MULLARKEY DEPARTS

John Edwards adds that "Alty did everything they reasonably could to persuade Toby to remain at The J.Davidson Stadium, but, after he made it plain he wanted to test himself in the Football League, the club reluctantly granted his wish and sanctioned a move that sees him head to Spotland for an undisclosed fee.

"The Alty vice-captain's departure is without doubt a development that the club regret after the way he has developed into one of the most accomplished defenders in the Vanarama National League since arriving from Nantwich Town nearly four years ago...

Mullarkey was strongly linked with clubs as high as League One at the end of last season, but with the Robins taking the leap into full-time professional football, he agreed to stay and was made vice-captain. Even filling in at right-back this season, as opposed to his customary role in the centre of defence, his form continued to take the eye, with League scouts and managers monitoring him on a regular basis. As interest in him intensified, with deadline day approaching, the club moved to stave off a growing list of admirers and convince him he could fulfil his ambitions with the Robins.

But the lure of elevating himself to Football League status at the age of 27 held sway, and when he spelled out that he wanted to leave, the club acquiesced, rather than have an unhappy player on their hands".

Footnote: Mullarkey leaves having made 111 starts and 21 more appearances from the bench. He netted ten goals. This season he had made 25 starts and scored four times. Rochdale are bottom of EFL2.

CONN-CLARKE SENT TO IRELAND

Relegated Waterford "can confirm the signing of young forward Chris Conn-Clarke on a season-long loan from sister club, Fleetwood Town.

Conn-Clarke will look to build on his loan spell at Altrincham this season...

The 21 year-old has come through the Northern Ireland youth ranks, and has represented his country at Under-21s during his time at Fleetwood Town alongside current loanee at Waterford FC, Barry Baggley who also joined the Blues a week before the pre-season tour to Dubai.

The forward could feature tonight against Cobb W, [and] will be available for the friendly match against Shamrock Rovers on Saturday 4 February in Roadstone, before the Blues finish pre-season at the RSC on Saturday 11 February to [against] St Patrick’s Athletic".

ALTY'S SECOND SIGNING OF THE DAY

The 22 year old winger, who can also operate as a striker, has joined the Robins on an initial one-month deal... [Below, Fleetwood say it is a season-long loan].

Hailing from Guiné-Bissau on the West Africa coast, Quitirna joined Charlton Athletic in 2019 and made two cup appearances for the first team, as well as being a regular for the under-23s, before leaving The Valley in the summer of 2021.

He signed for Waterford on July 9th 2021 and made his debut the same day... He scored seven goals in 21 appearances that season, and though he couldn't prevent Waterford being relegated to the First Division... He contributed 13 goals and 10 assists in 35 outings.

Quitirna's form was noted at Fleetwood, whose chairman Andy Pilley completed a takeover of Waterford last August, and the talented Bissau-Ginean soon found himself heading to Highbury Stadium".

Footnote: Educated in Ilford, Armando Junior Quitirna started out in the UK at Essex club Hornchurch after moving to Porto from West Africa. From Hornchurch, he joined Charlton Athletic. In 43 appearances in all competitions for Waterford he scored 18 times.

Meanwhile, Waterford "confirm Junior Quitirna has left the club while he addresses ongoing visa issues.

The popular midfielder has joined Fleetwood Town and subsequently signed a short-term loan deal with National League side Altincham FC to ensure game time while the issue is resolved.

While the club are hugely disappointed Junior will not be available for the early part of the season, our relationship with sister club Fleetwood Town has allowed the Blues to facilitate a move back to his native U.K. while issues are resolved.

We are confident Junior will be able to return to the RSC in the future."

And Fleetwood tell us "Waterford FC forward Junior Quitirna has joined the club and will immediately head out on loan to National League side Altrincham until the end of the season.

Quitirna, 22, was a crucial part of Waterford’s success last season and earned a spot in the League of Ireland First Division Team of the Year after helping guide the Blues to a promotion play-off final against UCD back in November.

Over the last two seasons in Ireland, Junior made 55 appearances for the Blues, scoring 20 goals and assisting 12 in the process, but due to issues in relation to his status in the country, the forward has made the move to England whilst those issues are being resolved.

The young forward will immediately join National League side Altrincham on loan until the end of the season, a club which helped Waterford loanee Barry Baggley progress his career, as well as helping Chris Conn-Clarke earn a new long-term deal with the Cods after his consistent performances in Greater Manchester".

CONN-CLARKE REWARDED WITH NEW CONTRACT

Conn-Clarke, 21, has been out on loan at National League side Altrincham this season and has made 32 appearances in the time, scoring 10 goals in what was a very successful spell at the J.Davidson Stadium.

The young forward, who has international experience to his name, has featured a number of times for the Northern Ireland Under-21s, alongside teammates Paddy Lane, [ex-Alty] Barry Baggley and Carl Johnston.

On the new deal, Chris said 'I'm happy to have been offered this new deal at Fleetwood, the hard work that has been put in over the last year both at the club and on loan at Altrincham seems to have paid off.

'I'm excited to see what the future holds for me as I can look to conquer whatever new challenges come my way.'

The deal will see him stay until the summer of 2025, with the club holding an option for a further year - congrats on the contract, Cricky!".

CASHMAN JOINS ALTY

An all-action, energetic attacking midfielder, the livewire 22-year old can operate in any of the three positions behind the main striker but has been earmarked for the number 10 role by Alty manager Phil Parkinson.

Though he only turned 22 earlier this month, former Brighton under-18s' skipper Danny, who will train with his new Alty team-mates this week and be available for Saturday's big 5.20pm kick-off at home to Wrexham, has already gained valuable experience at League Two level after two extended loan spells at Rochdale and Walsall over the last couple of seasons".

Footnote:

Danny Cashman (d.o.b. January 8, 2001 in Crawley) has won England U17 honours and has now become the ninth loanee to join Altrincham this season.

He started at Brighton & Hove Albion where he stayed from age 12 to age 20 before moving to Coventry City at the start of 2021/22 season. He immediately moved on loan to Rochdale, where he scored three goals in 29 appearances during that campaign.

A year later, in September 2022, he moved to Walsall on loan for the rest of the season but this arrangement was cut short in January 2023 as the Coventry Telegraph reported this month that "Danny Cashman has returned to the club after cutting short his season-long loan at League Two Walsall.

The 22 year-old development squad player made just seven substitute appearances for the Saddlers in the league, and made his only two starts in the ELF Trophy during a difficult spell in which he has been unable to score a single goal.

Slipping out of contention under manager Michael Flynn, he clearly doesn’t figure in the manager's plans, having not featured since November when he went on for the last 14 minutes of a 2-1 FA Cup win over Carlisle.

A statement from Walsall said 'Walsall Football Club can confirm that forward Danny Cashman has returned to Coventry City.

'The 22-year-old played 10 times, registering two assists, during his spell with the Saddlers'...

City, meanwhile, have officially 'recalled' the player who they signed from Brighton’s development squad in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer and joining on the three year contract. It’s likely that... the player will head back out on loan to another club this month'".

ZAK, "BEST FINISHER AT THE CLUB"

Referring to the penalty shoot-out win over Wrexham in the FA Trophy, Neil wrote that "It was great to see Zak Goodson (right) show what he's about with an equaliser from the edge of the area.

"I'm sure all our other forwards will disagree, and take me to task for saying this, but I rate Zak the best finisher at the club.

"We do finishing drills in training all the time and he has that about him, so much so that I believe he is the best we've got at sticking the ball away.

"And the way he he stepped up to take the second penalty in the shoot-out, he doesn't lack composure or self-belief! That takes some doing when the heat is on, even allowing for the fact that we prepared thoroughly, and had a session the day before where everyone took a penalty.

"I've got to hold my hands up here and confess that I was the only one who missed; mine hit the bar and stayed out!".

UNTANGLING ALTY'S YOUTH TEAMS

A new under-16s side was also formed and this competes from 2022-23 in the North West Youth Alliance Development Division.

Altrincham FC Academy

In September 2020, a newly formed "Altrincham FC U19 Academy" started playing in Division H of the National League U19 Alliance and in 2021-22 it won the league title.

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Above: Altrincham's Academy team won Division H in 2022.

Then, in December 2022, it was announced that "Alty have, this season, had two sides in the two under-19s National Leagues, one in the North Division and the other in Division H".

The December announcement added that "The decision [has been] taken to withdraw the Division H team from the National League and place them in the AOC North West Invitational League, a transition that will free Alty's Academy from the 28-day rule's limitations [on players playing for the other Altrincham team in thae same league] and that the club are pleased to announce has now been completed".

So there is now an "academy" team in the AoC Sport North West Men's Football Invitational League. However, the team is curiously branded on that league's website as "TCG (Altrincham FC) Men Regional Team 2".

This week the Altrincham FC website has a new report on a game which ended Steven Gerrard Academy 3 Altrincham 2, written by Alty player Josh Mannie...

Altrincham squad: Abdulaleh Nassief, Ian Jose, Alvin Grazer, Peter Arogun, Harrison McCarthy, Ajani Oshodin, Ali Abdullah, Josh Mannie, Kareem Majzoub, Alfred Igbinake, Mo Ceesay, Ethan Cosgrove, Jake Mallen, Alex Egbon, Byron Haughton".

This is the afoementioned team that competes in the AoC (which stands for Association of Colleges) Sport North West Men's Football Invitational League. However, after transferring league, it has only played one other fixture in the AoC league this season, whereas every other team has played between five and seven times. As Alty have lost both their matches they lie bottom.

Given that many of that team's players' photos appear on the official Altrincham FC site under an "Academy" heading, it is assumed that this is the team still also described as Altrincham FC Academy

The other result for this team in the AoC league was:

• 19 January 2023: Marine Football Academy Football Men Regional Team 2 - 1 TCG (Altrincham FC) Men Regional Team 2

The other teams in the AoC league are PDA Lancashire Football Men Regional Team 1, Steven Gerrard Academy Football Men Regional Team 3, Marine Football Academy Football Men Regional Team 2, iSPORTS Manchester Football Men Regional Team 1, Fowler Education and Football Academy Football Men Regional Team 2, Steven Gerrard Academy Football Men Regional Team 4

Under 19s

The Altrincham FC under-19s, as indicated in the December statement, has remained in the National League U19 Alliance North Division but the league now brands them as "Altrincham FC U19 A Red".

Their results so far are as follows. All matches below were played in the league except where shown...

• 25/01/23 13:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 5 - 2 Guiseley AFC U19 Academy
• 6/01/23 13:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 3 - 2 Boston United FC U19
• CUP 30/11/22 13:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 2 - 3 York City U19
• 25/11/22 14:00 FC Halifax Town U19 1 - 1 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 23/11/22 13:00 Gateshead FC U19s North 2 - 1 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 9/11/22 13:30 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 5 - 2 Chesterfield FC U19
• 2/11/22 13:00 Solihull Moors FC U19 Elite NLA Academy 0 - 3 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 12/10/22 13:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 2 - 5 Blyth Spartans AFC U19 Academy
• 5/10/22 14:00 AFC Fylde U19 National League North 5 - 4 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 21/09/22 13:30 Darlington FC U19s 5 - 2 Altrincham FC U19 A Red

As of today they lie sixth in the thirteen club division in which teams have played varying numbers of fixtures.

Under-17

As indicated above, this team started this season in the under-18 NWYA Premier Division but, after nine games had been played, the team has apparently been withdrawn and its points removed.

Under-21s

There is an Altrincham FC U21 side competing in the North West Under 21 Development League. Its results are listed below including, curiously, one of the fixtures shown being for an under-18 side.

• PREM 29/01/23 14:00 Runcorn Linnets FC U21s 6 - 2 Altrincham FC U21
• CC 15/01/23 13:30 Altrincham FC U18 11 - 0 North Walkden U17 Falcons
• LCC 04/12/22 15:00 Altrincham FC U21 2 - 4 Wythenshawe Amateurs U21
• PREM 20/11/22 15:00 Altrincham FC U21 1 - 6 Bootle FC U21 Under 21
• PREM 13/11/22 15:30 Altrincham FC U21 4 - 0 Steven Gerrard Academy U21
• PREM 06/11/22 14:00 UDA Soccer U21 Cestrians 2 - 2 Altrincham FC U21
• PREM 20/10/22 19:45 Irlam U21 3 - 4 Altrincham FC U21
• CC 16/10/22 10:00 Altrincham FC U18 H - W Crompton FC U18 Blues Home Walkover
• PREM 02/10/22 16:00 1874 Northwich FC U21 2 - 2 Altrincham FC U21
• PREM 25/09/22 14:00 Altrincham FC U21 4 - 0 Wythenshawe Amateurs U21
• LCC 18/09/22 15:00 Altrincham FC U21 2 - 1 Colne FC U21
• PREM 04/09/22 15:00 Altrincham FC U21 3 - 0 Runcorn Linnets FC U21s

ALTY OLD BOYS

Watmore looks set to leave Middlesbrough before Tuesday's transfer deadline, with a move to Millwall in the works.

The Lions have tabled a bid for the forward and it looks increasingly likely that he will be leaving the club before the transfer window closes. Boro haven't stood in his way, with Watmore not a regular starter and his contract due to expire at the end of the season...

The move is expected to be a permanent one".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Dean, 40, joins following a hugely successful spell at National League North side Peterborough Sports, where he enjoyed four promotions in five completed seasons.

He steered them to three titles and 11 trophies in total since becoming manager in 2015, and has been widely acclaimed for his excellent work there, being hailed as one of the best bosses in non-league.

Plummer, 46, was his assistant at Peterborough Sports and will join Dean at Glanford Park... Nelson, 42, was interim first team manager at the Iron from late November and previously assisted Tony Daws for three months".

Peterborough Today adds that "​It was only ever a matter of time before Jimmy Dean’s amazing managerial numbers led to a job at a high profile club.

n The 40 year-old has led Sports for seven seasons including two that were wrecked by Covid, plus the current campaign. The club’s record under Dean in all competitions reads…

• P358 W235 D46 L78 F958 A415

That’s a win percentage of 65.6, while Sports scored an average of 2.7 goals a game, while conceding just 1.2 goals per game under Dean...

Dean... is a proud Peterborian, which is one reason why he had turned down jobs at bigger clubs than Sports in the past. But Scunthorpe, a Championship club as recently as 2012, were a different level altogether and new/owner chairman David Hilton made his approach over a week ago".

The Maidenhead Advertiser reports that "Maidenhead United assistant boss Ryan Peters hopes the Magpies can harness the momentum they've gained from Saturday's impressive win at York City to push themselves further up the National League table.

The Magpies remain seven points clear of the bottom four after this weekend's 2-1 win but... [also] they're now within seven points of the play-off places... after a period of indifferent results and performances.

Academy product Reece Smith had a hand in both goals on Saturday, forcing his way to the by-line before teeing up Ashley Nathaniel-George to give United a first half lead and, after weathering a spell of pressure from the Minstermen at the start of the second half, he laid off an indirect free-kick for Cole Kpekawa to thump home... to put the Magpies two goals to the good midway through the second half. John-Lewis grabbed a goal back in the closing stages, but Alan Devonshire's side held firm in the closing stages...

This victory – their first in the league for 10 weeks - lifts them to 16th in the table...

Peters said 'It was an amazing performance... We were definitely worth the victory. The gaffer has a squad that he believes in, and we’ll stand by them no matter what...

'We’re not going to rest on our laurels'".

From the other side, York Press says that "York City manager David Webb has addressed the 2-1 defeat to Maidenhead United,,, claiming the club ‘either have to fight or lay down’.

Webb’s side displayed an underwhelming performance... It’s now just two league victories since mid-October for City...

'There’s no excuse for today', Webb admitted... 'If we keep playing like that, we’re going to lose points. We’ve been in the dressing room for the last half an hour, there’s been a lot of choice words said and a lot of words we needed said from everyone'...

Webb has overseen eight matches since replacing John Askey in mid-December, and has defended himself after recent criticism of tactical decision from fans. 'I think before we came in the team hadn’t won in eight or nine.

'We’ve won four, two of those in the league and two of those in the cup and now we’ve lost three and drawn one... It is just not good enough. It might have improved a little bit from the predecessor, but it’s still nowhere near where we should be.... All we can do is go again and fight again.'”

FC Halifax Town "confirm the signing of Max Wright on loan from League Two side Harrogate Town.

The winger began his career with Grimsby Town, coming through the youth ranks before signing his first professional contract with the club in 2015. Wright then joined Sutton Coldfield Town in the Northern Premier League Premier Division on loan from January 2017 until the end of that season.

In August 2017, Wright signed a new contract with Grimsby before being sent out on loan to Scarborough Athletic...

At the end of the 2017/18 campaign, Wright signed a new two year deal with Grimsby... In September 2018, the winger joined Boston United on loan in the National League North, however he was recalled in April 2019...

Last season, Wright was part of the Grimsby squad who secured promotion back to the Football League through the playoffs... At the end of the 2021/22 season, Wright was released by Grimsby and signed for Harrogate Town... An ankle injury... has meant Wright has struggled for game time".

30 January 2023

CONN-CLARK RETURNS TO FLEETWOOD

Right: Chris Conn-Clarke is seen during his last game for Altrincham, against Boreham Wood.

Such has been his impact since arriving on loan last July that all avenues were explored in the hope of finding some common ground that might lead to the Northern Ireland under-21 midfielder remaining an Alty player beyond this month... They stressed that they were willing to spend big to make the move permanent and were equally keen to extend the loan until the end of the season...

But they were rebuffed at every turn, as Fleetwood made it clear they had their own plans for the 21-year old...

While everyone at Alty is sad to see Chris go, the club are actively pursuing other transfer targets to strengthen the team for the remainder of the season".

Footnote: Chris Conn-Clarke had two loan spells at Altrincham in which he made 33(+1) appearances. His first loan to the Robins, in early 2022, comprised just two starts as injury curtailed his stay at Moss Lane.

In 2022-23 season he has made 31(+1) further appearances and scored ten times. 27(+1) of those appearances were in the National League in which he netted nine times making him the club's leading scorer this season. A goal in the FA Cup took his total to ten goals for the club.

Over the past two months seven forwards have left the club (1 player), or have been recalled from a loan (3), or have been sent out on loan (3).

1. Ryan Colclough: transferred to Chesterfield
2. Elliot Newby: recalled by Stockport County and then moved to Barrow
3. Connor Jennings: recalled by Stockport County
4. Chris Conn-Clarke: returned to Fleetwood at end of loan period
5. Brad Jackson: went out on loan to Chorley earlier in January
6. Eden Bailey: signed in November and went immediately on loan at Hanley Town
7. Zac Goodson: recently went on loan to Boston United

"STICKY PERIOD AHEAD" WARNS PARKINSON

NEXT: VAUXHALL MOTORS

When Covid struck in 2020, Vauxhall were already "guaranteed" promotion by their points haul with ten games of the season to be played. But the curtailment of lower league football deprived them of their elevation to the NWCFL Premier.

They again led the league in 2020-21 when the season was curtailed once more by the pandemic. But a restructure of the Pyramid saw them promoted to the Premier Division.

So the last league encounter at Rivacre Park was on August Bank Holiday in 2013 when Alty won 2-1.

Above: Above, as Alty take the field at Rivacre Park in 2013, Scott Leather follows the smiling Shaun Densmore, Matt Doughty and Stuart Coburn. Behind them come Junior Smikle and James Lawrie.

They took the lead in the 19th minute with a well taken goal by Kyle Perry but the big striker went off injured after 32 minutes, being replaced by James Walshaw.

However, Alty failed to add a second goal and when, just before half-time, Stott turned past Havern he was tripped by Coburn to concede a penalty. Stott converted the spot kick to level the scores in the second minute of added time after the first 45 minutes.

Seven minutes from time, a fine Moult ball allowed Walshaw to shoot. Goalkeeper Jones failed to hold the shot, giving Alty the lead, which they held on to.

ALTRINCHAM (Red and white stripes, red shorts and socks) 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 4. Carl RODGERS, 5. Gianluca HAVERN, 6. Scott LEATHER, 7. Brian SMIKLE, 8. Jake MOULT, 9. Kyle PERRY, 10. Damian REEVES, 11. James LAWRIE. Subs 12. Mike WILLIAMS, 14. Simon RICHMAN, 15. Nicky CLEE, 16. Danny BOSHELL, 17. James WALSHAW

SORVEL: "WE LOST ARM-WRESTLE"

"They've just played a League One team who couldn't score against them in 120 minutes from open play, so we knew it was going to be tough.

Right: Miles Welch-Hayes is one of the new loanees to whom Neil Sorvel refers, below. He had a good home debut for Altrincham on Saturday and is seen here in the pre-match warm-up.

"But we were not convincing enough in the box, and they limited us to half-chances really.

"We've lost some key players recently, which are tough to replace and we've still got new players trying to bed in", he concluded.

The Wood's manager, Luke Garrard opined, "He [Phil Parkinson] is doing a fantastic job. They're a fantastic side who went ten unbeaten. So to come here and get a win and a clean sheet is massive".

Elsewhere in the NL Paper is a full-page on Altrincham's transition to full-time training with Neil Sorvel interviewed at length.

YEOVIL MATCH RE-ARRANGED

"PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE" FROM BOREHAM WOOD

Luke Garrard made two changes following Tuesday night’s heart-breaking FA Cup exit at Accrington Stanley. Cameron Coxe and Tyrone Marsh dropped out of the starting line up with Chris Bush and Erico Sousa coming in. Sousa replaced Coxe at right wing back and Chris Bush came in at centre half while Femi Ilesanmi moved to left wing back. Dennon Lewis started up front alongside Lee Ndlovu.

The Robins started the better of the two sides with the dangerous Chris Conn-Clarke testing Nathan Ashmore after five minutes... Wood then started to threaten with Chris Bush going close from distance...

On twenty-five minutes, Wood took the lead when Will Evans produced a towering header at the far post from a Josh Rees corner to beat Byrne in the Robins' goal. Three minutes later the Altrincham keeper tipped over Lewis’s shot. From the resulting corner, Evans produced a carbon copy header which this time, clipped the crossbar. The hosts fought back well before the break...

Although the hosts came out with intent at the start of the second half, a goal on forty-nine minutes from Femi Ilesamni, finished the match as a contest. Following some excellent approach play and a fantastic cross from Chris Bush, Ilesamni had the easy job of nodding the ball home at the far post...

Despite the Robins pressure since the goal, the Wood defence weathered the storm and for the last period of the game had some good chances to extend their lead.

It was a very professional performance from Luke Garrard’s men against a disappointing Altrincham side who were clearly missing their talismanic winger Ryan Colclough."

ALTY OLD BOYS

Billy Hasler-Creggg was in action for Ramsbottom but they lost to City of Liverpool.

Ossett United beat Tadcaster Albion 4-1 with James Walshaw scoring twice.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Halifax had progressed a deal for an attacker last week, but that move stalled after hitting a snag. However, Millington says a different forward is set to be signed, with another addition possibly to follow...

'We're there or thereabouts with the incomings'. Millington added 'This is a brand new target that came up out of the blue on Thursday night.

'We were aware of the lad but it was brought to our attention that he was available to come out on loan so we jumped at the opportunity.

'And then we've another forward in mind who we'd like to bring in.

'I wouldn't call them out and out strikers but they'll both play in forward positions.'"

29 January 2023

ALTRINCHAM 0-2 BOREHAM WOOD

The continuing absence of centre-back Toby Mullarkey stoked pre-match rumours of his imminent departure from the club and, having lost Ryan Colclough to Chesterfield as well as having seen loanees Elliot Newby and Connor Jennings leave recently, the pre-match mood was flat. And it got worse as Alty failed to get going in the first half.

Right: James Jones and Lewis Baines sum up Alty's frustration as they leave the pitch at half time.

Match report here

ALTERNATIVE VIEW

"Boreham Wood showed no ill effects from their midweek FA Cup exit as they strolled to a 2-0 win at Altrincham.

The visitors' hopes of securing a famous cup clash with Leeds were shattered by their extra-time exit at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday.

But they recovered to deliver a dominant performance at the J Davidson Stadium with Will Evans bundling home their opener after 24 minutes.

Femi Ilesanmi rose to head home a cross from Chris Bush two minutes into the second half...

Altrincham rallied with Isaac Marriott missing a great chance to reduce the deficit before visiting keeper Nathan Ashmore produced a brilliant stop to deny Chris Conn-Clarke".

ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES

In National North, the last two goals in Buxton's 0-3 win at Blyth Spartans were scored by Alty loanee Brad Jackson (right).

