saw them fall to a 3-2 defeat against Hartlepool United...

Having sprung a surprise with a more offensive selection than anticipated, Bromley were blown away in the opening 25 minutes of the game courtesy of a Rhys Oates masterclass.

The Pools frontman gave the home side the lead when he took advantage of defensive indecision to poke beyond Mark Cousins on 17 minutes.

Three minutes later he turned provider, once again peeling off the Bromley defence before crossing for strike partner Luke Armstrong to finish smartly.

And it was 3-0 four minutes later when Oates got on the end of a flick-on before shooting low past Cousins when the ball broke back to him.

With the game over Bromley rallied briefly in the second-half with substitute James Alabi pulling a goal back three minutes after the restart when he nodded in from a corner".

ALTY'S SEASON: PART FOUR

APPEARANCES IN ALL COMPETITIONS

Only three cup matches were played, so in all there were 45 first-team matches.

• 44 Anthony THOMPSON (42 league, 2 cup) - pictured, right.
• 41 Joel SENIOR(39+1 league, 1 cup)
• 41 Jake MOULT (38+1 league, 2 cup)
• 38 Josh HANCOCK (33+3 league, 2 cup)
• 36 Tom PEERS (12+21 league, 3 cup)
• 36 Yusifu CEESAY (24+9 league, 3 cup)
• 34 Tom HANNIGAN (33 league, 1 cup)
• 34 Matty KOSYLO (29+3 league, 2 cup)

2019-20

As the regular season was not completed in 2019-20, the figures were necessarily lower than in previous seasons but the statistics below DO include the three play-off games.

• 45 Jordan HULME (all starts, 35+1 league, 8+1 cup)
• 40 Tom HANNIGAN (31 league, 9 cup)
• 39 Josh HANCOCK (29+1 league, 9 cup)
• 39 Anthony THOMPSON (30 league, 9 cup)
• 38 Jake MOULT (28+1 league, 9 cup)
• 37 Connor HAMPSON (23+7 league, 4+3 cup)
• 36 James JONES (27+2 league, 7 cup)
• 36 Tom PEERS (10+18 league, 6+2 cup)

Stability was a key factor in 2018-19. 12 players made 37 or more starts:

• 49 Jake MOULT (all starts, 44 league, 5 cups)
• 46 John JOHNSTON (44+2, comprising 40+1 in league, 4+1 in cups)
• 46 Josh HANCOCK (39+7, comprising 36+5 in league, 3+2 in cups)
• 44 Tom HANNIGAN (all starts, 40 league, 4 cups)
• 44 James JONES (43+1, comprising 39+1 league, 4 in cups)
• 41 Connor HAMPSON (38+3, comprising 35+2 league, 3+1 in cups)
• 41 Max HARROP (28+13, comprising 25+12 league, 3+1 in cups)
• 40 Simon RICHMAN (20+20, comprising 16+20 league, 4 in cups)
• 39 Jordan HULME (36+3, comprising 31+3 league, 5 in cups)
• 37 Anthony THOMPSON (all starts, comprising 34 league, 3 in cups)
• 37 Andy WHITE (all starts, comprising 33 league, 4 in cups)
• 37 Sean WILLIAMS (30+7, comprising 26+7 league, 4 in cups)

PLAYERS USED IN LEAGUE

• Named in a league squad incl. play-offs: 39 players
• Loanees named in league squad: 10 (Bell, Dales, Gibson, Holgate, Kirby (right), Ogle, Robbins Sass-Davies, Smith, Zouma)
• Named in a squad but never got on pitch in league game: 2 (Will Hall, Rowan Roache)
• Used as a sub but did not start a league game: 2 (Jamie McDonald 0+3, Curtis Miller 0+6)

In 2019-20:

• Named in a league squad incl. play-offs: 32 players
• Loanees named in league squad: 4 (who are included in total above; they were Yusifu Ceesay, Ashley Hemmings, Josh Lundstram, Ethan Walker)
• Never got on pitch in league game: 2 (Lewis Archer, Joel Torrance, James Hooper, Elliot Wynne)
• Used as a sub but did not start a league game: 2 (Curtis Miller, Ethan Walker)

In 2018-19

• Named in a league squad: 37 players
• Loanees named in league squad: 9 (who are included in total above; they were Yusifu Ceesay, Owen Dale, Brendon Daniels, Ashley Hemmings, Josh Langley, Joe Piggott, Chris Sang, Billy Sass-Davies, Nathan Waterston)
• Never got on pitch in league game: 3 (Ben Elliott, Josh Langley, Charlie Scott)
• Used as a sub but did not start a league game: 5 (Bay Downing, Dontai Gabidon, Callum Harris, Billy Sass-Davies, Nathan Waterston)

ALTY OLD BOYS

[Manager] Grant Black is delighted to have acquired the services of such an experienced striker, saying, 'He is a fox in the box and will be a real asset to us this season.

'His experience will also help guide the younger strikers so we are really happy to have got him into the club.'

Two days later The Nailers also announced that Black had "added another experienced striker to his growing squad, with Jonathon Margetts the latest to join the Nailers ranks."

Margetts (right) had a spell on loan at Alty in 2016, scoring twice in six appearances "before he joined Lincoln City on a one-year contract. After scoring 5 goals in 7 matches for Lincoln, Jonathon signed for Scunthorpe United on a 2-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

In 2018, he joined Boston United before returning to Gainsborough Trinity on loan for three months and then to Matlock Town for the remainder of the season. After a short spell at Tadcaster Albion, Jonathon joined Frickley Athletic in September 2019, where he was made club captain. Following a decision to move on from Frickley, Jonathon decided to join Belper Town in June 2021".

Margetts added that his godfather John Reed is assistant manager at Belper.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

“I thought we showed unbelievable character and belief, we were behind twice against a very good team. I thought the way we played was just magnificent, I am so proud.

“We did not panic, we stuck to our principles, we attacked relentlessly and I thought we were well deserving of the win...

“All of our defensive line will probably look at the two goals we conceded and maybe be a bit disappointed with them".

Ellis, who scored the winner, added, "It could not have gone better, probably one of the last kicks of the game...

“You have got to give credit to Chesterfield, they came out and did a job on us in the first-half... That is the worst we have been for a while I think, in the first-half, and we knew we had 45 minutes of hard work and graft to try and get a result...

"It is not the first time we have come from behind to win games.”

At Woking The Cards have signed "Solomon Nwabuokei...

Solomon joins from St Albans City, having made a big impression across two seasons at Clarence Park.

The tireless box-to-box midfielder, 25, signs for the 2021/22 season".

Meanwhile, Wealdstone "announce the departure of Michee Efete, Connor Smith, Danny Green, Dan Wishart, Moses Emmanuel and Jorome Slew.

We thank all six players for their efforts whilst at the Stones, especially Michee, Connor, Danny and Moses for their fantastic efforts in helping the club win the National League South last season.

Michee Efete departs after 64 appearances for the Stones, scoring nine times... Connor Smith departs after making a total of 95 appearances, scoring seven times over two spells at the club...

Danny Green leaves as the club's continuous longest-serving player after he was signed by Gordon Bartlett back in 2016. He made a total of 230 appearances at the Stones, scoring 40 goals...

Moses Emmanuel joined midway through last season, with his goals in the latter stages helping secure vital wins that earned the Stones promotion... He leaves with 11 goals in 26 appearances overall.

Dan Wishart and Jorome Slew joined the club in the summer... and Wishart leaves after making 16 appearances this season and Slew leaves after one goal in 11 games this season and three goals in 14 appearances over two spells at the club.

And as announced yesterday, Ross Lafayette has announced his retirement from playing and Ryan Gondoh has joined Hampton & Richmond Borough...

