CRANKSHAW JOINS

Winger Crankshaw (d.o.b. 12, August, 1998) started out at Preston North End before having spells with Ramsbottom United, Clitheroe and Colne as well as for Morecambe under-23s.

From there he joined Curzon Ashton and then Wigan Athletic, in early 2019, before he was loaned back to The Nash.

A loan move to Dundee followed, a year later. He left Wigan for Bradford City in February 2021 before joining Stockport County.

Ollie returned to Scotland in January 2023, again on loan.

He has made more than fifty appearances for his previous employer, Stockport County.

He has faced Alty on several occasions and scored the fifth goal as the Hatters beat Alty 5-1 on Boxing Day, 2021. He has also scored against Alty for Curzon Ashton, the second goal in a 0-2 win as Moss Lane in September 2018. Less happily for him, he was also in the Curzon side that lost 0-6 to Altrincham at the Tameside Stadium in 2019.

Most recently he faced Alty in a pre-season game at Moss Lane which County won 4-2.

FYLDE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT: BROMLEY

However, this season they failed to win any of their first five games, two initial defeats being followed by three draws. But they are picking up in form as they won on Monday against Southend, extending their unbeaten run to four games.

Right: Elliot Osborne was a late inclusion in Altrincham's starting eleven after Regan Linney was reportedly delayed in traffic getting to the ground, whilst Danny Cashman was curiously named Man of the Match despite being subbed after 61 minutes.

They were last due at the JDS on 7 January but a waterlogged pitch saw the match deferred to a Tuesday night on 14 February. Deespite that inconvenience the Ravens left with a 2-1 win and a fourth successive defeat for the hosts.

Bromley won the match with two goals inside five minutes, midway through the first half and both involved the visitors winning uncontested headers. The first arrived when referee Barlow awarded a debatable freekick against Tyrese Sinclair. Arthur's freekick from about 35 yards out was met by a free downward header from the giant defender Webster, which beat keeper Byrne (20 mins).

The second goal followed a corner on the right which Sowunmi nodded forward and the ball was ultimately swept into the net beyond the back post by Michael Cheek (24 mins).

The second half saw Altrincham get a quick goal back as Lundstram's low cross from the left was guided into the net by the Rochdale loanee, Sinclair's stooping header (50 mins). Altrincham went on to dominate proceedings, especially after the introduction of Ben Pringle from the bench, but they created relatively few openings and a well organised Bromley defence held out to take all three points.

Alty's new striker Regan Linney was late arriving at the ground, reportedly due to heavy road traffic en route, so he was unable to make his full debut after his arrival from FC United of Manchester. However, he was named on the bench as Elliot Osborne was promoted to the starting eleven...

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Oliver Byrne, 34. Miles Welch-Hayes, 26. James Jones, 6. Lewis Baines, 2. Eddy Jones, 4. Isaac Marriott, 8. Josh Lundstram, 11. Danny Cashman, 9. Jordan Hulme (c), 10. Elliot Osborne, 35. Tyrese Sinclair. Subs: 29. Regan Linney, 18. Ben Pringle, 28. Maxi Oyedele, 31. Michael Gyasi, 33. Egli Kaja,

BROMLEY: 13. Reece Charles-Cook, 21. James Vennings, 17. Byron Webster (c), 6. Omar Sowunmi, 35. Kellen Fisher, 23. Besart Topalloj, 20. Jude Arthurs, 18. Corey Whitely, 9. Michael Cheek, 11. Louis Dennis, 12. Charley Kendall. Subs: 2. Callum Reynolds, 10. Adam Marriott, 14. Mitchel Bergkamp, 19. Harry Forster, 1. Sam Long.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

York Press reports that "Former York City manager Michael Morton has said that he is sorry that he could not 'pull the club in the right direction' following his sacking earlier this week... though the club have offered him another role internally...

Following the sacking of David Webb in February, Morton was placed in interim charge at City before accepting a permanent role ahead of the season, but had seen results take a downward turn...

Blues were beaten 2-1 at Hayes Lane but only started to threaten after the hosts secured a two-goal lead. It’s been a dreadful start to the season for City, who have failed to see their summer spending come to fruition and are now only kept off the bottom of the table following Southend United’s 10-point deduction as the only side in the division not to have won so far this term.

New owners Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla have not been afraid to splash the cash... recruiting 17 new players including Scottish Championship sensation Dipo Akinyemi, for whom former employers Ayr United turned down a bid of £240,000 from an unnamed Sky Bet League One club....

A statement [by Morton] read 'Well, it’s been a mental nine months with plenty of changes along the way!... I’m just sorry I couldn’t make everyone proud and pull the club in the right direction this season. The club is moving in the right direction and it will be back where we all want it to be with Matt and Julie-Anne in charge'".

The Southend Echo tells us that "Blues were beaten 2-1 at Hayes Lawn but only started to threaten after the hosts secured a two goal lead...

'It’s bitterly disappointing because we’ve given them a two goal start,' said [Kevin] Maher. 'In the first half we were nowhere near the levels we think we should be at and have been at. There were too many errors and we didn’t do the basics right...

'We came off our plan too often and what you can’t do is give goals away...

'We showed character to get back in it and showed character to try and get an equaliser too but it wasn’t quite to be for us,' said Maher."

And another indication that Southend are not deaperate for cash despite their failure to pay debts comes from the Southend Echo which reports that "Southend United have rejected an offer from Exeter City for Harry Cardwell.

The Shrimpers striker has started the season in fine form, scoring four goals in six games.

And that has attracted a firm offer from the Grecians who are currently second in League One.

However, Blues are not keen on selling on the 26-year-old and would be unable to replace him if he did move on due to the transfer embargo they have been in since last September".

NEW SIGNINGS XI

John Edwards, press and media officer, continues, "The 25-year old was a stand-out performer with over 40 appearances to his name in an unforgettable 2021-22 campaign for Stockport County as Dave Challinor's side booked their return to the EFL...

County accepted a bid from the Robins and Ollie became an Alty player this afternoon for an undisclosed fee in a deal...

Alty's boss [Phil Parkinson]reflected... 'This is a big marquee signing for us, one I am extremely excited about' he said. "I have tracked his career... and I have tried to get him on loan or a permanent [signing] on a number of occasions.

'He ticks all the boxes for the type of winger we try to recruit here, and he is a great lad as well, a really good character. I would go so far as to say it's a bit of a game-changer for us, he is that good. Everything about him oozes class, his pedigree is outstanding...

'It can't get any better for us... It is a huge statement from the football club to be able to attract an Ollie Crankshaw'...

He finished last season on loan at Motherwell, after marking County's return to League Two by playing 19 times in the first half of the campaign, and he has figured for the Hatters in the opening weeks of the current season, making four appearances".

The previous new signings this summer have been Justin AMALUZOR, Dior ANGUS, Lewis BANKS, George BURROUGHS, Christopher CONN-CLARKE, Justin DONAWA, Joey JONES, Sam ROSCOE, Ethan ROSS (on loan from Stockport County) and George WILSON.

PARKINSON HAPPY WITH DRAW

The Alty boss felt the draw was a "good result" even though it feels "like two points dropped" because of the equaliser at the end. The "eleven minutes added on were absolutely ridiculous and it wasn't a corner anyway" that led to the final goal, the manager said.

In the end Parkinson felt that we "got something when we probably deserved nothing", adding that "we've done well to come away with anything".

The manager was also very critical of the scheduling of two matches in 48 hours, whereas the "millionaires" in the top levels had a rest.

COASTERS' VIEW

Two goals in two first-half minutes for Altrincham turned the game on its head, with Regan Linney and Dior Angus on target for the visitors.

Nick Haughton pulled one back for the Coasters from the penalty spot... Gold Omotayo levelled for the Coasters with 12 minutes to go, prior to Chris Conn-Clarke’s 87th-minute penalty that looked to have sent the Coasters to a defeat.

But Davis was the hero after his late header sparked delirious scenes and earned a fantastic point."

NEXT OPPONENTS: BROMLEY

After the win, Bromley reported that "Goals from Louis Dennis and Michael Cheek helped secure a 2-1 win over Southend United...

It would be the hosts who broke the deadlock as Dennis... pounced on a defensive mistake before poking the ball past the Southend ‘keeper and slotting into an empty net..

Bromley extended their lead as Cheek cut inside before slotting into the back of the net.

The two-goal lead lasted only minutes as Noor Husin bagged for the visitors...

Smith made a brilliant save to deny Jack Wood in the latter stages as the Ravens held on to clinch their first three points of the season".

The Bromley line-up comprised 1 Smith, 2 Reynolds, 6 Woods, 17 Webster, 11 Dennis, 9 Cheek, 16 Okoli, 18 Whitely, 20 Arthurs, 28 Krauhaus, 23 Topalloj. Subs: 10 Marriott, 21 Vennings, 25 Miller, 26 Paul-Lavely, 30 Sharman-Lowe

After the match, London News Online told us that "The Ravens have started the season poorly having been winless in their first five league games of the season, with two draws and three defeats...

Manager Andy Woodman made two changes, with Louis Dennis and Jude Arthurs coming in for the suspended Josh Passley and Aribim Pebble...

Bromley were presented with a gift when a back-pass by Harry Taylor to goalkeeper Andeng Ndi was under-hit, allowing Louis Dennis to knock the ball past the Southend keeper and slot home into an empty net.

The opener was a catalyst for change in the match, as Bromley began to impose themselves on the opposition and gain a degree of control in the game...

Early in the second half, Bromley were able to double their lead when, on 56 minutes, Michael Cheek controlled a bouncing ball and fired low into the net.

The Shrimpers pulled a goal back within 2 minutes...

'I thought it was gutsy,' Andy Woodman told the South London Press. I thought we were good value for it to be honest.. We had a goal chalked off that I feel was onside'...

Bromley have been plagued by injuries and suspensions in the opening weeks of the season, while also having several signings who have taken time to adapt, which Woodman feels has been a major reason behind their tough start to the season...

'We obviously haven’t got the results that we want. Two of the draws we got, we had ten men, so they’re good results. I feel we’re now settling in nicely and showing the DNA that I expect a Bromley and Andy Woodman team to show'... [Goalkeeper Grant Smith "has been excellent; what a signing he’s been,” said Woodman".

ALTY OLD BOYS

EFL CUP : JOSH GINNELLY, who had been booked in the first half, was substituted after 58 minutes as Swansea City lost 2-3 at home to Bournemouth.

CARL PIERGIANNI was left on the bench until the 76th minute by Stevenage. Hosts Exeter City won 5-3 on penalties after the game ended 1-1.

CONNOR JENNINGS and CHRIS MERRIE were booked as Tranmere Rovers bowed out 0-2 at home to Leicester City.

OWEN DALE was an unused substitute at Molyneux as Blackpool were comprehensively beaten 5-0 by Wolves.