In Curzon Ashton's 5-2 home trouncing of Farsley, all five goals were claimed by former Robins. Josh Hancock and Tom Peers scored two apiece and Craig Mahon netted the other goal.

Ashley Hemmings scored both goals for Kidderminster Harriers in their 1-2 win at Peterbporough Sports, the second coming from the penalty spot.

In the NPL, Dontai Gabbidon opened the scoring for FC United of Manchester in their home game against Warrington Town but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Hyde United's win at Guiseley featured a Jack Redshaw penalty, whilst Dean Furman scored the only goal of the game as Warrington Rylands beat visitors Liversedge.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Aaron Jarvis scored a great goal late on as Torquay United beat relegation rivals Maidstone United 1-0 at Plainmoor today in what was a big six-pointer for both teams... but it was an unimpressive first half from the Gulls and they will need to be much better against high-flying teams like Woking and Notts County in the coming weeks.

Maidstone offered little but still looked dangerous at times as Torquay struggled to get going...

After three weeks without a league game, Torquay's squad has changed considerably, and there was a debut for striker Tope Fadahunsi, and a first National League appearance for defender Nico Lawerence, after the Southampton loanee played in the FA Trophy game against Taunton Town...

It was a poor [first] half for Torquay. Too many passes were going missing, and they were lightweight in midfield...

When the ball pinged off Lapslie in the 78th minute, it fell to Fadahunsi, who fed it forward for Jarvis to run on to and the striker hit it sweetly with his left foot past Barden for 1-0".

Barnet tells us that they "were back in action today as we hosted third placed, Chesterfield...

Barnet were strong at the back as Chesterfield applied pressure...

Finally, we have our deserved goal, the ball in play into the danger area from a corner, and Kabamba is there to tap it in...

The visitors started the second half the brightest....

The Bees second goal came through Nicke Kabamba after the ball was played into him inside the Chesterfield box. The striker had acres of space and then sent a venomous strike through Covolan and into the back of the net.

Kabamba then completed his hat-trick. He picks ups the ball from a throw-in and skips past two defenders and rifles the ball into the back of the net".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Aldershot Town 1-1 Oldham Athletic
• Altrincham 0-2 Boreham Wood
• Barnet 3-0 Chesterfield
• Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 Yeovil Town
• Dorking Wanderers 0-3 Solihull Moors
• Notts County 1-0 FC Halifax Town
• Scunthorpe United 1-1 Bromley
• Southend United 1-3 Eastleigh
• Torquay United 1-0 Maidstone United
• Wealdstone 1-2 Gateshead
• York City 1-2 Maidenhead United

TODAY'S OPPONENTS: BOREHAM WOOD

The Wood last visited Altrincham in November 2021 when, in front of 2,283 spectators, it was reported that "Altrincham were certainly well deserving of their point against the functional visitors. It was the home side that contributed the flair to the afternoon as they came back from behind to equalise in the 76th minute.

A goalless first half left many wondering how the visitors were the league leaders but, after the break, The Wood snatched a 57th minute lead when Fyfield was allowed to advance forty yards or more up the middle. As he got into the box he took advantage of a fortunate rebound to score (57 mins).

Altrincham levelled in the 76th minute with a superb strike by Hancock from outside the box after a Peers effort had been blocked.

Above: Josh Hancock (foreground), here pictured during the game, ensured that Alty got a deserved point against Boreham Wood. Also seen, left to right, are debutant Adam Porter, Tom Hannigan and Jake Moult.

For this game, Altrincham had welcomed back goalkeeper Tony Thompson, who had been a recent absentee through injury. Tom Hannigan also returned, after a back spasm, to restore a more familiar appearance to the defence. Missing from the squad through a combination of injuries and non-selection were Shaun Densmore, Connor Hampson, Andy White, A-Jay Leitch-Smith, Brad Jackson, Ben Pringle, Dan Mooney, Connor Kirby and loanee Barry Baggley".

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 24. Joel SENIOR, 25. Toby MULLARKEY, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 19. David FITZPATRICK, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 8. Adam PORTER, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 15. Matty KOSYLO, 11. Ryan COLCLOUGH, 9. Marcus DINANGA. Subs: 18 Kennedy DIGIE, 21. Matt GOULD, 23. Tom PEERS, 29. Daniel WHITEHEAD, 32. Tom WALKER.

With Matty Kosylo out for the season, Marcus Dinanga and Toby Mullarkey are the only players left at Altrincham who started the 2021 game who could also start today.

POSTPONEMENT PROTOCOLS

Matches are continually being postponed at short notice...

The National League’s catalogue of cancellations began last week with clubs including Wealdstone, Barnet and Dagenham & Redbridge all guilty of calling fixtures off at short notice.

At National League level there is no official protocol for clubs to follow with the final decision resting solely on officials, who have no cut-off time to decide whether a game is deemed as playable or not.

Speaking exclusively to London Football Scene, the National League’s General Manager Mark Ives added 'Some referees have to travel long journeys to inspect the pitch. This puts immense pressure on them to get to the ground and make a decision'.

Back in 2004 a little bit of snow was no hindrance to Alty's match at Stafford going ahead.

Non-league clubs will naturally do everything they can to ensure pitches pass a referee’s inspection with many decisions delayed in the sheer hope conditions improve enough to allow a game to go ahead, often to the detriment of travelling home and away fans...

In comparison, EFL protocols are slightly different and arguably more disjointed, enforcing a balancing act between clubs, officials and in consultation with safety officers, who assess the conditions around the ground...

However, like the National League, there appears to be no plans to re-assess protocol at the present time, despite calls from the Football Supporters’ Associations (FSA) who believe a complete revision of the current set-up is needed.

Andy Walsh, FSA’s Head of National Game and Community-Ownership, said 'If a referee is travelling long distances to inspect the ground, they should be given commission. However, this is not always enforced. It (the postponements) also affects clubs’ cash flow, if weekend games are rescheduled for mid-week, there naturally won’t be as many in attendance at grounds'...

Fans simply ask for more transparency and compensation when games are under threat... with a refunded ticket, free burger, hot dog or other token gesture simply not cutting it anymore".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Derbyshire Times tells us that "Kabongo Tshimanga will always be surrounded by transfer ‘speculation’, says Spireites assistant manager Danny Webb.

The striker was left out of the matchday squad for the win against Altrincham in midweek and that sparked rumours that he was set to leave the club. After the game, Webb said the decision was ‘tactical'...

'Kabs is always going to have speculation around him... Obviously the other night people are maybe going to put two and two together and get five which is completely understandable.

'He is absolutely fine... Kabs is another one who sees how well we have been doing and he has been absolutely fine'" said the assistant manager.

According to Devon Live, "Saturday’s game against Maidstone United is a massive six-pointer for Torquay United, with the gap between the teams in the relegation zone and those just above it widening this week. Five points now separate the bottom four from safety...

Torquay remain two off the bottom as one of three teams on 22 points, with Gateshead above them and Scunthorpe United below...

Traditionally, Maidstone are a bit of a bogey team...

'You don’t really think about those things to bring you down,' said Johnson. 'They are an opposition and you have to go and beat the opposition, whoever it is'...

Torquay were supposed to play Boreham Wood away on [last] Saturday, and were already there with many of the fans when that game was called off 75 minutes before kick off. They got an earlier heads up on Wednesday when they were due to play at Woking, who said the game was off in time to stop the coach from leaving Devon...

For new players Jacob Mensah, a defender recently released by Maidstone, and Sutton United loanee, striker Tope Fadahunsi, it will be a chance to show what they can do. But many eyes will be on Nico Lawrence, the Southampton loan defender... Nineteen-year-old Lawrence [has] impressed...

Johnson said 'Whenever you take on loans you try and do enough due diligence, and... [of] all our loans that we have had... most of them have been very successful...

'I think he is in that category. What we know is he’s a 25-year-old 19-year-old. We have seen in training he is not a young lad in his persona or his body language'...

Asa Hall and Tom Lapslie have both been nursing gametime-restricting injuries, and Brett McGavin has also been out. But it will be two weeks since Torquay beat Taunton... and that time could have been precious for those players".

Elsewhere, Yeovil Town "welcome Edwin Agbaje from Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the season...

Agbaje now arrives at Huish Park for his first loan spell. Hailing from Edenderry, the 18-year-old right-back is a Republic of Ireland youth international...

At youth level, he played for Edenderry Town, Kildare District and, eventually, Ireland’s most successful club, Shamrock Rovers.

In 2020, he made the big decision to leave his home in Ireland to come to England and join the Ipswich Town academy. He made his first appearance... starting against Cambridge United in the EFL Trophy...

Agbadje said... 'Yeovil is a big club in this league, with a good history of playing in the top leagues. I wanted to come over straight away and get that experience of men’s football, at the right club, at the right time for me'".

27 January 2023

NEXT OPPONENTS: BOREHAM WOOD

On Saturday, Altrincham welcome Boreham Wood, who like Alty's midweek's opponents, Chesterfield, will be facing their first game after an FA Cup exit in their most recent fixture. In The Wood's case, they lost after extra time to a penalty scored by Accrington Stanley.

Boreham Wood are three points and two places below Alty in 13th but have three games in hand on the Robins.

They are the second lowest scorers in the Vanarama National League, with only 28 league goals from 24 games but they are also the third best in defence having conceded just 25 times.

In contrast Altrincham have scored forty times and only Dorking Wanderers of the fourteen teams below them have scored more. But Alty's 48 league goals conceded are only exceeded by Dorking and by the bottom three clubs in the National League.

However, The Wood are in poor league form having won just once in their past twelve National League fixtures, that was at home to Oldham Athletic. The other eleven games in that sequence have seen them draw five times; at Notts County and Dagenham, as well as at home to Barnet, York and Wrexham.

They have lost six times in that sequence, suffering defeat at Southend, Barnet, Eastleigh, Chesterfield and Halifax and also at home to Woking.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 28 JANUARY

Back in 2020, according to Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years, Alty were making a midweek trip to a new ground, Kettering Town's base at Burton Latimer, next to a large Weetabix factory. In a parallel with the recent loss of Ryan Colclough, Altrincham had just lost their star winger John Johnson to Chester FC.

Right: Alty prepare to defend a corner against Kettering Town.

It was a Vanarama National League North match played on a soft and bobbly surface. Indeed, the match only got the go-ahead at around 2pm after a pitch inspection, with Kettering having lost recent home games to waterlogging.

In the match two first-half goals lifted Altrincham to sixth in the table.

Given the difficult surface, Altrincham used a more direct approach than usual. Play was fairly scrappy in the opening stages but Alty gradually got the upper hand. They took a 34th minute lead with a fine shot into the top corner of the net by Hancock.

Ten minutes later, from a right-sided corner, a mistake by home keeper White allowed Altrincham to score, Hannigan hooked the ball towards goal to where Hulme got a deft touch to put it through the keeper's hands.

The second half was fairly uneventful as Alty defended capably and Kettering lacked the guile to manufacture a clear goalscoring chance.

ALTRINCHAM (All grey with red and white sash on shirts): 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 3. Connor HAMPSON, 4. James JONES, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. Craig MAHON, 8. Josh LUNDSTRAM, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Tom PEERS. Subs: 12. Max HARROP, 14. Luke WALL, 15. Lewis WALTERS, 16. Toby MULLARKEY, 17. Joel TORRANCE.

CHARITY GAME FOR BRAVE LITTLE RIO

In early April this year, little Rio Spurr’s stomach ache was put down to constipation. A few days later, after he was violently ill, it was thought the problem could be an obstruction that may need surgery.

Soon after, the search for an answer ended with the shattering news that Rio had cancer. Worse still, it was an incredibly rare variant, one that is likely to reoccur and is resistant to traditional methods of combating the disease.

With unimaginable bravery for a four-year old, Rio has since undergone a four-hour operation, scans under sedation and countless rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Months of further chemo lie ahead, but the worry for his parents, former Blackburn and Preston defender Tommy Spurr and his wife Chloe, is that, should the condition persist or return, they may have reached the end of the road, in this country, at least.

The only remaining hope would be the costly option of seeking alternative treatments or clinical trials abroad, a possible route to a cure for Rio but an expensive one.

Tommy and Chloe are not about to give up on giving Rio every chance of conquering the odds and have accordingly set up a GoFundMe page that outlines the ordeal he has been through and invites donations for treatment that could save his life."

The match, organised by former Alty Director Chris Hamlett is [at the J. Davidson Stadium] on Sunday, 12th February, with familiar names from television and the sporting world giving up their time... "Robins skipper Jordan Hulme and keeper Ollie Byrne have agreed to take charge of the two teams and will be pitting their managerial wits against each other from opposing technical areas at the side of the pitch...

Tickets can be purchased on the day.

• Adult £12, Under 18s £7, VIPs £30

VIP tickets are limited and include access to lounge and a meet and greet with players after the match".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Many Magpies fans will remember him for scoring a hat-trick in the opening game of the 2017-18 season at the Ricoh Arena, which saw Coventry run away 3-0 winners.

The 25-year-old enjoyed six years with the Sky Blues but endured an injury-hit end to his time in the West Midlands, before joining Karl Robinson's side at the start of this campaign...

'Jodi’s a player I’ve faced when working in the Championship and League One,” said [head coach, Luke] Williams...

'I believe it’s only injury that has stopped him from becoming a very successful Championship player, at least... He’s comfortable going at people, which I experienced at Swindon when he played wide right and destroyed us that night. He has the ability to change direction and beat players'...

'We have good players in his position, so it’s not as if we’re trying to fill a void; we’re adding to the arsenal,' said Williams".

Oxford Vital Football adds that "The 25-year-old winger, who joined the U’s in the summer, has managed just five league appearances this season, totalling a mere 17 minutes. In total, he has turned out eight times for the club since his arrival from Coventry City...

Karl Robinson said 'Jodi’s not been able to get the minutes he would have liked with us'...

There is no doubt this has been a disappointing transfer for all involved. The winger arrived with a sketchy injury record but has received plenty of plaudits from previous clubs. However, game time has been limited so a move away makes sense".

When Bromley visit Altrincham on Valentine's Day, they can expect to face a new opponent as The Stacey West reports that Limcoln City "striker Charley Kendall has joined National League side Bromley on loan for the rest of the season.

Kendall signed from Eastbourne in the winter window last season, but spent the second half of the campaign back out with his former club on loan. After playing a part in pre-season... he was loaned out again, this time to League Two side Sutton United. His time at Gander Green Lane was not a success; the 22-year-old was used mainly as a sub, and appeared ten times, without a goal.

Since returning to City he has featured in reserve matches... but has not been seen in the first-team picture, and a loan was expected... Bromley may be the right balance, as they’re doing well, but perhaps need a little push...

They do have the prolific Michael Cheek who tends to play up top in a 4-1-4-1, which may limit Kendall’s chances, but they’re also able to go 3-5-2, which they’ve proven on occasion. If they do that, then Kendall will be the perfect foil for Cheek, or Corey Whitely... He’ll also team up with former Imp Adam Marriott".

Darlington report that their "striker Mark Beck has left the club for National League Solihull.

Mark, who was in his second spell with us, has scored 18 goals in 28 league and cup matches for us this season...

His scoring form has attracted plenty of attention from clubs higher up the football ladder, and earlier this week Solihull triggered the release clause in Mark’s contract, that enabled them to speak to him and offer him terms, which he has accepted.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t match the terms offered by Solihull, and the player informed us that he wanted to move.

As stated in our Christmas update, both boards stress that the club is under no pressure to sell players, but once a player decides that he wants to leave and another club activates his release clause, there’s nothing we can do about that".

Solihull are currently bottom of the NAtional League form guide.

NEXT: BOREHAM WOOD

Boreham Wood played an Emirates FA Cup Third Round Replay at Accrington on Tuesday night.

"Tommy Leigh’s penalty in Extra Time saw the Wood eliminated from the FA Cup at the Third Round stage at the hands of Accrington Stanley, despite a hard-fought display from the National League side.

Indeed, Extra Time was required to separate the two sides, but despite keeping Stanley at bay for more than 90 minutes, the dangerous Shaun Whalley proved too much to handle as he won a penalty at the start of Extra Time which Leigh converted to put the ‘Owd Reds in the ascendancy...

Defeat at the Wham Stadium sees the Wood unable to match the heights of last season, but they will be looking to bounce back with a trip to Altrincham on Saturday as they return to league action with the aim of recording their first fifth tier win since the start of December.

Luke Garrard made just one change to the side that drew with Notts County two weeks ago in the Wood’s last outing, with Femi Ilesanmi returning to the back three allowing Dennon Lewis to replace the cup-tied Chris Bush".

Boreham Wood: Ashmore; Agbontohoma, Evans, Ilesanmi; Coxe, Payne (Williams 109’), Broadbent, Lewis (Sousa 106’); Rees (Brunt 64’); Marsh, Ndlovu. Subs Not Used: Abayomi, Ricketts, Newton, Fyfield".

The Wood drew 1-1 with Alty in the reverse fixture, early in this 2022-23 season.

"UGLY WIN" OVER ALTRINCHAM

Ash Palmer headed the winner on 88 minutes to secure the points to move the Spireites up to third.

It was an ugly win and it looked like being a frustrating evening before Palmer nodded in Jeff King’s corner.

Assistant manager Danny Webb said 'We have still got ambitions to win the league but initially our first target is to finish in the top three and then hopefully go from there so psychologically it was a great win tonight.

'We would have loved to have entertained the fans but it is tough. Post-Christmas is a time when it is win at all costs. Sometimes you do need just to win at all costs, be scrappy, and take your chance.

'We have come from West Brom away, 4-0, a bit of a rout, and sometimes it is hard in the next game so fair play to the players for sticking with it. There were mistakes, slips and wayward passes but the boys stuck with it and eventually that does get you the three points that you deserve.

'We know there are things we can do better, but it certainly was not down to a lack of effort. Defensively I thought we cleaned things up nicely. The manager let them know a little bit at half-time, he wanted a reaction. He wanted a bit more life from them...

'The boys were brave because things were not going to plan... Although it was not a fantastically exciting performance, we dominated, and it was a matter of just getting that goal'...

Kabongo Tshimanga was left out of the matchday squad... He explained... 'People will probably read a lot into it. It was tactical... We probably thought that Akwasi (Asante) could be the one to go up front if Quigs felt the effects of his bug'".

CSC: VAUXHALL MOTORS

In addition, the Robins are also hoping to go as far as possible in the Cheshire Senior Cup, and they will be turning their attention to that objective next Tuesday evening when they head to the vanEupen Arena for a quarter-final tie with old foes Vauxhall Motors.

As ever, Phil Parkinson, Neil Sorvel and the players are hoping for plenty of vocal backing for what promises to be a tough test against a side who are currently top of the North West Counties League Premier Division, five points clear of second-placed Wythenshawe Town.

The Motormen are sure to be up for it, with a last-four place at stake, so if you can get along to support the team, make a note of the date and venue - Tuesday January 31st (kick-off 7.45pm) at the vanEupen Arena, Rivacre Road, Ellesmere Port, CH66 1NJ

Admission prices are £6 for adults, £3 concessions and free for under-16s, and while electronic payment is preferred at the turnstiles, our hosts inform us that cash will also be accepted".

ALTY OLD BOYS

In the squad for Accrington Stanley as they beat Alty's next opponents Boreham Wood at the weekend, was Harry Perritt but he did not get on the pitch.

WEDNESDAY GAMES

• Eastleigh P-P Barnet (frozen pitch)
• FC Halifax Town 0-1 Scunthorpe United
• Woking P-P Torquay United (frozen pitch)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Burchnall left the Magpies last May to steer Rovers through their debut season in the third tier but won just five of his 28 league games to prompt owner and chairman Dale Vince to make a change. The team are four points adrift of safety following a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Bolton on Tuesday, their seventh defeat in eight games, and have won just twice in the league since October.

'I’m grateful to Ian for all his hard work this season, it’s definitely not been easy,' Vince said in a statement on the club’s website. 'Our first season in League One was always going to be a challenge in itself but it’s been made more difficult by a number of factors, with their roots in last summer.

'I believe in Ian as a coach, but circumstances have led us to this place'...

Burchnall... led Notts to the Vanarama National League play-offs last season".

A statement which says very little has been issued at Southend United by chairman Ron Martin. He says "As has been widely reported, last week the Judge adjourned the hearing with HMRC to 1 March.

I know that fans are anxious about the Club’s finances, and some are worried about the Club’s very survival. I understand those concerns and remain committed to delivering the bridging finance which will fill the ‘funding gap’, caused by successive relegations and loss of income during the pandemic.

The money owed to HMRC is a legacy debt accrued during the period of the pandemic. Those bridging funds will, in part, be applied against the HMRC debt with a view to withdrawing the petition.

This has been a difficult period, but as we continue to work hard to move through it, I would like to recognise the fact our staff and supporters have been first class and have contributed to the success on the pitch. We are fighting for a play-off position and we are through to the last 16 of the FA Trophy. The management and players are doing a fantastic job.

Whilst I am not currently able to outline precise timings, I am conscious of the fans’ concerns and will look to provide a further update as soon as is practical.

With your continued support I believe we can have a great second half of the season".

On the playing side, according to the BBC, "Southend United have pulled out of this season's Essex Senior Cup because of fixture congestion resulting from recent postponements.

The four-time winners were due to play Braintree Town, who will now receive a bye to the quarter-finals.

Southend had two games postponed last week because of frozen pitches.

A club statement said they could not go ahead with the Braintree game without 'potentially compromising our progress' in National League and the FA Trophy...

'After much consideration, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the competition,' the statement added".

Altrincham supporters will recall that Stockport County used the same argument to withdraw from the Cheshire Senior Cup this season, giving The Robins a bye in the process.

Eastleigh's match on Tuesday night was postpone but, nevertheless, Watford conformed that "Midfielder JJ McKiernan has re-joined National League side Eastleigh FC on loan until the end of the season...

The 21-year-old,who joined the Hornets in 2018 and travelled to Austria with the first-team during pre-season last July after a successful 2021/22 with the Academy and on loan at Bohemians, enjoyed an impressive first half of the current campaign with the Spitfires.

After notching three goals in 26 appearances at the Silverlake Stadium, Northern Irishman McKiernan will now further his development back in Hampshire, with Eastleigh currently sat [sic] 11th in the fifth-tier standings".

Scunthorpe United state that "David Hilton has been appointed as the new chairman and owner of Scunthorpe United Football Club with immediate effect.

Formerly the chairman [till this week] of Ilkeston Town, he replaces the outgoing owner Peter Swann, who had a ten-year period at the helm of the Iron.

Mr Hilton said... 'The deal includes the football club, stadium and surrounding land.

'The first job I've got to do over the next 48 hours is settle the winding up petition with the HMRC, which will help us get out of the transfer embargo we're under, so we can bring some bodies in and strengthen the squad.

'Any remaining debts will be eradicated in due course and we'll be looking to put the football club on a sustainable model as quickly as possible, while remaining competitive in whichever division we're in.

'I can also add, if there is to be any development in and around Glanford Park, it will be purely for the benefit of the football club and to help it move forward, not for personal gain...

'It's all been done very quickly... I just need a little bit of time for the dust to settle so I can understand the business fully... I will give my all to help get this club back where it belongs.'"

Wrexham "confirm goalkeeper Christian Dibble has left the Club by mutual consent, ending his five-and-a-half-year stay at the Racecourse Ground.

Dibble returned to training last month after recovering from the knee injury he suffered in pre-season, and the 28-year-old goalkeeper will now leave the Club...

Dibble, a former Wales Under-21 international, followed in his father [and ex-Alty keeper] Andy’s footsteps when he signed for Wrexham in 2017.

He made his senior debut in August 2017... He was the longest serving first-team player at the Club at the time of his departure...

Manager Phil Parkinson said... 'We had a good chat In the summer, and we agreed it was time for him to move on to try and get that number one shirt somewhere else. Obviously he then got his bad injury in the summer'".

POST-MATCH INTERVIEW

Recently, Altrincham have lost Ryan Colclough, who was transferred to Chesterfield and fans expect the imminent departure of Chris Conn-Clarke at the end of his successful loan period. That duo comprised the club's highest scorers in the National League.

In addition, recent weeks have seen the termination of loans from Stockport County of forwards Connor Jennings and Elliot Newby. However, three loanees have recently arrived in the shape of Michael Gyasi from Chesterfield, Miles Welch-Hayes from Harrogate Town and Maxi Oyedele from Manchester United.

CHESTERFIELD 1-0 ALTRINCHAM

In the goalless first half Chesterfield did force one good save from Byrne, from a Mandeville effort.