Stones retained list: Jake Askew, Jack Cawley, Ashley Charles, Dennon Lewis, Jacob Mendy, Jerome Okimo, Danny Parish, Michael Phillips, Connor Stevens

These nine players join Craig Fasanmade, who we had already announced as signed for the new season. Academy players Elijah Hearn and Tecane Shrowder also remain at the club after making two first-team appearances each in the league this season.

The club is currently in negotiations with four of last season's first team squad which include Charlee Hughes, Alex Dyer, Nikola Tavares and Josh Meekings...

Loan players Joseph Olowu, George Shelvey, Riley-Jay Harbottle, George Langston and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton have all returned to their parent clubs".

At Eastleigh, "Manager Ben Strevens has confirmed his released and retained list.

The following players remain in contract, have signed new deals, or have triggered appearance-based extension clauses:

• Joe McDonnell, Ross Flitney, Joe Tomlinson. Cav Miley, Jack Payne, Sam Smart, Ryan Hill, Tom Blair, Dan Smith

The following players have been released:

• Callum Baughan, Ben Scorey, Abdulai Baggie, Tom Bearwish. Lewis Beale

The rest of the first-team squad are continuing their contract talks with the club and manager".

Solihull Moors "with grateful thanks and a heavy heart announces that Darren Carter will be leaving the club.

For the past four seasons, Darren has served the club admirably as a player, coach and ambassador.

The 37 year-old joined the Moors in June 2017 and has made 137 appearances in all competitions, scoring 12 goals.

Darren captained the side that retained its National League status against all odds in the ‘great escape’ and was a central player in the 2018/19 season when Moors recorded their highest ever league finish. He was also named in the National League Team of the Season."

ALTY'S SEASON: PART THREE

PLAYERS USED IN ALL COMPETITIONS

2020-21

• 46 of whom 10 (Gavanagh, Graham, Hall, Howarth, Mercurius, Potter, Roache, Salmon, Taylor, Torrance [pictured, right]) did not make a league appearance and seven of whom (Gavanagh, Graham, Howarth, Mercurius, Potter, Taylor, Torrance) were not named in a league squad.

In 2019-20, which was a curtailed season of just 33 league matches plus the play-offs...

• 40 of whom 9 did not figure in a league squad (Liam Blackburn, Dontai Gabidon, Callum Graham, George Howarth, Billy Matthews, James Matthews, Raheem Mercurius, Jack Ryan, Dre Taylor)

In 2018-19:

• 44 of whom six did not figure in a league squad (Louie Barratt, Reece Coley, Matt Cook, Callum Jones, Pat Savage, Ross Woodcock)

DISCIPLINE: YELLOW AND RED CARDS

• Red: 3 in league.
• Yellow: 66 in league, 1 in cups.

In 2019-20 incl.play-offs:

• Red: 4, all in the league
• Yellow: 49 in league, 8 in cups.

In 2018-19:

• Red: 4 of which 3 in league (inc. 1 in play-offs) (Jordan Hulme away at Leamington, Andy White away at Telford, Josh Hancock away at Chorley in play-off). 1 red in cups: Jordan Hulme, home to Stockport County)
• Yellow: 61 in league, 6 in cups

RED CARDS

In 2020-21 individuals receiving red cards were:

• 1: Connor Hampson, Tom Hannigan, Jake Moult

In 2019-20 individuals receiving red cards were:

• 1: Tom Hannigan, Max Harrop, Simon Richman, Sean Williams

• 2 Jordan Hulme
• 1 Andy White, Josh Hancock

YELLOW CARDS IN ALL COMPETITIONS

In 2019-20:

• 12 Matty Kosylo [pictured, right] in 31+3 appearances
• 8 Jake Moult in 40+1
• 6 Tom Hannigan in 34
• 5 Tony Thompson in 44
• 4 Ryan Colclough in 23+5

In 2019-20:

• 8 Jordan Hulme in 43+2 appearances
• 5 Andy White in 31+1
• 4 Max Harrop in 9+17
• 4 James Jones in 34+2
• 4 Jake Moult in 34+1

2018-19

• 11 Max Harrop in 28+13 appearances
• 8 Jordan Hulme in 36+3
• 7 John Johnston in 44+2
• 6 Andy White in 37+3
• 5 Sean Williams in 30+7
• 5 Simon Richman in 20+20

LEAGUE ATTENDANCES

The largest gate at Moss Lane was 1,032 home-only supporters versus Torquay United on 29 May, 2021.

Above: Spectators were admitted for the first time in 2020-21 season for the match against Yeovil and in the absence of away supporters, they could populate the away end as seen here.

2019-20 League gates: the curtailed season saw the home and away highest gates and the lowest away away attendance all occurring in a one week spell in which were played the first three fixtures of the season!

HOME

• Highest: 1,879 v York City, 3 August 2019
• Lowest (excl. games behind closed doors): 614 v Blyth Spartans, 7 Jan 2020

AWAY

• Highest: 2,153 at Chester FC 6 August 2019
• Lowest (excl. games behind closed doors): 305 at Gloucester City, 10 August 2019

2018-19 League gates:

HOME

• Highest: 3,383 v Stockport County, 26 December 2018
• Lowest: 695 v Nuneaton Borough, 30 October 2018

AWAY

• Highest: 4,549 v Stockport County, 1 January 2019 and 3,446 v Chorley in play-off semi final, 5 May 2019
• Lowest: 454 at Bradford (PA), 15 September 2018

ATTENDANCES

In 2019-20, of course, attendances were hit by the incompleted fixture list and games behind closed doors, but home gates stood up well despite several big games not being played.

• Home avge: 1139
• Away avge: 938

In 2018-19, excluding play-offs:

• Home avge: 1137
• Away avge: 1198

ALTRINCHAM AMEND AGE GROUPS

Previously, the junior classification was 12-16... The decision by the board came after representations were made by a number of fans who asked if there was a way of easing the impact for those who had advanced beyond 16 but were still obliged to remain in full-time education and might therefore struggle to bridge the gap between junior and senior admission prices.

Recognising it as an eminently valid argument, Alty's directors readily ratified the change and are delighted to be able to confirm that 17 and 18 year-olds can now enter the ground for £6, rather than £14, or buy a season ticket for £75, instead of £235...

Alty co-chairman Bill Waterson said 'The 16-18 age group of fans is an important one. For many, this is the age at which you become hooked on Alty... We are creating the platform for fans for life. And that can only be a good thing!'"

PLAY-OFF ELIMINATORS

• Notts County (5th) 3-2 Chesterfield (6th), winners away to Torquay United

Play-Off Eliminator Round, Sunday 6 June 2021, k.o. 2.30pm

• Hartlepool United (4th) v Bromley (7th), winners away to Stockport County

The play-off matches are being broadcast live by BT Sport.

After their 3-2 win on Saturday, Notts County reported that "A last-gasp Mark Ellis header handed us victory over Chesterfield...

The visitors dealt the game's first blow when Danny Rowe's free-kick had too much power for Sam Slocombe, but Kyle Wootton levelled shortly afterwards when Ruben Rodrigues closed down a defensive clearance, paving the way for Wootton to score inside the area.

Chesterfield were back ahead shortly before the break when Liam Mandeville turned home a low cross from the left... And we responded when Wootton bagged his second goal of the game, turning home Ellis's knock-down from Rodrigues's corner.

And our turnaround was complete in the dying seconds of normal time when Rodrigues's drilled free-kick was met with a clinical header from Ellis six yards out, sending the Kop into raptures.

Slocombe, who had made an excellent one-on-one save from former Magpie Nathan Tyson earlier in the half, tipped an effort wide at the end of injury time and we escaped a scramble from the subsequent corner to book our place for next weekend's trip to Torquay".

Already serving a four-match ban for his behaviour in the technical area, the Chesterfield boss is yet again dissatisfied with the march officials as the Derbyshire Times reports that "James Rowe said he was ‘proud’ of Chesterfield’s performance but was left frustrated by the officials as the Spireites suffered late heartbreak in the play-off eliminator against Notts County.