VANARAMA NATIONAL NEWS

A brace from Tyrese Sinclair and Ian Henderson’s 139th Dale goal earned the three points, but the Head Coach reserved special praise for the fans.

'The fans have been amazing', said McNulty. 'I’ve felt the freshness of the new chapter from the fans... I feel like there’s some understanding from the fans about the way we play. I can feel it... The fans are letting our good players make the right decisions, rather than trying to make it for them'...

Right: Tyrese Sinclair, who enjoyed a successful loan at Altrincham last season.

'They pay good money, and the minimum they want to see is fight and effort, and I think our team have had that in every single game...

'11 vs 11 I thought we cut York open quote a lot... We should have scored more goals... We need to learn.

'Second-half, at 11 vs 10, I thought York were the better team. They put us under it... second-half we lost control... I felt relieved when we got that third goal'".

According to York Press, "York City have appointed Darren Kelly as the club's new General Manager...

Kelly had a previous role with John Askey at Hartlepool United as the club's Sporting Director, playing a key role in the first-team transfer and wider football operations.

He's also no stranger to York, having had a spell as a player between 2007 and 2009, making 36 appearances and scoring two goals from the defence...

Kelly also has managerial experience with Oldham Athletic, FC Halifax Town, Hyde United, Scarborough, Tadcaster Albion's i2i academy and as caretaker at Newport County, where he was also a Sporting Director".

Perhaps an indication that they don't expect to be thrown out of the National League for not paying their debts, the Southend Echo confirms that "Southend United FC is delighted to have agreed a ‘Good Neighbour’ partnership with London Southend Airport in a brand-new collaboration on several mutual projects... to cross-promote the local club and award-winning airport...

Blues’ messaging will be seen by more than 75,000 arriving and departing passengers at London Southend thanks to prime advertising spaces in the airport terminal and onsite train station; simultaneously, airport messaging will feature prominently at Roots Hall with pitchside boards and stadium posters.

Southend United are also pleased to announce plans for the 2023/24 ‘Match for Mind’ in aid of local mental health charity, South East and Central Essex Mind (SECE Mind)... The fundraising match will take place against Solihull Moors on Saturday, October 21".

29 August 2023

AFC FYLDE 3-3 ALTRINCHAM

Match report here

The result leaves Altrincham sixth in the National League.

BARRY HOWARD TRIBUTE

Altrincham paid £3,000 for Howard in 1978 and he went on to score 73 goals in 288 games.

Bill observed, "If Mark Maddox was a warrior, Barry was a wizard. I remember Stewart Houston, a Scottish internationl with 200 games for Manchester United, being absolutely turned inside out by him when we knocked Sheffield United out of the FA Cup".

Club President Graham Rowley added, "He was part of a very successful side and a very, very nice bloke.

"He's another who always kept in touch with the club which shows the affinity people have got for Altrincham".

RESERVES TOP OF THE TABLE

Results to date have been:

• 28/08/23 14:00 Eagle Sports 4 - 1 Altrincham Res.
• 26/08/23 14:00 Altrincham FC Res. 5 - 1 Congleton Town Res.
• 23/08/23 20:00 Altrincham FC Res. 3 - 0 Broadheath Central FC
• 19/08/23 14:00 Lostock Gralam 1 - 6 Altrincham FC Res.
• 15/08/23 18:30 AFC Knowsley 0 - 2 Altrincham FC Res.
• 12/08/23 14:00 Altrincham FC Res. 3 - 1 (HT 1-0) Garswood United
• 08/08/23 18:30 Denton Town 1 - 0 (HT 0-0) Altrincham FC Res.
• 05/08/23 14:00 Altrincham FC Res. 3 - 2 Whalley Range FC
• 02/08/23 20:00 Altrincham FC Res. 1 - 3 Lostock Gralam
• 29/07/23 14:00 Winstanley Warriors 1 - 2 Altrincham FC Res.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Meanwhile at Stalybridge Celtic, MAX HARROP struck the bar in a 1-1 draw against Bootle on Saturday.

As for Monday's action, Phil Jordan reports that...

National League: DAN MOONEY was substituted after 71 minutes in Southend United's 2-1 defeat at Bromley, while MARCUS DINANGA suffered the same fate after 85 minutes of Gateshead's goalless draw at Halifax.

Chesterfield found themselves two goals down inside 10 minutes at home to overnight leaders Hartlepool United, but RYAN COLCLOUGH reduced the arrears after 14 minutes. He was replaced by JAMES BERRY after 81 minutes, while JEFF KING played the whole match, which the Spireites won 3-2 in the 95th minute.

TYRESE SINCLAIR put Rochdale ahead from the penalty spot at York City, and after the hosts had levelled he scored against to restore the lead after York were reduced to 10 men. After he'd been substituted in the 80th minute, Rochdale scored again to win 1-3.

National League North:

CONNOR BRANSON was sent off on the hour as his Farsley Celtic team lost 2-0 at Chester.

DYLAN MOTTLEY-HENRY scored for Warrington Town, but visitors Curzon Ashton prevailed 1-4.

NPL: HAYDEN CAMPBELL gave Macclesfield a first half lead, but visitors Warrington Rylands snatched a 1-1 draw in the 99th minute through DEAN FURMAN. And there was still time for Macclesfield to be reduced to 10 men in the 100th minute.

JUDE OYIBO scored the opener as Radcliffe embarrassed visitors FC United 5-0.

JONNY MARGETTS netted a hat trick including a penalty as Matlock Town took full advantage of hosts Stafford Rangers being reduced to 10 men late in the first half to run out 2-4 winners.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Club has reluctantly taken the decision to relieve Mikey Morton of his duties.

The Club wishes to place on record its sincere thanks to Mikey for his work, passion, and commitment since joining the Club in February... The club see Mikey as an asset and have offered him a role internally so await his decision.

The club will now begin the process of recruiting a new first team manager.

In the meantime, assistant Manager Tony McMahon will take charge of the first team supported by first team staff".

York have drawn three and lost three of their six matches this season.

The Daily Star tells us that "Aldershot had three different goalkeepers as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat to local rivals Eastleigh in the National League, with supporters branding the scenes 'embarrassing'.

Two strikers were forced to go in goal as Aldershot’s decision not to have a backup keeper backfired spectacularly.

With the National League clash goal-less, the Shots had Jordi Van Stappershoef sent off 11 minutes before half-time in their Hampshire derby at Eastleigh. As manager Tommy Widdrington... had not named a stopper on the bench, Swiss striker Lorent Tolaj was forced to come on and don the gloves.

Tolaj was soon picking the ball out of his net as Chris Maguire gave Eastleigh the lead before half-time with a free-kick and Enzio Boldewijn doubled the lead against the 10 men on 64 minutes.

Sensing his team needed a spark, Widdrington then decided to switch goalkeepers with Tolaj being pushed into his more accustomed position and Kwame Thomas, who had started the game up front, being thrown the gloves.

However, like Tolaj, his first act as a reluctant goalkeeper was to pick the ball out of the back of the net as Boldewijn added his second to make it 3-0, which is how it stayed".

28 August 2023

AFC FYLDE 3-3 ALTRINCHAM

They took the lead on 33 minutes when the home keeper failed to hold an Angus shot from the right and Linney tapped the ball home.

Then, a good ball from Osborne gave Linney possession on the left and he fed an unmarked Angus in the central, outer reaches of the box and he beat the keeper with a fine shot, his third goal in 48 hours. So Alty led 2-0 at the break.

Fylde won a clear penalty when James Jones brought down Haughton left of goal. Haughton's penalty was well saved by Ross to his right but as the ball bounced away in the box from Ross's save, debutant starter George Wilson went to hook it clear. From behind him Whitehead went for the ball too and the referee construed the incident as a second penalty, just seconds after the earlier spot kick. This time Houghton converted confidently to make it 1-2 (58 mins).

Substitute Omatayo headed in an equaliser from a cross from the Fylde right (79 mins). But despite not threatening at all from open play in the second half, Alty sub Amaluzor wrestled with Obi on the byline, left of goal, and the referee pointed to the spot. Conn-Clarke's hop-skip-and-jump penalty kick fooled the keeper to put Alty ahead again (88 mins).

But as ninety minutes approached, George Wilson was injured and, though he resumed after lengthy treatment, he had to go off soon afterwards leaving Alty to negotiate what turned into more than ten added minutes.

Fylde pressed forward against the ten men and got a very late corner on the left which was taken short to Whitehead, whose cross was headed in at the back post by Obi to leave the result 3-3 (90+10 mins).

With two games in 48 hours, Altrincham had made five pre-match changes from the game 48 hours earlier. Four players dropped to the bench (Conn-Clarke, Marriott, Roscoe and Amaluzor) whilst Kosylo dropped out altogether after hobbling off on Saturday.

Right: George Wilson made his first appearance in a starting eleven today

The fifth place on the bench went to George Burroughs, making his first appearance in the squad.

In to the starting eleven came Baines, Cooper, Angus, Joey Jones and, for his first start, Wilson.

Match report here

BANK HOLIDAY FIXTURES

• AFC Fylde 3-3 Altrincham
• Barnet 3-2 Ebbsfleet United
• Bromley 2-1 Southend United
• Chesterfield 3-2 Hartlepool United
• Eastleigh 3-0 Aldershot Town
• FC Halifax Town 0-0 Gateshead
• Kidderminster Harriers 0-0 Maidenhead United
• Oldham Athletic 0-2 Solihull Moors
• Oxford City 4-0 Boreham Wood
• Wealdstone 0-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Woking 2-0 Dorking Wanderers
• York City 1-3 Rochdale

SALUTE TO MARK MADDOX AND BARRY HOWARD

Above, we see the Altrincham players during the tribute to the two players.

A number of Mark's former team-mates attended the match on Saturday to pay their own respects to their former captain, who died from the effects of Motor Neurone Disease, at the age of fifty.

Several of those former team-mates are pictured below at the game, along with an image of Mark from his playing days.

Above: Stuart Coburn and Rod Thornley (top left), Mark Maddox (top right), Chris Adams (bottom left) and Gary Talbot (bottom right) were all at the J. Davidson Stadium to pay triibute to former team-mate Mark Maddox..

HIGHLIGHTS OF WIN OVER CHESTERFIELD

JUSTIN, MAN OF THE MATCH

Right: Justin Amaluzor was the sponsors' Man of the Match against Chesterfield. Here he is pictured during that game.

ALTY OLD BOYS

On the pitch, playing for Chesterfield, there were also three former Robins from more recent times. JEFF KING started the game whilst JAMES BERRY and RYAN COLCLOUGH appeared from the bench.

NEXT: AFC FYLDE

The Hartlepool Mail tells us that "AFC Fylde boss Adam Murray acknowledged Hartlepool United’s quality... admitting ‘they’re the levels we need to get to.’