The Spireites upped their game in the second half but Altrincham defended stoutly until their defence was breached from a corner, with Palmer getting the better of James Jones to head home as the game went into the 88th minute.

Considering their weakened team, Altrincham had given a good account of themselves but Chesterfield deserved the points.

Match report here

THE YEOVIL POSTPONEMENT

Waterson told RadioAlty.co.uk he was in the car park at Yeovil Pen Mill train station when he learned the news of the postponement.

He said 'There was a National League meeting last week which I attended along with the Yeovil chief executive (Martyn Starnes) and some of the board members and I had a conversation with him on Thursday and they were very confident the game would go ahead.

'They have good frost covers at Yeovil and they put those down on Friday night, I think what happened is when they took the covers up they discovered there were parts of the pitch that were quite wet which they were not expecting. It was almost that the frost covers had been too efficient.

'It took them by surprise. There has been a lot of noise about whether the pitch was playable or not, particularly from Yeovil who apparently trained on the pitch that day, but you have to abide by the referee’s decision. He [Sam Mulhall] is the overall arbiter on this one, that’s life at this level'"

Yeovil's Tuesday night match was also postponed .

YORK GAME REARRANGED

The match was scheduled to take place on February 11th, but that date ckashes with both clubs' continuing involvement in the FA Trophy.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

"Councillor Stephen Cooksey... said: ‘The offer by Dorking Wanderers to buy the freehold of the Meadowbank Stadium continues to be the subject of discussion involving local communities and stakeholders. This week has seen a new range of in-depth questions raised by residents and organisations which require more time to research fully and comprehensively.

Surrey FA has also indicated that it is working to finalise its vision for the future of the stadium which could lead to a new offer to the Council.

Considering the above, it is clear to me, that we need more time to decide next steps for the Meadowbank Stadium.

Mole Valley District Council is determined to ensure the best way forward for community football in the District and consequently, with the support off Dorking Wanderers Football Club (DWFC)".

The Halifax Courier has spoken to Ollie Turner from BBC Radio Humberside for the lowdown on [Scunthorpe United]...

He was asked 'Why has the team struggled so much this season?

Multiple reasons... I can't imagine all the off-the-pitch problems have helped a squad comprising a number of younger players. The wait for a takeover has also meant that the club haven't appointed a permanent manager following the sacking of Keith Hill in August.

Tony Daws tried a gentler approach with a team that has struggled over the past few years but, while he pick up a couple of wins and engineered a brief unbeaten league run, results and performances dropped off which led to him stepping back into his academy manager role in November.

Injuries and a transfer embargo have also hampered the team - Michael Nelson's found a system which works for what he's got at his disposal but the team have struggled defensively as well as lacking width and a cutting edge higher up the pitch at times...

'This is a club that has fallen through the leagues in recent years and unfortunately that shows no sign of stopping at the moment... I think supporters have accepted that relegation to the National League North is more than likely at this stage given all the current difficulties but the bigger concern is actually about having a football club to support regardless of what division they're in...

After two takeover deals collapsed, things started to take a turn for the worse come the end of November when the club was unable to pay staff their wages for that month. A deal was agreed in principle at the start of December for a local consortium to buy the club which did lead to staff getting paid but that group has now withdrawn from negotiations...

Credit must go to Michael Nelson for finding a system which works with what he's got and getting positive performances out of it so far. However, his job is getting more and more difficult as players leave the club and injuries rack up all while not being in a position to freely replace those departures and add his side. Unless somehow a takeover is completed which allows him or a new, permanent manager to strengthen the squad between now and the cut-off point for registering new players at the end of March, I don't see how the club can stay up with such limited playing resources'"

But later it was reported by the Grimsby Telegraph that "Ilkeston chairman David Hilton has stepped down from his role at the club amid ongoing links to Scunthorpe United.

Hilton, along with business partner Andrew Nally, have been linked with a takeover at Glanford Park. It is our understanding that Hilton was at Glanford Park yesterday and has been leading the talks with a deal now close...

Hilton has released a statement via Ilkeston's club website. He said... 'An opportunity has arisen for me to help navigate another club away from an unthinkable fate and hopefully assist them in getting back to where they belong'".

MIDWEEK FIXTURES

Tuesday 24 January 2023

• Bromley 1-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Chesterfield 1-0 Altrincham
• Gateshead 0-3 Wrexham
• Maidenhead United P-P Southend United
• Maidstone United 0-3 Aldershot Town
• Oldham Athletic 2-0 York City
• Solihull Moors P-P Notts County (frozen pitch)
• Yeovil Town P-P Wealdstone

FA Cup

• Accrington Stanley 1-0 Boreham Wood

BEFORE THE MATCH AT CHESTERFIELD

That leaves, at most 15 outfield players of whom two (Oyedele and Welch-Hayes) have not played for the club to date.

• Lewis BAINES, Oliver BYRNE, Christopher CONN-CLARKE, Marcus DINANGA, Jordan HULME, Edward JONES, James JONES, Egli KAJA, Josh LUNDSTRAM, Isaac MARRIOTT, Toby MULLARKEY, Maxi OYEDELE, Elliot OSBORNE, Ben PRINGLE and Miles WELCH-HAYES

Meanwhile, Chesterfield report that manager "Paul Cook will be serving the last of his two-game touchline ban against Altrincham.

Manny Oyeleke has suffered a setback in his return from injury; Danny Rowe has returned to training but will not be ready for the Altrincham fixture.

Joe Quigley has recently suffered from a bug but should be available for selection against the Robins.

Ryan Colclough will be in-line to make his Chesterfield debut against his former club.

From the dugout Danny Webb said 'We’ve got to be on our game... They’re in decent form and have plenty of danger men that’s for sure, they can hurt you'".

NEXT: CHESTERFIELD BAR GYASI

Those unable to travel to Derbyshire tonight can follow the game on the National League streaming service at a cost of £9.50.

Two other players who won't be on view tonight are the subject of a report from the Derbyshire Times which tells us that "Chesterfield pair Manny Oyeleke and Danny Rowe are still working their way back to full fitness.

Oyeleke has not played this season after having a knee operation in the summer. He was expected to return around January time but... 'It hasn’t worked out that way so it is a day-by-day thing with Manny,' coach Danny Webb said...'“We are lucky that people in his position are absolutely firing... It is unfair to talk about his future while he is still trying to get fit.'

Rowe spent the first-half of the season on loan at AFC Fylde... 'Danny is back in the building,' Webb said. 'He had a really bad virus, sadly, towards the end of his time at Fylde. He is nowhere near match-fit at the moment so he is working with our fitness department'...

In other news, it is believed that Chesterfield will be able to recall Tom Whelan, Jack Clarke and Michael Gyasifrom their loans if they are needed later in the season.

Whelan has joined Solihull Moors, while Clarke went to Yeovil Town and Gyasi signed for Altrincham, all until the end of the season. Gyasi cannot play against the Spireites on Tuesday night.

Webb added 'I think with most season loans it is 28-days call back so they have to be there for at least a month and after that we can call back within 24 hours, I think. I hope Michael goes there and does really well because he has been a cracking lad since he has been here, as have Tom and Jack'”.

Off the field, the Derbyshire Times confirms that "Chesterfield’s rearranged match against promotion rivals Notts County has been selected for TV coverage again.

The much-anticipated game at the top of the National League was postponed on Saturday... The fixture was set to be televised by BT Sport... But the rearranged clash, on Saturday, February 11 has been chosen to be broadcast live by BT Sport again and will kick-off at 5.20pm".

DEFENDER ARRIVES ON LOAN

Miles becomes the eleventh loanee signed by Altrincham in the past six months after Dermot Mee, Elliot Newby, Christopher Conn-Clarke, Eddy Jones, Aaron Bennett, Maxi Oyedele, Dermot Mee, Dan Malone, Michael Gyasi and Connor Jennings.

John Edwards explains that, "With Ross Barrows recovering from a broken ankle and young Aidan Roxburgh continuing to develop and progress out on loan, Alty have been short of cover on the right of defence.

Manager Phil Parkinson has utilised centre-half Toby Mullarkey at right-back in recent weeks...

A 6ft 1in defender, [Miles] is available for Tuesday night's Vanarama National League game at Chesterfield".

Welch-Hayes, now 26, started out at Oxford United, his local club, before joining Bath City from where he enjoyed a loan with Oxford City. A spell at Macclesfield Town, then a League club, followed.

Next he signed for Colchester United where he played more than fifty EFL games before heading north to Wetherby Road where he has made ten appearances for Harrogate Town this season.

SIX INJURY UPDATES

The highly-rated young left-back, signed from Lancaster City last summer and recently loaned out to Gloucester City in the Vanarama National League North, picked up the injury in training.

An MRI scan confirmed damage to ligaments...

Matty Kosylo had the misfortune to injure an ACL... Matty has... his sights set firmly on being restored to peak condition in time for the launch of next season...

Another player in the midst of a lengthy rehabilitation programme is right-back Ross Barrows, who suffered a broken ankle five weeks ago. Again, the news is positive, with the bone healing well...

Centre-back Jake Cooper (pictured, right) will be back by the end of the month, as he recovers from a tendon adductor injury, while attacking midfielder Amaar Hussain is booked in for surgery on his ACL injury, due to the fantastic generosity of Alty fans and others who rallied round and donated to a crowdfunder appeal for the operation he needs.

Young defender Jayden Matthew is close to full fitness after a hamstring problem, while full-back Aidan Roxburgh should return to action in the next few weeks after being substituted with a hamstring injury for Nantwich Town, where he’s on loan".

BT SPORT TELEVISED GAMES

• Wednesday, January 25 - FC Halifax Town vs Scunthorpe United (7.30pm)
• Saturday, February 4 - Altrincham vs Wrexham (5.20pm)
• Saturday, February 11 - Chesterfield vs Notts County (5.20pm)
• Saturday, February 18 - Boreham Wood vs FC Halifax Town (5.20pm)
• Saturday, February 25 - Notts County vs Dagenham & Redbridge (5.20pm)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Shaymen have already signed defender Adam Senior on loan from Bolton and midfielder Louis White from Glossop this month, and were hopeful of adding another striker.

But it now looks like that might not happen until later this week, and not before Town host Scunthorpe on Wednesday night...

Said Millington, 'We were quite well advanced, agreement with the club, agreement with the player. We've had a little issue come up late on which needs resolving...

'We've got another couple of parties we're speaking to at the moment, and other situations that could well develop over the course of the week'.

Defender Sam Minihan remains at the club despite having been made available for transfer. 'Sam's had a little bit of interest from a couple of clubs at the level below, which don't really fit what he's looking for at the moment'...

On whether there had been any interest from higher up for any of Town's star players, the Halifax boss said 'No, it's all eerily quiet at the moment'".

23 January 2023

TOBY TARGETED

He signed a new contract with the club at the start of the season.

Mullarkey has been a crucial player for the Robins in the last couple of seasons, making 93 appearances and popping up with seven goals during his time at the club.

He primarily plays as a right-sided centre-half, which remains his favoured position, although has also served as a defensive central midfielder and a right-back on other occasions. It is not an area of the pitch that Town are particularly desperate for reinforcements in this window, but Mullarkey is highly-rated and even attracted interest from higher up the pyramid in the summer.

Portsmouth were amongst the more high-profile clubs that were said to be monitoring the player’s progress in the summer. While he does not currently have any Football League experience, there is a widespread belief that he can make the step up based on the links and his performance levels for Altrincham...

Mullarkey was part of the first fully-professional team in the Robins’ history under one of his old bosses Phil Parkinson...

[Grimsby manager] Paul Hurst said this week that conversations are ongoing with the club’s main targets for the January window, and whether Mullarkey is among them remains to be seen. But it looks as though the Mariners will have to contend with interest of other EFL clubs to get the player if the links are true".

ALTY OLD BOYS

By then, Sunderland had already clinched a 2-0 win.

Meanwhile, some 130 miles further north, Josh Ginnelly opened the scoring in the tenth minute of Hearts' Scottish Cup tie at Easter Road against their Edinburgh rivals, Hibernian.

After he had been substituted in the 65th minute, Hearts went on to win 3-0.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 30-year-old scored nine goals in 20 appearances for the Iron...

Meanwhile, the Doncaster Free Press claims that "Doncaster Rovers transfer target Caolan Lavery has left Scunthorpe United after rejecting a new contract at Glanford Park...

Doncaster head coach Danny Schofield wants to sign another forward in the January transfer window to provide cover and competition for the club’s 11-goal top-scorer George Miller.

Striker Lavery has played more than 200 Football League games, scoring 38 times, and counts Sheffield United, Wednesday and Rotherham among his former clubs".

According to Kent Online, "There was pride in defeat for George Elokobi, who is convinced Maidstone have what it takes to stay up after their performance against Wrexham.

Jack Barham scored twice as United came from 2-0 down at the Gallagher, only for the National League title-chasers to pinch a 3-2 victory in the last minute.

It was a seventh successive league defeat but caretaker boss Elokobi, taking charge of only his second game after last weekend’s FA Trophy win at Notts County, had nothing but praise for his side...

'The players weren’t fazed by the occasion,' said Elokobi... 'They can take pride in that and their performance and we as a management team are proud of them... We believe in them as a team'...

Maidstone are three points from safety, with an inferior goal difference, and have played more games than all the sides around them...

'I like to think I’m a born leader and to be able to lead, you need to empower each and every individual,' he said...

'They understand the high standards we want but also to be bold, to be confident, to be resilient, to ensure they are hard to beat'...

The visitors nicked victory from a corner but Maidstone had shown what they were about... Said Elokobi,'The substitutes that came on made a massive difference and the ones that started made a great contribution, which is fantastic to see'".

22 January 2022

ZAK GOES TO BOSTON AGAIN

Zak joined the Robins from Ilkeston Town for an undisclosed fee in August 2022 and made his debut just days later with a substitute experience at Solihull Moors. He went on to impress in a Cheshire Senior Cup outing at Sandbach just over a month later, scoring in his first competitive start for the club.

This was quickly followed up with a loan move to Boston, however, he unfortunately broke his wrist on his debut and was faced with 6-8 weeks on the sidelines...

Alty reserve the right to recall Zak after 28 days".

Following his injury at Boston, Zak made an unheralded reappearance for Altrincham for the final half-hour against Wrexham in the FA Trophy last week. Zak not only scored the equaliser that pushed the tie into a penalty shoot-out but he also scored fom the spot in that shoot-out.

That was followed by a place on the bench in the National League last Tuesday for the match against Maidenhead United, but he did not get onto the pitch.

ALTY FORWARDS IN SHORT SUPPLY

The other five to have left, or to be on the point of leaving, include Ryan Colclough (sold to Chesterfield), Brad Jackson [right] (loaned out to Chorley) and the two Stockport loanees, Connor Jennings and Alex Newby, who have been recalled by their parent club. In addition Chris Conn-Clarke looks set to leave the club at the end of the month when his loan spell from Fleetwood Town expires. Those five have scored 21 of Altrincham's 40 league goals this season

With Matty Kosylo still recuperating from his ACL injury, that only leaves strikers Jordan Hulme and Marcus Dinanga, winger Egli Kaja and the recently signed Michael Gyasi as the most forward attacking options currently available in the first-team squad to Phil Parkinson. None of those four has been a consistent starter this season; Hulme, Dinanga and Kaja have seven league goals and only 23 league starts between them out of a potential 78 starts (26 games x 3 players) this season.

THE YEOVIL POSTPONEMENT

The surface had been covered overnight with temperatures dropping below zero and a 'group of staff and volunteers' were on the pitch to attempt to make it playable.

In a statement confirming the postponement, the club said '“We are extremely disappointed to announce this afternoon’s game has been postponed...

'The manager (and) players were happy to play the game... In our view the referee has made an outrageous decision to call the game off despite representations from the club that the game should go ahead'...

BBC Somerset reporter Sheridan Robins said that (as yet to be formally announced, but presumed) chief executive Martyn Starnes would be making a complaint to the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) about the decision."

ALTY v MAIDENHEAD HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT: CHESTERFIELD

When they travel to Chesterfield on Tuesday night, Alty fans will be keeping a close eye on Ryan Colclough, whilst Chesterfield will be hoping to see Michael Gyasi in action.

Colclough left Altrincham for the Spireites recently whilst, a few days later, Gyasi came in the opposite direction, on loan.

Alty fans will also be keen to see Jeff King, who slipped through the net at Moss Lane, despite being the nephew of the club's legendary player and manager, John King. Jeff did play for the Altrincham youth team and made one first-team appearance in the Cheshire Senior Cup before leaving in 2015.

A further connection betwen the clubs is that when Marcus Dinaga joined Altrincham he had recently been on loan at Chesterfield, from Stevenage. Indeed, he was named on the bench when the Spireites beat Altrincham 1-0 in February 2021.

ALTY OLD BOYS

In the NPL Theo Bailey-Jones scored the third goal as visitors Stalybridge Celtic walloped Nantwich Town 4-0 at the Weaver Stadium.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Aaron Hayden finished a corner to give the visitors victory but the Stones can take great heart from their performance under caretaker boss George Elokobi.

Luke Young and a Paul Mullin penalty put the Red Dragons 2-0 up at the Gallagher.

Jack Barham’s double squared the match and at that stage Maidstone looked the more likely winners".

From the other side the Daily Post adds that "Wrexham AFC left it late to claim all three points at the Gallagher Stadium after seemingly cruising to victory with half an hour to go. The Dragons were 2-0 up on the hour mark...

Backed by around 500 fans, Wrexham appeared to be in control for the majority of the contest and missed several chances to make the game safe... The Reds [took] the lead in the 29th minute... That's how it stayed until half time...

The second half saw the Reds extend their lead as Paul Mullin was brought down in the box and the Liverpudlian frontman picked himself up and slotted home the resulting spot-kick. Most of those present would have expected the game to be done and dusted at this point but the hosts stormed back into the game with a tremendous ten-minute period.

The impressive Jack Barham grabbed two goals in the 72nd and 79th minute to get his side back level and stunned the title contenders. Phil Parkinson then made an attacking change by taking off centre-half Jordan Tunnicliffe and replacing him with central midfielder James Jones.

The change paid dividends as the Dragons piled forward and a Tom O'Connor corner was headed in by Aaron Hayden".

In the only other match played in the National League, Aldershot Town report that "The points were shared in Bromley after a good battle from both sides. Jake Hutchinson and an Ollie Harfield free-kick twice gave The Shots the lead but each time, Michael Cheek was able to equalise for the hosts as the game finished 2-2...

Aldershot took a while to get there [sic] first shot on goal but made it count as they took the lead in the 17th minute...

The Shots were playing nice football, led by new-boys Oliver Pendlebury and Karoy Anderson in central-midfield...

The hosts began to pile on the pressure from the half-hour mark and enjoyed a prolonged spell of possession and half-chances and their persistance would be rewarded when they equalised in the 36th minute...

As the game hit the 70th minute, it sprung into action as Aldershot took the lead again... The Shots had a dangerous free-kick deep down their right-wing.

Ollie Harfield took the set-piece and according to the stadium announcer, his delivery went through everybody and in, although there may have been a slight touch from Corey Jordan.

But, within minutes, Bromley had equalised again".

YEOVIL MATCH OFF

The Glovers' previous game in midweek at Barnet was also postponed shortly before its planned kick-off time.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Boreham Wood P-P Torquay United
• Bromley 2-2 Aldershot Town
• Chesterfield P-P Notts County (frozen pitch)
• Eastleigh P-P York City (frozen pitch)
• FC Halifax Town P-P Wealdstone (frozen pitch)
• Gateshead P-P Dorking Wanderers (frozen pitch)
• Maidenhead United P-P Dagenham & Redbridge (frozen pitch)
• Maidstone United 2-3 Wrexham - injury time winner for Wrexham
• Oldham Athletic P-P Southend United (frozen pitch)
• Solihull Moors P-P Scunthorpe United (frozen pitch)
• Woking P-P Barnet (frozen pitch)
• Yeovil Town P-P Altrincham (frozen pitch)

YEOVIL WERE CONFIDENT GAME WOULD GO ON

The match officials for this fixture will arrive at around 1pm, then there will be a pitch inspection at Huish Park.

Further updates will be issued on our channels following the completion of the pitch inspection".

TODAY'S OPPONENTS: YEOVIL TOWN

Altrincham would have gone into the match weakened by three departures since Christmas time with loanees Elliot Newby and Connor Jennings being recalled by their parent clubs, and Ryan Colclough being transferred to Chesterfield.

However, confidence should have remained high after Tuesday night's win over Maidenhead United which lengthened the club's unbeaten run to ten games, eight of which have been in the Vanarama National League.

Despite flooding in Somerset, not to mention the freezing weather across the country, the match at Huish Park seemed at this point to be avoiding the fate of other games which had already been postponed (see fixtures below).

The sides drew 2-2 at the J. Davidson Stadium early this season. A win for Altrincham in today's return fixture could propel them into the play-off places.

As well as their three recent departures, Alty have acquired two loanees in the past week in the shape of ex-King's Lynn winger Michael Gyasi, on loan from Chesterfield, and Manchester United loanee, Maxi Oyedele.

Teenager Oyedele was an unused sub the previous Tuesday for the game at home to Maidenhead United so he could make his debut at Yeovil as United certainly will be keen for him to get match action.

Gyasi did not appear in the squad at all in midweek so, again, he may make his first appearance in today's match.

As at Alty, there have been comings and goings at Yeovil in the lead up to today's match.

On Thursday boss Mark Cooper was the subject of a report from Yeovil's excellent Gloverscast which told us that "The manager has brought in forward Jordan Young and midfielders Charlie Cooper and Chesterfield loanee Jack Clarke in the past week, as well as signing play-maker Jordan Maguire-Drew on a permanent deal.

The three incomings follow the departures of strikers Louis Britton and Jake Scrimshaw and the return of midfielder Jamie Andrews to his parent club West Bromwich Albion...

Ahead of this weekend’s home match with Altrincham, the boss said, 'Jack Clarke brings us quality in the middle of the pitch, he is left-footed, he moves with the ball very well, and all our recent signings give us more competition and improve the squad.

'He was playing every game when they [Chesterfield] were top of the league at the start of last year and they were flying. I have seen him play on numerous occasions and he is a very tidy player who can make things happen with that left foot. He gives us an added bit to our armoury and improves us'...

Whilst 'Jordan Young is an exciting, young forward who has bags of potential... but he has to adjust to full-time football game'".

JENNINGS RETURNS TO COUNTY

Connor arrived at The J.Davidson Stadium in early November 2022... His arrival coincided with an upturn in form...

Connor's stay with the club was recently extended by another month, however, his parent club have exercised their right to recall him to Edgeley Park".

The recall has been revealed just ten days after news of an extension to his loan had been announced.

For Altrincham, Connor made 8(+1) league appearances and a further two appearances from the bench in the FA Trophy competition, making a total of 8(+3) appearances for the Robins in which he scored one goal.

Although Connor's debut coincided with a defeat by Barnet, all of his ten remaining games for Alty in the National League and the FA Trophy saw Alty remain unbeaten. Indeed Altrincham did not get where they are today without CJ!

With the departure of loanee Chris Conn-Clarke expected at the end of this month, Alty will have lost four attacking players in a month with Elliot Newby (recalled to parent club, Stockport County, then signed by Barrow), Ryan Colclough (sold to Chesterfield) and Chris Conn-Clarke (on loan from Fleetwood Town), all likely to have departed by then.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Alan Hardy, the former owner of Notts County, has submitted a final bid as the head of a consortium looking to buy the National League club, who currently sit bottom of the table...

Current owner Peter Swann is looking to offload the Iron, after a disastrous period in charge, which has seen the club plummet from the Championship to the verge of the sixth tier of English football and become the subject of a winding up order from HMRC.

Hardy, who owns the Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club in the village of Cotgrave, told us 'I have submitted an increased and final bid today (January 19). Now it’s up to [Swann] whether to accept the offer or not. It all depends on whether he’s mindful to accept or not now'

Hardy enjoyed initial success at Notts County when he took the club over in 2017, but this soon turned sour as the club was relegated to the National League for the first time in its long history. Shortly after he sold the Magpies to the Reedtz brothers...

He said 'I will certainly listen to public opinion as I’m not prepared to come into a hostile and toxic situation. Notts went on a great run and we broke the stadium record for most supporters through the turnstiles in a season. I know what success and failure look like'".

20 January 2023

BEFORE THE GAME: YEOVIL TOWN, WIN, LOSE OR DRAW?