Having led twice in the first-half through Danny Rowe’s thunderous free-kick and then Liam Mandeville’s strike, Kyle Wootton equalised with his second goal of the game before Mark Ellis headed a 90th minute winner from a free-kick which the Town manager felt should not have been awarded.

Leading 2-1, a big moment came on the hour-mark when Town goalkeeper James Montgomery suffered an injury and struggled for the remaining 30 minutes. Manny Oyeleke was also forced off injured at the same time.

'It is a tough to lose it in that manner,' boss Rowe said. 'I am really proud of the team but it has come down to a wrong decision for the winning goal. It is not a foul, it is diving, for the third goal, it should not happen. That cannot happen at this stage of the season.

'He (Notts player) has dived into the dugout to get a free-kick and he (the referee) has given it. Yes, we have to deal with the free-kick better, obviously the goalie normally comes and claims it from three yards out and you would never get a header there. The gods were not with us with the goalie getting injured.

'We were very comfortable until Monty got injured and that gave them a lift. “The second goal can’t happen from the corner, a really poor goal to concede, just like the first one. We trapped them in superbly and we had the better chances to win it and we did not take them'...

On the injury to Montgomery and the decision not to name a goalkeeper on the bench, Rowe added 'He (Montgomery) can’t walk. Credit to him for carrying on. We got hit with Monty and Manny (Oyeleke) at the same time, two big hits in the second-half.

'You toy with putting a goalie on at this stage and sacrifice one of the outfield players. I have chosen wrong and I will take that on my shoulders.'"

In fact Rowe had not included a second keeper on the bench so he could not have "put a goalie on".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Goodship netted six goals in 60 games for the Shrimpers before being let go at the end of last season. And he has now gone back to the Terras...

Weymouth boss Brian Stock said, 'He’s a player that needs no introduction... “The fans know what Brandon’s all about. He left the club for all the right reasons. It was the right decision for him to try and progress his career. Sometimes you need to take a step back to take a step forward...

'With the relationship I’ve had with him previously, I fully expect it to be a continued one and one I’m looking forward to as well.'

Goodship netted 75 goals in 83 games during his first spell with Weymouth...

'He’s natural finisher and goalscorer, we’ve all seen that, albeit two leagues below,' said Stock. 'That doesn’t ever go, that’s something that will stay with him for the rest of his career. He just needs to be in the right team to score those goals. I think he’s found that team.'”

According to the Portsmouth News "Former Barnet boss Simon Bassey has joined Pompey as first-team coach under Danny Cowley. Bassey quit non-league Barnet on Thursday, having served as Bees boss since April.

Despite finishing second from bottom in the National League, he sufficiently impressed the Barnet hierarchy to be asked to continue in the role next season.

However, the former AFC Wimbledon coach has opted to depart The Hive in favour of working with Danny Cowley at Fratton Park.

The pair are long-time friends stretching back to non-league times... Bassey said ‘An opportunity has come up for me to work at a higher level, one I felt I couldn't turn down.’

That opportunity is Pompey...

Bassey spent 17 years at Wimbledon, including time as a player. As a coach, he was a constant through the rise up the leagues".

In the Leader Live we learn that "Goalkeepers Rob Lainton and Christian Dibble have signed two-year deals to remain at Wrexham until the end of the 2022-23 season.

The duo kept 17 clean sheets between them last season, meaning for the first time in the club’s history that two goalkeepers have kept eight or more clean sheets in the same season.

Lainton, who first arrived at The Racecourse in the summer of 2018 on loan from Port Vale before committing to a permanent deal later in the campaign, has kept 45 clean sheets for Reds in 102 appearances... The 31-year-old was also named Player of the Season in his debut campaign.

Dibble, meanwhile, first signed for Wrexham in 2017 and the 27 year-old has gone on to make 42 league appearances, keeping 14 clean sheets...

Lainton told the official club website... 'The Club has big ambitions for next season and I’m looking forward to being part of that.'

Dibble added 'I’ve really enjoyed my four seasons at the club and I’m looking forward to getting this new era underway... Me and Rob are good friends but we compete with each other day in, day out and that has to be a good thing... I don’t just stand for being number two, I want to push him and he wants to push me.'”

1st Team Bromley "Manager Andy Woodman has won the Vanarama National League Manager of the Month award for May 2021.

The month of May began with a home 1-0 win over Hartlepool United... ending a 16 game unbeaten run for the Pools.

A 0-0 away draw at Torquay United then followed... before a 1-0 away win at Wealdstone... Then came a very impressive 2-2 away draw at Notts County, rounding off three away trips in a row...

Woodman’s men then secured two victories to end the regular season... Ian Burchnall’s Notts County were the visitors to Hayes Lane on the final day of the season... We all know how that game panned out".

The National League added "Since he arrived at Hayes Lane in late March, the south east London club haven’t looked back.

He certainly wasn’t expected to make the play-offs from those on the outside, but that he did after a victory-filled two months at the helm".

The Northern Echo reports that "Dave Challinor wants his Pools side to get a feel for the play-offs.

Hartlepool United are in training as they make final preparations for their biggest game of the season.

Pools host Bromley in a National League play-off eliminator in front of a sell out crowd at Victoria Park. The winner will set up a semi final tie away to Stockport County. ..

As part of his preparations, Challinor and his coaching staff will watch the other play-off eliminator between Notts County and Chesterfield on Saturday afternoon.

The Pools boss said 'We’re football people. You like to watch football games. Even watching from a TV perspective, you’ll be able to feel the atmosphere and feel the tension that’s involved in it. We won’t tell the players what to do, ultimately they need to relax and prepared for Sunday.

'But I do think it would be a good process for maybe the ones that haven’t played in play-off games before. Just to see what it’s like and maybe get a feel of how it affects different things and then you can pick up something that might benefit you that will help us on Sunday and hopefully moving forward.'

Ahead of the tie, Challinor confirmed that he'll have a clean bill of health among his squad after Luke Armstrong missed last week's win over Weymouth through illness".

Boreham Wood "announce that... Nathan Ashmore, Jamal Fyfield, Femi Ilesanmi, David Stephens, Kane Smith, Mark Ricketts, Gus Mafuta, Kabby Tshimanga and Tyrone Marsh will all be retained for next season.

Our recent January signing Krystian Pearce has now been placed on the transfer list due to his location, and all other senior players within last season’s squad have either been released or have chosen to leave. As such, we would like to thank Adam McDonnell, Piero Mingoia, Ryan Huddart, Danny Woodards, Tom Champion, Keiran Murtagh, Matt Rhead and Shaq Coulthirst for their services and efforts across what has been a very difficult season...

Further detailed discussions were also held between the Chairman, the Club’s Chief Executive and the Manager this week to talk about the Club’s vision and its infrastructure. As such, both First Team Assistant Manager, David Dodds, and the Club’s Senior Clinical lead, Steve Snelling, have left the club.

Chairman Danny Hunter said, 'Our ethos has certainly in all my time here, encompassed a sense of selflessness and an ethos of Attitude, Discipline and Desire. However, in this social media savvy day and age, it also needs clarity, vision, planning, intelligence, energy and positivity from top to bottom to succeed, which over the last 12 months in certain areas has for me been sadly lacking.

'Some people just haven’t understood our Club or its ethos, nor do they want to understand or respect its bottom-up infrastructure. That lack of understanding had shown itself time and again in all manner of situations last season, especially with some of our new personnel and backroom staff during this nightmare of a pandemic.

'As such, it’s now time for me to ensure that I return this Club to our very simple values of ‘Attitude, Discipline and Desire’ first, and personal gain and agents’ nonsense second, if not it’s only ever about self-gain and even more pounds, shillings and pence that we simply haven’t got, and when it’s like that, it’s never about the collective good and development of both the player or the Club', Hunter concluded.