The National League North champions gave a good account of themselves in the early stages before John Askey’s side produced an excellent period in the game, scoring twice through Emmanuel Dieseruvwe and Callum Cooke.

But the Coasters were able to get themselves back into things when Gold Omotayo swept home from John Ustabasi’s pass in first half stoppage time to give Hartlepool something to think about at half-time... Murray conceded his side were lacking quality in key areas...

'We weren’t good enough, that’s the bottom line,' Murray told TNT Sports. 'We’ve had a realisation, and we’ve seen the gulf, in terms of the levels we need to hit in our first group of games. We’ve faced two of the favourites to go up and we’ve seen the step that we have to make.

'We’re on a whole new learning curve as a team and as a club. Last season we spent nearly every game having 60 or 70 per cent of the ball and dictating games. Coming to this level now, teams are faster, they’re stronger, they’re better and the quality is higher and I just felt they were quicker and they were stronger in certain areas and when they needed the quality they brought the quality to the table.

'I just thought their better players stood out more than our better players'".

Fylde's squad comprises: 1. Chris Neal, 3. Luke Conlan, 4. Harry Davis, 5. Emeka Obi, 6. Alex Whitmore, 7. Joe Rowley, 8. Danny Philliskirk, 9. nd ENG Luke Charman, 10. Nick Haughton, 11. Gold Omotayo, 16. Kieran Glynn, 17. Connor Barrett, 19. Jon Ustabasi, 20. Tom Walker, 23 Danny Whitehead, 24. Will Hatfield, 25. Theo Richardson, 27. Siyabonga Ligendza, 33. Pierce Bird

As can be seen, AFC Fylde have two players who played for Altrincham in 2021-22 as loanees. Whitehead was a used sub on Saturday whilst Walker remained on the bench.

27 year-old Tom Walker (right) made his Alty debut on the day that he joined on loan from Stockport County, 23 October 2021.

Earlier, he had made his first team debut for Bolton Wanderers in 2015 before moving on loan to Bury in 2016 prior to being released by the Trotters in summer 2017. After a spell at Stockport in National League North in 2017-18 he moved on to FC United of Manchester and then Salford City.

He was loaned to Stockport in 2019-20, before joining AFC Fylde and then Harrogate Town (2020-21). Harrogate loaned him to Notts County and then Stockport County. He re-signed for The Hatters in July 2021 before his arrival on loan at Altrincham. After three appearances his loan was completed, having made 2(+1) appearances.

Danny Whitehead (left), now 29, was born in Stretford and arrived at Altrincham on a month's loan from Port Vale, a move announced on 15 October 2021, following the loss of Connor Kirby to injury.

A graduate of Stockport County's youth system, he was signed by West Ham United in 2013 but he made just a single appearance for The Hammers before moving on in 2015 to Accrington Stanley, then to Macclesfield Town (2015/16) and Wigan Athletic (2016/17), from where he went on loan back to Macclesfield and Cheltenham Town during 2016/17.

He rejoined the Moss Rose outfit in 2017 and was part of the Silkmen's team which regained the club's EFL status before signing for Salford City of the National League in May 2018, staying with the Ammies till 2020, a spell which include a ten-game loan spell back at Macclesfield.

At the start of 2020-21 season his former Macclesfield manager John Askey took him to Burslem club Port Vale but a change of managership led to a reduction in his game time and his being transfer-listed in summer 2021 before his loan to Altrincham.

After 10 appearances for Altrincham, his return to Port Vale was announced on Christmas Eve, 2021. He was then released by The Valiants and signed for AFC Fylde in January 2022. Altrincham appearances: 6(+4), 0 goals.

THROUGH THE YEARS

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 20-year-old left back will remain with the National League side until January.

Lankshear, who came through the academy at Arsenal, joined the Seasiders for an undisclosed fee from St Albans City last summer.

The young defender made 39 appearances for the Saints and regularly featured for them in National League South.

He made his senior debut for the Tangerines in the final game of last season, and was named as the coaches player of the year in the development squad".

"A MAGNIFICENT SUBSTITUTION!" SAYS NEIL

Right: Dior Angus's brace won the match against Chesterfield. Here Dior is seen during a break for treatment to a player during the game.

In Andy Marsh's match report, he quotes assistant manager Neil Sorvel as saying, "We're delighted with that. First half, we had a lot of possession but were struggling to create anything; but, in the second half, we totally dominated.

"I knew our goals were coming but I was getting a bit worried we may have left it too late but Dior [Angus] has been banging them in in training and it's turned out to be a magnificent substitution, hasn't it!

"This victory makes up for the two points dropped last week and we're delighted with our unbeaten start against some big teams!

The NLP statistics underline Neil's statement as Alty had 11 shots to the visiors 3, of which the only one on target was their goal. Alty had four shots on target and seven more off target.

It was also clear that Chesterfield commited the most fouls with 17 recorded against them, compared with 9 for the hosts. The Spireites also won the yellow card tally with five shown (including one to manager Paul Cook) compared with just one caution for Altrincham.

ALTRINCHAM 2-1 CHESTERFIELD

Match report here

Above: Sam Roscoe keeps Joe Quigley in check as he heads clear with Elliot Osborne, Matty Kosylo and Lewis Banks on hand.

After the game manager Phil Parkinson said, in an interview with Brian Flynn on Alty TV, "Any time you can go toe-to-toe with a Chesterfield, any time you can get a victory against the title contenders... with the size of the club and the investment they have put in there, the football they play, it is a fantastic day.

The Alty boss alluded to the two teams having a "similar philosophy of football" but "they've recruited at another level" to Altrincham's".

“It is a great occasion for us, a big feather in our cap, and one that was thoroughly deserved I felt on the day... People will rightly stand off Chesterfield at times, but we didn’t, we went toe-to-toe with them and I felt we got our just rewards for that".

The Alty boss particularly praised Elliot Osborne, man of the match Justin Amalouzor, Dior Angus and Sam Roscoe for their performances against the Spireites.

SPIREITES' VIEW

The Spireites had taken the lead from a Jamie Grimes header from a Liam Mandeviile corner. In the main they’d looked comfortable in containing any threat from Alty without looking like adding to their own score.

Altrincham showed more purpose and fight in the late stages and it was enough to see them home against the Spireites...

The season is still taking shape but the Spireites knew that they always have a tough task at Moss Lane with the result going in favour of the home side in the first two of the three contests; last season Chesterfield edged the fixture during the same Bank Holiday weekend...

Spireites skipper Grimes rose superbly at the far post and connected well; his downward header to the far corner gave homer keeper Ethan Ross no chance... Chesterfield picked up two more yellow cards after fouls by Armando Dobra and Ash Palmer...

Alty levelled after substitute Angus picked up a misplaced pass on the right, took a couple of strides and fired coolly home on the ground to Tyrer’s right. Seconds later it could have been two as Tyrer managed to save a shot from Linney with his knee...

Linney’s angled shot was narrowly wide but with a minute remaining Angus received from the left, turned on a sixpence, and blasted home from inside the six-yard box".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Elsewhere many former Alty players and loanees were in action on Saturday, as recorded by Phil Jordan...

Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE stayed on the bench as Millwall won 1-0 at home to Stoke City.

League One : JUNIOR QUITIRNA was substituted after 81minutes as Fleetwood Town finished with 9 men and lost 0-1 to Shrewsbury Town.

OWEN DALE came off the bench at the start of the second half for Blackpool at Lincoln City, while the hosts introduced ALISTAIR SMITH in the 79th minute. The game was as over by then, as Lincoln had completed the scoring in their 3-0 win, with Blackpool down to 10 men.

Both sides finished with 10 men at Stevenage, for whom CARL PIERGIANNI played the whole game, as Portsmouth forced a goalless draw.

League Two : ELLIOT NEWBY was sent on by Barrow after 63 minutes as visitors Wrexham dominated the game, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

JOEL SENIOR was substituted at exactly the same time as his Morecambe team went down 2-0 at Harrogate Town.

Despite a full shift from both CONNOR JENNINGS and CHRIS MERRIE, Tranmere Rovers lost 2-1 at Notts County.

National League : Although ASHLEY HEMMINGS played the full game, he couldn't help his Kidderminster Harriers side, reduced to 10 men after only 35 minutes, to avoid a 3-0 defeat at Ebbsfleet United.

MARCUS DINANGA put Gateshead in front after 21 minutes at the International Stadium, but visitors Woking struck back in the second half to win 1-3.

TOBY MULLARKEY played the whole game for Grimsby Town as they drew 1-1 at Walsall, but LUKE WATERFALL remained on the bench.

National League North : CRAIG MAHON scored the only goalof the game as Curzon Ashtonwon at home against Scunthorpe United

NPL : JUDE OYIBO scored the last Radcliffe goal in a 2-5 win at Marske United - the hosts were handicapped by having to play the entire second half with 10 men.

Southern League, Central Division : MONTEL GIBSON was AFC Telford's scored in their 3-1 defeat at Barwell

ANDY DALES scored the opener for Mickleover Sports in their 2-1 home win over Hitchin Town

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The incident occurred in the 10th minute of Friday's match,referencing the 10-point penalty handed to the club two days ago over their tax debt...

Southend started the game at home to Eastleigh at the bottom of the National League table on minus four points and fans chanted 'We want Martin out' as the protest began.

The club have total debts of £2.5m and have been given until 4 October to secure the club's future...

Goals from Noor Husin and Harry Cardwell gave the Shrimpers a 2-0 victory."

The Hartlepool Mail tells us that "Ex-Blackburn Rovers man... Joe Grayson has completed a move to Gateshead after featuring on trial with Hartlepool United earlier this summer...

Grayson spent a short period on trial with John Askey’s side in pre-season but has now joined... Gateshead until the end of the season...

'I spoke to the manager, Busted [Ian Watson] and Rob [Elliot] at different times, I got a really good feeling after speaking with all three of them...

'I think the style of play, as well as the manager and coaching staff, was a big draw to come here. One of the main reasons I came here was to play in a system that suits me the most,'” said the player, who is the son of Simon Grayson, the former Leeds United player and manager of Blackpool, Leeds United, Huddersfield Town, and Preston North End.

Just three weeks into the season and in a curt message, Eastleigh announce that they "have terminated the contract of First Team Manager Lee Bradbury and assistant manager Brian Stock with immediate effect.

In the interim period, Richard Hill will oversee the first-team squad along with Jason Bristow.

A full recruitment process will be undertaken following today’s decision to appoint a new management team.

We would like to thank Lee and Brian for their commitment to the club during their year and a half tenure at Eastleigh FC and we wish them both all the best for the future".

Eastleigh have drawn three and lost two of their five games to date.

ALTRINCHAM 2-1 CHESTERFIELD

Above: Alty celebrate their winner.