On Saturday, Altrincham are scheduled to face Yeovil Town.

The Glovers' National League statistics are interesting.

With 12 draws from 25 outings, statistics suggest a draw with Altrincham might be a likely outcome. However, only five of those dozen draws have occurred at Huish Park. And it should also be noted that twenty of Yeovil's 27 league points have been earned at home where the Glovers are, nevertheless, with 13 goals, the lowest scorers in the National League. With the exception of three of the top six clubs, no club has conceded fewer home goals than Yeovil.

Another statistic is that only three clubs have won fewer away games than Altrincham this season; The Robins have recorded just two victories on the road so far.

So, will Altrincham's current excellent current form, (they are unbeaten in eight league matches), gain them a third win on the road, or will Yeovil's penchant for draws mean honours will be even or will the Somerset club's record of winning five matches at home see them victorious, albeit in a low-scoring match?

Statistics can be marshalled to suggest all three outcomes!

JAKE MOULT TESTIMONIAL

Altrincham FC has announced that "As one of the great servants of Altrincham's recent history, Jake Moult (right) gave the club a decade of sterling service, driving the team on from the heart of midfield year in, year out.

So, it only seems right that the club should give him something back in return, and we are delighted to announce that a date has now been set aside for that reciprocal gesture to be made... It was decided his decade of devotion should be marked with a testimonial match in his honour...

The club can now confirm that Sunday, April 30th has been selected for this special occasion... Kicking off at 1pm, the match will be an Altrincham XI versus a Jake Moult XI...

Tickets can be purchased in advance, costing just £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s". Gateshead versus Dorking, Maidenhead against Dagenham and Barnet's trip to Woking are all off in the fifth tier.

MATCHES OFF ALREADY

In addition Eastleigh's game had also been postponed. After an evening inspection at The Shay, FC Halifax Town's match became the fifth fixture to be postponed.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Having already added Ricky Aguiar, James Crole and Nico Lawrence to his Torquay squad in recent weeks, the addition of two more highly-rated players is a further show of intent by United, as Gary Johnson’s side continue to battle it out in the National League, and latter stages of the FA Trophy.

23 year-old Fadahunsi joins on loan from Sutton United, having made 19 appearances and scored 3 goals already this term. Tope earned his move into the EFL last summer following productive spells in non-League with Tooting & Mitcham and Loughborough University, as well as a stint in Finland with PS Kemi...

Began Johnson, 'Tope is a forward, a strong lad who scored many goals for Loughborough in his early days. He caught the eye of Sutton United, and has been involved in nearly all their games, albeit mostly off the bench, but ourselves and Sutton believe that he’s ready now to play regular in the National League'...

Meanwhile, former Crystal Palace youngster Mensah arrives at Plainmoor after spending the first part of the season at... rivals Maidstone, in addition to playing for the likes of Ramsgate, Weymouth and League One side Morecambe previously.

Having... amassed nearly senior 100 appearances at the age of just 22, the Gaffer is equally pleased to add another talented individual to his defensive roste...

'Jacob is a 6’3” defender... He’s quick, very athletic...

'We needed more recruits so that you’ve got a squad of players you can call upon'".

According to the Derbyshire Times "Notts County manager Luke Williams believes Chesterfield will ‘miss’ Paul Cook’s ‘presence’ on the touchline on Saturday...

Cook, who admitted the FA charges, was handed a two-match ban and fined £350 after being sent off against Scunthorpe United on Boxing Day. He [will be] in the stands... this weekend for the visit of the league leaders...

Williams said... 'I think his group will certainly miss him, that is for sure, from the touchline. Honestly, I think my staff will miss him as well because he is a great guy, it is actually a pleasure to be in the opposite dugout, I have been lucky enough to do it a couple of times with Cooky... His lack of presence will be felt because he is a big personality...

'Genuinely, I would prefer him to be there... There is no way that it is going to have such an effect to a degree that it will swing the game in one way or the other... I think it is a bit of a shame for the game, to be honest.'

Chesterfield go into the much-anticipated fixture in fourth, 13 points behind Notts, but with four games in hand".

The Grimsby Telegraph tells us that "Police will be'knocking on doors' following a pitch invasion at Scunthorpe United's home match against Woking, the club has said in a strongly worded statement that drew criticism from fans on Sunday.

United supporters ran on to the pitch during the second half in protest at owner Peter Swann, following the news that a winding-up petition had been issued by HMRC over an alleged unpaid tax bill. The game had to be paused for several minutes for the supporters to be cleared... leaving the Iron rooted to the bottom of the National League and facing a potential fine and points reduction following the invasion...

Lee Turnbull, the Chief Operating Officer at Scunthorpe United, branded the invasion... 'totally unacceptable. Not only is it a criminal offence to go onto the pitch, but it visibly effected the team...

'Michael Nelson, his staff and the players were thoroughly disappointed by the actions of those people that disrupted the game. I believe also that the majority of our supporters yesterday were also dismayed by their own supporters attempting to and getting on to the pitch.'...

Boss Nelson said... 'I'm not going to tell them that they're wrong for doing it'... He added 'No doubt there will be repercussions from the governing bodies which potentially could affect finances or even more severe, a points reduction. Equally, the police will also be knocking on a few doors of those pitch invaders which will probably result in arrests being made'".

ALTY IN THE LONG RUN

The current squad has some way to go to match the 16 matches unbeaten achieved in the Northern Premier League in 2017-18.

However, the last time that Altrincham had an even longer unbeaten run than the current one in the top-flight of non-League football was back in 1999/2000 season.

Despite being relegated at the end of that campaign, Bernard Taylor's side went a remarkable fourteen successive games unbeaten! Even more remarkably that magnificent run comprised just three wins and no fewer than eleven draws. In that run was a sequence of six successive draws. Alty also scored a goal or more in thirteen of those fourteen matches.

The unbeaten run was ended by a 5-0 thrashing at Hednesford Town and in the final seventeen games of that season Alty only won three more games and finished the season with a run of eleven games without a win!

THROUGH THE YEARS: 20 January

Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years record all previous games played by the Robins on that date.

Back in 2009 Altrincham made no mistake in despatching their UniBond Premier neighbours, Witton Albion, in that semi-final.

Left: Action from Altrincham v Witton in 2009.

Alty started well and took the lead in the 32nd minute when Denham scrambled home Doughty's cross. Densmore made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute with a well-struck freekick. Denham made it three just after the hour mark, a goal made by Greg Young's surge up the left. The scoring was completed by Chris Senior with a deftly executed chip over the keeper, ten minutes from the end.

Just 226 spectators watched the match at Moss Lane in which manager Graham Heathcote took the opportunity to play several players who had seen little action recently. Chris Denham started for the first time since, coincidentally, Alty's first Cheshire Senior Cup game that season in mid-September against Vauxhall Motors. He had been out with an eye injury following an accident at work. Alty were also pleased to welcome back their captain Robbie Lawton from an injury which had prevented him from starting a game since late November.

With Denham's inclusion, and both Alex Meechan and Joe O'Neill coming into the side, Colin Little, Chris Senior and Dale Johnson all dropped to the bench. Anthony Danylyk, suspended for the following Saturday, was also stood down as Lawton started in midfield. James Smith, too, returned from injury, allowing Mark McGregor a night off.

For their part Witton included former Alty players in the shape of James Olsen, Kieran Lugsden, Gary Scott and Lee Thompson...

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 22. James SMITH, 2. Chris LANE, 5. Greg YOUNG, 3. Matt DOUGHTY; 21. Shaun DENSMORE, 7. Robert LAWTON (capt), 11.Warren PEYTON; 10. Chris DENHAM, 12. Joe O'NEILL, 15. Alex MEECHAN. Subs: 4. Mark McGREGOR, 16. Anthony DANYLYK, 14. Dale JOHNSON, 19. Chris SENIOR, 9. Colin LITTLE.

WITTON ALBION: 1. Greg SMITH; 2. Gary SCOTT, 4. Brian PRITCHARD (capt) 5. Paul BOOTH, 3. Danny WARNER; 6. Jordon KING, 8. Ashley DUNN, 10. Tony DUNNE, 11. James OLSEN, 7.Kieran LUGSDEN, 9. Lee THOMPSON. Subs: 12. Dan SCHWARZ, 14. Steve WYNNE, 15. Mark SMYTH, GK. Dave MILLINGTON.

ROSS BARROWS RECOVERS

Ross confirmed that what has been sidelining him since November is not only his three-match suspension but also a broken fibula which he picked up in a behind closed doors friendly match. He has completed six weeks in a surgical boot but he is now well on the way to recovery.

Ross will be welcoming new signing Michael Gyasi as both men played for King's Lynn Town previously.

NEXT: YEOVIL TOWN

Whilst Altrincham will be seeking an eleventh game unbeaten in all competitions, Yeovil have won just twice in their last six league fixtures. They are the league's lowest scorers with just 21 goals scored in 25 matches. However, they are also hard to score against, having conceded only 26 times compared with Alty's 47 goals conceded.

The Glovers lie 19th in the National League with 27 points, which leaves them nine points behind Alty who have played one additional match.

When the sides met in August at the JDS, the game ended two apiece.

Yeovil have changed manager since that game, with Mark Cooper now the manager assisted by Chris Todd. Alty have opposed both men on many occasions in non-League.

ALTY OLD BOY

TOBY'S JOURNEY BACK TO FULL-TIME

The Altrincham vice-captain discusses his disappointment at not making the grade, full-time, at Crewe Alexandra, having been there from age 6 to 20 years of age. After his release he moved on to part-time Leek Town.

Next, he moved to Nantwich Town where he "began to develop a strong working relationship with, his current manager Phil Parkinson". After Parkinson had taken over as manager at Altrincham, “I was lucky enough to get the call up from Phil and that’s where it all began. He allowed me to come to Altrincham, and knowing the plans that were in place and having the chance to be able to call myself a professional footballer again is something I’ve always wanted to do....

“The whole project that Altrincham are trying to achieve is what sold it to me... My brother owns two coffee shops, one in Stockton Heath and one in Altrincham, so we used to share the workload around there last season before I moved to full-time", Alty's defender concluded.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The petition was served on the National League club in October...

Full details of the debt were not disclosed in court but a lawyer representing HMRC told the judge that it was 'large'.

The court was told that the problem was Covid-related but Southend's lawyer said there was a 'real prospect' of money coming in.

Southend chief executive Tom Lawrence said earlier this month that bridging finance would be used to pay HMRC, which should see the petition dismissed. Southend have been based at their Roots Hall stadium for 68 years and believe a move to a new site at Fossetts Farm is essential to resolve their ongoing financial issues. The club has a funding gap of about £2m a year.

Adjourning the hearing, Judge Mark Mullen said he accepted the club was a 'valuable asset' for the local community but the outstanding sum had to be paid".

Meanwhile the local paper, the Southend Echo informs us that "The Shrimpers Trust have urged Southend United chairman Ron Martin to confirm when bridging finance can be expected to save Blues.

The Shrimpers have 42 days to pay off their HMRC bill after seeing the winding up petition adjourned again this morning. But the Trust now want... 'Ron Martin to urgently confirm when bridging finance is now to be expected, and how the club will be able to function until work begins on the new stadium at Fossett's Farm.

'We expect all salaries to be paid on time. We expect outstanding monies to suppliers to be resolved. We expect loans to be returned and the club’s accounts to be filed. If these expectations cannot be met, then bridging finance is not the solution'...

And the Trust also remain... 'disappointed that the can has been kicked down the road'...

But Martin has so far failed to deliver on the promises he made earlier on in the season... 'Bridging finance still does not appear to have been finalised. The debt to HMRC is still to be discharged. A winding-up petition remains in place, with the next court date on 1st March 2023 marked “final”, together with a National League embargo'...

But, despite the huge off field issues, Blues are enjoying a fine season on the pitch... 'But this progress on the pitch risks being threatened, not just because there is currently no prospect of any essential signings in the event of injuries to key players, but because there is unrest amongst supporters about the ownership of the club'", the Trust concluded.

According to Football Insider247 "Aston Villa goalkeeper Filip Marschall has agreed a loan move back to Gateshead, sources have told Football Insider.

The 19-year-old has undergone a medical with the non-league outfit and is set to finalise the move imminently...

England Under-19 international Marschall is highly regarded within the corridors of power at Villa Park and signed a new contract last August. He was on the bench for the Boxing Day defeat to Liverpool...

Marschall spent the second half of last season on loan at Gateshead making 19 appearances and keeping six clean sheets to help the North-East club win promotion to the National League".

In the Nottingham Post "Luke Williams has admitted he has seen a drop in intensity from his Notts County side over the last couple of weeks...

The Magpies have taken just five points from their opening three league games of 2023, while also being knocked out of the FA Trophy last weekend... Many of the players have highlighted the intensity which the Notts boss has instilled into his side...

Williams explained that a number of his players were carrying niggling injuries...

The Magpies boss explained... 'Ultimately we are where we are because a lot of it is down to the intensity of the guys' work. We have to be brave enough to continue that, it would be crazy to change...

'It's a case of pitches changing and going from firm to soft, you can never anticipate the opposition's pitch and sometimes it is drastically different to the surface that we play on at Meadow Lane and the surface we train on day in, day out'".

Confirmation comes from the Halifax Courier that "Town boss Chris Millington says forward Matty Warburton is set to be out for around four weeks through injury.

Millington said Warburton had a scan on Monday on a small tear in his calf...

On fellow absentee Kian Spence, the Town boss said... 'Kian's still carrying on his strengthening programme to really give him the confidence that everything's right'...

'It's going to take them both time to build up'...

Millington told the Courier earlier this week that he was hoping to sign two more players before the Wealdstone game, which would add to the signing of 22-year-old Glossop midfielder Louis White...

'Team selection will become more of a headache as we get more incomings alongside Louis'.

Two players who have slipped down the pecking order are defender Tom Clarke and winger Jordan Slew... 'In Slewy's case he's a wide forward and there are a number of players in his position who have staked a claim for a starting shirt... So he's got a bit of competition in those areas, but I know Jordan is up for the fight...

'With Tom, similar scenario really... He's got some young, hungry centre-halves there to compete with in the likes of Jesse Debrah, Festus Arthur, Jamie Stott... He's got to dislodge those lads'".

MORE ON MAXI

With 20 league games remaining, Oyedele will be hoping to get plenty of experience and game time at senior level during his first loan spell away from Manchester United.

The length of Oyedele’s loan spell at Moss Lane has not been specified, but Manchester United’s number 74 will be hoping to make his debut in Saturday’s trip to Yeovil Town.

Oyedele featured in every match of last season’s FA Youth Cup success under Travis Binnion...

Prior to heading out on loan to Altrincham, Oyedele, who also formed part of United’s travelling party for the winter training camp in Spain last month, had scored two goals for United’s Under-18s this season...

Oyedele follows in the footsteps of fellow Manchester United Academy youngster Dermot Mee who made four appearances at Altrincham during a loan spell earlier in the campaign".

ALTRINCHAM 3-2 MAIDENHEAD UNITED

Maidenhead took the lead against the run of play when Alty headed a visitors' freekick out to Reece Smith. He fired an unstoppable shot past Byrne from outside the box (18 mins).

But Conn-Clarke (right) levelled seven minutes later direct from a freekick (25 mins). Then, from a Conn-Clarke cross, Kaja got a touch before Dinanga finished it off to give Alty the lead (33 mins).

Having largely dominated the first half, Alty sloppiness gave Maidenhead an equaliser in the first added minute of the half. A long ball got McCoulskey in behind James Jones and he volleyed home to make it 2-2 at the interval.

Another wonderful freekick by Conn-Clarke after he had been fouled, deservedly made it 3-2 and Alty looked set to secure a comfortable win (64 mins). But after taking the lead, they took their foot off the gas and sloppy defending gave Maidenhead occasional openings. But they got tot he end with the three points intact.

Match report here

NINTH LOAN SIGNING FOR ALTY

When only 16 years of age, Oyedele, a central midfielder, made his debut for Manchester United’s under-18 side in 2021 and he signed a professional contract at United also in that year.

Although born in Manchester, Odeyele has opted to represent Poland internationally at football, a country for whom he qualifies via his mother. However, he was also eligible to play for both England and Nigeria.

BROMLEY MATCH REARRANGED

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

After scoring in the 3-1 win against Scunthorpe, Bickerstaff grabbed a brace in Friday’s fourth round tie at Altrincham...

Said Bickerstaff, 'I was buzzing to score two goals and I have now scored three in the last two games which for me personally is brilliant. But it is a shame that we went out on penalties... Since making his senior debut when he scored in the Scottish Challenge Cup victory against Ayr United in September 2019, Bickerstaff has found opportunities limited... Said Bickerstaff... 'Hopefully the opportunities will come... I have just got to be ready'...

Altrincham were well on top in the early exchanges and went ahead but Bickerstaff scored twice in three minutes to put Wrexham 2-1 up at the break.... Altrincham bagged a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw before winning the shoot-out.

'I thought we were brilliant after the first 15 minutes,' said Bickerstaff. 'Obviously conceding a late goal is a killer and the momentum was with them towards the end. Then it is anyone’s game on penalties.'

Bickerstaff was gutted to miss the opening penalty of the shoot-out when goalkeeper Ollie Byrne pulled off a brilliant save. 'I should have gone a bit lower but the lads said it was a good save by the goalkeeper,' he added.

London News confirms that "Charlton Athletic youngster Karoy Anderson has joined National League side Aldershot Town on a 28-day loan.

The 18-year-old midfielder made his first start for the Addicks under Ben Garner in the 3-2 EFL Cup defeat at Plymouth... Anderson scored on his Charlton debut in added time".

Aldershot Town add that they have also signed "Portsmouth defender Haji Mnoga...

Mnoga joins on a deal until the end of the season and can play either right-back or centre-back... The 20-year-old has made a number of senior appearances for Portsmouth and has even received three caps for Tanzania.

Mnoga spent the first half of this season on loan at Gillingham in League Two where he made five appearances".

Yeovil Town "announce the signing of Jack Clarke on loan from Chesterfield until the end of the season.

The Aston Villa academy graduate returns for his second loan at Huish Park, having spent a short spell in Somerset during the 2020/21 season.

In total, the midfielder has played 34 times for Chesterfield and has scored four goals...

Clarke said... 'I really enjoyed my first loan spell here, even if it didn’t go amazingly... I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone... especially on Saturday against Altrincham which will hopefully be a good home crowd.”

!

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Altrincham 3-2 Maidenhead United
• Barnet P-P Yeovil Town
• Dagenham & Redbridge P-P Eastleigh
• Solihull Moors 1-2 Aldershot Town
• Wealdstone P-P Oldham Athletic (waterlogged pitch)

ISUZU FA TROPHY

• Torquay United 4-2 Taunton Town

ALTY SIGN GYASI ON LOAN

The 22-year old has joined the Robins from Chesterfield for the rest of the season and has completed the move in time for tomorrow’s Vanarama National League fixture with Maidenhead United...

Gyasi, who primarily operates on the left flank but can also play as a striker, is renowned for his turn of pace and also has an eye for goal...

Chesterfield signed him from King’s Lynn Town for an undisclosed fee last June...

He has struggled to nail down a place in Chesterfield’s promotion-chasing line-up this season... recently ending a loan spell with Gloucester City".

Footnote Michael Gyasi, who has dual German and Ghanaian citizenship, is the seventh loanee to join Altrincham this season (after Aaron Bennett, Dermot Mee, Eddy Jones, Chris Conn-Clarke, Connor Jennings and Dan Malone). He was born on February 3, 2000 and has been assigned shirt number 31, a number worn recently by another loanee, Dan Malone. His loan will last until the end of the 2022-23 season.

His career has taken in the Academies at Northampton Town and Chelsea and the youth set up at Leicester City. After leaving Filbert Street he spent time at Nuneaton Borough, Bedford Town, Barton Rovers, Phonix Lubeck and St Ives Town.

He joined King’s Lynn in December 2020 where he spent a period on loan at Dover Athletic before joining Chesterfield.

Gyasi has played against Altrincham on a number of occasions including the two league fixtures behind closed doors in March and April 2021 when playing for King's Lynn Town, and he was also a used substitute in the match against The Linnets at Moss Lane in September 2021.

ALTY TO FACE BRACKNELL IN TROPHY

The clubs have never met before and, coincidentally, Alty host another Berkshire club tomorrow night in the National League, when Maidenhead United are the visitors.

Bracknell compete in the Southern League Premier Division South (step 3 of the non-League pyramid) in which they lie seventh, albeit with games in hand. They reached Round One of the FA Cup earlier this season.

With Altrincham and York City both involved in the FA Trophy on Saturday 11 February, Altrincham's away trip to York, scheduled for that date, will have to be rearranged.

The full draw is:

• Aldershot Town v Dorking Wanderers
• Bracknell Town v Altrincham
• Eastleigh v Maidstone United
• Hungerford Town v Farsley Celtic
• Maidenhead United v FC Halifax Town / Harrow Borough
• Southend United v York City
• Torquay United / Taunton v Barnet
• Coalville / Banbury United v Gateshead

NEXT: MAIDENHEAD UNITED

Alty have yet to lose at home in the league to any club currently lower than ninth in the Vanarama National League and they go intom tonight's clash unbeaten in nine outings in all competitions, seven of them in the National League.

NATIONAL LEAGUE ATTENDANCES

• Clubs in BOLD are Vanarama National League clubs.

• Clubs Underlined are Vanarama National League North or South clubs.

• All other clubs shown are in the EFL Championship, League One or League Two.

Altrincham lie 15th of the 24 clubs in the National League as regards home attendances. There are five lower ranked clubs from the North or South divisions who have bigger attendances.

Right: Gates at Moss Lane have been boosted by several matches attracting good numbers of away supporters as seen here when Chesterfield visited the J. Davidson Stadium in August.

There are 38 EFL 1 or EFL 2 clubs with gates lower than Wrexham, who are the best attended club in the National League. And there is even one Championship club which enjoys lower attendances than Wrexham, that is Luton Town whose average gate is 9,811.

The lowest EFL club, Harrogate Town, have a gate lower than fourteen members of the National League.

There are clubs playing lower in the pyramid than National North/South whose gates fall within the range shown below, e.g. Macclesfield FC

Each club's average gate is as at 16 January 2023.

1. 9,954 WREXHAM
2. 9,811 Luton Town
3. 9,058 Swindon Town
4. 8,855 Bristol Rovers
5. 8,727 Stockport County
6. 8,529 Lincoln City
7. 8,249 Port Vale
8. 8,239 Peterborough United
9. 8,201 Milton Keynes Dons
10. 7,958 Oxford United
11. 7,924 NOTTS COUNTY
12. 7,591 Leyton Orient
13. 7,574 AFC Wimbledon
14. 7,036 OLDHAM ATHLETIC
15. 6,789 Exeter City
16. 6,754 CHESTERFIELD
17. 6,547 Grimsby Town
18. 6,493 Mansfield Town
19. 6,359 Doncaster Rovers
20. 6,175 Tranmere Rovers
21. 6,095 Shrewsbury Town
22. 5,996 Cambridge United
23. 5,789 SOUTHEND UNITED
24. 5,745 Wycombe Wanderers
25. 5,634 Carlisle United
26. 5,464 Northampton Town
27. 5,388 Walsall
28. 5,028 YORK CITY
29. 4,562 Gillingham
30. 4,533 Hartlepool United
31. 4,524 Morecambe
32. 4,375 Cheltenham Town
33. 4,063 Newport County
34. 4,057 Crewe Alexandra
35. 3,442 Fleetwood Town
36. 3,399 Barrow
37. 3,332 Burton Albion
38. 3,318 Colchester United
39. 3,276 Accrington Stanley
40. 3,153 Stevenage
41. 3,055 SCUNTHORPE UNITED
42. 3,049 Sutton United
43. 3,042 Forest Green Rovers
44. 2,896 Crawley Town
45. 2,856 Salford City
46. 2,818 Rochdale
47. 2,634 WOKING
48. 2,472 YEOVIL TOWN
49. 2,365 BROMLEY
50. 2,307 EASTLEIGH
51. 2,242 TORQUAY UNITED
52. 2,253 Kidderminster Harriers
53. 2,219 MAIDSTONE UNITED
54. 2,202 FC HALIFAX TOWN
55. 2,110 Hereford FC
56. 2,107 Dulwich Hamlet
57. 2,104 Harrogate Town
58. 2,058 Chester FC
59. 2,050 ALTRINCHAM
60. 1,898 ALDERSHOT TOWN
61. 1,885 DORKING WANDERERS
62. 1,772 BARNET
63. 1,713 Scarborough Athletic
64. 1,700 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
65. 1,636 SOLIHULL MOORS
66. 1,622 WEALDSTONE
67. 1,601 Darlington
68. 1,478 Boston United
69. 1,468 MAIDENHEAD UNITED
70. 1,381 Ebbsfleet United
71. 1,304 Spennymoor Town
72. 1,262 GATESHEAD
73. 1,272 AFC Telford United
74. 1.232 Dartford
75. 1,204 BOREHAM WOOD

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Defender Joe Cook has joined Dorking Wanderers permanently, George Cooper had his contract cancelled by mutual consent and Tom Whelan has been loaned out to Solihull Moors for the rest of the season.