Retained, under contract:

• Nathan Ashmore, Jamal Fyfield, Femi Ilesanmi, David Stephens, Kane Smith, Mark Ricketts, Gus Mafuta, Kabby Tshimanga and Tyrone Marsh

Transfer-listed:

• Krystian Pearce

Loans expiredL

• Corey Whitely, Junior Morias

Out of contract:

• Danny Woodards, Tom Champion, Piero Mingoia, Keiran Murtagh, Matt Rhead, Ryan Huddart, Shaquile Coulthirst, Adam McDonnell

ALTY'S SEASON: PART TWO

Right: Jake Moult captained Altrincham through the 2020-21 season.

POINTS ACCRUED

• Games 1-21: 30 points
• Games 22-42: 17 points

In 2019-20:

• Games 1-21: 33 points
• Games 22-33: 24 points

In 2018-19:

• Games 1-21: 35 points
• Games 22-42: 36 points

LEAGUE HAT-TRICKS

The last hat-trick in the league came in 2018-19 from Joe Piggott at Curzon Ashton

BIGGEST WINS IN LEAGUE

• 3-0 at home to King's Lynn Town

In 2019-20:

• 5-0 at home to Leamington
• 5-1 at home to Hereford FC

• 7-0 at Alfreton Town
• 6-0 at Curzon Ashton
• 4-0 at home to Nuneaton Borough and at home to Chester FC

Three of the best players who arrived in 2020-21 were (left to right) Joel Senior, Alistair Smith and Ryan Colclough.

HEAVIEST LOSSES IN LEAGUE

• 0-4 at home to Sutton United

In 2019-20:

• 0-5 at Boston United
• 1-3 at home to York City
• 0-2 at Kidderminster, Bradford, Gateshead

• 1-4 at Chorley
• 0-3 at Leamington

DRAWS IN LEAGUE

Right: Toby Mullarkey established himself as a regular in the Alty defence, appearing in 30 league fixtures.

• Goalless draws in league: 0

As for other scoring draws in 2020-21: 9 in league (4 home, 5 away). Seven of the draws were 1-1, the other two were 2-2.

In 2019-20, the record was identical but from nine fewer fixtures...

• Scoring draws: 9 in league (4 home, 5 away). Seven of the draws were 1-1, the other two were 2-2.

In 2018-19 Altrincham had eleven draws in the league proper plus two more in play-offs which were settled by penalty shoot-outs. Until the end of the season Alty had never drawn two successive league matches under Phil Parkinson but they finished the campaign with a run of four draws if the play-offs are included!

• Goalless draws in league: 0
• Other league draws: 11 in league (6 home, 5 away), 2 more in play-offs

BIGGEST WINS IN CUPS

In 2019-20 the biggest cup wins were 2-0 at Halesowen and 3-1 at Southport, both in the FA Cup.

In 2018-19:

• 5-0 at home to Whitley Bay (FA Cup)
• 4-0 at home to Bradford (PA) in FA Trophy

HIGHEST AGGREGATES IN LEAGUE GAMES

• 7: Altrincham 4 Yeovil Town 3
• 5: Altrincham 3 Chesterfield 2
• 5: FC Halifax Town 3 Altrincham 2
• 5: Altrincham 2 Boreham Wood 3
• 5: Altrincham 2 Barnet 3

In 2019-20:

• 7: Altrincham 5 AFC Telford United 2
• 5: Boston United 5 Altrincham 0
• 5: Altrincham 5 Hereford FC 0
• 5: Spennymoor Town 3 Altrincham 2
• 5: Altrincham 4 Spennymoor Town 1
• 5: Altrincham 3 Chester FC 2 in play-off eliminator

In 2018-19:

• 8: Spennymoor 4 Altrincham 4
• 8: Altrincham 5 Chorley 3
• 7: Alfreton Town 0 Altrincham 7
• 6: Curzon Ashton 0 Altrincham 6
• 6: Altrincham 3 Darlington 3

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

• Harry Taylor, Ephron Mason-Clark, Ben Nugent, Ben Richards-Everton, Liam Daly, Matt Preston, Antonis Vasiliou, Aymen Azaze

The Club has offered new deals to the following players:

• Wes Fonguck, Xander McBurnie, Josh Walker

The following loan players have departed upon the end of their deal:

• Muhammadu Faal, Michael Petrasso, Courtney Baker-Richardson, Adam Parkes, Sam Skeffington, Sam Beard, Themis Kefalas

The following players have left the Club following the expiry of their contract:

• Scott Loach, Dwight Pascal, Jack Connors, Alex McQueen, Jerome Binnom-Williams, Loic Hernandez, Lee Vaughan, Tyrone Duffus, James Dunne, Eliot Richards, Jack Tompkins, Anthony Wordsworth, Alfie Pavey, JJ Hooper, [ex-Alty forward] Tomi Adeloye".

Another club announcing its retentions and releases is King's Lynn Town.

The following players are under contract:

• Ross Barrows, Alex Brown, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Sonny Carey, Michael Clunan, Tyler Denton, Tai Fleming, Cameron King, Rory McAuley, Chris Smith, Dayle Southwell, Paul Jones

Exercised option [to stay?]:

• Michael Gyasi

Offered new terms:

• Aaron Jones, Jordan Richards

Released:

• Alex Kiwomya, Sam Kelly, Ryan Jarvis".

In the Leader Live, "Theo Vassell was 'shocked' that he wasn't offered a new deal by Wrexham after having a 'good season' for the Reds.

The centre-back arrived at The Racecourse last summer and made 31 National League appearances, impressing at the heart of the defence... Supporters are surprised that Vassell was not given a contract extension with club advisors deciding on the retained list after parting ways with manager Dean Keates on Sunday...

'We had no manager to make the decision so I don't know what has happened there,' said Vassell, who had spells with Chester, Gateshead, Port Vale and Macclesfield before he was brought in by Keates. 'I am shocked myself to be honest but it is what it is. I thought I did enough to get a new deal.

'I thought I had a good season and I enjoyed it at Wrexham but going forward, I won't be around... but it is not the end of the world.'

It was announced in February that the club was not going to offer any contracts to senior players before the end of the season... 'The club offered me a new deal in February but then the club turned around and said they didn't want to offer anyone new deals,' said Vassell.

'Now it has come to this so it's a bit strange.'"

The Derbyshire Times reports that "James Rowe says he has got different ‘options’ to choose from when selecting his team for the play-off encounter against Notts County on Saturday.

The Spireites played with two ‘number 10s’ in Liam Mandeville and Jack Clarke against Dagenham and Redbridge and Halifax but they have also gone with two up front regularly as well.

When asked about the latest on striker Danny Rowe, who came off in the first-half against Halifax because of a sickness bug, the manager said '“He is fine, credit to him for putting the shirt on and giving it a go. Obviously it did not work out as we would have wished'...

The boss will have a selection headache given the impact Nathan Tyson had off the bench at The Shay last weekend.

'We have changed our shape and personnel regularly through the season depending on the opponent'... Rowe explained. 'Obviously Nathan came on and did very well as well. We won there (at Notts County) with two centre forwards in the past so we have got options so I need to have a good think about how we are going to set up'...

One player Rowe won't be able to call upon at the weekend is Kairo Mitchell who is on international duty with Grenada in two World Cup qualifiers".

And also in the Derbyshire Times we learn that "James Rowe is keen for Chesterfield not to let their play-off opportunity pass them by and is confident that they can perform under pressure...

He said 'I have no doubts, considering the last two performances, the players can show once again for a third time under pressure that we can perform... Nobody expected us to be here but we don’t want the opportunity to pass us'...

Both teams have recorded a win against each other this season but Saturday is the first time Rowe and Notts boss Ian Burchnall will have gone head-to-head.

Town won at Meadow Lane in February but Burchnall did not take over at the Magpies until March.