The Spireites took a sixteenth-minute lead as Alty once more showed their weakness at corners when Grimes rose high to head home at the back post.

But Altrincham raised their game towards the end of the first half and had the better of the match after the break. But neither goalkeeper saw much action until Angus drove home the equaliser (84 mins). From then on Chesterfield were decidedly second best.

It could have been 3-1 as Linney forced a fine save and also narrowly missed the target before Angus struck again in the fourth added minute to cue delirium for the home fans and a slow exodus to the exit for the visiting supporters.

Match report here

SATURDAY SCORES

• Aldershot Town 3-1 Wealdstone
• Altrincham 2-1 Chesterfield
• Boreham Wood 0-0 Oldham Athletic
• Dagenham & Redbridge 1-0 Barnet
• Dorking Wanderers 2-2 York City
• Ebbsfleet United 3-0 Kidderminster Harriers
• Gateshead 1-3 Woking
• Hartlepool United v AFC Fylde (5.30pm)
• Maidenhead United 0-0 Oxford City

TODAY: CHESTERFIELD

The Derbyshire Times reminds us that "Oldham Athletic manager, David Unsworth has called the Saturday-Monday schedule ‘an absolute joke’ and a ‘disgrace’ but Town [Chesterfield] coach Danny Webb says he quite enjoys it.

He told the DT... 'We have got some good players to choose from and to come on, on Monday, who we feel are a bit leggy after tomorrow’s game... It is good because it keeps the flow going if you win, and if you don’t win it can also be good because you have got the chance to turn it around really quickly. Six points out of the two would be great because we felt a little bit robbed last week but that is life'...

He said: 'The goalie, defensive side, even the midfield tends to be stuck with when you have got two games in a short space of time. It is always the attacking players who are the ones to rotate, I am not saying that will be the case this weekend, but the manager is always keen to say that any subs he makes within a game, it will be any one of the front four because they are the ones doing the pressing and setting the tone'...

Webb continued... 'Altrincham have had a good start, the manager has done a very good job there, and we have got to justify the favourites tag by getting the three points'".

Derbyshire Times also reports that "Chesterfield are pretty happy with the squad they have got but may have to dip into the transfer market if they suffer any more injuries to full-backs.

Right-back Ryheem Sheckleford has been ruled out for about a month with a hamstring injury, while left-back Bailey Clements is still a couple of weeks away from returning from a pulled thigh.

[Alty old boy] Jeff King (above, right, in his Alty days) is likely to replace Sheckleford, and Branden Horton has done a steady job on the opposite flank...

'We have had two injuries to full-backs and if you get another then you are looking for a full-back because you have got no one to back them two up now. That is how quick things change. But for the here and now we are in a really good place.'”

ALTY OLD BOYS

There is no automatic promotion from the regional leagues across Australia, so Oakleigh now travel to play league champions Avondale in the semifinal. Avondale won the corresponding league match 4-2, and forced a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture, so it's a big ask."

The winners in the semi-final have to play a team from another league for the prize of a place in the Australian A-League.

In Ireland on Friday night, Cork City were leading 0-1 at Drogheda at half time, but OLLIE BYRNE had to pick the ball out of the net three times in the second half.

In the division below, Waterford were missing BARRY BAGGLEY through injury, and were down to 10 men before half time, but still won 0-1 at Bray Wanderers.

In the National League, TYRESE SINCLAIR equalised for Rochdale from the penalty spot as visitors Bromley were reduced to 10 men, but, although he scored a second 5 minutes after the restart, Rochdale quickly conceded an equaliser before themselves going down to 10.

Despite KYLE FERGUSON (left) putting in a full shift, the game ended 2-2.

As Southend United beat visitors Eastleigh 2-0, DAN MOONEY was substituted after 73 minutes.

ALTY THROUGH THE YEARS

Right: First-half action at Boston in 2019.

Alty's last game in the top-flight of non-League on this date was a 2-0 win over St Alban's City in 2006.

FRIDAY SCORES

• Rochdale 2-2 Bromley
• Solihull Moors 1-1 FC Halifax Town
• Southend United 2-0 Eastleigh

WEEKEND FIXTURES

• AFC Fylde v Altrincham
• Barnet v Ebbsfleet United
• Bromley v Southend United
• Chesterfield v Hartlepool United
• Eastleigh v Aldershot Town
• FC Halifax Town v Gateshead
• Kidderminster Harriers v Maidenhead United
• Oldham Athletic v Solihull Moors
• Oxford City v Boreham Wood
• Wealdstone v Dagenham & Redbridge
• Woking v Dorking Wanderers
• York City v Rochdale

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 19-year-old midfielder joins the Minstermen until January 1st...

Jack signed a three-year deal at Boro during his first season as a scholar".

CKidderminster Harriers "announce that that Kobe Hall has signed a first professional contract with the Club.

Striker Kobe has been a part of the squad for some time now... He began in our Academy, with six first team appearances already under his belt.

His first team debut at the age of 16 years and 135 days in January 2023 made him the youngest player on record to play for Harriers competitively.

To celebrate that progress, and Kobe’s 17th birthday... the player has signed his first contract, which will keep him at the club until at least the summer of 2025.

Russ Penn said, 'Kobe is a fantastic talent and a player we’re all really excited about'".

25 August 2023

MARK'S FUNERAL

"The family of Mark Maddox [right] have released details of his funeral. For anyone wishing to attend, it will be held at St Cecilia's Church, Green Lane, Liverpool, L13 7DT on Thursday August 31st at 10am, then on to Springwood Crematorium at 11am".

NEXT: CHESTERFIELD

[With] Alty boss Parkinson reflecting on three draws and a win so far, he admitted 'I feel conflicted because, well though we’ve played, we have dropped six points, and I can’t be happy with that. I’m not exaggerating when I say we should be top of the league on maximum points, but we’re not because we’re not quite there yet.

'We were superb in the first half, and I don’t think we’ve ever created that many chances against one of Luke [Garrard]’s teams before. We could have been three up by half time, but we just weren’t clinical enough in front of goal. The game should have been put to bed in the first half, and when I look back on the four games so far, I’m disappointed and frustrated we haven’t taken maximum points'.

On Saturday Alty face title favourites Chesterfield who, according to the Altrincham manager "are doing what it says on the tin, beating just about everyone they come up against, so it’s going to be a really tough weekend. It’s a quick turnaround, which is going to add to the challenge. But we’ve shown we can be a match for anyone... I’m sure our opponents won’t be relishing facing us either.'”

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The oldest team is Dorking Wanderers (avge. 29.3 years), the youngest is FC Halifx Town (24.3). Altrincham are the 19th oldest side, averaging 25.2 years of age.

All of Alty's first five opponents this season are in the top ten of oldest teams in the National League. They are Borehan Wood (joint 3rd) and Woking (joint 3rd) who both average 28.8, Dagenham (7th, 28), Chesterfield (joint 9th) 27.2 years of age, and York City (11th 26.8). The sequence continues next Monday when 12th-oldest side AFC Fylde entertain Altrincham

The oldest player to appear for Altrincham this season is Matty Kosylo (31.0) and the youngest is Chris Conn-Clarke (21.7).

On Monday, Altrincham travel to AFC Fylde where the Blackpool Gazette reports that "Wealdstone defeat Adam Murray has warned his AFC Fylde players they have to stand up and be counted following defeat at Wealdstone last weekend.

Having trailed early on... goals from Gold Omotayo and Nick Haughton had Murray’s players 2-1 in front as the hour mark approached.

Pierce Bird collected a second yellow card moments later but Fylde held out until the 86th minute, when they were pegged back before Wealdstone’s winner deep into added time.

While annoyed with Bird’s dismissal, Fylde’s third in four games this season, the nature of Wealdstone’s goals was also a disappointment.

Murray said of the red card... 'We had to change everything. In this heat, and a really sticky pitch, 10 men was going to be tough. We managed it with two minutes to go and then... we don’t do the basics... For me, that’s just a lack of responsibility. People have to step up to the mark.

'We’ve gone up to a new level [after promotion], some people have still not found their feet yet and we’ve not got time to wait for people. We need people to step up or other people will have to come in...

'We switch off once, go off game plan and they score which is really disappointing'".

According to the Oldham Times "A statement made by Oldham Athletic manager David Unsworth in the aftermath of their last-gasp draw at promotion rivals Chesterfield raised more than a few eyebrows...

Unsworth said... 'Make no mistake about it, Chesterfield are the best team in the league and probably will win the league...

Unsworth, though, insists he has not waved the white flag. 'I think people have taken that as if to say I don't want us to win the league. What I'm saying is, if we finish above Chesterfield, we are winning the league', he explained. Do I think Chesterfield are winning the league? Probably...

'We have just gone toe to toe with Chesterfield; frustrated them. The stats are in our favour, other than possession. We had the best chances of the game, they have double the budget that we have, they are two or three years further down the line in terms of their club being cleansed and then built...

'They are a goalscoring machine and for us to only give them one proper opportunity in 90-odd minutes, it's the perfect away day performance...

'If any team goes and plays open expansive football against Chesterfield, particularly at Chesterfield, they'll get tonked. Now, I don't want to get beat. That's not being negative, it's being clever'".

The Southend Echo says that "Southend United chairman Ron Martin does not know if the sale of the club will be completed by the time the Shrimpers are next in court.

Blues have been given until October 4 to pay off their outstanding tax bill of £250,000 and were warned the club would be wound up if the situation was not sorted by that date.

However, Martin has told TalkSPORT he remains uncertain of when the club will be in new hands.

'It was me that set the deadline for 42 days, six weeks, to allow the sale to go through,' said Martin.

'I don't know whether it'll be sorted out by then, but we'll continue to do all we can to make sure it is... I'd like to have sold it when I put it on the market in March,' said Martin...

The Echo revealed yesterday how Australian Justin Rees is heading up a consortium trying to buy the club...

Martin confirmed 'He's also putting together a small consortium of three or four people, all of whom are known to either myself or Tom Lawrence the CEO. We do have a second buyer.

'Similar terms but certainly the person from Australia is more advanced than anybody else.'”

York City "announce the signing of goalkeeper Rory Watson following his departure from League Two outfit Doncaster Rovers.

The 27-year-old has put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season with the Minstermen...

York-born Watson spent last season with National League champions Wrexham, having joined from Scunthorpe United where he made more than 100 appearances across League One and Two..

The shot-stopper worked through the academy setup at Elland Road until making the switch to Hull City... A loan spell with Gainsborough Trinity, and a 28-day-emergency loan with Scunthorpe United, followed for Rory before a season-long loan spell with then National League side North Ferriby United...

Rory clocked up over 100 competitive appearances for the Iron across a five-year spell".

24 August 2023

BARRY HOWARD R.I.P.