On Cook, Webb told the DT... I think Joe is a good, young defender but at this time we thought we had four who were ahead of him so, to be a fifth choice centre-half you are not going to play many games. Dorking have taken him and they are going to give him a chance to get his career going again.”

Cooper was a bit of a marquee signing from Plymouth Argyle but the majority of his time at the Blues was spent in the physio room.

'He had lots of niggly injuries and if you look at the form of (Armando) Dobra and (Liam) Mandeville in particular in those wide areas it is tough to replace them at any point', Webb said. 'Obviously we have got Ryan (Colclough) now to really put the pressure on them and we have got young Jez (Uchegbulam) in the building. Akwasi (Asante) can play a few different positions so we are blessed in those positions and sadly George could never really get ahead of them'...

'What is a shame for Tom [Whelan] is that he played regularly in the team after coming back from Aldershot and we got some good results. And then when he dropped out of the team it was hard to get back in because results picked up again... It is a loan so we will see what happens after that loan. Solihull are definitely getting a very good player'...

'We have got a lot of players here who want to play that are not playing... Some lads are quite happy to wait and be patient, others want to go and play football straight away. Neither of those opinions are wrong'".

The ITV reports that "Wrexham AFC's Kop stand has been demolished after Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds promised a new stand for fans.

The new 5,500 capacity stand was approved... in November 2022. The old stand was previously described as an 'eyesore' and was derelict for a number of years given its poor condition.

Wayne Jones landlord of The Turf hotel said... 'It will give more people opportunities to come to the game because we sell out now; more bums on seats more people spending money on the local economy', he added...

Wrexham are currently placed second in the National League with the new Kop hoping to welcome fans by the beginning of the 2024/25 season".

The Northern Premier League reports that "Midfielder Louis White has left Glossop North End to take up a professional deal with FC Halifax Town.

He had been training with the National League side for several weeks...

During his time at the Hillmen, White made a total of 49 appearances in all competitions, scoring four times. He originally joined from Wythenshawe Amateurs midway through the 2021/22 season".

16 January 2023

NEXT GAME: MAIDENHEAD UNITED

The visitors won the match in Berkshire back in August, 2-0 but it is the hosts who go into the return match in the better form, currently having gone seven league games without defeat and nine matches unbeaten in all competitions.

However, despite their recent poor league form, Maidenhead United secured an impressive away win at Dagenham & Redbridge last Saturday n the FA Trophy.

The Maidenhead Advertiser reports that "From one of their worst performances of the season at Scunthorpe United last week, Maidenhead United produced one of their best to book their place in the fifth round of the FA Trophy at the expense of hosts Dagenham & Redbridge.

At the third time of asking this season, having lost to the Daggers in the league and the FA Cup this season, Maids got the better of their National League rivals and did so in relatively comfortable fashion.

Having taken the lead through Shawn McCoulsky's early finish and doubled it just before the break through Charlee Adams' penalty, Maidenhead were determined and disciplined throughout the second half to put their name in the hat for the last 16.

This was also their second clean sheet in three matches, and a wonderful response to last week's desperately poor 3-0 defeat at Scunthorpe...

Only two minutes were on the clock when McCoulsky was played in on goal and he picked out the bottom corner with a clinical finish.

Alexis Andre Jr was back between the sticks in place of [former Alty trialist] Dan Gyollai for this Trophy tie...

The Magpies then swooped to score a second in the 45th minute and the game swung heavily in their favour.

Elliot Johnson was red carded for a challenge in the area and Adams kept his cool from 12 yards to give Alan Devonshire's men breathing space...

Devonshire made some canny substitutions, with Koby Arthur, Reece Smith and Emile Acquah coming on to replace Dan Sparkes, Adrian Clifton and McCoulsky, and those changes helped the Magpies shut down the game".

GRAHAME TO BE A FREEMAN OF ALTRINCHAM

Grahame (right) will be inducted at "The Hilary Assize" meeting, to be held on Saturday, 21st January 2023 at Altrincham Town Hall, where the Freedom of Altrincham will be bestowed on him by the Provost of Altrincham

The Altrincham Court Leet is nowadays a largely ceremonial body but it has its origins, as JISC explains, in 1290 when "Altrincham was granted the status of a free borough in 1290 by Hamo de Massey, lord of Dunham... The court leet, which may be regarded as the direct descendant of the portmote or borough court established under the charter, was the governing body of the town. The court, composed of the burgesses, met twice yearly, in April or early May and in October, before the mayor of the borough and the steward of the lord of Dunham.

The court leet of Altrincham was... a remarkable example of a lord's borough that, despite having in strict law very little autonomy, contrived to perform throughout the eighteenth century the whole civil government of the town...

The court leet involved itself in almost every aspect of the life of the town. It appointed all officers of the town. It devised elaborate bylaws to control nuisances, and undertook the provision of municipal services such as street lighting and water supply. It regulated the town field and common pastures, and approved their progressive enclosure and improvement. It ensured that ditches were scoured, and defined the boundaries between properties.

The officers of the town who were elected annually at the autumn session of the court... The court heard presentments by the officers, received their accounts, and gave them orders, fining any who failed to perform their duties satisfactorily".

Former Altrincham manager Graham Heathcote was a previous recipient of the same honour.

ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES

Kyle made his debut on Saturday as "West" beat Horden Colliery Welfare 2-0 in the FA Vase at their South Manchester home.

The well-travelled striker soon endeared himself to the home supporters when, as shown here, he man-handled an opposition player out of the way!

Andrew Jones (right) recorded a clean sheet in the game, with Kyle Perry winning the victors a penalty to add to Joel Swift's opener.

Loanee Eden Bailey scored for Hanley Town in a 2-2 draw with Runcorn Linnets, for whom Ryan Brooke netted the last goal of the match for the Cheshire side.

James Berry was on the mark in Macclesfield FC's 3-0 win at Kidsgrove athletic.

There was a clean sheet for Dave Parton as Congleton Town progressed 4-0 in the FA Vase at home to Pinchbeck United.

FA TROPHY RESULT

• Notts County 2-2 Maidstone United (Maidstone won on penalties)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match, Cooper said... 'I have just said to the players (in the dressing room) that they keep giving me an opportunity to change things at half-time, and I didn’t today because we were creating chances.

'But if I was a player I wouldn’t want to keep giving the manager the chance to take people off at half time... We have to starting shaking things up'...

Their poor form in front of goal leaves them comfortably the division’s lowest scorers with 21 goals in 25 matches continued...

In the second half, Cooper threw on new signing Jordan Young and joint top-scorer Malachi Linton in a bid to get goals...

He said 'We were 2-0 down before we know it through two horrendous goals, we have three clear one-on-ones in the first half to seriously change the game, we don’t take them... We concede the third goal as we leave ourselves a bit short at the back.

'We score (through Andrew Oluwabori) and then... they go down the other end and score.... So we have some big decisions to make in terms of which way we’re going to go forward'...

The game was Maguire-Drew’s final of a one-month loan from League Two Grimsby Town and Cooper said that a permanent deal for the forward was “more or less done.”

In even worse trouble than Yeovil are Scunthorpe United who report that "The Iron lost 2-0 to Woking on Saturday afternoon at Glanford Park... just a week after a convincing win over Maidenhead United..

The Iron made no changes to the starting lineup..

In the sixth minute of the game, Woking took the lead...

The visitors got the second half underway but it was the Iron who started the half off the brightest...

They soon grabbed a second goal through Amond. He made up for missing his earlier chance by scoring a very nice goal from the edge of the Iron penalty area..

United continued to battle to try and get back into the game but they couldn’t grab a goal".

The BBC reported that "Scunthorpe United fans invaded the pitch during the second half of their National League defeat by Woking, in protest against owner Peter Swann.

It caused the game to be paused for several minutes and follows the club being served with a winding-up petition on Wednesday.

Swann is trying to sell the club, with former Notts County owner Alan Hardy reportedly leading a consortium interested in a takeover...

Iron interim manager Michael Nelson said... 'I'm not going to tell them that they're wrong for doing it,' he told BBC Radio Humberside. 'It's their club, they've been here longer than me and they have every right to do what they want. This week's been really tough if I'm honest, on the back of a really positive win last week it's been constant negativity, and it's been hard to keep the lads away from that.'...

The Iron suffered a ninth defeat in their last 11 league matches".

According to the Oldham Chronicle "Latics were sent tumbling out of the FA Trophy as Gateshead triumphed 3-1 at Boundary Park in today's venue-switched fourth round tie. [Gateshead switched the tie to Oldham owing to floodlight works]

Veteran Peter Clarke scored for Latics in the first half, but it turned into another hugely disappointing day...

Middlesbrough loanee Kamil Conteh fired Gateshead in front early on as he rifled home from the edge of the box.

Latics hit back before the interval when Clarke tapped home at the far post following a corner.

Gateshead made it 2-1 in the 86th minute when Robbie Tinkler notched.

The boos then rang out when Gateshead skipper Greg Olley breezed past a couple of defenders before slotting home...

Latics must now concentrate on dragging themselves away from the National League Drop zone."

ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS

Match report here.

NEXT GAME: MAIDENHEAD UNITED

On Saturday Maidenhead United had a good away win in the FA Trophy at Dagenham & Redbridge but they have been struggling recently in the National League.

Indeed, earlier in the week, the Maidenhead Advertiser had reported that "Maidenhead United's players and management team personally apologised to their travelling away support in the aftermath of Saturday's disappointing 3-0 defeat to Scunthorpe United...

It's rare for assistant boss Ryan Peters not to take any positives from a Magpies' performance, but he was struggling to come up with even one as he reflected on their 'embarrassingly poor' display.

This was a shadow of the side that had kicked off the new year in such positive fashion, nullifying a bright-looking Wealdstone team in a goalless draw at York Road. But, for whatever reason, they were chasing shadows from the opening minutes of this encounter at Glanford Park...

It leaves the Magpies without a league win since November 19...

This result leaves the Magpies seven points clear of the bottom four...

Peters said... 'It was an embarrassingly poor performance from us... The gaffer has had some harsh words to say to them, and rightly so... This was a bad game. We’ve had a couple of half chances, but they could have had a hell of a lot more goals today. We were off it right from the very start'...

Defender Idris Odutayo has also extended his loan spell from Fulham until the end of the season".

WREXHAM'S PARKINSON "HAPPY" DESPITE DEFEAT

The Reds boss named a completely different side to the one that started the 2-1 midweek win over Bromley...

Altrincham were well on top in the opening exchanges at Moss Lane and took an early lead but Jake Bickerstaff scored twice in three minutes to give the Reds the lead at half-time.

Wrexham were heading for a place in the fifth round but Altrincham grabbed an 89th minute equaliser and won 4-3 on spot-kicks, although Parkinson preferred to look at the bigger picture...

'We started a little slowly, we were second best for the first 10-15 minutes but after that we grew into the game', said Parkinson...

'I thought the front two were a real handful, two great goals from Jake Bickerstaff and Sam Dalby led the line really well...

'Young Scott Butler came in and I thought he put in a very accomplished performance... We had to change the back three around towards the end of the game and it disrupted us 8 minutes as Sutton United lost 2-0 at Salford City.

but all in all, there are a lot of positives...

'It is always disappointing to lose on penalties but they took them better than us, simple as that,' added Parkinson...

'I thought the keeper made a great save from Jake... The FA Trophy is way down our priority list, everybody knows that'" he concluded.

ALTY OLD BOYS

In the EFL, Joel Senior played the full game as his Carlisle United team won 2-0 at home to Newport County and strengthened their hold on a play-off place.

Carl Piergianni scored his fourth goal in the last three League Two games to earn Stevenage a 1-1 draw at Harrogate Town.

Elliot Newby was a 72nd minute substitute for Barrow as they drew 0-0 away to League leaders Leyton Orient.

Alistair Smith (right) was substituted after 78 minutes as Sutton United lost 2-0 at Salford City.

In National North, Lewis Salmon, on loan from Nottingham Forest, until the end of the season, marked his debut for AFC Telford United with the clincher in added time as they won 2-0 at Buxton.

Tom Peers opened the scoring, and Craig Mahon added a second for Curzon Ashton, but hosts Chester FC fought back to draw 2-2.

A goal in added time for Luca Havern was not enough to save BPA from a 3-2 reverse at Spennymoor.

At Belper, Byron Harrison levelled for Nantwich Town and they went on to win 3-1.

John Johnston scored the clincher as Matlock Town were 2-0 victors at Stafford Rangers.

A-Jay Leitch-Smith opened the scoring for Warrington Rylands but the visitors in the "Wiretown Derby" came back in the second half, and ran out 2-1 winners.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

He’s signed an 18-month contract at the club and has more than 150 appearances in the National League. He recently left Oldham Athletic.

Charlie, who is the son of the manager, Mark Cooper said... 'I’ve been here for about a month, training with the lads'...

A Birmingham City academy graduate, he has played in the Football League for both Forest Green & Newport County. His time in the National League has been spent with York City, Boreham Wood, FC Halifax Town, Woking, Wealdstone alongside Oldham and Forest Green".

Bromley "announce the signing of Dutch attacking midfielder Mitchel Bergkamp.

The 24-year-old arrives at Hayes Lane with previous experience of playing in England, spending five months with Watford’s U21s before leaving in the summer of 2021.

Bergkamp, the son of football legend Dennis, spent the beginning of his career in the Netherlands, playing for Almere City and was also a recent trialist at Arsenal.

Manager Andy Woodman expressed his joy... 'I was lucky enough to work with Mitchell when I was at Arsenal so... I’m delighted to have him on board.'” 14 January 2023

ALTRINCHAM 2-2 WREXHAM, Alty win on penalties

For the first twenty minutes it looked as if Altrincham would win at a canter as they dominated the match against this Wrexham line-up. The hosts put together several impressive passing movements, with Conn-Clarke outstanding in the first half.

Match report here.

ISUZU FA TROPHY FOURTH ROUND

• Altrincham 2-2 Wrexham (Altrincham win 4-3 on pens)

Saturday 14 January

• Aldershot Town 4-1 Leiston
• Banbury United P-P Coalville Town
• Bracknell Town 1-0 Bath City
• Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 Maidenhead United
• Dorking Wanderers 3-2 Kidderminster Harriers
• Eastleigh 1-0 Braintree Town
• Farsley Celtic 7-1 Marske United
• Gateshead 3-1 Oldham Athletic
• Harrow Borough P-P FC Halifax Town
• Hungerford Town 2-1 Tamworth
• Solihull Moors 0-2 Barnet
• Southend United 2-1 Darlington
• Torquay United P-P Taunton Town
• York City 1-1 Chelmsford City (York won on pens)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Scunthorpe United 0-2 Woking
• Bromley 4-1 Yeovil Town

ALTRINCHAM 2-2 WREXHAM, Alty win on penalties

For the first twenty minutes it looked as if Altrincham would win at a canter as they dominated the match against this Wrexham line-up. The hosts put together several impressive passing movements, with Conn-Clarke outstanding in the first half.

Match report here.

WREXHAM VIEW

It was an end to end fourth round encounter and Wrexham conceded a late leveller before Altrincham won the shoot-out where Sam Dalby, James Jones and Harry Lennon scored their spot-kicks but Bickerstaff and Reece Hall-Johnson missed.

Manager Phil Parkinson said he would name a different side to the one that started Tuesday's 2-1 win against Bromley... and the Reds' boss was true to his word.

He still named a strong team with youngsters making up the substitutes bench as all regulars were given an evening off...

Altrincham who took a 10th minute lead... It was almost 2-0 when Baines looked like he had scored again but Marcus Dinanga got a touch on the line and the goal was ruled out for offside.

Altrincham were well on top and Rob Lainton pulled off a brilliant save to turn Hulme's header onto the bar and Reece Hall-Johnson made a vital block to deny Toby Mullarkey... but Wrexham equalised in the 24th minute.

A cross was tipped away by Byrne but James Jones' shot was turned home by Bickerstaff.

It got even better as Wrexham went 2-1 up on 27 minutes...

However, Altrincham equalised in the 89th minute... to take the game the game to a shoot-out where Altrincham won".

NEXT: MAIDENHEAD UNITED

ALTY MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS

• £500 cash | #130 | The Mitchell Family
• £75 cash | #272 | T Cook
• £25 cash | #337 | Mr Nash
• Hospitality for Two | #103 | Andrew Flynn
• Bottle of Alty Gin | #106 | Ian Gordon
• Scarf & Team Photo | #489 | A Young

Congratulations to all the winners!

ALTY OLD BOYS

Right: Kyle during his Altrincham days when he scored 22 goals in 38(+53) appearances for the club.

Perry has a wealth of experience; starting his career at Walsall before moving around the lower leagues and non league with clubs such as Port Vale, Telford and Altrincham.

Manager Chris Rowley said 'Kyle is someone I’ve know since his days at Altrincham. He became a cult hero there helping the club return to the top of the Non League Pyramid and has consistently scored goals at all the clubs he has been at.

He is a big centre forward and someone our other attacking players can learn from...

He is available for selection for tomorrow’s FA Vase 4th Round home tie against Horden Community Welfare".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 26-year-old, who returned to the Spireites for a second spell last year, has found his game-time limited and was loaned out to Aldershot Town earlier in the season.

He made seven successive appearances for the Blues between October and December but he has not featured since the defeat at Halifax...

Whelan said... 'I just want to get started and playing games now... and we’ve got a good chance of getting into the play-off places'...

Moors boss Neal Ardley added... 'He can play in various midfield roles, he's highly energetic, and gives us something different to what we already have'.

Whelan follows George Cooper and Joe Cook in leaving the club in the last couple of days, while Ryan Colclough has joined from Altrincham".

The Nottingham Post that manager "Luke Williams has signed a new contract at Notts County.

The Magpies confirmed the new deal... with head coach Williams and his assistant Ryan Harley committing to the Meadow Lane club until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Club owners Chris and Alex Reedtz said: “We have been hugely impressed with Luke both as a head coach and a colleague. On the pitch, he has been delivering amazing results and consistently enjoyable performances, which is the combination every football club strives for'...

Williams said 'As a manager or head coach, it can be incredibly difficult to find a club that closely matches your own philosophy and values.

'I feel very fortunate to have found that here, particularly so early in my career'".

And Notts County "have completed the signing of promising Norwich City goalkeeper Archie Mair on loan until the end of the season.

Mair, who has represented Scotland at various youth levels and has been training with us, will provide competition for number-one goalkeeper Sam Slocombe following Brad Young’s return to Leicester City...

Our goalkeeper coach, Tom Weal, who worked with the 21-year-old at Norwich, said... 'It’s really important that we brought in the right person to strengthen our goalkeeping department and add to its culture, and I’m delighted Archie has agreed to come on board'...

He has National League experience from a spell with King’s Lynn Town, while he has also spent time with Lincoln City and, this season, National League South title-chasers Dartford".

Aldershot Town "announce the signing of Peter Abimbola from Northampton Town on a one month loan.

The 18-year-old is an energetic central midfielder who has made three appearances in the EFL Trophy for Northampton.

Abimbola spent a month on loan last season with AFC Rushden & Diamonds where he made seven appearances, scoring once".

According to York Press, "York City manager David Webb has provided an update on any incoming transfers, claiming there are 'none imminent'...

Webb has so far bolstered the squad with the additions of Ollie Tanner from Cardiff City and Shaq Forde from Watford, with both players joining the club on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Tanner is yet to make his debut for City after only joining on Tuesday...

'Ollie is an exciting player and can play anywhere across the front three, or he can play in the number ten.' Webb explained. 'He’s a player I’ve known since he was in the Arsenal academ'...

Forde has hit the ground running, firing home four goals in his first two matches and becoming York’s youngest ever player to score a hat-trick...

Webb isn’t in a rush to improve the squad any further... 'We haven’t got a particular area (to improve), with Shaq and Ollie we’ve got more options in attack and we have done. In midfield we’ve got quite a lot of midfielders and we’ve got quite a lot in defence as well so we’re pretty much covered in all the areas...

'The budget is okay... What we’re looking for is if one can come in that can add quality we will do, but we don’t want to overload the squad'".

13 January 2023

TROPHY MATCH TO BE STREAMED

Altrincham FC has announced that the match will be streamed.

Details of the stream are on the Wrexham website. It states that "The match will be livestreamed via the Wrexham AFC club website. Match passes will cost £9.50, in line with National League TV prices. We will be providing a three-camera, multi-angle feed with instant replays for the game."

US INVESTMENT IN ALTY

Valcor Ventures LLC, based in Texas, USA, has purchased a minority interest in The Robins in its first foray into sport for the group.

It will see its managing director, Alberto Valdes, join the club’s board to help drive business strategy alongside its existing directors.

Valdes, who is also president and CEO at Hill Country Foodworks, Texas, said 'It’s not often that an opportunity becomes available to invest in a 131-year-old professional football club and we are excited to join the journey with Altrincham FC’s fan base, players and the wider business.

'Our group brings experience in various industries and we hope to bring this value through to the club over the coming years.'"

On the Altrincham FC website, Bill Waterson (right), co chairman, said "'We have been in discussions with Alberto and Valcor Ventures LLC for many months, and we are extremely pleased that the deal has now been finalised. Alberto not only believes in the vision of our club, but he brings with him a wealth of expertise.

'Having someone with his calibre and experience join us is an incredible moment for the Club as we enter into the next phase of our journey.

'At this time, we would also like to thank Chris Hamlett, who has decided to step down from the Board. We thank him for his contribution to the club over the last couple of years and wish him well.'

The funding by Valcor Ventures LLC is the latest American investment into the National League, following the backing of League competitor Wrexham AFC by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2022".

GOALS GONE AND GOING

Elliot Newby's return to Stockport County and his ultimate move to Barrow, took away the scorer of four league goals from Altrincham. His departure followed the return of loanee Aaron Bennett (right) to Preston North End, the midfielder having scored three times in league matches for the Robins this season.

The departure on Thursday of Ryan Colclough took away the scorer of seven more of the club's National League goals.

Added to that, Fleetwood Town loanee Chris Conn-Clarke, who has also scored seven goals for Altrincham in the league this season, may well be leaving when his loan spell concludes later this month.

Should that happen, 21 of the team's 37 National League goals will have been scored by players no longer at the club.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Defender Joe Cook and midfielder George Cooper have both left the Spireites.

Cook, 23, has joined fellow National League side Dorking Wanderers on a permanent basis following a successful loan spell.

Cooper, 26, has left by mutual consent and is now a free agent.

Centre-back Cook joined in the summer from Bognor Regis Town for a small fee but has only started two matches for the Blues...

Cooper also arrived in the summer on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle. His signing brought a lot of excitement given his impressive goals and assists statistics but he struggled with injuries and made just two starts and nine appearances overall".

According to the BBC, "Luke Williams says he 'still has lots to prove' as Notts County boss after being linked with the vacant managerial position at Portsmouth.

The 42-year-old took the helm at Meadow Lane just seven months ago, and has the Magpies top of the National League...

'I don't see any reason why anything would happen,' Williams said. 'I haven't done anything. I have been here for a few months and I haven't achieved anything. I still have a lot to prove to the fans still and I am in a wonderful club. I respect the position'

Williams, whose only previous job as a head coach ended with relegation to League Two with Swindon Town in 2017, has transformed Notts into a major contender for automatic promotion...

Williams has emulated a club managerial great in Sam Allardyce by having the Magpies top of the National League at Christmas".

At Yeovil Town, the Glovers "announce the signing of Jordan Young from Chippenham Town on undisclosed terms.

The 23-year-old signs a two-and-a-half-year deal after an excellent spell with Chippenham, where he netted 14 goals in 38 league appearances...

A versatile forward who is able to play across the forward line, Young... is already familiar with manager Mark Cooper, who was the first manager to name him in a professional match day squad as a teenager. He scored his first Swindon goal later that season against Shrewsbury Town at the County Ground".