'They have changed their way of playing a little bit,' Rowe said. 'They play shorter passes, shorter build-ups, a little bit more rotation, but nothing we can’t handle... Their form has really come forwards to get themselves in fifth position...

'I expect an open, technical and fast and furious game considering the fans are in and it being a play-off game'...

Rowe hopes that his time at Aldershot Town as a coach can help give the Spireites the edge... This is my third time in five years at this level now, so hopefully I can bring that extra one per cent if I can,' he added".

News of another play-off participant is to be found in the Hartlepool Mail, which advises us that "Hartlepool United are monitoring a few players but have no new injury concerns going into Sunday’s crucial play-off eliminator against Bromley... [in] their first play-off campaign in over 16 years...

Challinor has a near full-strength squad to choose from as it stands...

'We’ve got some lads who haven’t trained as much this week who we are managing and may train today but may not tomorrow in order to be ready for Sunday... Now it’s about what will hopefully be three huge games and having our players fit for those games is going to be vitally important'” said Challinor.

"Ben Killip (elbow) and Joe Grey (back) are long term absentees but Luke Armstrong is expected to return after missing last weekend due to illness. Right-back Jamie Sterry is also expected to start despite being withdrawn at half-time in the 4-0 home win against Weymouth.

'Luke trained straight away on Tuesday'... Challinor added. 'It was just a 24 hour thing with him... We’ve got a few lads with sniffles and colds but nothing that will keep them out of what is a massive game for us.

'Jamie will train [Thursday] morning but we have to manage him. He could have completed the game on Saturday and probably would have if it was our last game of the season'".

ROBINS REGAIN THEIR STRIPES

The official Altrincham FC website says that "The Puma era at Altrincham is well and truly underway, and in keeping with the professional approach behind recent progress on and off the pitch, the club have produced a special video to mark the first kit launch with our new world-renowned commercial partners...

It shows a return to traditional red and white stripes, black shorts and white socks at home and a combination of yellow with blue trim, blue shorts and yellow socks on the road".

ALTRINCHAM SEASON TICKETS

There are still a number of unknowns over next season – will all the COVID restrictions be lifted? Will our capacity be limited? Will streaming be allowed to continue? Will away fans be permitted? And all of this makes budgeting for the season very difficult.

We have, however, made some of the major decisions, which I can now outline. Most importantly, season ticket holders will gain priority access to any game with a limited capacity, just as they did for the last three games of the season. Also, a season ticket will include free access to any streamed game, once the National League have given their approval for streaming to continue. Furthermore, season ticket holders will have first right to purchase tickets for any FA Cup or FA Trophy game home or away.

Our season ticket pricing for next season will be held or reduced compared to the 2020-21 season, and the overall percentage discount offered is slightly increased on last season.

Matchday admission prices will be as follows for next season:

• Adult: £17
• Concession: £14
• Junior (12-16): £6
• Under 12: £2

And Season Tickets are priced as follows:

• Adult: £289
• Concession: £235
• Junior (12-16): £75
• Under 12: £36

Existing season ticket holders renewing for next season will have the option of a 15% discount on their purchase... I will be contacting you all to advise of the discount code".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The defender spent six years with the Mariners after joining from Boston United in 2011, before leaving the club in 2017.

Pearson has spent the last four years in North Wales with Wrexham, where he became the Dragons’ club captain and a firm fans’ favourite.

His deal at the Racecourse Ground is set to expire this summer, although he has been offered a new deal as Wrexham prepare for another season in the National League... They look set to be beaten though by the Mariners, with reports suggesting Pearson will be returning to Blundell Park... on a two-year deal...

He made 209 league appearances for the Mariners, and was part of the squad that won promotion back to the EFL in 2016.

He stayed on for another year in the Football League before leaving the club in 2017, with no offer of a new deal incoming at the time, a move which still rankles with Town fans to this day".

According to Get Surrey, "Woking manager Alan Dowson [has] revealed he was offered £100,000 by the club to bring in players in January but turned it down because, 'It would only have benefited me not the club'.

The 50 year-old was less interested in protecting his own reputation by securing better results than he was ensuring the club was in good financial health ahead of next season and he said 'When I got offered £100,000 at the end of January it was a week before no relegation from the league was announced. Then, once no relegation came in, there was little point in me accepting the money as the only person who would have benefited was me.

'I would have signed maybe four or five players to get me 15th place. That would have been for the benefit of me and nobody else. I told them to keep it for next season. Together with the furloughed players, that’s a hell of a lot of money saved off the wages this season we can use for next season...

'But what it’s done is the owner [John Katz] has come into this club, and I know he appreciated it, without any debt at all. We could have put the club back in debt, but we haven’t. We’ve knocked thousands and thousands off the budget...

'I am quite high tempo,' he said before explaining 'I have been a manager now for 15 years, I’ve always had a fear factor and I’m demanding. But when you can’t demand things from a side it’s very hard. Some lads have been on furlough. Some aren’t going to be here next season because some of them can’t and some of them I don’t want. So I can’t say ‘get out of the room’ because I had no other players to play.

'So I’ve had to be a bit more nicey, nicey in the last few months. I’m looking forward to running a changing room again, I’m looking forward to being a leader again and signing players who want to work how we want to work.

'We believe in hard work, we like good football but we haven’t had time for training because of all the games'...

”Dowson’s next job is to tell some players there is no future for them at Woking and he revealed... 'In my own head I have known for a couple of months but... it won’t be hard for me... If it was this time last year I might have felt it was difficult. But now I don’t feel that I must admit... it’s gone past that [the sentimental] stage to be honest'".

The Dorset Echo reports that "Weymouth have secured the signing of club captain Josh McQuoid for the 2021/22 season.

McQuoid, 31, scored eight goals and provided five assists in 34 games... The former Northern Ireland international has shown adaptability, often stationed in a central midfield role, as a number 10 or out wide.

Echosport understands boss Brian Stock... sees his long-term future in midfield.

Stock said 'Josh fully deserved my player of the year and I'm delighted to secure him for another year. You look for a captain to lead from the front, even when things aren't necessarily going well, and he's done that'...

McQuoid, who joins centre-back Ben Morgan as the only players currently on the Terras’ books for next season, signed in August 2018 and has 71 appearances and 19 goals to his name.

Earlier this week, 10 players left Weymouth in a mass exodus.

The highest profile was the decision not to renew midfielder Jordan Ngalo’s contract. Josh Wakefield signed for Salisbury, while Jack Hoey and Ade Olumuyiwa joined Totton.

Alefe Santos, Jack Dickson, Cody Cooke, Myles Anderson and Harry Burns left having been furloughed in January. Pierre Fonkeu also departed.

Loanees Andy Dallas, Ben Worman and Brennan Camp had already returned to their parent clubs".

Meanwhile, Barnet, share some of the key statistics from this season's Live From The Hive streaming service...

• Highest Virtual Attendance: 3666
• Average virtual attendance: 1300
• Average virtual attendance with fans allowed (four home matches): 906

Media and Communications Officer, Adam Rowe, said... 'Many supporters won't be aware that the streaming of matches allowed for students at our partner university, UCFB, to gain vital industry experience this season, we had students working with us as camera operators throughout the campaign and we are very thankful for their hard work'".

London Football Scene reports on Bromley "Having snuck into the National League Play-Offs on the final day of the season courtesy of a 1-0 win over Notts County, the Ravens find themselves the joker in a pack that includes six former Football League clubs...

Bromley have made steady progress since promotion to the National League in 2014/15. Under the guidance of former manager Neil Smith, they established themselves as a solid top half side...

Yet it is off the pitch where the ambition of Bromley Football Club can mostly be seen with the demanding leadership of chairman Robin Stanton-Gleaves seeing the club transition from part-time to full-time, put down 3G pitches in and around the stadium and install a 1,500 all-seater stand

In March this year Stanton-Gleaves made the controversial decision to remove the popular Neil Smith when Bromley were seventh in the league. Sensing that Bromley would fall short by the end of the season, Stanton-Gleaves entrusted the hotseat to Arsenal’s head of goalkeeping Andy Woodman...