Barry’s sister, Jane Peet informed the Club that Barry "was suffering from Alzheimer’s and his body gave up at the age of 73. He spent many happy seasons at Altrincham with many other greats as did myself and our family in giving him full support."

In his Alty Legends profile, Terry Rowley, wrote of Barry Howard, who was born on 19 February, 1950.

"Barry Howard was the cutting edge that made Altrincham such a potent force in the late 1970s and early '80s. Blessed with both pace and skill he not only provided goals, he also scored more than his fair share.

Stocky, extremely quick and with a shock of curly dark hair, Barry quickly drew attention to his performances on the left wing. Originally from Ashton-Under-Lyne, he started his career at Oldham Athletic as a junior before moving to Hyde United and then Runcorn, where he got his first taste of success.

He had a short spell at Stockport County before signing for Altrincham in the summer of 1978 for the club's then record fee of £3,000! He slotted in immediately and helped the side to finish runners-up in their final year in the Northern Premier League, before they went on to win the inaugural Alliance title and the League and Cup double the year after.

BACK: P. Warburton (coach), B. Whitbread, F. Towers, G. Barrow, J. Connaughton, J. Owens, J. Johnson, J. Evans (physio). FRONT: J. Rogers, B. Howard, J. King (capt), A. Sanders (manager), J. Davison, S. Allan, G. Heathcote.

The following season (81/82) he received a winner's medal in the Cheshire Senior Cup and a finalist's medal at Wembley in the FA Trophy defeat by Enfield.

But not only was he successful with Altrincham, Barry also won 7 England semi-professional international caps as well. He left Moss lane during the 1983/84 season moving, first, back to Hyde and, then, to Witton and finally on to Ashton United, his hometown side. He will always be remembered as an entertainer and one who gave of his best every time he turned out for the club".

Barry made 285(+3) appearances for Altrincham, of which 200(+2) were League appearances. Of his 73 career goals for Altrincham, 48 were in League games.

More on Barry's Alty career can be found in Part 24 {and elsewhere] in Barry Pikesley's When We Were Kings: Alty in the APL 1979/80

NEXT: CHESTERFIELD

The Spireites have won three and drawn one so far, while the Robins have won one and drawn three.

Let’s take a look at how Town could line-up...

Right: Justin Donawa has managed less than half an hour's football this season, through injury.

• 1. Harry Tyrer - GK
• 2. Jeff King - RB Ryheem Sheckleford was forced off at half-time against Oldham Athletic with a tight hamstring. If that's still the case, then King will no doubt come in...
• 3. Ash Palmer - CB
• 4. Jamie Grimes - CB
• 5. Branden Horton - LB
• 6. Tom Naylor - CM
• 7. Darren Oldaker - CM
• 8. Ryan Colclough - RW
• 9. Liam Mandeville - CAM
• 10. Armando Dobra - LW
• 11. Will Grigg - ST
• 12. Tyrone Williams - sub
• 13. Ollie Banks - sub
• 14. Michael Jacobs - sub
• 15. James Berry - sub
• 16. Joe Quigley - sub"

As for Altrincham, Justin Donawa (above, right) presumably remains sidelined; he spent last Saturday in the directors' box as did Liam Brocklebank and new signing George Burroughs.

Aside from the Academy graduates the above trio, plus on-loan Ollie Byrne, were the only players not in the squad last weekend. Neither of the two players subbed during the game last Saturday, Regan Linney and Justin AMaluzor, appeared to be withdrawn because of injury so, the expectation would be that everyone in the squad against Boreham Wood is available for selection this coming weekend.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

British taxpayers still awaits their dues as the BBC reports that the wait goes on for payment of the Shrimpers' tax dues.

"Southend United have been granted a final 42-day adjournment of their winding-up petition by the High Court to complete the sale of the club. Owner Ron Martin told the court a sale to an unnamed Australian buyer should be finalised by the end of September.

The club were given a 42-day adjournment on their previous appearance in court on 12 July to clear debts and find a new owner. The takeover must now be finalised by their return to court on 4 October.

The judge warned Martin the club, founded in 1906, would be wound up if that deadline was missed.

'If this was not a football club, with the attachment of its fans, I would be winding it up today,' Judge Sebastian Prentis said...

The Shrimpers, who have debts of £2.5m, owe £275,000 to HMRC in unpaid taxes and were warned by the National League that failure to clear that tax liability by Wednesday would result in a 10-point penalty...

The club were also told their licence to play would depend on paying any new debts "on time to the satisfaction of the league" during the season...

Conservative MP for Southend West, Anna Firth, said 'I am aware of the potential buyer and have had several conversations with him and believe they are committed to the purchase and have the club's best interest at heart.'"

Later, the National League issued a statement stating that "The League are now aware of the court hearing adjournment and that outstanding debt to HMRC has not been discharged in full.

As a result, Southend United Football Club have been deducted 10 points with immediate effect".

Whilst many may think that Southend have escaped lightly for their financial misdemeanours, the club feels it has been harshly treated.

In a statement, Southend United said, "We know that people are concerned about the prospect of a points deduction for apparent non compliance with the conditional licence we have been granted to play in the National league’s competition.

We believe that the correct sanction for non payment of HMRC is an embargo, not a points deduction. We are talking to the National League on this point. If agreement cannot be reached we will immediately pursue an appeal".

The Oldham Times tells us that "Oldham Athletic have received a refereeing apology for a potentially game-changing decision that went against them in last week's defeat to Halifax.

Latics were trailing 2-1 when Mike Fondop was caught by the elbow of Tylor Golden inside the box but were denied a penalty, and a one-man advantage, as match official Steve Copeland failed to award a penalty or punish the foul in any way.

Latics this week received an acknowledgement from the referee's assessor that they should have been awarded a penalty and Halifax should have been reduced to 10 men for the incident...

'We thank them for their honest feedback [but] it doesn't help the cause when there are blatant decisions going against you," said the Latics boss, Dave Unsworth.

'If it was one or two now and again I would say they would iron themselves out over a season, but not sending the man off against Halifax and not getting the penalty, and then there was the foul on Hogan against Chesterfield (that wasn't given and Chesterfield scored from the subsequent corner), it's becoming a bit of a habit, and not a good habit...

'If the Referees' Association in the north west asked if I'd go and help them I'd do it in a shot, I'd help them no problem'".

York Press reminds us that "Dan Pybus left York to join fellow Vanarama National League side Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday afternoon, joining the club on a three-year deal after allegedly refusing to play for City in last week's 2-2 draw with Altrincham.

It's not been an ideal start to the season for the Minstermen, with Michael Morton's side still waiting for their first win after four matches, but [owner, Matt] Uggla has ensured [sic] that things will improve...

'We are working behind the scenes to bring in some new faces to help the current squad out... All I’ll comment on is that if you refuse to play for York or whatever you want to call it then you are not wanted... It’s an honour to wear that shirt and we will not accept that here'".

At Bromley "Billy Bingham has taken the decision to step away from full-time, professional football with immediate effect...

[He said] 'With the end of my playing career just around the corner, now is the right time for a change, as I plan for the future.'...

The 33-year-old arrived at the RELOC8 EM Community Stadium in the summer of 2019 from Gillingham and has gone on to make 141 appearances, scoring on six occasions...

Starting at Crystal Palace, Bingham’s career has seen him make almost 200 EFL appearances, reaching the heights of League One football whilst also winning play-off promotion to the third tier with Dagenham & Redbridge".

MARK MADDOX R.I.P.

By way of a tribute, we reproduce below Terry Rowley's "Alty Legends" essay on the talismanic Alty captain, written in 2005 following the club's play-off success as they headed back to the top-flight of non-League football.

Wherever he plays, though, you get nothing less than 100% commitment; a nice guy and a 100% clubman; "good on ya"!

Like watching Brazil: Mark Maddox, with back to goal, shapes to convert a nod on from Gary Talbot, extreme right, for the first goal against Burscough, 25 October 2003.

Footnote: Terry Rowley adds that "Post Altrincham (he was released in June 2006), he joined Leigh RMI, spending almost two seasons there (2006/07 & 2007/08).

He joined Vauxhall Motors in February 2008 and was sent off on debut! Next, he became manager of Formby in September 2009, resigning after guiding them to safety during 2009/10. Mark went on to manage Leigh Genesis in June 2010, leaving by mutual consent in December 2010."

ALTY OLD BOYS

Elsewhere, another to pick up a two goal haul was JONNY MARGETTS in Matlock Town's 3-0 home win against Atherton Collieries".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Pybus, who joined York at the beginning of last season, was absent from the City squad in their 1-1 draw with Aldershot Town on Saturday after reportedly refusing to play in the midweek 2-2 draw against Altrincham...

The 25-year-old joined York after their promotion to the National League, making 39 appearances last season and predominantly starting as a defensive midfielder...

Pybus said 'I spoke to Marc (White, Dorking manager) last week and he told me his plans for the club and sold his vision to me brilliantly.

'True to the character he is, he was also very tenacious! The club is only going in one direction which is up and I want to be part of that, I had multiple other offers on the table'...

White also commented on adding Pybus to his squad, saying 'Dan is someone we kept an eye on last year; Ant Sheldon our chief scout highlighted his stats as one of the leading midfielders in the National League...

'A central midfielder who can play anywhere in that area of the field, we fought off a lot of competition to get Dan's signature'"

In the Yorkshire Post we learn that "An injury to David Stockdale has seen York City recall goalkeeper Ryan Whitley from neighbours Scarborough Athletic.

Whitley had made a good start to his second loan spell at Conference North Scarborough, keeping two clean sheets in their first first three matches, but is now expected to be between the posts for the Minstermen at Dorking Wanderers on Saturday...

Stockdale, signed on a free transfer from Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season, came off at half-time in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Aldershot Town.

Whitley spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Scarborough... The 23-year-old made 15 starts for York last season."

22 August 2023

MARK MADDOX R.I.P.

Altrincham FC has announced that "Everyone at Altrincham Football Club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mark Maddox, who had, remarkably, lived with Motor Neurone Disease for over 12 years.

Mark was a colossal human being and a true legend of Altrincham Football Club, making over 326 starts and 22 substitute appearances between 1996-2006.

Our deepest condolences to Mark's wife, Jayne and three children, Sonny, Vinny and Beau at this saddest of times for the Maddox family.

Preparations will be made to acknowledge Mark's legendary contribution the club with a minute's applause at this Saturday's home game against Chesterfield FC".

Right: Mark is pictured after Altrincham had won a penalty shoot-out 4-2 at Nuneaton in a Nationwide North Play-Off Semi-Final Match, which set Alty on the way to eventual promotion back to the Football Conference in 2005.

The Manchester Evening News adds that "Non-league football legend Mark Maddox has died after living with motor neurone disease for 12 years. Mark, nicknamed 'Mad Dog', made over 300 appearances for Altrincham FC..