COLCLOUGH MOVES ON

As Alty fans may be aware, interest in the Robins’ free-scoring winger has intensified in recent weeks, with several parties registering a willingness to meet a buy-out clause in his contract.

Despite the club’s best efforts to talk him into staying... Ryan felt the time was right for a move and indicated a wish to accept Chesterfield’s offer.

The 28 year old’s stance, allied to the bid on the table, left Alty with little room for manoeuvre and marked the end of the road for one of the most eye-catching Robins careers of recent times, but the club are determined it will not derail the continuing progress being made under Phil Parkinson and Neil Sorvel.

All the money received will go towards further strengthening the squad...

The Stoke-born winger acknowledged the debt he owes everyone at The J.Davidson Stadium...

Ryan wrote... 'Just when I thought I was falling out of love with the game, Altrincham and everyone involved showed me exactly why I fell in love with it.... It's been one of the best groups I've worked with.

'I also want to say how grateful I am to the fans who have shown me great support from day one. And, lastly, the gaffer who gave me this opportunity when no one else would. He believed in me and gave me the support I needed...

Even when the buy-out clause was met, the club refused to accept defeat and came back in with significantly increased terms for their prized asset before ultimately having to concede that those on offer elsewhere could not be matched. In addition, there was another factor to take into account, with the near-certainty that, should his blistering form continue, he would be snapped up for nothing at the end of the season".

After signing, Colclough told the Chesterfield website, "I know the gaffer well and the lads seem like a great group. I’m really excited to get going.”

RYAN'S ALTY RECORD

On 12 December 2020, after just one start and two appearances from the bench for Altrincham, Ryan signed for the club until the end of 2021/22 season. Ryan soon impressed and scored several fine goals before the season concluded.

Earlier in his career, after more than three years at Crewe (2012-16), Ryan had moved to Wigan Athletic and went on loan from there to MK Dons before signing for Scunthorpe United in August 2018.

At Altrincham, Ryan extended his contract till the end of 2022-23 season, a deal announced on 14 August 2021.

His Altrincham appearances totalled 88(+10), in which he scored 26 goals.

RYAN AND HIS STATS

His statistics this season are some of the best in the National League.

When it comes to shots, no player in the division has had more than his 97. For dribbles, he is second with an average of 9.6 per 90, with a 64 per cent success rate".

In terms of goals, Colclough has seven in 25 league appearances, and with an xG (expected goals) of 7.36... He is the fifth highest clinical player in the National League this campaign".

Ryan is also fifth in the National League on several lother measures: assists, passes, crosses and touches in opposition penalty area and for recoveries of the ball in the final third.

EDDY JONES INTERVIEW

ALTY SWITCH CSC DRAW

The tie will take place on Tuesday January 31st, kicking off at 7.45pm, and Alty are grateful to the Cheshire FA and our opponents Vauxhall Motors for agreeing to our request for a change of venue".

It was originally scheduled for The J.Davidson Stadium but will now be staged at Vauxhall Motors' Rivacre Park, known these days as the vanEupen Arena".

Older Alty fans will know the venue as Rivacre Park.

NEXT: WREXHAM

Whereas postponement of Alty's game last Saturday means they have not been in action since New Year's Day, The Red Dragons' were in action as recently as Tuesday night when they hosted Bromley who reported that "The Ravens fell to a 2-1 defeat away at Wrexham...

Bromley dominated most of the first half... Whitely broke the dead-lock just past the half-hour mark after some really good play by Dennis found the wide-man in the box who buried from close range.

The lead didn’t last long, though, as Wrexham were awarded a penalty [for a foot=up offence] just before half-time and it was buried home by Paul Mullin...

The hosts eventually took the lead on 72 minutes after a deflected James Jones effort found the back of the net... Wrexham held on to clinch the points".

THROUGH THE YEARS: 13 January

The updated Through the Years files, created by Howard Watts and Mike Garnett, remind us that it will be five years since the Robins last played on 13 January.

Above: Jordan Hulme gives the thumbs-up as Alty line up before kick off at Stafford.

That was a 2-0 away win at Marston Road against Stafford Rangers.

After a first half in which Rangers could have led but for a couple of superb blocks by goalkeeper Thompson, Alty upped their game after the interval to record a sixth successive away win in the league. From James Poole's threaded pass, Jordan Hulme rounded the keeper to open the scoring in the 61st minute, making this the eighth successive league game in which he has scored.

Centre-back Ben Harrison settled the match in the 77th minute with a low shot, following a corner. Results elsewhere improved Alty's position at the top of the table and they were now ten points ahead of second-placed Grantham, though fourth-placed Shaw Lane had four games in hand but were 13 points behind.

ALTRINCHAM 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 3. Connor HAMPSON, 4. James JONES, 5. Ben HARRISON, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. John JOHNSTON, 8. Max HARROP, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. James POOLE, 11. Josh HANCOCK. Subs: 12. Tom PEERS, 14. Sean MILLER, 15. Simon RICHMAN, 16. Andy WHITE, 20. Tim DEASY

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Co-owners Terry Casey and Oliver Ash have agreed a deal to sell Maidstone United. The pair have accepted an offer from local businessman and lifelong Stones fan Alan Manchett to sell [buy] their controlling interest...

In a statement, they said 'The directors of Maidstone United Football Club can confirm they have accepted an offer to sell a controlling interest in the club to a local businessman Alan Manchett... and for the past two seasons his company Manchett Group has been one of its main business partners.

'Alan has a clear vision and ambition for the club that underpin not only long term security but also a desire to return in due course to the EFL... but has also committed to helping the club attempt to avoid relegation from the National League this season...

'Both Alan and the current co-owners, who will remain involved in the running of the club at least in the short term'...

Casey and Ash... returned the club to the county town after a 24-year absence when the Gallagher Stadium, built at a cost of £2.9m, opened in 2012... It was the start of a golden age for the Stones, who went on to achieve three promotions in four seasons under Jay Saunders, reaching the National League in 2016.

The co-owners were also trailblazers for 3G... with Maidstone reporting profits every year since the Gallagher opened. Casey and Ash also funded extensions to the stadium as United climbed through the leagues.

They doubled the size of the main stand... capacity steadily increased from 2,226 to 4,200".

Meanwhile at Bromley "Michael Cheek has agreed to extend his contract at Hayes Lane.

The forward has gone on to become a fans’ favourite after joining the club back in 2019, netting over 50 goals, including that winning strike at Wembley in May, whilst surpassing 150 appearances.

Cheek bagged 12 league goals in his debut season at Hayes Lane before... the campaign after clinching the Golden Boot award with 21 to his name...

'I love this club... I’ve been here for four years now and I can’t wait to make some more special memories.'”

We learn from the Birmingham Mail that "Touching tributes have been paid to Kyle Storer after the Solihull Moors skipper quit the club to rejoin his old side Nuneaton Borough FC. Known universally as 'Stoz', the much-loved midfielder and 'loyal servant' has called Damson Lane home for five years.

And after smashing 200 first-team appearances in yellow and blue, and making a landmark 700th career appearance in October, Storer is moving back home. The 35 year-old said he was "delighted" to return to his hometown club, which he left in 2011...

Players and staff from across Moors... have paid tribute to the 'incredible captain and future manager' in an emotional social media video. Current Head Coach Neal Ardley said... 'Unfortunately for us he's had a very good offer from Nuneaton to be part of that going forward and at his age we felt we couldn't stand in his way. It's sad to lose such a character in the dressing room and a real leader on the pitch but it's the right thing for Kyle to go on a new adventure'...

Message from Kyle Storer to Solihull Moors fans... 'My ambition when I joined Solihull Moors was to gain Football League status, it wasn’t to be, but we came so close to this on a couple of occasions and it was some journey'".

The BBC confirms that "Scunthorpe have been served a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs over an alleged unpaid tax bill.

Owner Peter Swann is trying to sell the National League club but a takeover, which seemed close to completion last month, is yet to go through.

Swann has acknowledged the online publication of the winding-up petition but has added no further comment.

The Iron were relegated out of the Football League after 72 years last season and are bottom of the division.

Begbies Traynor, the company dealing with offers for the club, told BBC Radio Humberside that the winding-up petition 'shows the urgency required by any potential purchaser'".

CHANGES FOR THREE (OR FOUR?) ALTY PLAYERS

First of all it was revealed that left-back Eddy Jones had become an Altrincham player rather than a loanee from Stoke City as he had been to date. Details are below.

Then another loanee, striker Connor Jennings, extended his loan stay at Alty from Stockport County by a further month, making his planned stay a total of three months. More details of this change are below.

And next, winger Brad Jackson, who has been plagued by injury, was reported by Altrincham FC to be " heading to Buxton on loan to gain valuable game time and help their fight to steer clear of relegation in the Vanarama National League North".

At Buxton he joins former Alty men Connor Kirby and Jake Moult.

Brad made his debut on Tuesday night for the Bucks who drew 2-2 with Chorley, with Brad scoring the first equaliser in a game which ended 2-2.

Brad joined Altrincham from club Chester FC in a move announced in May 2021. In December 2018, he had signed for Chester FC, where he played on the right-wing but had also played as a right-back.

Injuries limited him to seven starts at Chester before the NLN season 2020-21 was halted by Covid. For Altrincham he had started just four of the first 27 league matches, largely due to injury and a suspension, before it was announced on 23 December 2021 that he was going on a month's loan to Buxton to regain match fitness. He returned to Alty but made no further appearances that season.

In 2022-23, having regained fitness, he started to make more regular appearances in the first team. So far in 2022-23 he has made 5(+8) league appearances and a further 1(+2) appearances in cup games, making a total of 6(+10) appearances in all in 2022-23.

In addition to the changes affecting Eddy Jones, Connor Jennings and Brad Jackson there has been intense speculation from Derbyshire that Ryan Coclough is on the verge of a move to Chesterfield with the Derbyshire Times claiming that "Altrincham winger Ryan Colclough, 28, is said to have ‘sealed a deal’ to sign for the Spireites.

Colclough has worked with boss Paul Cook before at Wigan Athletic and it seems like they are set to link-up again".

ALTY OLD BOYS

NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Tuesday, 10 January 2023

• Aldershot Town 0-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Notts County 1-1 Boreham Wood
• Wealdstone P-P Chesterfield
• Wrexham 2-1 Bromley

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 22-year-old has had a productive two-month stint with the Gulls, getting the regular game time he desired after a stuttering start to his Mariners career...

It is clear that Torquay appreciated his presence...

Johnson said... 'We had agreed with Grimsby that Stephen was going to stay with us.

'Wearney felt that he needed to go back to Grimsby to compete for a place, and that was why neither of them were involved in the game against FC Halifax on Saturday. Both are gone but not forgotten'...

Hurst explained back in November 'He [Stephen Wearne] has had some good moments and others where it hasn’t quite worked for him so far... This is the first time he has left an academy to be full-time somewhere else as a first-team player. He had his loan experience last season, but other than that, this is the first time he has been exposed to it.'”

Kent Online informs us that "Maidstone captain Gavin Hoyte has paid tribute to former manager Hakan Hayrettin for 'making us winners'.

Injured skipper Hoyte was sorry to see Hayrettin sacked yesterday and says the players have let him down.

They won National South last season but have struggled back in the top flight of non-league football. A run of two wins in 21 games led to Hayrettin’s dismissal...

'He retained the vast majority of last season’s squad but it’s been a difficult campaign at the higher level. I’m sad to see him go,' said Hoyte... 'What Hak’s done for us is massive. I’ve been with him for three-and-a-half years. He’s a winner and he’s made us winners...

'He put his trust in us this season and we’ve let him down... He works tirelessly and when we were losing I had lots of calls with him, trying to work things out and see what was wrong...

'He’s a very hard worker and he put that into all of us'...

Elokobi has been named caretaker manager... Hoyte said... 'George is a very positive guy, he’s got big energy and he’s another one who wants to win... The potential is there to stay up if we can cut out the silly errors... Let’s do it for ourselves and for Hak...

'He wasn’t able to pick his team, which didn’t help'".

JENNINGS JOINS FOR ANOTHER MONTH

The experienced Manchester-born frontrunner arrived at The J.Davidson Stadium from County at the beginning of November".

Jennings has made "a positive contribution to a marked upturn in fortunes for the Robins, as the team embarked on an unbeaten run that now stands at eight games...

Connor has proved himself an accomplished leader of the line during a loan spell that has already run for two months...

His hold-up play and physical presence has been a prominent feature of the eight starts he has made so far".

Footnote: Nearly fifteen years after his brother James had started a loan spell at Moss Lane, Connor Jennings's loan from Stockport County was announced on 7 November 2022 and he made his debut the next day at home to Barnet. The loan was extended for a further month, as was announced on 9 December.

Connor's first major impact in football was at the Bower Fold where he made 123 appearances and netted 53 times for Stalybridge Celtic between 2009 and 2011. That success led to a £100,000 move in January 2012 into the Football League with League One Scunthorpe United.

He made 14 appearances for The Iron before going on loan to Stockport County in November, 2012. In summer 2013 he moved on loan to Macclesfield Town and in February 2014 his next loan spell was at Grimsby Town.

Summer 2014 saw him leave Scunthorpe and sign for Wrexham where he stayed for two seasons before signing for Tranmere Rovers where he spent another two seasons before he signed for Stockport County in July 2020.

Connor had played against Altrincham several times before joining The Robins and had also scored against them, including a brace in Stalybridge's 5-1 win in October 2011.

Other appearances against Alty included, for Wrexham, as a used sub in Alty's 3-2 win at the Racecourse in 2014 but he scored in the Welsh side's 4-1 win in the reverse fixture that season.

He also captained Wrexham at Moss Lane in a 1-1 draw in February, 2016, having also played in the reverse fixture in 2015/16.

EDDY JONES SIGNS

"The Wales under-21 left-back has come on in leaps and bounds since starting a second loan spell with the Robins at the beginning of September...

'I'm delighted to get Eddy on board,' said Phil Parkinson. 'We chased him all summer to bring him back to us, and once I knew we had a chance to sign him permanently, I didn't hesitate to do everything I could to get it over the line. He will be a great acquisition for the club.'

The 21-year old made a favourable impression when he first arrived on an initial loan last February and clocked up 13 appearances... He made his debut second time around at Solihull Moors on Saturday September 3rd and has been ever-present in the starting line-up since".

Footnote: Jones's second loan to Altrincham was set to expire, after four months, in New Year 2023. The previous season Eddy had signed up for a season-long loan from The Potters on 3 February 2022.

He joined the Potteries club from Bury and he went on to make 12 appearances in a loan spell at AFC Telford United before playing three games in EFL 2 for Hartlepool United at the start of 2021-22 season. His loan spell in the North East saw him make six appearances in all for Hartlepool. He returned to Stoke in January 2022 before his first move to Altrincham.

Eddy has representative honours at under-17 and under-21 for Wales. In 2022-23 he has made 19 starts in the league and three more in cup competitions for Altrincham. They bring his total appearances across his two loan spells to 34(+1) appearances.

COLCLOUGH COVETED

The 28-year-old winger has been one of the standout players in the National League for a couple of seasons...

Colclough has also played for Crewe, Wigan Athletic, Milton Keynes Dons and Scunthorpe United. And it was under Wigan where Colclough worked with manager Paul Cook so a possible reunion could be on the cards... Colclough admires him for allowing [him] to get to the birth of his son...

In November 2017, Colclough got word from his dad, who was in the crowd, during the match that his partner’s waters had broken... 'Before I knew it we were attacking again and I followed the play into the penalty area. I ended up scoring a goal. I went straight to the bench and said they had to get me off...

'The manager... is a family man and knew it was important for me to get to mine. He had my phone in his pocket during training that week, just in case it rang with news.'”

AID FOR ALTY'S AMAAR

Forty-eight hours later, an overwhelmed but overjoyed Amaar was able to announce that the money had been raised - all £8,450 of it!

What a stupendous effort by all concerned - Alty fans in the main, needless to say, but others as well who were simply moved by the account of the courage Amaar has shown all his life and wanted to help".

In addition to his exploits in the Academy side last season, Amaar impressed the Alty faithful in pre-season when he came on as a substitute against a Manchester United XI and laid on a goal for Egli Kaja as Alty won 2-1.

NEXT: WREXHAM

The previous two occasions were in 2009 in the First Round when Alty followed up a goalless draw at the Racecourse with a 1-0 win back at Moss Lane in the replay.

Above: Space is at a premium in this shot of the Alty FA Trophy game at Wrexham in 2009. The Alty players (in yellow) are Clee, Danylyk, Lawton, Young and Williams.

This season 10,122 spectators watched Alty play their National League match at The Racecourse but back in December 2009 a mere 1,069 rattled around the Red Dragons' cavernous stadium

Defences were on top in the FA Trophy game at The Racecourse, with both keepers only having to make a couple of decent saves apiece. Altrincham looked more of a threat after Denham had come on during the second half and posed a danger on the break. Alty survived a third-minute penalty when Doughty was penalised but Sakho pulled his penalty wide with Coburn allowing it to pass for a goal kick.

Colin Little had returned to the squad after illness but winger Nicky Clee was preferred up front in a starting line-up which featured Tom Kearney in the hole behind Clee and Senior. Greg Young again played at left back as Smith and Williams continued their central defensive pairing.

WREXHAM: 1. Sam Russell, 2. Curtis Obeng, 4. Ashley Westwood (capt), 5. Mansour Assoumani, 6. Mike Williams, 16. Silvio Spann, 14. Nathan Fairhurst, 18. Wes Baynes, 19. Andy Fleming; 22. Lamine Sakho, 24. Matty Wolfenden. Subs: 27. Chris Maxwell, 7. Mark Jones, 8. Hedi Taboubi, 10. Marc Williams, 17. Adrian Cieslewicz

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN; 2. James SMITH, 12. Robbie WILLIAMS, 5. Greg YOUNG; 6. Shaun DENSMORE; 7. Robbie LAWTON, 16. Anthony DANYLYK, 3. Matt DOUGHTY; 4. Tom KEARNEY; 19. Chris SENIOR, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs: 9. Colin LITTLE, 13. Russell SAUNDERS, 10. Chris DENHAM, 18. Michael WELCH, 21. Andrew PEARSON

ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES

Marine lost 2-1 at South Shields but Hayden Campbell scored the Crosby side's goal. Elsewhere, Eden Bailey played for Hanley Town in a 1-1 draw at Newcastle Town.

Andy Keogh laid on both goals for Mossley in their 2-1 away win at Runcorn Linnets, for whom Ryan Brooke (right, pictured in his Alty days in 2013/14 season) was the scorer..

And Jake Moult again turned out for Buxton but they lost on Saturday.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Maidstone have won just five National League matches all season and are second bottom of the table in 23rd place. Hayrettin took over as manager in March 2020 having previously joined the club as head coach in January 2019. Assistant manager Terry Harris has also left the club...

Said Maidstone chief executive Bill Williams, 'These decisions are never easy, and the board felt the time was right to make this change now, with just under half the season remaining, to give us an opportunity to retain our National League status'.

Hayrettin guided Maidstone back to the National League for this season, after winning the National League South title...

George Elokobi, the club's former captain, has been placed in caretaker charge of the team".

The BBC reports that "Torquay United boss Gary Johnson hailed the spirit of his side as they moved off the bottom of the National League after their 1-0 win over Halifax.

Asa Hall's goal moved the Gulls to within two points of safety, with just their second home win of the season. The Gulls have now won two and drawn another of their past five matches, after a run of just one win between mid-September and December.

'I thought we had 11 leaders out there in the way they played,' Johnson... told BBC Radio Devon.

'People that want to be here, people who are going to give everything for this football club, not for another club that they might be thinking of going to while they're here, and I think we sorted that out a little bit this week, and we were left with a group of lads who were totally up for it and I'm really pleased for them'.

The Gulls had not won a league game at Plainmoor since the 6-1 thrashing of Aldershot on 1 November...

Johnson added, 'The fans have been a little bit frustrated because of our results here, and away I suppose, but for me it was great that the lads today... gave 100%, and that's were you need to be'".

Another club glad to have turned round recent form is the subject of a report in York Press which tells us that "York City supporters will feel as if they are witnessing a new starlet amongst their frontline; and Shaq Forde says it feels like “the best feeling ever”.

Manager David Webb added 18-year-old forward Forde to his ranks from Sky Bet Championship side Watford just under two weeks ago, and the young striker has notched up four goals in his first two games for the Minstermen.

Three of Forde’s four came in the form of his sensational hattrick on Saturday against Maidstone United...

'Obviously to make my home debut in front of this crowd I just wanted to give them something',Forde enthused... 'Scoring in front of a big crowd, two weeks in a row, it is just a different feeling to scoring in front of not many fans at academy games'...

Forde’s scintillating hattrick makes him York’s youngest ever player to score a hattrick... 'I’ve come here just to help out the boys in getting as high as possible but I have always got to appreciate the fans...

'We’ve got a great group of lads and they all just welcomed me with open arms and I just fitted straight in'".

The Echo News tells us that "Southend United eased back to winning ways with a comfortable and convincing 3-0 victory against Solihull Moors on Saturday...

Blues headed into their first home game of 2023 without a win in their last five league games while frustrations continue to run high with off the field matters as well.

The seriousness of the Shrimpers’ financial position remains a huge cause for concern...

The Roots Hall hierarchy... did their best to reassure supporters with a club statement issued at the end of December... But, at the same time, actions will always speak louder than words...

In the next 10 days Blues will be back in court due to a winding up petition issued by HMRC... The late payment of wages also remains a serious issue and must stop... It would not take much for things to turn sour inside in the stadium...

However, having watched what can only be described as dross for two and half years prior to Kevin Maher’s appointment, it is now refreshing to see a side who continue to give their all".

9 January 2023

NEXT: WREXHAM

In advance of their visit, the Daily Post reports that "Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's hit series about Wrexham AFC has raked in almost £4million. Insiders claim that makers Disney have made a profit of £430,000 per episode...

'Welcome to Wrexham' follows Rob and Ryan as they take over the club... The series has been a global hit, particularly among fans in the US who have been visiting the Turf Hotel pub in their thousands...

The pub gets an average of 20 to 30 overseas tourists every day, [the landlord] adding, 'We had around 50 to 60 Australians in the pub this week. We’ve had over 1,000 Americans in the last eight weeks..

He said 'Rob and Ryan are really humble and blown away by how much the community adores them...

Dad-of-three Ryan... and Rob bought the club for £2 million. Their investment has boosted the team’s results and club facilities... A second series is being made".

CATCH-UP ON ALTY WOMEN'S SCORES

• NWWRL DIV1S 04/12/22 2pm Poulton Vics FC Ladies 2-2 Altrincham FC Women
• NWWRL DIV1S 27/11/22 2pm Altrincham FC Women 0-5 Northwich Vixens Women
• CUP 20/11/22 2pm West Kirby Ladies A-W Altrincham FC Women Away Walkover
• NWWRL DIV1S 13/11/22 2pm BRNESC Ladies 3-2 Altrincham FC Women
• NWWRL DIV1S 06/11/22 2pm Altrincham FC Women 1-3 Runcorn Linnets FC Ladies
• NWWRL DIV1S 30/10/22 2pm Alder FC Women 1-0 Altrincham FC Women
• CUP 09/10/22 2pm Altrincham FC Women 0-2 Crewe Alexandra FC Women FC
• NWWRL DIV1S 25/09/22 2pm Altrincham FC Women 4-4 Warrington Wolves Foundation Women FC
• NWWRL DIV1S 04/09/22 2pm Altrincham FC Women 2-7 Poulton Vics FC Ladies
• NWWRL DIV1S 31/08/22 6.45pm Altrincham FC Women 1-0 Wythenshawe Amateurs (Juniors) Women
• NWWRL DIV1S 28/08/22 2pm Altrincham FC Women 2-2 BRNESC Ladies
• NWWRL DIV1S 24/08/22 6.45pm Northwich Vixens Women 2-1 Altrincham FC Women
• NWWRL DIV1S 21/08/22 2pm Chester FC Women 4-0 Altrincham FC Women

Altrincham lie ninth in the eleven-strong Division One South of the North West Womens' Regional League.

ALTY OLD BOYS

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Hayrettin oversaw a sixth successive National League defeat as United lost 4-1 at York on Saturday...

Boss Hayrettin has also faced criticism for his decision to sign [ex-Alty] Yoan Zouma, the defender convicted after filming his brother kicking a cat, on loan from Dagenham...

'With two wins in 21 league games leaving Maidstone second-bottom at the higher level, the knives are out...