Having only tasted defeat once since he took control, no other club has shown better form in that same period of time... They would need to defeat both Hartlepool United and Stockport County in one-off games away from home, [but] the Play-Offs are all about momentum."

ALTY'S SEASON: PART ONE

SEASON COMPARISON

• 2020-21: National League P42 W12 D11 L19 F46 A60 PTS47 POSN 17th
• 2019-20: National League North P33 W16 D9 L8 F62 A40 PTS57 POSN 5th* plus playoffs, in which: P2 W3 D0 L0 F6 A2
• 2018-19: National League North P42 W20 D11 L11 F85 A56 PTS71 POSN 5th plus playoffs, in which: P2 W1 D0 L1 F3 A3

Footnote: In 2019-20 Alty were on course for 72 points.

Altrincham lost 19 games in 2020-21, the same number that they had lost in the previous two seasons but they were obviously playing at a higher level last season.

Above: Phil Parkinson and Neil Sorvel

GOALS

The 2020-21 season's total of 46 goals scored was the fourth lowest total scored by Altrincham (in a league season of 42 games or more at any level) in their history.

In 2019-20 Altrincham scored 62 league goals in 33 matches, an average of 1.88 per match. They conceded 40 league goals in 33 outings. When the play-offs are added they scored 68 league goals in 36 matches, at an average of 1.89 per match.

In 2020-21 the top scorers were led by Josh Hancock, who led the league goalscoring tally for the third successive season.

• 12 Josh HANCOCK (all in league and incl. 5 penalties) in 35(+3) appearances in all competitions
• 8 Ryan COLCLOUGH (all in league) in 23 (+5) appearances in all competitions
• 6 Tom PEERS (3 in league, 3 in cup) in 15 (+21) appearances in all competitions

In 2019-20 the top scorers were:

• 19 in all competitions: Jordan HULME (14 league and 5 in cups) in 43(+2) appearances including play-offs.
• 18 Josh HANCOCK (16 league and 2 in cups) in 38(+1) appearances including play-offs.
• 9 Tom PEERS (5 league and 4 in cups) in 16(+20) appearances including play-offs.

Right: Josh Hancock and Matty Kosylo

In 2018-19 Altrincham scored 85 league goals plus 3 in the play-offs and conceded 56, plus 3 in the play-offs. The individual goal scorers were led by...

• 20 in all competitions: Josh HANCOCK (19 league) and Jordan HULME (17 league)
• 15 John JOHNSTON (14 league)
• 7 Max HARROP

GOAL TIMES (LEAGUE exc play-offs)

In 2020-21 season:

• First half: 19 (41.3%)
• Second half: 27 (58.7%)

In 2019-20 regular season:

• First half: 24 (38.7%)
• Second half: 38 (61.3%)

In 2019-20 regular season and play-offs:

• First half: 26 (38.2%)
• Second half: 42 (61.8%)

In 2018-19:

• First half: 33 (38.8%)
• Second half: 52 (61.2%)

CLEAN SHEETS

In 2020-21 Alty has two goalless draws in the league; coincidentally, these were in their first and their last fixtures. Over the whole season they recorded ten shut-outs (23.8%) excluding the Dover game which would have made it eleven.

Right: Goalkeeper Tony Thompson.

That is exactly the same rate as in 2018-19 (see below). In 2020-21 six of the clean sheets were at home.

Nine clean sheets were kept in 33 regular league games in 2019-20, a better rate (27.3%) than the ten clean sheets which were kept in 42 league matches in 2018-19 (23.8%). Four clean sheets came at home but five were earned on the road.

In 2019-20 a further two clean sheets came in the three play-off games making 12 clean sheets in 36 league matches (33.3%).

LEAGUE SEQUENCES

In the first half of 2020-21 Alty won nine, drew six and lost six. In the second half they lost twice as many games (12) and won just four times, drawing the other five fixtures.

Their longest league sequences in 2020-21 were...

• Wins: Three in games 11-13
• Unbeaten: Five, games 16 to 20
• Draws: Two (games 3-4, 16-17, 41-42)
• Losses: Five (games 21-25)

Above we see the league results in 2020-21 colour-coded, with red for defeat, amber for a draw and green for a win.

In 2019-20:

• Wins: Six in games, 31 to 33 and the three play-offs; in the regular season five consecutive wins came in games 18 to 22.
• Unbeaten: Seven, games 17 to 23
• Draws: Two (games 12-13)
• Losses: One (eight occasions)

• Wins: Four, games 16 to 19
• Unbeaten: Eight, twice. Games 12 to 19 and games 31 to 38
• Draws: Two in main season (games 41,42) or 4 if the two play-offs are added.
• Losses: Two, twice (games 4,5 and 8,9)

ALTY RESERVES REACH FINAL

The Altrincham FC offical website reports that "Altrincham FC Reserves will face Egerton FC in the final of the JB Parker Premier Division Challenge Cup Final on Saturday at Winstanley Warriors FC (Goose Green, Wigan, WN3 6PZ).

Kick-off is at 2pm.

Spectators are welcome and it would be great to get a good turnout of Alty fans for this important finale to the season".

The Altrincham team overcame local rivals Broadheath Central on penalties after a 1-1 draw secured by Dre Taylor's equaliser in added time.

In the shoot out "Marc Bellingham, George Howarth, Max Pouncey, Raheem Mercurius and Dre Taylor all scored for the Robins whilst Joel Torrance heroically saved Broadheath Central's fifth penalty to secure a place in the final".

The Altrincham line-up was: Joel Torrance, Marc Bellingham, Niall Butchart, Madison Davis, Daniel Gavaghan, Callum Graham, Reiss Hughes, Daniel Lewis, Raheem Mercurius, Max Pouncey, Dre Taylor. Substitutes: Sam Corbishley, Joel Edwards, George Howarth and Thomas Millington.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Sutton were given a guard of honour by Barnet as the players walked out onto the pitch, but there was little action at either end during a low-key first half.

The Bees, who will not be relegated... stepped things up following the restart.

The deadlock was eventually broken on the hour when Harry Taylor’s cross was deflected onto the post, apparently off Aaron Simpson, and collected by Sutton goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis but the assistant referee signalled the ball had crossed the line... before Bees substitute Josh Walker added a second goal in stoppage time...

Boss Simon Bassey described the win as a good building block for next season... 'It was a difficult game. Sutton came and we we knew exactly what they would be, they made a few changes to their team, which was a little bit surprising. t was a real end of season-y game, it’s boiling hot, the pitch is a little bit long, a bit dry, but we had to find a way to win.

'I challenged the boys at half time to dig deep for one last game, one last half, we’ve had a difficult schedule certainly since I’ve been in, had a lot of games.

'We’re not a lot of bodies, so to get them to regroup and show the energy levels they produced in the second half at times was really pleasing.'

Another aspect of the match that Bassey was pleased with was the clean sheet, their second in a row as they finished the season with an unbeaten three game streak".

At Wealdstone, "Seven players have left the club with Ross Lafayette announcing his retirement from playing, Ryan Gondoh rejoining former club Hampton & Richmond Borough and five loan players returning to their parent clubs.

Striker Lafayette made a total of 72 appearances, scoring 22 times over two spells at the Stones, first joining for a short spell at the start of the 2009/10 season and then again at the start of the 2019/20 season, with his goals helping the Stones win the National League South...

Also departing the club is Ryan Gondoh, with the winger rejoining former club Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Gondoh scored four times and made a total of 14 appearances after joining the club in Match from Whyteleafe, including a brace in our final game of the season at Woking...