In 2010, shortly after beginning a career in management, he was diagnosed with the terminal muscle wasting condition MND and told he had just two to five years to live. The dad-of-three, nicknamed 'Mad Dog' due to his whole-hearted approach to the game, began a remarkable fund-raising and awareness campaign that would see him become the first person with MND to complete the London Marathon, do a parachute jump and record an album with his band Last of a Dying Breed....

In 2021 his campaigning was praised in Parliament by his friend, Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, who highlighted Mark's story to call on the Government to do more to help MND sufferers. He said: "Mark was told at diagnosis that he would be lucky to live beyond a year; that was 11 years ago.

'Mark believes that the love and support he receives from his family—his wife in particular—his friends and often complete strangers have helped him to get through to this day. Over the past decade, however, Mark has become increasingly frustrated with the Government’s lack of understanding of people with motor neurone disease and their families and of its devastating effects. He wants change.'

Liverpool-born Mark first joined Alty from Sunday football in 1996. After a brief spell with Barrow, he returned to Moss Lane in December 1998 and went on to play 348 times for the Robins... After leaving Alty, Maddox both played for and managed fellow non-Leaguers Leigh Genesis."

NEXT GAME: CHESTERFIELD

Having won their three opening games this season, the Spireites faced Oldham Athletic last Saturday.

Chesterfield report that "The Spireites had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Oldham Athletic at the SMH Group Stadium after conceding a goal deep into time added on...

The Spireites found chances hard to come by in the first half, with Oldham sitting behind the ball and restricting space for the Spireites...

Chesterfield took the lead in the 61st minute through Palmer. A corner was whipped in from the right-hand side which met the head of Palmer...

Oldham equalised in the fifth minute of time added on through Norwood. Attention will now turn to next Saturday’s away trip to Altrincham.

Spireites: Tyrer, Sheckleford (Williams 45’), Palmer, Grimes (c), Horton, Oldaker, Naylor, Mandeville, Colclough, Dobra (Jacobs 75’), Grigg (Quigley 83’). Unused subs: Banks, Berry".

Their visit to Altrincham should mean a return for former Robins' favourite Ryan Colclough, whilst recent signing James Berry was also on Alty's books before he moved to Macclesfield FC, initially on loan.

Despite having been an Altrincham player, should Berry play on Saturday, it will be his first competitive appearance at the J. Davidson Stadium.

LAST GAME: BOREHAM WOOD

Above: Sam Roscoe tries to get on the end of this ball into the Boreham Wood box, late in last Saturday's game. His central defensive partners James Jones and Jake Cooper are also on hand at the attacking end, whilst Chris Conn-Clarke lurks, hopefully, for a nod-down by his team-mate.

On Saturday, Altrincham drew their third match of this season, against Boreham Wood.

Alty TV now has extended highlights of the match.

ALTY OLD BOYS & LOANEES

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

League leader Barnet "have rejected a six-figure bid for athletic winger Idris Kanu as per Pete O’Rourke" and the Real EFL.

. "Barnet’s number 11 recently made his 50th appearance for Barnet and he has scored 12 goals in that time despite being used as a hybrid winger/wingback for large portions of last season...

Kanu... broke into West Ham’s Under 21 side at just 15 years of age. He also played for Manchester United’s Under 18 side as a trialist... He wasn’t given a contract which led to him signing with Aldershot Town. He made over 30 appearances and scored 3 goals for the Shots even though he was just 16 when the season started.

This prompted Peterborough United... It was a Barnet man moving to Peterborough in Ephron Mason-Clark which prompted the Bees’ move for Kanu...

Barnet’s financial position will... be reasonably strong given the incomings and outgoings at Peterborough United this summer. Ryan De Havilland departed North London to join Peterborough for an undisclosed fee this summer and... Jack Taylor has departed... this summer and the Bees may be set to benefit from a sell-on clause in his contract".

Altrincham face AFC Fylde on Bank Holiday Monday. From the Lancashire coast. the Blackpool Gazette tells us that on Saturday "Ten-man AFC Fylde lost a second-half lead as they were defeated at Wealdstone...

Thavon Campbell edged the Stones ahead on Saturday before Gold Omotayo and Nick Haughton put the Coasters in front.

However, following Pierce Bird’s red card for a second yellow, Nathan Ferguson levelled late on before Campbell acrobatically scored the winner in stoppage time.

The deciding moment came in the 99th minute when Barker headed a corner back across goal to Campbell, who found Richardson’s bottom left corner with an acrobatic overhead kick...

AFC Fylde: Richardson, Conlan, Obi, Whitmore, Bird, Philliskirk, Whitehead, Walker (Kay 53), Haughton (Ustabasi 66), Charman, Omotayo (Davis 72). Subs not used: Ligendza, Glynn".

At Bromley "Congratulations are in order for both Jude Arthurs and Corey Whitely who have recently surpassed 100 appearances for the club.

Saturday’s trip to Kidderminster saw Arthurs hit his landmark when he came on in the 27th minute to replace Ben Krauhaus.

Jude joined Bromley’s Academy from Gillingham’s Youth set up and... Manager, Neil Smith, gave him his debut on 7 January 2020... Since then he has become an important part of the team, playing in his midfield position, and occasionally filling the right full-back position...

As for Corey, he made his 100th appearance in the final game of last season against Chesterfield...

Corey first signed for Bromley, on loan from Newport County, in January 2020... He then spent the next season on loan at Boreham Wood, before signing permanently for the Ravens at the commencement of the 2021/22 season...

Last season, Corey again had a full campaign appearing in 48 of the 51 League and Cup games... In his whole career, Corey has made over 450 appearances for various other Clubs which include: Enfield Town, Dagenham & Redbridge and Ebbsfleet United".

Following a 5-5 draw in EFL2 last weekend, National League champions Wrexham announce that "After making 12 appearances for Wrexham since returning to the Club on March 23, Ben Foster has announced his retirement from professional football.

Ben spoke with Manager Phil Parkinson after Saturday’s game and informed him of his intention.

Foster said 'The honest truth is that my performances this season haven’t reached the level I demand of myself and I feel that now is the right time to retire.

'At the forefront of my mind when making this decision, was not only what was best for me but also the Club'...

Manager Phil Parkinson said... 'It takes a big person to make the decision he has and one who really understands this Football Club, with the timing of his decision... His contribution... went far beyond that one magnificent penalty save against Notts County to help us gain promotion last season'".

"WE'VE DROPPED SIX POINTS"

He declared that already, in four matches this season, "We've dropped six points, we should be top of the league"

As for Boreham Wood, "we should have put them to bed in first half" he declared and added that he was "really disappointed we haven't taken maximum points" on Saturday.

ALTY OLD BOYS

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

An ambulance was called to the scene and the 32-yearold was taken to hospital...

The Daggers said 'Following the final whistle today, Inih Effiong was treated on the pitch... He is currently in hospital for observation and is in a stable condition'...

Maidenhead assistant manager Ryan Peters said... 'We’re hoping that he makes a full recovery. It puts things into perspective when you see things like that. My mind went straight to his family and I hope he makes a full recovery'...

The teams were separated in this hard-fought encounter by Reece Smith’s 57th minute effort – afine curling shot past Elliot Justham...

It sealed a deserved win for the Magpies, although they did have to withstand a late barrage of pressure and a series of corners from the visitors... [as] Ben Strevens’ Dagenham slip to the bottom having picked up just one point from their four matches".

The Derbyshire Times reports that "The Spireites and the Latics are the two favourites to top the division...

[Dave] Unsworth said 'I think it shows that we can compete with the best. Make no mistake about it, Chesterfield are the best team in the league and probably will win the league...

Unsworth’s counter-attack style of football came under-fire from some Oldham fans in the away end but the Latics boss defended his approach as James Norwood scored in the 95th minute to pinch a point...

'I think it is what our players deserved. I thought we were brilliant. I am thrilled for them. A draw is a really fair result but we have had the best opportunities...

'Let me tell you something now, if you open up too soon against Chesterfield, they carve you open and it is a basketball game... If you open up, you get battered. You get absolutely battered and outplayed and I didn’t want that. The game-plan was perfect...

Hundreds of Oldham fans invaded the pitch when Norwood equalised and there were some ugly scenes but, bizarrely, Unsworth said he didn’t see what happened."

"TWO POINTS DROPPED" SAYS SORVEL

"We weren't at our fluent best and we've let them back into it too easily.

"But we've been more than matching sides so far this season and we're still unbeaten, having played two of last season's play-off sides. So, I'm happy with our start, we just need to be more clinical in front of goal".

The Wood's manager Luke Garrard opined, "That's a massive point, given the i nuries we've got. I praised the boys at half-time but I did tell them we can't keep having first-half performances like that.

"They [Altrincham] should've been two or three up at half-time. We've scored all our goals [this season] in the second half so far. It's not right; we want to be leading games early on.

"But we got the goal after the break and tried to push on but we looked tired. The new normal [of added time] is taking its toll on us".

ALTRINCHAM 1-1 BOREHAM WOOD

Altrincham had the better of the first half against an uncharacteristically error-prone Boreham Wood. They took the lead in the 32nd minute through one of those errors by the visitors as a promising link up between Amaluzor and Conn-Clarke seemed to have faltered with the latter's poor touch.

Above: Regan Linney wheels away after scoring Alty's goal.

But the Wood gifted possession back to Linney who drove a fine, low shot past Ashmore.

There was a further double-blow for the Wood in first-half added time as they substituted the injured Owens, himself a post-warm-up replacement, just as Mo Sagaf looked to suffer a bad injury, the player having to be helped off the field, supported under both shoulders.

But the second half saw Altrincham barely threaten the Wood goal and the visitors deservedly levelled after 61 minutes. An impressive run up the left to the byline by Ilesanmi resulted in his laying on a virtual tap-in for Ndlovu.

After that it was the Wood who created the greater pressure but the afternoon ended level

Match report here.

Above: Regan Linney is congratulated on his goal.

THE WOOD'S VIEW

Boreham Wood started the game very well... On sixteen minutes a thirty-yard piledrive from Chris Bush was well saved by Ethan Ross in the Robins goal. The hosts then dominated for the rest of the [half] and has soon had three opportunities to score..

Right: Regan Linney is policed by Boreham Wood's Jamal Fyfield.

On thirty-one minutes, Altrincham took the lead when an uncharacteristic error from David Agbontohoma let in Linney, who finished well past Ashmore in the Wood goal. Six minutes later the hosts should have added a second when... Chris Conn-Clarke who was one on one with Ashmore, but Jamal Fyfield somehow got back to make a tackle...

Boreham Wood were better after the break and played on the front foot more... Just after the hour mark, Wood equalised through Ndlovu who owed his goal to the work of Femi Ilesamni. Ilesamni went on an excellent run from his own half when he went past James Jones as if he wasn’t there before delivering an inch perfect cross and all Ndlovu had to do was guild it in.