'I still say we’ll stay up because I’m a fighter and I’m a realist and I’ll always give 100%,' said Hayrettin...

'We’ve always turned it round before'...

The arrival of Zouma has split opinion. He had an uncomfortable debut, capped by a 30-yard own goal...

Said Hayrettin, 'I think the kid has admitted (what he did) and paid his punishment. Everyone deserves a second chance... People have had adultery situations and stuff like that and been given a second chance.

'The kid didn’t commit the crime but was an accomplice to what happened... We needed a defender so I had to bring one in. We’re not flush with cash, so I had to go out and get favours.

'He was good today, apart from that he smashed it into his own net at 2-1....

Hayrettin said 'We go 1-0 up and then we let in that silly goal, and poor Zouma, I felt sorry for him'"

FA CUP DRAW

• Boreham Wood or Accrington Stanley v Leeds United or Cardiff City
• Bristol City or Swansea City v Chesterfield or West Bromwich Albion
• Wrexham v Sheffield United

8 January 2023

MIXED FORTUNES FOR UNDER-19S

A long trip on 23 November 2022 to play Gateshead FC U19s North ended in a 2-1 defeat to The Heed youngsters in the North Division.

They then drew 1-1 in North Division league match away to FC Halifax Town U19 before a Cup match on 30 November, 2022 saw them lose at home 2-3 to York city's under-19s in a cup tie.

In their first match of the New Year, on 6 January in the North Division, they beat Boston United FC U19 3-2.

CUP DEFEAT FOR RESERVES

NEXT: WREXHAM

This game will be played on Friday night, 13 January at 7.45pm.

As previously announced the fixture has been brought forward from Saturday 14 January because the police will be busy otherwise that day monitoring the Manchester Derby in the Premier League.

Before then the Red Dragons have a second game in four days as they entertain Bromley who will be hoping that their second trip to the North West in the same number of days is more fruitful than their abortive journey to Altrincham on Saturday.

AlTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan tells us that on Saturday Elliot Newby was a 67th minute substitute for Barrow as they came from 2-0 down at Field Mill to beat Mansfield Town 2-3.

There was a brace for Alistair Smith as he netted both Sutton United goals in their 2-2 draw at Tranmere Rovers.

Josh Hancock scored both goals as Curzon Ashton, after trailing at half-time, beat visitors Buxton 2-1.

Josh Amis opened the scoring as Warrington Town beat the weather to win 3-1 at home against Belper Town.

There was a booking for Harry Perritt as he played a rare full game for Accrington stanley in their 1-1 FA Cup draw at Boreham Wood.

Barry Baggley remained on the bench as Fleetwood Town shocked QPR 2-1, while Duncan Watmore came on as a 59th minute susbtitute at the Riverside as Middlesborugh were thrashed 5-1 by Premier League visitors Brighton & Hove Albion.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 25 year-old former Everton and Newcastle youth player joins Latics on a non-contract basis having previously played 75 times in the National League with Chesterfield...

Said Yarney, 'I’m the sort of defender who loves a challenge, I focus first and foremost defending but I also enjoy being on the ball...

'I’ve spent two-and-a-half years in this division with Chesterfield so I know what it’s all about. We’re got a really good group of lads here, the club shouldn’t be in the position it is'...

Yarney began his career as a youngster at Everton before moving to Newcastle in 2018...

He played 21 games in League Two whilst on loan at Morecambe before spending the second part of the 2018/19 season at Chesterfield.

The defender moved to the Spireites on a permanent basis in the summer of 2019, making 60 appearances over two seasons before joining Weymouth in October 2021.

His last club was Indian Super League side RoundGlass Punjab, for whom he played last season".

The Echo News reports that "Former Southend United loanee Marcus Dackers has joined Woking on loan for the rest of the season.

Dackers scored three goals in six games for the Shrimpers... but was unable to extend his loan spell from Salford City due to Blues’ transfer embargo...

Darren Sarll acted after being impressed by Dackers during his spell with Southend. 'Marcus is a player that left a real impression when we played Southend'said Sarll

. 'He is unique in the way that, as a young player, he physically tested our experienced back four. These discussions have been going on for a few months now, and we are delighted to now have a set of attributes that means we can divert from our normal way of playing.'"

Scunthorpe United "interim boss Michael Nelson has insisted he was more than impressed by the confidence levels his players showed, following our 3-0 victory over Maidenhead United at Glanford Park.

Forward Caolan Lavery netted a hat-trick for United...

'It was good,' he told Iron Player following the victory... 'We had to weather a bit of a storm for probably 15-20 minutes...

'But the lads at the back did very well'...

'I really liked all the goals'...

Also commending teenager Owen Foster for his showing in between the sticks, the birthday boy was in fine form... Much has been made of the team's upturn in output across the recent weeks...

'We have played well and not got the results... Next target is back-to-back [wins]'" said the manager.

According to the Halifax Courier, "Town boss Chris Millington said the best team won after his side's disappointing 1-0 defeat at Torquay.

Asa Hall's second-half goal sealed a huge win for Torquay and another away day to forget for The Shaymen...

Said Millington... 'They've not done anything we weren't expecting, they've not thrown anything at us we didn't believe we could contend with. But it's another away performance that sees us coming away losing by the odd goal'...

'We've got to maybe look at how we approach games and how we play. I think the most important thing is personnel and hunger and desire...

'I'd bet they've run further than us, they've certainly had more first contacts, they've landed on more seconds. Those things usually suggest a team wants it more.

'They're certainly no fitter than us, they're certainly not better footballers... The fact we come up against teams we feel we're better than and we simply don't show that during the 90 minutes, it's no good just believing it and... then not actually going out and doing it'...

Millington said he could take no positives from the day...

'We can't start putting little runs together and then... having runs like this recent run, the Altrincham away game and this away game where we've underperformed,' he said... Some of our very important players were missing today - Luke Summerfield, Kian Spence, Matty Warburton... Jamie Stott as well...

'But that's not to say we shouldn't have won...

'We've got a couple of triallists we'll be looking at but we've also got some specific targets we'll be following up this week...

'Sam Minihan and Smart are desperate for minutes so... we'll certainly look to see if we can help them get minutes elsewhere'".

From the Derbyshire Times we learn that "Chesterfield coach Danny Webb admitted it was a ‘sickener’ to concede in the 93rd minute and be denied a famous FA Cup win against West Brom after a thrilling 3-3 draw...

The Spireites had shown tremendous spirit to equalise twice and take the lead before half-time...

'I would be lying if I did not say it was a bit of a sickener,' Webb said...

'The players were so close to what would have been a memorable day in their careers...but to score three goals against a Championship team, everyone can be very proud.'"

MATCH OFF

Before the postponement, visitors Bromley believed that they could " anticipate a difficult game against Phil Parkinson’s men. After a substandard start to the season, Altrincham look to have turned the corner, unbeaten in their last seven games, with four wins and three draws.

Bromley’s last meeting with Altrincham was the second game of the season, resulting in a point apiece after a 0-0 draw...

Altrincham’s danger man and top scorer Ryan Colclough is currently on seven goals for the season...

Despite Altrincham’s improving form, their defensive record does appear hazardous; Parkinson’s side have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 consecutive league games, and have only kept three clean sheets in 25 league games this season. Bromley have kept nine clean sheets in 23 league games, and two consecutively in their last two league games, both against Southend.

Altrincham’s clean sheet record leaves Bromley fans anticipating a cluster of goals, and Andy Woodman will be focused on the three points and maintaining his side’s impressive recent clean sheet record, hoping they can continue their play-off surge with glowing goalkeeper Reice Charles -Cook back between the sticks following a long injury".

NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Aldershot Town 0-3 Notts County
• Altrincham P-P Bromley
• Barnet 1-1 Gateshead
• Dagenham & Redbridge 1-2 Woking
• Dorking Wanderers 1-5 Oldham Athletic
• Scunthorpe United 3-0 Maidenhead United
• Southend United 3-0 Solihull Moors
• Torquay United 1-0 FC Halifax Town
• Wealdstone 3-1 Eastleigh
• York City 4-1 Maidstone United

FA CUP FIXTURES

• Boreham Wood 1-1 Accrington Stanley
• Chesterfield 3-3 West Bromwich Albion
• Coventry City 3-4 Wrexham

ALTY WARN TROUBLEMAKERS

'At our last two home games, we have been disappointed to see a significant increase in anti-social behaviour from people calling themselves Alty fans, and, at both games, we have had to eject the miscreants from The J. Davidson Stadium.

Above: The Chequers End at the J. Davidson Stadium, here seen populated by well-behaved Gateshead fans in October 2022.

Against Curzon Ashton, a number of spectators in their early 20s stood at the Chequers End in the first half, abusing our opponents' goalkeeper and his family.

The group re-appeared at the Halifax game and stood against the segregation barrier in the second half to taunt the away fans...

Starting with the Bromley game on Saturday, we will be introducing stadium bans for anyone indulging in such behaviour...

And we will be making the culprits more widely known by publishing details of their transgressions...

We have also seen an increase in spectators in their late teens smuggling alcohol into the stadium, in particular to the back of the Golf Road End...

Again, we cannot allow this behaviour to continue, and, hence, anyone found trying to bring alcohol into the ground will be denied admission, and anyone found with alcohol in their possession in the ground will be ejected.

We do not want to increase stewarding on the Golf Road for two reasons. First and foremost, it will have a detrimental effect on the matchday experience, and...

Secondly, in a year where funding is tight, we do not want to be spending more on stewarding,..

We have no intention of letting the actions of a handful of idiots spoil the atmosphere'".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Ginnelly is still only 25 and entitled to wonder where he will ply his trade next year. He is now in the final six months of his Hearts contract and talks on an extension have yet to properly commence...

'I love it here, I love the group and I enjoy coming into training... I’d rather focus on getting three points every week than a contract'...

Self-confidence was never an issue despite him struggling to get into the team last season. The turnaround has been helped by management moving the winger from a natural wide role to try him through the middle... Hearts is a great club. I’ve been here two and a half years now and I’ve enjoyed every second', says Ginnelly".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The club would like to put on record their thanks to Radcliffe for their co-operation and understanding in allowing Will to return, and wish them all the best for the season".

Sheffield Wednesday state that "Owls defender David Agbontohoma has joined Boreham Wood on a one-month loan deal.

The 21-year-old arrives at The Wood ahead of their FA Cup third round tie with Accrington on Saturday...

Agbontohoma has made two appearances for Wednesday this season... in Papa Johns Trophy group phase games".

And Boreham Wood confirm "the arrival of defender David Agbontohoma...

21-year-old Agbontohoma is a centre back who kicked off his career as a youngster with Arsenal before spending three seasons at Southampton...

Gaffer Luke Garrard said... 'He is someone we have watched and identified as a good addition to the squad.

'He’s at a great age and possesses some real good attributes. He will go straight into the squad'".

According to MK Dons, "Brooklyn Ilunga has returned from his spell at Hemel Hempstead Town and joined National League side Wealdstone on loan until the end of the season.

Ilunga, 19, joined Hemel Hempstead in September and made 17 starts for the National League South Tudors, contributing to three goals.

He will now spend the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign in Step 1 of the National League system, joining a Wealdstone team who currently sit 10th in the table".

Wealdstone add that "Ilunga made his League One debut for MK on the final day of the 2020-21 season aged just 17 when he came on against Rochdale.

He made 18 appearances in the National League South this season...

In the 2021-22 season, Ilunga played 11 times for Royston Town of the Southern Premier League Central... before being named MK Dons' Academy Player of the Year for that season".

York Press reports that "Maidstone United head coach Hakan Hayrettin has... criticised the squad reshuffle by former York manager John Askey in the summer, as 18 new signings were confirmed by the ex-City boss.

Hayrettin has shown loyalty to his players, with just five new starters in the Stones’ team ... on New Year’s Day.

Hayrettin remains upbeat however...

'Looking back at it, maybe I could have done things differently, but I’m not sure it was the way to go,' Hayrettin admitted to Kent Online.

'I could have done what the York fella (Askey) did. He changed nearly everybody but that hasn’t really got them in a better situation and it’s probably cost them more money.

'If I’d have done that, I think it would have cost the club a hell of a lot more money... Maybe my loyalty to certain people was fundamentally the most important thing in the decisions I made but I know these boys are good enough.

'But you can’t keep fighting when you’ve got five, six, seven players out injured every week'...

Maidstone... winger Joan Luque was ruled out for the season after undergoing a knee and a hernia operation earlier last year...

'We’ve missed him all season, and Solomon Wanjau-Smith hasn’t kicked a ball until last week'" said the boss.

A report from Gloverscast tells us that "Yeovil Town have announced [the] official departure of two contracted players and two loanees.

Louis Britton was signed on a season long deal soon after the arrival of Mark Cooper but has been deemed surplus to requirements and leaves his deal six months early by mutual consent...

Jake Scrimshaw has been missing from squads since the 22nd of October... Mark Cooper recently confirmed he had been dealing with a 'personal issue'...

He departs with as much as 18 months left on his original deal having made just four subsitute appearances...

Loanees Ewan Clark and Sam Pearson have also seen their deals expire and they return to Bristol City."

6 January 2023

BEFORE THE GAME: BROMLEY

Two non-League stalwarts Mason Bloomfield and Chris Bush have left Bromley recently.

Bloomfield has dropped a level to join Farnborough, having been at Bromley only since February 2022 when he scored his first goal for the club against Altrincham. However, he had an earlier career which took in Dagenham & Redbridge and Chelmsford City as well as numerous loans mainly in the Essex area.

He earned a move to Norwich City and in August 2020, he signed or Hartlepool United.

30 year-old Bush had also faced Altrincham in the past, for AFC WImbledon and Salisbury City as well as Bromley. He has now moved on to Boreham Wood after well over a hundred appearances for the Kent club.

Despite the disappearance of these familiar faces, Bromley still employ many well-known faces to Alty supporters including Jude Arthurs, Corey Whitely, Adam Marriott, Michael Cheek and Omar Sowunmi.

BIRMINGHAM CUP WIN REVISITED

"It was a fitting chapter in the shambolic story of Birmingham City’s 1985/86 season. When Gola League Altrincham visited St Andrew’s in the 1986 FA Cup Third Round and left victorious, it says a lot about the state of the First Division side that it was not a huge shock. On and off the pitch, Birmingham City were spiralling out of control...

Right: Ronnie Ellis scores Alty's equaliser in a 1-2 away win for The Robins..

The 16 league matches prior to the Altrincham embarrassment demonstrated just why Birmingham were so vulnerable to an FA Cup shock. Two points out of a possible 48, eight successive home defeats, and just five goals scored...

Originally scheduled for Saturday January 4, several postponements followed due to a winter freeze, meaning that the two teams finally met on a chilly and windy Tuesday January 14 evening".

The article also has nine minutes of video from 1986 which includes match action and interviews with Altrincham manager John King and goalkeeeper Jeff Wealands.

As Alty fans will know, The Robins emerged 2-1 winners over the top-flight club on their own ground.

VALERIE HARRIS R.I.P.

The Manchester Evening News has a detailed obituary of Mrs Harris, who was 86 years of age.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Henderson had tried to rescind the option to buy, but the Trust say that it was a legally-binding offer and there is no option to withdraw.

The Trust... must complete the deal by Tuesday, 4 April.

Under the terms of the deal, the Trust would match the sum initially paid... The Trust requires external investment, and say that six interested parties have made an approach to invest".

From This is Oxfordshire we learn that "Oxford United midfielder Oisin Smyth joins Solihull Moors on loan The 22-year-old midfielder has joined Vanarama National League side Solihull Moors on an initial month-long loan...

In October, he injured his hamstring just as he was about to head out on loan to an unnamed National League side...

Last month, Smyth had a trial at a Sky Bet League Two club, with the aim of securing a loan move until the end of the season. However, no deal could be struck.

Since joining the U’s from Northern Ireland side Dungannon Swifts on deadline day last January, Smyth has played just two games for the club".

The BBC tells us that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson says his side's poor form is down in part to trying to rebuild the side.

The Gulls are second from bottom just 18 months after finishing second in the National League... Johnson's side have won just two league games since mid-September...

'We've lost a lot of our players who went into the League and so you have to rebuild again,' he said...

Torquay have only won four times all season...

'We're hurting as much as anyone else, but I'm certainly not going to lie in a corner and hide, we're going to get out of it,' he added..

'If we can keep improving by bringing in players, maybe moving out players and that rebuilding process. But we need to rebuild, and stay in this league'...

He added to BBC Radio Devon... 'You've got to deal with the situation you're in now, you've got to keep the boys as confident as you can, because they are playing with a bit of confidence.'"

The Derbyshire Times reports that "Danny Rowe is to have some health checks before it is decided what happens next with the Chesterfield striker.

Rowe, 32, missed a large chunk of last season because of a health issue.

'Danny Rowe has not been well for the last few weeks at Fylde, sadly, so he has got a few doctor’s appointments to see where he is with his fitness,' assistant manager Danny Webb told the DT.

Fellow striker, Michael Gyasi, has also been on loan, scoring twice and grabbing one assist in his month’s spell at Gloucester City...

Webb explained 'Michael Gyasi has trained with us the last couple of days, he is looking sharp, we will have a sit down with Michael to see what we think is best for him. Obviously with Quigs and Kabs [Quigley and Kabanga] playing ever so well when they are called upon, and with the manager likely to play just one up top, it always makes it harder if you are that third-choice striker'".

ALTY APPOINT NEW CHIEF SCOUT

Michael is renowned for identifying and developing young talent, and Alty wasted no time offering him the chance to spearhead the club’s scouting network after he left his post as Ashton United manager earlier this week...

Alty football director Rob Esteva said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Michael to the club. He has an unparalleled eye for young talent in the area and has played a key role in the development of so many young players.

Though he has an enviable record of success in league and cup football as a manager, his forte is working with young players, spotting their strengths and assessing their potential".

COD KEEP EYE ON CONN-CLARKE

In what was a tight affair at The Shay, it was former Cod, Elliott Osborne who opened the scoring for Alty in their match in West Yorkshire. The visitors created many chances throughout the first half, with Conn-Clarke being at the front [of the] majority of the attacks...

The Northern Ireland man thought he had won it for the Robins with a stunning free-kick 6 minutes from full-time.

It wasn't to be a New Years Day win for Altrincham as Jordan Slew scored minutes later to salvage a point for the hosts... That goal for Conn-Clarke sees him on seven goals for the season in all competitions.

Keep up the good work, Crickey!"

ARCHIVE FOOTAGE OF EVERTON v ALTY

As Barry Pikesley writes, Altrincham supporter "Phil James has unearthed [a brief video recording from the match] almost 48 years on from that Tuesday evening when Alty played against Everton at Old Trafford". It can be viewed on Twitter.

Alty lost that replay 2-0 having drawn 1-1 at Everton in the original tie.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 7 JANUARY

The updated Through the Years files, created by Howard Watts and Mike Garnett, remind us that the last time the Robins played on that date was in 2020 when Blyth Spartans were the opponents.

In that game Altrincham made it five successive league wins as they rose to ninth in the league table with an ultimately comfortable win over Blyth Spartans.

But, when half of the floodlights went out after just 13 minutes it could have signalled a premature end to the fixture. However, light was restored after six minutes' delay.

Altrincham had been the better side before they took a 34th minute lead when a neat interchange between Densmore and Hancock led to Densmore's low cross from the right byline, which Moult prodded home for the captain's third goal in six matches.

Alty remained on top in the second half and a fantastic run by Johnston almost doubled the lead but his shot came back off the inside of the post (53 mins). Despite the Robins' dominance it took a magnificent thirty-yard shot from Hancock to make it 2-0 in the 71st minute.

Blyth's resistance was completely undone when, just three minutes later, it became 3-0 as Peers headed home a Johnston cross from the right.

With the game into added time, Richman pulled back substitute Wrightson as he advanced up the middle. Thackray hit the freekick into the bottom corner by way of consolation for the visitors (90+3 mins).

The attendance was 614, on a night when Old Trafford was hosting Manchester City and, understandably, not many travelled from Blyth.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The attacking midfielder joins up with Gary Johnson’s squad having made thirteen appearances in all competitions for the League Two promotion-chasers already this season, after initially joining the Club from National League South side Chippenham Town in the summer of 2021...

The 21 year-old signed an extended deal last summer...

Said the Gaffer [Gary Johnson] on his latest recruit... 'We’ve had him on our radar for some time... On this occasion it’s the right player, at the right place, at the right time'...

One player moving in the opposite direction out of Torquay is Mark Ellis, who has now returned to parent club Barrow...

'Unfortunately Mark pulled his hamstring against Yeovil on Boxing Day, which in fact became the end of his loan. We did ask if he would like to stay longer but, being a family man up north, he decided he would not be able to carry on any longer'" said the manager.

Devon Live adds that "with two home league games to come in the next couple of weeks, United fans will be pinning their hopes on a January revival."

Gateshead need to upgrade four floodlight pylons at the International Stadium to meet ground-grading requirements by 31 March.

Work on the first pylon is to be completed next week so they discussed having an earlier kick-off for their FA Trophy game at home to Oldham Athletic but Oldham Athletic "onfirm that our FA Trophy tie against Gateshead on Saturday 14 January will now take place at Boundary Park... on 14 January, kicking off at 3pm...

Alternative options were explored but, after discussions between the two clubs and the FA, a change of venue was agreed to be the best option" in accordance with FA Trophy rules.

According to York Press manager "David Webb has admitted that the ongoing ownership row at York City is not an ideal backdrop to the beginning of his managerial reign.

York chairman Glen Henderson last month claimed to have rescinded his offer to the Supporters’ Trust to sell back his 51 per cent shareholding to the fans' group.

The Trust have since stated that Henderson has 'no provision' to withdraw his offer and say they have lost confidence in the chairman.

The Minstermen have won one, drawn one and lost one in the Vanarama National League since Webb's appointment.

'We’d prefer it not to be like this,' Webb said of the off-the-field row...

'I don’t know the ins and outs of what’s going on and I’d rather not know, if that makes sense.

'I’d rather just concentrate on the team and concentrate on performances...

'It’s a pressurised job, you put yourself out there for show in a performance industry,' conceded Webb."

TROPHY FIXTURE MOVED

Following discussions with all parties, it was decided that the game should take place on the Friday evening rather than the Saturday, due to the Manchester derby taking place the following day" which was when the tie was scheduled to be played.

Supporters are reminded that "As is standard for all cup competitions, season tickets are not valid for this FA Trophy match".

MANAGER'S END OF YEAR REVIEW

EMIRATES FA CUP

• Boreham Wood v Accrington Stanley
• Chesterfield v West Bromwich Albion

The Derbyshire Times tells us that "Chesterfield are eyeing-up another scalp when they host West Brom...

Dutch-born Akwasi Asante scored Town’s only goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a 5-1 Cup defeat last year...

He said 'The Chelsea game was once in a lifetime, to score at Stamford Bridge is something I will always remember. I still talk about it and the lads still talk about it...

'It would be nice to score here against West Brom, I don’t like them because I am Birmingham City so we will see... There is no pressure on us, the pressure is on them.'”

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The young striker has spent the first half of the season on loan at Eastbourne Borough in the Vanarama National League South where he scored 14 goals in all competitions.

The 20 year-old joined Colchester’s youth ranks from Brighton and Hove Albion and has gained experience in senior football with loan spells at Tonbridge Angels, Grays Athletic, Brightlingsea Regent and Hitchin Town.

Head of Football Operations Terry Brown said... 'He’s shown great form in the division below with Eastbourne Borough and has got himself amongst the goals so we’re looking forward to seeing him in action for The Shots!'”

Colchester United add that "It may well be a baptism of fire for the twenty year old striker, with him expected to be in the squad for Aldershot's home game against table topping Notts County on Saturday.

U's Loan Manager Richard Hall said of the deal 'Jake has once again proved that he can score goals at the level he has gone to, and deserves his chance to play at the next level now.'"

Barnet report that "The first football of 2023 saw Dean Brennan’s Barnet side travel the 5.5 miles North-East to Boreham Wood and the LV Bet Stadium.

Barnet named a team that saw recent recruit David Moyo handed his first start after signing for The Bees last week...

Both sides fought hard for possession in the opening stages with the hosts having a flurry of chances that were well-defended by the Barnet back line. Boreham Wood took the lead in the 16th minute. Danny Collinge attempted to clear a through ball but unfortunately played it into the path of a Boreham Wood attacker leaving a one-on-one.

Walker was forced into making a terrific low save, but The Wood striker had a second attempt and saw his acrobatic effort nestle into the Barnet net...