Returning to their parent clubs following loan spells are George Shelvey, Riley-Jay Harbottle, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, George Langston and Joseph Olowu. Shelvey and Harbottle return to Nottingham Forest... Langston and Lo-Everton return to parent club Watford...

And finally Olowu returns to Arsenal, where his contract is set to end".

The BBC confirms that "Midfielder Mark Carrington is one of eight players released by Wrexham.

The 34 year-old was the National League club's longest-serving player, having arrived at the Racecourse Ground in September 2013. Bobby Grant, Jay Harris, James Horsfield, Fiacre Kelleher, Paul Rutherford, Chris Sang and Theo Vassell are the other players to depart.

They follow manager Dean Keates out the door after his contract was not renewed...

Meanwhile, Kwame Thomas will be offered the opportunity to earn a permanent contract having ruptured his Achilles tendon in April".

According to the Halifax Courier "Town boss Pete Wild says he wants to keep 95 per cent of his current squad...

The Courier understands that goalkeepers Sam Johnson and Harrison Davison-Hale, defenders Jack Senior, Tom Bradbury and Nathan Clarke, and midfielders Jeff King, Danny Williams, Dom Tear, Kieran Green, Luke Summerfield, Martin Woods, Reuben Noble-Lazarus and Jack Earing are all out of contract this summer...

'We want to keep 95 per cent of the squad, but that is down to 95 per cent of the squad want[ing] to stay,' he said.

'We know 50 per cent will stay because they’ve got more than one year on their deal... One of the things we tried to do last year was get some of our better assets on two-year deals and that will be the fight again this summer, to try and do that again, so it isn’t this circle of recruit, recruit, recruit...

'We’ve identified targets we want to bring in to try and make us better again, and we’ve identified targets that, if certain people say no to us, we have a back-up target.

'They’ve all been identified through me, Milly (Chris Millington) and Gareth (McClelland). After this week, it’ll be actively going and meeting the potential new recruits, getting in-front of them and getting a feel for them and them getting a feel for us'...

'Because we’ve now been in the job two years, we’re a bit more fortunate that we have a structure in place and we know what we want and who we want, we know who fits how we want to play,' said Wild...

'You can’t stand still in this league, you look at some of the teams who have maybe stood still this year and it’s cost them... Our analysis department are now looking at statistics of where we score goals, how we score goals, how we conceded goals, when we’re scoring. All that will inform our performance model and how we do things.

'Our strength and conditioning department are already looking at what some of the lessons are from last pre-season...

'One of the things I pride myself on is knowing most footballers in the league below this level, and the league above, and if I don’t know somebody, it’ll annoy me,' he said... 'I have a spreadsheet that’s 200 lines long in terms of players at all levels. So I know exactly the type of player I want...

'Football’s a small industry and players talk, and the good thing is I’ve already had players and agents ring me saying that they’ve heard really good things about what we’re doing, and they want to come and play for us,' he said...

'If you want big money, you ain’t coming to Halifax, but if you want to be coached in the right way, have an environment that’s good to turn up to every morning, and people that put a lot of trust in you, then for me, that’s more than money will ever be...

'I’m excited about the future of the club'...

Wild is happy with last season’s recruitment strategy, which focused on three different tiers of younger players with first-team experience, players in or around their prime and older heads to set and maintain standards on and off the pitch...

'When everybody walks through the door, there’s no ‘he’s on £50 more than me etc’, there’s three pay structures, that’s where we are and that’s how we get the best out of our budget, and that’s why, when we had to take the loan out, and cut some of the budget this year, that it didn’t leave us as short as it could have done...

'I like the figure of 20 [players], because you’re always nearly in the squad and you’re always nearly out of it'...

The Town boss wants half-a-dozen warm-up games before the campaign begins on August 21".

The Hartlepool Mail states that "Rhys Oates’s second spell at Hartlepool United has seen the forward produce some of the best football of his career.

Pools’ top scorer swept the player of the season awards following Saturday’s 4-0 win over Weymouth...

Oates rejoined Pools following a difficult final season with Morecambe as he was restricted to just five League Two appearances due to injury.

His first spell at The Vic – between 2015 and 2018 – certainly didn’t produce the same level of consistency or quality as he has managed second time round...

'The gaffer gave me an opportunity when I’ve been without a club in the summer... so it was more proving to myself that I’m still capable of doing it because I didn’t really play much last season, only around eight games'...

Oates added 'There are no bad eggs and you could go out with any one of them and have a conversation because everyone just gets along and it’s a really good squad to be part of.'”

The Maidenhead Advertiser says that "Maidenhead United boss Alan Devonshire has admitted he's resigned to losing the likes of Danilo Orsi-Dadomo and Josh Coley following their impressive seasons for the club, but he'll keep his door open if they don't get the move or offer they're looking for...

But he's confident the core of last season's squad will remain at York Road.

There were glimpses of the future in Saturday's resounding win, with former youth players Reece Smith and Josh Kelly finding the net, but some of the players who have made Maidenhead sparkle at times this season won't be staying on, and there's not a lot Devonshire can do about that...

He said '“We will probably be losing Coley, he'll be going into the league, and probably Danilo as well. There’s not a lot we can do about that. It’s out of our control. The mainstay of the players will hopefully stay, and we’ll try to add a few to make us stronger...

'There are seven or eight players who have already committed. But we're not putting that information out there until we know what the core of our squad is going to be'...

Devonshire expects with good reason that the division will be tougher than ever next season...

If he and his son Lee can get the recruitment right again, he sees no reason why the club can't continue punching above its weight.

In Saturday's 4-1 win at Boreham Wood and they leapfrogged their hosts in the process...

'The way the season has gone, maybe we’re a little bit disappointed... Injuries caught up with us a lot, late on in the last 10 games. But listen it’s about progress, and we have progressed in the last year or two."

BRAD JACKSON JOINS

Jackson's first encounter with Alty was as a Burnley player in a pre-season game at Moss Lane in 2016; he was with The Clarets from 2015 to 2018, having also had loan spells in that period at Bangor City and Southport.

He joined Ashton United in summer 2018 but, in December 2018, he signed for Chester FC, where he played on the right-wing but he has also played as a right-back.

His most recent game against Altrincham for Chester FC was in the Vanarama National League North play-off eliminator match in July, 2020.

Injuries limited him to seven starts before the NLN season 2020-21 was halted by Covid. In all, he made 71 appearances for Chester, scoring five goals and was voted by supporters as part of the squad in the Chester FC Team of the Decade.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 18-year-old has been on Pompey’s radar after bursting onto the non-league scene.

Vincent was aged 17 when handed a first-team debut in February, appearing from Bromley’s bench... He has since totalled seven outings, of which four have been starts, catching the eye of the Blues and other admirers.

It is understood an agreement over a Fratton Park move has now been reached, yet Vincent must wait until the conclusion of Bromley’s play-off campaign before departing...

Vincent hasn’t featured in a first-team squad since the end of April, nonetheless remains part of their set-up during the hunt to reach the Football League.

The attacking full-back is very much seen by Pompey as one for the future rather than a first-team presence in the forthcoming season...

The opinion is he can flourish with the Blues... Vincent signifies the third player in three years to make the move from Bromley to the south coast.

Louis Dennis arrived on a free transfer in May 2018, yet would go on to total just eight first-team appearances, before sold to Leyton Orient little more than a year later. The 28-year-old has now been released by the League Two club following four goals in 49 appearances.

Then, in January 2020, Reeco Hackett-Farchild was recruited for an undisclosed fee. To date, he has made one Pompey appearance, while was loaned to Bromley and then Southend in the 2020-21 season".

According to the Dorset Echo, "Midfielders Jordan Ngalo and Pierre Fonkeu havr left Weymouth following the expiry of their contracts.

Ngalo, 22, played 106 times for the Terras, scoring four goals. Despite playing 23 matches in Weymouth’s Vanarama National League season, Ngalo could not bolt down a regular starting spot.