It looked at this point like Boreham Wood would go on to get the winner, but Altrincham were organised and resolute in defence...

After a poor first half, it was a good point for Luke Garrard’s men".

ALTY OLD BOYS

On Friday, in Australia :, CONNOR HAMPSON's Oakleigh Cannons ended their season with a 5-0 home thrashing of Moreland City, who would have been relegated had either of the two sides below them won

Championship : JOSH GINNELLY was an 85th minute substitute for Swansea City in their 1-1 home draw with Coventry City.

League One : JUNIOR QUITIRNA, a 61st minute substitute, was booked in added time as Fleetwood Town fell to the only goal of the game at Derby County.

ALISTAIR SMITH was an 80th minute substitute for Lincoln City in their 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town.

League Two : ELLIOTT NEWBY was a 76th minute substitute for Barrow on his return to Edgeley Park, but could not prevent his side losing 1-0 to Stockport County.

CONNOR JENNINGS gave Tranmere Rovers a 6th minute lead at Prenton Park, but visitors Salford City eventually triumphed 3-4.

National League : ASHLEY HEMMINGS (right) was a 62nd minute substitute for Kidderminster Harriers in a 0-0 draw at home to Bromley - both sides finished with ten men.

TYRESE SINCLAIR was substituted after 68 minutes of Rochdale's 2-0 home win over Eastleigh.

It was 2-2 at Southend United when the hosts brought on DAN MOONEY, but visitors Hartlepool United went on to win 2-3.

National League North :

At Alfreton Town there are now four ex-Alty men, even after CONOR BRANSON moved to Farsley Celtic. Three of the four, LEWIS SALMON, KENNEDY DIGIE and HARRY PERRITT were all in the Reds' squad on Saturday, whilst YUSIFU CEESAY was not.

NPL : ROSS BARROWS scored to put Ilkeston Town 2-0 up against visitors Workington. Although AIDY ROXBURGH reduced the arrears before the interval, Ilkeston went on to a comfortable 6-1 victory.

JAMES HARDY scored the final Macclesfield goal in a 3-0 home win over Gainsborough Trinity.

JOHN JOHNSTON (left) gave Matlock Town a 9th minute lead at Morpeth Town, and they went on to build a 1-3 lead just after the hour. Morpeth reduced the arrears in the 88th minute and forced a 3-3 draw in the 98th minute.

A JOSH HANCOCK penalty on the hour sealed Radcliffe's 2-0 win over Hyde United.

Southern League Central Division : MONTEL GIBSON then scored twice as AFC Telford thrashed visitors Nuneaton 7-0.

BRENDON DANIELS scored both goals in Stourbridge Town's 2-0 home victory over Barwell"

19 August 2023

SATURDAY FIXTURES

• Aldershot Town 1-1 York City
• Altrincham 1-1 Boreham Wood
• Barnet 2-0 Woking
• Chesterfield 1-1 Oldham Athletic k.o. 12:30
• FC Halifax Town 1-1 Oxford City
• Gateshead 4-1 Ebbsfleet United
• Kidderminster Harriers 0-0 Bromley
• Maidenhead United 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Rochdale 2-0 Eastleigh
• Solihull Moors 3-0 Dorking Wanderers
• Southend United 2-3 Hartlepool United
• Wealdstone 3-2 AFC Fylde

NEXT: BOREHAM WOOD

Despite a couple of flirtations with the wrong end of the National League, he has steered the unfashionable club to four top-nine finished in the last six seasons.

Although they had a relatively poor latter-half of the season, they finished sixth last season with a team that was parsimonious in defence, conceding the fewest goals in the division, 40 in 46 games. Alty conceded twice as many goals (82).

However, they were also short on goals at the other end of the pitch, netting just 52 times, whereas Altrincham netted 68 goals.

The Wood won 2-0 at Moss Lane but Alty took a point from Boreham Wood in the reverse fixture.

On the eve of today's match, Boreham Wood announced that "the contract extension of Chris Bush on a new deal that will see the defender remain at Meadow Park until the end of the 2024/25 season, with an option to extend his stay for a further season.

The 31 year-old defender joined the Wood in late December of last year and had an instant impact on the backline. Since his arrival, Bush has made 29 appearances for the Wood...

The powerful defender has also added a threat to our attacking unit with his long throw...

Manager Luke Garrard commented, 'It shows where we are as a club. I think it’s fair to say he’s been one of our most consistent performers since he joined us'".

ALTY THROUGH THE YEARS

Right: In Alty's match at Matlock, six years ago today, Tom Hannigan heads clear, as Lewis Short looks on.

The Through the Years records underline how far the club has come in recent years, with three of the last four Alty games on the 19 August date being lower down the pyramid in the Northern Premier League, against Gateshead (2000), Marine (2003) and Matlock Town (2017).

Indeed the most recent match on 19 August, which was away at Matlock in 2017, was not only a defeat for part-time Alty but was witnessed by just 457 spectators and the result left Altrincham in 23rd place of tier three of the non-League pyramid.

In contrast, this Saturday, six years later, is likely to witness around 2,000 spectators at Moss Lane to watch an unbeaten full-time team, lying eighth in the top tier of non-League.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 25 year-old is a product of The Well Academy system, having progressed through the ranks at Fir Park to make 60 Scottish Premiership appearances and the better of 100 for the club overall.

Maguire comes to Aggborough in search of more first team action...

Explained boss Russ Penn ... 'He will fit in perfectly with what we’re doing... We’ve been chasing him for a good ten days now... It’s coincided with Shane [Byrne] getting injured, so we’ve had to snowball it a little bit. We’ve fought off a lot of competition for Barry '".

18 August 2023

NEXT: BOREHAM WOOD

Boreham Wood report that "A goal in each half from Solihull Moors players Mark Beck and Jamey Osbourne was enough to ensure Boreham Wood’s first defeat of the season, despite a spirited comeback after a David Agbontohoma goal in the first of eleven minutes stoppage time.

Luke Garrard made one change to his starting line-up following Saturday’s 2-0 win against Halifax Town with Lee Ndlovu coming in for Tyrone Marsh up front...

The visitors were dominating proceedings and playing some nice football. They got their reward on thirty-nine minutes when Mark Beck headed in from a Kade Craig corner to give the visitors a deserved lead...

Boreham Wood came out for the second half in a more positive frame of mind; the[y] really took the game to Solihull in the first few minutes. They forced a succession of corners...

On fifty-three minutes, just when it looked like Boreham Wood would score, the visitors went up the other end and added a second. What a goal it was. From twenty-five yards out, Jamey Osbourne’s powerful drive gave Ashmore no chance at all...

The flow of the game was interrupted by a head injury to Solihull’s Matty Warburton, causing a break in play for several minutes. When play resumed, the visitors still had the upper hand...

Just when the fourth official indicated, there would be eleven minutes of stoppage time, David Agbontohoma pulled one back for Boreham Wood, with a header from a Chris Bush throw in... Boreham Wood then laid siege to the Solihull goal and forced a succession of corners... before referee Greg Rollason called a half to proceedings.

It was a well-deserved victory for the side from the West Midlands and Boreham Wood weren’t quite at the races."

Boreham Wood lined up as follows:

• 1 Nathan Ashmore, 3 Femi Ilesanmi, 5 Chris Bush, 7 Tom Whelan (Marsh 67′), 8 Mo Sagaf, 9 Lee Ndlovu, 12 Jamal Fyfield (Coxe 83′), 15 David Agbontohoma, 16 Charlie Owens (O’Neil 77′), 19 Erico Sousa, 21 Kwesi Appiah, 27 Kade Craig. Substitutes: 2 Cameron Coxe, 6 David Stephens, 10 Tyrone Marsh, 13 Koju Abayomi (GK), 17 Liam O’Neil.

Eight of the above players were in the squad at Alty last January for the corresponding fixture, they were Nathan Ashmore, David Agbontohoma, Femi Ilesanmi, Chris Bush, Erico Sousa, Lee Ndlovu, Tyrone Marsh and Jamal Fyfield For Alty, James Jones, Lewis Baines, Eddy Jones, Isaac Marriott, Chris Conn-Clarke and Elliot Osborne were the six who were in the January squad and also played last Tuesday at York.

This week, for Altrincham, aside from the four Academy graduates, the only members of the first-team squad yet to start a game or be used as substitute are Ollie Byrne (on loan at Cork City), Liam Brockbank, Jake Cooper, Matt Gould and new signing George Burroughs.

On the injury front, Jason Donawa was said by Phil Parkinson to be sidelined for two weeks.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

To fund its ambitions the club started a fundraising campaign on Seedrs, hoping to raise £180,000 for the business. As of today the club has raised £260,308, with a total of 452 investors.

This overperformance puts the club in strong steadings [sic] to achieve its ambition of transitioning to the level required to consistently compete for promotion.

The club wants to invest in a number of revenue-generating commercial infrastructure projects including the development of academy and community playing facilities, plus food and beverage services and hospitality upgrades that will generate commercial revenue opportunities and improve matchday and community experiences...

The club needs at least £2 million for commercial infrastructure projects, with the aim to give the club new ways to make a more significant income, to support growth on and off the pitch...

Club Manager, Owner & Chairman, Marc White, said 'We have gone from paying a fiver on a local park to having 1,000 active members. We never really had a plan and we just pieced things together as we went along, but perhaps 12 to 14 years in we started to have these little pipe dreams...

'It was, over time, an ever-expanding hobby, but it became properly serious when we reached the National League.'"

York Press advises that "Alex Woodyard and Michael Duckworth are set to face long-term absences from the York City squad, whilst Adam Crookes is potentially back available for the Minstermen’s match away to Aldershot Town on Saturday...

After sustaining a calf injury in the pre-match warm-up against Altrincham on Tuesday night, Michael Morton has confirmed that Woodyard is potentially facing up to two months on the treatment table, whilst Duckworth remains absent after picking up a knock in the opening day defeat to Wealdstone.

Crookes however has recovered from a dead leg and participated in training today, whilst Kevin Joshua also returned after suffering from illness.

Morton also confirmed that the club were in conversation for a number of players to depart the club on loan, with some to come in, and that the off-the-field issues as revealed on Tuesday had been settled...

Morton explained... 'It’s done, everyone was back on the training pitch today'".

Southend United foresee that next opponents "Hartlepool United will pose a tough challenge on Saturday... with six points from their first three games ahead of this weekend’s clash at Roots Hall. On John Askey’s men, Maher said... 'The manager knows the league well too so I don’t see them having the problems a lot of [relegated] teams have had... They’re a good footballing side...

'We’re proud of our start on the whole,' said Maher...

Harry Cardwell [is] top of the charts on three [goals] from three... 'Cards has got his goals and started well. He’s a big player for us and the work he does for the team he’s really important'".