In the 70th minute, Ben Wynter had the ball in the back of the net. His headed effort beat the keeper, however he was adjudged to have been in an offside position. Only 4 minutes later, Wynter had the ball in the back of the net again and this time he held his run. A delicious ball from the left was met in the middle by Wynter who finished well past a helpless keeper to draw it level."

NEXT: BROMLEY

When Bromley last visited Altrincham they were riding high in third place in the National League back in December 2021. A 0-1 defeat to their visitors on that occasion extended The Robins' run to just one win in ten National League fixtures.

This time, Bromley go into Saturday's game just a point ahead of Alty, but three places higher in ninth place and with two games in hand on their hosts.

In contrast to that poor run for Alty last season, their current run of seven unbeaten league games is the club's best since 2018-19 season in National League North when they had separate sequences of eight and nine unbeaten fixtures.

The 2021 result was the first time in fifteen league games that Altrincham had failed to find the net. Again, on that front, the picture is much brighter this year with Alty having scored in each of their last seven league games.

Nevertheless there is one similarity with last season as, before the game in late 2021, Alty were lying twelfth just as they are in 2022

In their last outing, Bromley "kick-started 2023 with a 0-0 draw against Southend United at Hayes Lane.

In a cagey game of few chances, Bromley’s best opportunity came half way throughout the first half. After some great trickery by Louis Dennis, the midfielder passed the ball to Corey Whitely who shot just wide.

In the second half... just like the first half, there were... few chances" as the game ended goalless.

Bromley: 13 Reice Charles-Cook, 17 Byron Webster, 2 Callum Reynolds, 35 Kellen Fisher, 23 Besart Topalloj, 8 Ethan Coleman, 20 Jude Arthurs, 11 Louis Dennis, 18 Corey Whitely, 19 Harry Forster (Krauhaus), 10 Adam Marriott (Cheek)

Unused subs: 1 Tom Smith, 6 Omar Sowunmi, 21 James Vennings.

ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES

Mason Fawns (right) netted from the spot for Mossley but they lost 4-3 at Glossop North End.

And Phil Jordan informs us that "In League One, Harry Perritt was a 67th minute substitute for Accrington Stanley as they visited Derby County. The scoring had been completed by that point as Derby breezed to a comfortable 4-0 win, despite finishing with ten men.

In League Two Carl Piergianni's third goal in two games gave Steve Evans's Stevenage a 1-0 home win over bottom club Gillingham, the manager's former employers.

In the NPL, Joe Bunney made his Ashton United debut and Alty loanee Matt Gould continued in goal, whilst Aidan Roxburgh was an unused substitute. The visitors, Hyde United, for whom Jack Redshaw was booked, and later substituted, ran amok and won 6-0.

Andy White's equaliser earned Warrington Town a 1-1 draw at Nantwich".

MONDAY SCORES

Monday 2 January

• Boreham Wood 1-1 Barnet
• Gateshead 2-2 York City
• Maidstone United 0-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Solihull Moors 1-2 Wrexham

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Forwards Danny Rowe and Michael Gyasi have both been out on loan but those agreements, until January 1, have now expired.

Rowe, 33, joined AFC Fylde on loan in August and has scored two goals in 10 appearances but he has not featured for the National League North side since the middle of November due to ‘illness'...

Coach Danny Webb told the DT... 'I think he is in this week to see where his position is at the football club... If we can get him fit he is a good asset for us'.

Meanwhile, Gyasi, 22, has been on loan at National League North club Gloucester City for the last month...

'Michael has done ever so well at Gloucester', Webb explained. We need to have a discussion... Because Michael has done well I think he has got a lot of teams after him...

'Gloucester is a good club, Steve King is a good manager down there, so they will want to keep him. That is something for the manager, I think, to discuss with their manager to see what is going to happen next.'”

From the Oldham Chronicle we are reminded that "A late penalty from recent capture Joe Nuttall earned gutsy Latics a 2-2 draw at home against National League leaders Notts County.

The point gained was enough to lift David Unsworth's men out of the relegation zone.

The 79th-minute spot-kick was a second equaliser for the hosts, who initially fell behind six minutes into the second half via Macaulay Langstaff's finish...

The gaffer saluted the Latics faithful after the game. 'At home we've been brilliant in terms of the fans getting behind us and us giving performances', he said".

Woking report that "Darren Sarll’s men looked to complete their first League double over local rivals Aldershot Town since 2016, in front of a record league crowd of 5297 at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. The Woking manager made one enforced chance, with young Peterborough United loanee Charlie O’Connell given his first league start in place of Dan Moss, who was serving a one game suspension...

Ross McNeilly made one change to his Aldershot side, with Corey Jordan replaced by Giles Phillips at centre back...

Both sides had barely had time to organise themselves when Woking struck first blood. Tyler Cordner headed the ball straight to the advancing Padraig Amond, and he found Rhys Browne, who continued his fine start to life in red and white with a superb lob over the helpless Luca Ashby-Hammond...

The Shots couldn’t find their clinical edge thanks to the hard work of the Woking back four...

However, with just five minutes until half time, former Card Inih Effiong had the moment he’d been waiting for. He drove into the box from the left wing, before shooting low into the near post and past the despairing dive of Craig Ross to level the scores.

With the clock past the six minutes of stoppage time due to a flare from the Aldershot end disrupting play, a clumsy challenge on Kellermann by Effiong saw Woking awarded their second penalty in as many games... Former Shot Browne kept his cool to give the Cards a 2-1 lead going into half time...

Despite going ahead early on, the first half was an even affair...

It took just seven minutes for the Cards to pick up where they left off after the break. Brilliant work from James Daly down the left-hand side saw the ball find Kellermann, who tapped home at the near post to give Woking a two goal cushion.

Just seconds later, it was four. Ashby-Hammond tried to turn away from Amond after the Shots had restarted, but the wily Irishman stole the ball from him and raced away before tapping into an empty net...

However, Woking were reduced to ten men with just 15 minutes left to play, another former Shot in Jermaine Anderson appearing to catch his man...

The referee blew his whistle and Woking rejoiced in a successful outing in front of the biggest ever league home crowd. Darren Sarll’s side have lost just once since September".

2 January 2023

FC HALIFAX TOWN 2-2 ALTRINCHAM

Halifax improved in the second half and levelled after 69 minutes when Alli beat Byrne with a shot from an acute angle left of goal. However, a superb freekick by Chris Conn-Clarke (right) regained the lead in the 84th minute.

But the Shaymen levelled again when a corner from the left was headed home by substitute Osawe in the 86th minute. Alty seemed to have won it in the third added minute when Colclough's goalbound shot was touched into the net by the offside Dinanga and the linesman's flag deprived Alty of the goal.

Match report here.

NEXT GAME: BROMLEY

After beating Dorking Wanderers at the JDS on 8 October, Alty have only played Eastleigh (Sat. 26.11.22) at home on a Saturday afternoon at 3pm

And one player, who scored against The Robins last season, won't be facing Altrincham next Saturday is the subject of a report from Bromley FC to the effect that who tell us that "Mason Bloomfield has been released from the club and has since joined Farnborough.

The forward, who joined Bromley in February 2022, began his career at Dagenham & Redbridge before joining Chelmsford City in 2015 after three loan spells at Chatham Town, Erith & Belvedere and Maldon & Tiptree.

Spells at Grays Athletic, Witham Town, Brentwood Town and Aveley followed before he returned to the Daggers.

Bloomfield was then awarded with a move to Norwich City where three loan spells followed, including moves to AFC Fylde and Crawley Town.

In August 2020, he made the permanent switch to Hartlepool United, his final destination before arriving at The Hive last summer to play for Barnet.

Bloomfield then made the move to Bromley and netted his first goal for the club against Altrincham before adding to his tally on the final day of 2022-23 on his return to The Hive".

HALIFAX MANAGER'S VIEW

'I think we shaded it, but for Altrincham, they've created chances and for an away performance they'll be happy with that and they'll believe they should have taken three points,' Millington said.

'I think the first-half was a fairly even affair... There's a desperation on the part of the fans for us to be booming it long into the striker but we're not going to do that, we're going to try and stay on the ball in the opposition half and work quality chances, rather than hit-and-hope'...

'I believe Altrincham are as good as anyone when they have possession in your half, and clearly they'll be less effective when they lose it as a Notts County or a Chesterfield. But we felt in a 4-3-3 we were going to be able to get pressure on their full-backs a bit higher and when they have the spells of possession in our half, we had more players on the pitch who could carry the ball out for us and get us up the pitch a bit better'...

The game was subject to two pitch inspections before being declared on. 'I think the referee deserves a lot of credit, it was a brave decision because the forecast was there would be more rain'".

ALTY "DENIED THREE POINTS"

Town boss Chris Millington made four changes from the Boxing Day defeat at the J Davidson Stadium...

The Shaymen had to come from behind twice to earn a point thanks to second half goals from Milli Alli and Osaymen Osawe.

Altrincham went ahead on 12 minutes with what can only be described as a freak goal. Elliot Osborne’s shot from distance went through Town goalkeeper Sam Johnson’s legs and trickled into the empty net...

Milli Alli equalised for the Shaymen after excellent work from Harvey Gilmour to win the ball back, he found Alli in the box and he fired home from a tight angle past Oliver Byrne...

Altrincham went ahead on 84 minutes; a Matt Warburton foul gave the Robins a freekick and Conn Clark curled the ball over the wall into the goal.

However, Town weren’t to be denied a point, Matt Warburton’s corner was headed powerfully by Osawe for the second equaliser from inside the six yard box...

Altrincham were denied the three points, Ryan Colclough shot was goalbound but Marcus Dinanga put the ball into the net and the offside flag denied them a winner".

ALTY OLD BOYS

This is Newby’s second spell with The Bluebirds, after first joining the Club back in 2015...

After departing Holker Street early into the 2016/17 campaign, he enjoyed spells at Altrincham and AFC Telford United, before being part of the Chorley side... The pacy winger enjoyed three years at Victory Park... before joining Stockport County on loan in February 2021... The Barrow-born attacker signed a permanent deal with the Edgeley Park outfit that summer.

He spent time on loan at Pete Wild’s FC Halifax Town last season, before returning to his parent club to play a big role in Stockport’s return to the Football League".

Kevin Ellison netted in City of Liverpool's win at the weekend.

Phil Jordan advises us that Owen Dale's own goal sealed Charlton Athletic's 3-1 win at Portsmouth.

Having been booked earlier, Jeff King scored Chesterfield's third goal as they won 4-1 against Scunthorpe United.

Montel Gibson was one of two AFC Telford United players sent off at Chester.

The home team had been behind at half-time but salvaged a 1-1 draw in the 92nd minute.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

After a cagey first half, the returning Macaulay Langstaff sparked the game into life with a typically good finish, only for a mix-up between Sam Slocombe and his defence to gift the hosts a speedy response.

We recovered brilliantly and restored our lead through substitute Cedwyn Scott, but when Kyle Cameron was adjugded to have hauled back his man in the box Joe Nuthall levelled things again from the spot.

Both sides had huge chances to win it... but neither could find another goal as the game ended in stalemate".

The attendance was 7,312, with 1,249 supporting the visitors.

In the Derbyshire Times "Scunthorpe United coach Michael Nelson blamed some ‘sloppy’ play for his side’s 4-1 defeat to Chesterfield.

The Iron took the lead on 20 minutes but were behind at half-time and then conceded two more late goals.

Scunthorpe were always in the game until the final minutes and did not look like a team who were rock-bottom after just one win in 16.

'I didn't think it was a 4-1 type of game if I'm honest', Nelson told Scunthorpe United’s official club website. 'We stayed right in the game at 2-1 up until the last seven minutes and gave a sloppy free-kick away, though fair play to the lad (Jeff King) because he's stuck it right in the top corner...

'We've got to work a little bit harder and not be as sloppy to give a free-kick away. Then I don't know how you legislate for the fourth goal really...

'Fair play to the lads for sticking at it but I just didn't think we managed the key moments of the game well enough today... It needs to mean more to keep the ball out of our net, and mean more to put the ball in their net'".

At Yeovil Town "Matthew Worthington and Jordan Maguire-Drew were the heroes as Yeovil picked up a vital three points on a wet afternoon at Huish Park.

After a Boxing Day draw against Torquay, Mark Cooper would make several changes for the first fixture of 2023. A goal in the reverse fixture gave Malachi Linton his first start since Woking, whilst Owen Bevan would also make a welcome return after missing the last game due to concussion...

Oluwabori... Yeovil’s number 27 had been a breath of fresh air in the second half and after picking the ball up in the left channel he would drive at the Torquay defence, before firing a cross to the far post which Worthington would turn in for 1-0...

Maguire-Drew, who had been quiet by his standards, had his say on the game... and the on-loan man would delicately chip the on-rushing Halstead to seal the game.

In truth, it was a game... that was won by two brilliant bits of quality from Oluwabori and Maguire-Drew respectively."

1 January 2023

HALIFAX MANAGER'S VIEW

'I think we shaded it, but for Altrincham, they've created chances and for an away performance they'll be happy with that and they'll believe they should have taken three points,' Millington said.

'I think the first-half was a fairly even affair, we've gone in behind to a very unfortunate goal that's taken a deflection and then somehow gone through Sam, landing on an awkward part of the pitch, and he's not managed to deal with it. I don't think it was necessarily fair that we went in 1-0 down, and for the first half-hour of the second-half we were camped in their half.

'There's a desperation on the part of the fans for us to be booming it long into the striker but we're not going to do that, we're going to try and stay on the ball in the opposition half and work quality chances, rather than hit-and-hope'...

On goalscorers Osawe and Alli, Millington said 'With the likes of Yamen, the fans don't see what's going on behind-the-scenes, they just think a player's signed and he should be playing every week. He's needed building up, he's had a couple of setbacks with injuries, but it's clear for everyone to see the quality that Yamen's got...

'Milli is somebody I hope and believe has a long future at the club because he's still very young, still learning about the level... I'd liken him to Ryan Colclough in the sense that, when he gets a full-back one v one, he makes it look very easy to go past them...

'I believe Altrincham are as good as anyone when they have possession in your half, and clearly they'll be less effective when they lose it as a Notts County or a Chesterfield. But we felt in a 4-3-3 we were going to be able to get pressure on their full-backs a bit higher and when they have the spells of possession in our half, we had more players on the pitch who could carry the ball out for us and get us up the pitch a bit better'...

The game was subject to two pitch inspections before being declared on. 'I think the referee deserves a lot of credit, it was a brave decision because the forecast was there would be more rain'".

FC HALIFAX TOWN 2-2 ALTRINCHAM

Halifax improved in the second half and levelled after 69 minutes when Alli beat Byrne with a shot from an acute angle leftof goal. However, a superb freekick by Chris Conn-Clarke regained the lead in the 84th minute.

But the Shaymen levelled again when a corner from the left was headed home by substitute Osawe in the 86th minute. Alty seemed to have won it in the third added minute when Colclough's goalbound shot was touched into the net by the offside Dinanga and the linesman's flag deprived Alty of the goal.

Match report here.

NEW YEAR FIXTURES

• Bromley 0-0 Southend United
• Chesterfield 4-1 Scunthorpe United
• Eastleigh 4-0 Dorking Wanderers
• FC Halifax Town 2-2 Altrincham
• Maidenhead United 0-0 Wealdstone
• Oldham Athletic 2-2 Notts County
• Woking 4-1 Aldershot Town
• Yeovil Town 2-0 Torquay United

HAPPY NEW YEAR

BEFORE THE GAME

In its preview the Halifax Courier reports that the referee is "Matt Corlett [who] has shown 23 yellow cards and one red card in seven National League game this season. He sent off a Maidstone player against Altrincham in their 1-1 draw on August 6, and also officiated Altrincham's 2-2 draw at home to Yeovil on August 20. This is his first season refereeing at National League level and will be his first time in charge of an FC Halifax Town match...

Head-to-head [between the two clubs]: Played 24, Altrincham wins 6, draws 7, Halifax wins 11...

Only Yeovil have scored fewer goals in the National League this season than Halifax (22)...

Altrincham are unbeaten in their last seven games, winning their last four in a row. Halifax have only failed to score once in their last 15 matches...

Altrincham have only lost one of their last six away games, but have only won two of 12 away league matches this season.

Halifax have won each of their last six home matches.

Altrincham have only failed to score in one of their last ten away fixtures".

ALTY'S UPS AND DOWNS IN 2022

Apart from the Covid-curtailed 2020 year, 50 matches are the fewest number of games played in a calendar year by Alty over at least the past seven years.

Altrincham played 46 league matches in 2022, winning 16 games, drawing 12 and losing 18 times. There was a balance in that they played 23 of those league matches in each of the two seasons (2021/22 and 2022/23) covered by the calendar year 2022.

So, in season 2021/22 they played 23 league matches in 2022, winning 8 times, drawing 6 and losing on 9 occasions, exactly the same breakdown, as regards results, in the 23 games played in season 2022/23 during the calendar year of 2022.

In 2021 calendar year Alty played 48 times in the league, two fixtures more than in 2022, winning 14, drawing 11 and losing 23 matches.

Alty found it more difficult to find the net in the National League in 2022 than in 2021. In 2021 they scored 65 goals in 48 games (1.35 per game); in 2022 only 53 goals were scored in 46 fixtures in the National League (1.15 per game).

Right: Toby Mullarkey has been one of the highest appearance-makers in 2022, as well as often captaining the side.

Goals conceded in the National League in 2021 totalled 76 in 48 matches (1.58 per match) whilst in 2022 exactly the same number were conceded, 76 in 46 matches (1.65 per game).

In terms of league points won, in 2021 Alty won 53 points (W14 D11 L23) in 48 games (1.10 per game). In 2022 Alty earned 60 pts (W16 D12 L18) in 46 games (1.3 per game).

Only half as many cup games were played in 2022 compared with 2021. Four cup ties took place in 2022, 8 in 2021.

Fifty different players were named in a league matchday squad in 2022 with only ten of those having appeared in both 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.

The worst run of league results in 2022 was the sequence of nine games without a win from the start of 2022/23 season.

The best unbeaten run in 2022 is the current record of six league matches without loss, of which four have been won and two drawn.

The highest league gate in 2022 was 10,107 at Wrexham in October and the lowest was the 465 souls at Dover in April during 2021/22 season. In 2022/23 the lowest gate has been 798 at Gateshead on a Tuesday night in October.

The highest attendance at the J Davidson Stadium in 2022 was 3,553 for the visit of Oldham Athletic, which was also in October. The lowest home gate in 2022 was the 1,147 in November on a Tuesday night for the match versus Barnet.

The leading scorers in 2022 were:

• 13 Ryan Colclough (all in league)
• 7 Chris Conn-Clarke (6 in league), Dan Mooney (6 in league), Marcus Dinanga (4 in league)
• 5 Aaron Bennett (3 in league)

The most appearances in all competitions in 2022 were made by

• Ryan Colclough 45+3
• Elliot Osborne 42+3
• Toby Mullarkey 42

ALTY OLD BOYS

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Lavery took his tally to six for the season... in the Iron’s 2-1 defeat to Chesterfield on Boxing Day, but looks set to leave the club upon the expiry of his deal unless the club is sold.

It is understood the Iron are unable to sign players or extend current deals due to a transfer embargo, but the club and National League have so far refused to comment...

Nelson told BBC Radio Humberside 'His (current deal) ends on the 22nd January. We’d like to keep Lavs... but, at the minute, we are not in a position to do that...

'When we get the green light to bring players in or extend contracts we will look to do that. Until I get the go ahead, I really can’t do anything. It is something we have to deal with and something we have dealt with for a number of weeks. It’s nothing new... That’s the landscape at the minute and we just have to get on with it'".

According to Kent Online "Hakan Hayrettin feels there’s a score to settle when Maidstone host Dagenham in the first game of 2023.

United lost 1-0 to the Daggers on Boxing Day, a result boss Hayrettin felt was harsh on his side...

And the Stones could certainly do with a win having lost their past four games in the National League...

Said Hayrettin, 'There’s not a lot to put right. It’s a mentality thing... We didn’t deserve to lose the first game. It was an injustice'...

Maidstone are a point outside the bottom four, although the teams below them, Gateshead, Oldham, Torquay and Scunthorpe, all have games in hand.

They’ve shown in flashes what they’re capable of, winning three of their opening six games after promotion, but two wins in 19 since then has left them in a relegation battle...

'We’re going to get stronger; you saw that at Dagenham' [said the boss]...

Maidstone's options at the back are reduced following Jacob Mensah’s departure... He dropped out of the side through injury and never regained his place".

York Press confirms that "York City winger Nathan Thomas has renewed his contract with the Minstermen until the end of the season.

Thomas signed a short-term deal with York in October after a period training with the first-team.

The 28-year-old made an instant impact... on his debut in the 1-1 home draw against Dagenham & Redbridge two months ago.

Thomas has since worked his way towards full fitness following a season-long lay-off after exiting Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical in the summer of 2021...

Manager David Webb... said... 'He has been an important part of the group, not just as a player, but also as a person'".

Southend United CEO Tom Lawrence has issued a statement...

"There is no denying that things have been tough and we have had to navigate tricky waters in recent times. However, we continue to implement a recovery plan (following the pandemic and back to back relegations) and we are almost out the other side. However, the fact is that there is currently a funding gap of around £2m per year that needs to be plugged. The medium term solution to plug this gap is Fossetts Farm [new stadium], the short term answer is bridging finance...

Money has been tight... donation[s], [a] loan from the Shrimpers' Trust and matched loan from PG Site Services were all used (exclusively) to pay salaries..

[Owner] Ron’s contribution this calendar year equates to about £1.5m, and since he purchased the Club 24 years ago (paying off the Club’s debt of £4.5m (at that time) in the process) Ron has put in well over £20m... with no rent ever being charged to the Club under the lease. This level of funding is unsustainable, and Ron isn’t going to be around forever...

Roots Hall is tired and in need of constant upkeep... This will all change when Fossetts Farm is built, complete with its significant conferencing and banqueting space, seven day-a-week bar and other revenue streams. We will move to a (close to) 365 day a year business. The projections show we will break even with a very healthy player budget enabling us to compete at the top end of League One.

With the help of the Council... we are getting there...

Significant steps have been taken to move the bridging finance towards completion. That finance will provide the club with the money to operate pending the start of construction works at Boots & Laces [training ground] which is targeted to commence before the end of the second quarter next year.

Our incredible staff, some of whom have been paid late on more than one occasion, have been patient, loyal and understanding... November salaries have been paid in full and the vast majority of December salaries have been paid. We will be working hard to clear the balance in the coming days...

We speak regularly to HMRC, to keep them updated as to the progression of our financial recovery. We will use some of the bridging finance to pay off the HMRC debt. This will result in the winding up petition being dismissed...

The construction works on our four new training pitches is now complete... Once Boots & Laces is vacated, works on the new stadium and residential scheme can start...

'We will soon be in a position to "plug the gap". The team have done very well and... is currently occupying a playoff spot... We have faced the head winds together and, if we keep rowing, we will arrive at the promised land".

Another club issuing a statement is Yeovil Town where the chairman states "There has been a lot of speculation over the last couple of days regarding a takeover of the club.

It is true that there have been various conversations with potential investors over the last couple of months and whilst a statement confirming a takeover is premature, I can confirm to supporters that myself and the Club have entered into a period of exclusivity with a preferred party to become a majority shareholder.

These ongoing discussions continue to delay an announcement for the supporters'meeting but a time and date will be confirmed as we approach a conclusion".

Meanwhile at Boreham Wood the club announxes "the arrival of defender Chris Bush to the LV BET Stadium Meadow Park on an 18-month contract following his departure from Vanarama National League counterparts Bromley.

30 year-old Bush began his career with Brentford... bore departing the Bees on a permanent basis for a previous loan club AFC Wimbledon ahead of the 2011/12 season.

The next 6-year period saw Bush call 6 different club’s home, plying his trade with AFC Wimbledon, Gateshead, Hereford United, Welling United, Lincoln City and Chelmsford City, making 214 total appearances during that time.

At the beginning of the 2017/18 season, after starting the campaign with Chelmsford City, Bush made the switch to ambitious National League side Ebbsfleet United... Bush signed with Kent rivals Bromley ahead of the 2019/20 season.

Bush spent four seasons at Hayes Lane... Chris made a total of 138 appearances in a Bromley shirt. Gaffer Luke Garrard had this to say... 'He is very much a player in the mould of myself, as he is very passionate and leaves it all out on the pitch.'"