Manager Brian Stock spoke to Ngalo this week, ending a spell at Weymouth which began in December 2017 following his move from Blackfield & Langley...

Ngalo has achieved two promotions and three trophies with Weymouth.

Vice-chairman Paul Maitland said 'It’s the direction we’re moving now. We don’t have time to spend developing players. We’re in a position where everybody’s got to be ready to go all the time. Jordan is still a work in progress... He needs to go and get a consistency in his game now and get a whole load of games under his belt, rather than 20...

Fonkeu joined as a free agent in January as Weymouth beat off competition for his signature from Grimsby Town.

However, the former Lens and Norwich winger did not score during his time at the club."

Also from the Dorset Echo, we learn that "Weymouth have parted ways with Myles Anderson, Cody Cooke, Jack Dickson, Alefe Santos and Harry Burns.

The Terras' quintet all struggled for game time this season and their contracts have now expired.

In January, all five players were furloughed along with Jack Hoey and Ade Olumuyiwa...

Commanding centre-back Anderson spent a successful period on loan with National League South side Hampton & Richmond last season, keeping five clean sheets. However, he made just three appearances for Weymouth all season.

Midfielder Burns came up through the youth ranks at Weymouth and enjoyed a five-game loan spell at Dorchester... Burns has been unused by boss Brian Stock this season and made four career appearances...

Former St Mirren and Truro striker Cooke played 21 times for the Terras, scoring three times and providing three assists.

Midfielder Dickson, having been recalled from furlough, has played seven games since his move from Poole.

Alefe Santos appeared eight times for Weymouth, creating one assist".

We read in the Grimsby Telegraph that "Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst admits that he was glad to see Sutton United promoted, so it’s one less artificial pitch for his side to play on next season...

Hurst said 'One good thing is that it takes one of the artificial surfaces out of the league. Some teams have still got that though, which will be a challenge and something that’s different'...

He told the BBC 'The teams who will be left disappointed and not go up through the play-offs will be heavily backed next season. As for us, I think we will also be in the category of teams people expect to be strong; that’s what I am hoping as is everyone connected with the club.

'But I know full well from my previous time here that this will not be an easy league to get out of'".

In the Hartlepool Mail, "'Keep calm and keep faith in your ability', that’s what Dave Challinor will be telling his Hartlepool United squad this week as the players prepare for the biggest game of the season, Bromley at home in the National League play-offs...

'The better teams over 40-odd games finish at the top of the league but it’s not always the better teams that win the play-offs, it's the team that copes best with the situation and has a bit of luck.

'You have to cope with it and that will dictate things and what’s happened over the season and whether you want to say we’ve had some high pressure games with some importance, we’ve made individual errors and whether that’s a contributing factor in that, who knows?...

'You have to remain calm and keep belief in your ability and what’s got you where you are and hopefully that sends you on the right path,' he added.

Challinor, meanwhile, hopes to have Luke Armstrong available after flu".

At King's Lynn Town, "Rory McAuley has been suspended from all football activities at King’s Lynn Town Football Club with immediate effect.

The club will make a future statement in due course".

Lynn News explains that "A King's Lynn Town footballer will appear before Norwich Crown Court later this month, accused of conspiring to supply a class A drug.

Police say Rory McAuley is currently on bail following an initial hearing...

Norfolk Police said a man had been arrested in Hethersett on the afternoon of May 13 when a car was stopped and found to [contain] 'a large quantity of Class A drugs.'"

The Leader Live relays the view that ""Shaun Pearson insists departing Wrexham manager Dean Keates can leave the Racecourse 'with his head held high'.

Wrexham failed to get the win they needed at Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday to clinch a play-off spot with the 1-1 draw condemning the Reds to a 14th campaign in non-league.

Just 24 hours later and the club, owned by Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, revealed that Keates, out of contract at the end of the season, will not be offered a new deal along with assistant manager Andy Davies and first team coach Carl Darlington who have also left The Racecourse.

Keates returned for a second spell as manager in October 2019 and Wrexham only just avoided relegation last term...

Captain Pearson believes Keates deserves credit for turning things around.

'I have no idea what their criteria was [sic] in terms of Dean keeping his job,' said Pearson. 'But one thing the gaffer can do is walk away with his head held high because he has done a good job... He has turned it around from a team that really struggled last season to being at the top end this season, and with a little bit of fortune we might just have snuck in there'...

'Any manager that comes in now, the foundations are there to move this team forward... We didn’t start great and we actually got progressively better as the season went on. Obviously we had to win at Dagenham but that probably wasn't the game that cost us when you look over the course of the season...

'I have loved being at Wrexham and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have had that opportunity'...

'Our budget is obviously going to be at the top end but if Stockport or Chesterfield don’t go up, they have already been chucking big money at it and I imagine those clubs will go again'".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The centre-back, who ended last season on loan with the Shrimpers, remains in talks with Blues about a return to Roots Hall.

But fellow National League side Weymouth are also believed to be in discussions with the 22 year-old who made 14 appearances for Southend last term.

Cordner is on the look-out for a new club after leaving Bournemouth and a switch to nearby Weymouth, who finished 18th in the National League last season, would keep him close to home.

However, the Shrimpers are also doing what they can to sign Cordner with boss Phil Brown feeling he could select him in either defence or midfield as his side bid to bounce back from relegation.

According to the London Football Scene "Barnet have endured a nightmare 2020/21 campaign.

The Bees have gone from Play-Off contenders to rock bottom of the National League with the only saving grace the avoidance of relegation as funding issues forced the early curtailment of National League North and South...

[In 2020] "manager Darren Currie and his squad were given a Play-Off lifeline... with Barnet beating Yeovil before succumbing to Notts County in the semi-finals...

The playing budget was subsequently slashed by 50% last summer with Currie replaced by ex-Newport and Hereford boss Peter Beadle.

Barnet won four out of their opening seven games under Beadle... before going on a nine-game winless run.

With the side sitting 20th in the table and having not won in the league since October 13th, former Solihull Moors boss Tim Flowers was tasked with turning fortunes around.

However, Flowers’ tenure was nothing short of disastrous...

Chairman Tony Kleanthous backed Flowers heavily in the January window, recruiting nine new faces for a covid-stricken side that had already been depleted by the departure of a number of first-team players in the summer due to the budget cut...

'You look at the standard of players that we got rid of, compared to who we have now and they are on a different level. It’s really disappointing'...

Following Flowers’ departure, Gary Andersen took interim charge before former AFC Wimbledon coach Simon Bassey provided a bit of stability on his arrival at The Hive in April.

But despite winning five of his thirteen games in charge since taking the reins, Bassey still has his reservations over the standard of the squad available...

Hopefully "with a bit of stability and consistency, Bassey and the club’s hierarchy can use this summer to rebuild and provide a foundation for a brighter future."

London Football Scene reports on “A day that I’ll never forget and I’m sure that everyone connected to Sutton United... will never forget. We’ve created history and I’m so proud.'

That was Sutton manager Matt Gray’s response...

Even chairman Bruce Elliott had previously described the club’s natural level as the National League South, the highest-level of semi-professional football [sic], so to go from 15th-placed in the sixth tier to top of the fifth tier in just seven seasons is nothing short of remarkable...

Lifelong supporter Tony Dunmore said, 'The chairman and directors have run the club for years in a fiscally responsible way, therefore avoiding the pitfalls experienced by so many other clubs at our level.

'Then there was Paul Doswell (manager for 11 years), who revitalised the club and energised the commercial activities and brought success on the pitch.

'Matt Gray and Jason Goodliffe (Sutton’s assistant manager) have since built on the squad they inherited with astute signings and organised the team into a very effective unit'...

Gray’s decision to embrace the loan market this season after previously believing it only to benefit the lending club has also been key to Sutton’s success.

One such loanee, Millwall’s Isaac Olaofe has particularly stood out, netting 16 goals".