POST-YORK

NEXT: BOREHAM WOOD

The corresponding fixture last season was on 28 January 2023 when the visitors, despite arriving with just one league win in their last dozen outings, went home with a 0-2 win.

In mitigation, Alty had suffered the recent loss of three forwards (Newby, Colclough and Jennings) and with the arrival of three loanees (Gyasi, Oyedele and Welch-Hayes), Altrincham went into the game in a state of transition.

Above: Alty line up before the January game against Boreham Wood.

Toby Mullarkey, with rumours of interest from Grimsby Town in the air, was again absent. Later it was Rochdale who bought Mullarkey only for him to move on to Grimsby after the Dale were relegated.

Both goals in this match stemmed from Boreham aerial balls. Alty fell behind in the 26th minute when a Bush long throw was sliced out by an Alty defender. The resulting corner was met by a clean and unchallenged header by Evans as goalkeeper Byrne failed to get anywhere near the ball.

Three minutes later it could have been 0-2 from another corner as the ball was met by another header from Evans but it came back off the cross-bar.

Within three minutes of the second half it really was 0-2 and what a poor goal it was to concede! Bush's long throw from left was misheaded by Lundstram back to the corner-taker. Bush looped a cross towards the back post where Ilesanmi bundled it into the net.

ALTY CEO INTERVIEWED

There is "A lot to do", he said before outlining his impressions of the club and plans for the future.

WEDNESDAY GAME

• Boreham Wood 1-2 Solihull Moors

Altrincham dropped to eighth after Solihull Moors' win took them above the Robins on Wednesday night.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Hartlepool Mail reports that "York City boss Michael Morton has commented on the absence of Dan Pybus from his squad with the midfielder linked with a move to Hartlepool United.

Pybus had been included in the Minstermen’s squad ahead of their National League fixture with Altrincham on Tuesday, with Morton naming the 25-year-old on the bench after starting both of York’s first two games of the season.

But just minutes prior to kick-off against Altrincham, the club confirmed two changes to the squad as Paddy McLaughlin replaced Alex Woodyard in the starting line-up with Mitch Hancox replacing Pybus on the bench – Pybus subsequently not involved at all.

It comes after speculation Pybus is the subject of interest from Hartlepool... Pybus is a player who Askey knows well after the Hartlepool boss brought him to York last summer from Dunfermline Athletic.

The 25-year-old became a key player for the Minstermen last season".

The Oxford Mail tells us that on Tuesday night "Oxford City conceded late on as they were beaten 2-1 at home to Vanarama National League promotion favourites Chesterfield.

The visitors scored at the closing stage of each half, with a Tom Naylor header giving them the lead before half-time, and former Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg bagging the winner with two minutes to go in the second period.

Sandwiched in between, Josh Parker grabbed his third goal of the season with a volley inside the six-yard box.

Hoops head coach Ross Jenkins said: “That one probably hurt more than Rochdale. We’re disappointed to concede that type of goal, but I thought we were different class. I thought we had done enough.. We’ve set our standards now. To concede the late goal, a bit against the run of play, was a sucker punch after scoring a really nice goal.'”

At Southend United "Ruing the amount of chances Blues missed in the first half, Head Coach Kevin Maher said he was 'bitterly disappointed' after [a] 2-1 defeat away to Dorking Wanderers.

Harry Cardwell’s third goal in three games gave us the perfect start... but an equaliser resulting from an error changed things and Blues never fully recovered.

Maher said 'We were in good control of it after getting the early goal and we had plenty of chances... and we’re disappointed to lose it from a set piece'.

One positive from the evening was Oli Coker’s first Blues start after he scored in the first two games of the season. On the couple of changes he made with Coker and also Dan Mooney coming in, Maher said... 'We thought a couple of fresh ones would help us today, and it did in the first half... What we can’t do [because of the signing embargo] is freshen up at the right times, but hopefully that will change'".

Southend United's "Gus Scott-Morriss said 'I think we let ourselves down today. In the first 30 minutes I thought we were excellent... We’ve won two and lost one so it’s not the worst start'".

YORK CITY 2-2 ALTRINCHAM

A disappointing first-half showing by an Alty side shorn of its wingers had them losing 2-1 at the interval against a lively York City. The Minstermen dominated the opening stages and deservedly took the lead after nine minutes. The goal came from a corner, conceded by a great save by Ross from an Akinyemi shot. The corner from the left was nodded back to Harriott to slot home.

Alty improved midway through the half and they deservedly levelled with a well-taken goal by Conn-Clarke from a Banks feed (37 mins).

Left: Matty Kosylo's goal extended Altrincham's unbeaten run this season at York.

But within ninety seconds Altrincham conceded a second goal as Roscoe erred on the left and Akimyemi fed Harriott who netted. Harriott had been the Colchester man who put Alty out of the FA Cup in 2015.

When Phil Parkinson finally brought on Kosylo and Amaluzor, the two combined within a minute of arriving on the pitch. Kosylo netted from close range, after Amaluzor's shot had been pushed out to him by the keeper, to make it 2-2 (66 mins).

Both sides went looking for a winner but, despite eight added minutes, it ended 2-2.

Before kick-off York had made a post-warm-up change as Woodyard dropped out, McLaughlin started and Hancox was added to the bench

Match report here

STRANGE GOINGS-ON AT YORK CITY

After the team was leaked on an online forum yesterday and speculation grew that Uggla had selected the team for tonight’s match [v. Altrincham], Morton was quick to shut down the rumour, but did hint that a certain York player had let the manager down tonight.

It’s thought to be midfielder Dan Pybus, who was originally in the squad before being removed, with Pybus said to be of interest to John Askey’s Hartlepool United.

Despite the selection confusion, City did go on to clinch a 2-2 draw with Altrincham after goals from Dipo Akinyemi and Callum Harriott secured a first point of the season for the Minstermen.

'I’m disappointed we didn’t go on and win it, but I’ve just said to the lads there that I thought we put an absolute shift in', Morton told BBC Radio York. 'There’s a lot of stuff we went on just before the game, some players have let us down, which really annoyed me.

'We had to shuffle the pack a little bit and then them [sic] players are critical for what we need to do when players can’t get 90 minutes. There was [sic] players out there that shouldn’t have played 90 minutes, you could see at the end that we were absolutely flagging.

'We’ve got six players on there that weren’t fit enough, we’ve had to rotate to get the personnel and we’ve had to get Lenny into midfield and Mitch into left-back.

'There was lot to deal with tonight, and they gave absolutely everything. I am just disappointed that we switched off, little bits of information talking about the [Alty] players coming on, we know one’s a lefty [Amaluzor] and we’ve passed the information on. He’s rolled on in the inside and then they’ve tapped in at the back. I’ve said to them that they’ve had a great game there, but they just need to switch on...

'But the main thing for me was that we were exciting tonight. I stay out of all of that (on Pybus’ rumoured interest from Hartlepool United). We give people an opportunity and they don’t want to take the opportunity, it’s up to them'...

Morton also confirmed that Alex Woodyard had suffered a calf injury in the pre-match warm-ups, before confirming that there had been no interference from Uggla".

NEXT OPPONENTS: BOREHAM WOOD

The Wood are in action tonight, Wednesday, when they entertain Solihull Moors. A win or a draw for them would take them above Alty who are currently lying seventh, two places above the Home Counties' team.

ALTY OLD BOYS

National League : There was no score when Kidderminster Harriers withdrew ASHLEY HEMMINGS (left) after 76 minutes at AFC Fylde, but the hosts went on to win 2-1.

By the time he was substituted in added time, MARCUS DINANGA had scored twice at Dagenham, as Gateshead won 2-4.

DAN MOONEY was substituted for Southend United after 72 minutes at Dorking with the scores level, but the hosts went on to win 2-1.

RYAN COLCLOUGH was booked in the opening minute of Chesterfield's game at Oxford City, JAMES BERRY was substituted after 56 minutes, and JEFF KING came off the bench in the 71st minute. Chesterfield won 1-2.

TYRESE SINCLAIR opened the scoring for Rochdale at Woking, but to no avail as the hosts won 3-2.

League One : Trailing 3-0 at Bolton, Fleetwood brought on JUNIOR QUITIRNA after 80 minutes, and he was credited with the assist for their consolation goal in added time.

CARL PIERGIANNI was also credited with an assist, this one for Stevenage's opening goal in their 1-2 win at Cambridge United.

Within two minutes of ALISTAIR SMITH coming off the bench for them, Lincoln City went 0-2 up at Northampton Town but the hosts fought back to draw 2-2.

League Two : TOBY MULLARKEY (right) was substituted in the 86th minute as Grimsby Town won 2-0 at home to Salford City, who played must of the second half with ten men.

CONNOR JENNINGS was credited with the assist for the opening goal as Tranmere Rovers convincingly beat Harrogate Town 3-0 at Prenton Park.

National North : LEWIS SALMON scored the winner in Alfreton Town's 2-1 home win over Peterborough Sports.

Northern Premier League : TOM PEERS opened the scoring for Macclesfield as they won 3-0 at home to Matlock Town, as did JORDAN HULME in Radcliffe's 4-2 home win over Lancaster City, who were reduced to ten men after 28 minutes.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Kay, a former youngster with the Coasters, rejoined the club last week having departed Barrow AFC after five years.

Fylde’s head coach told The Gazette 'He’d trained with us for a little bit.... He stood out straight away. There was never any question about his quality and the attributes he brings. He had a few offers from the EFL and we knew we would have to do something special in terms of getting him to play his football for us; for him to choose us was really pleasing...

'He’s got pace and power, he’s got goals and assists in him and he can play in a number of positions'...

Fylde have opted for evolution rather than revolution in terms of their squad. Six new faces have come in, though Murray hasn’t ruled out further business...

'We’d probably like one more in the building,' he confirmed."

According to the NL Paper "Dorking Wanderers are one of the more well-known National League teams, and that’s not only for some of their entertaining results on the pitch. They’ve got a reputable YouTube series...

The club finished 16th in the National League for the 2022/23 season...

Dorking certainly surprised a few on matchday one, as they pushed title favourites Chesterfield all the way away from home. They were even ahead before the hour mark of that game...

There is a strong core group of players that White can build around for this year’s campaign, with the likes of Aaron Kuhl, Seb Bowerman, James Prior, George Francomb, and Josh Taylor being some of those. There’s the ideal mix of youth and experience in their starting XI... There’s no reason as to why they can’t make a push for a top-seven finish in the National League...

If they can continue to recruit smartly, then they could turn out to be the surprise package in the National League this season".

MIDWEEK FIXTURES

• AFC Fylde 2-1 Kidderminster Harriers
• Bromley 1-1 Wealdstone
• Dagenham & Redbridge 2-4 Gateshead
• Dorking Wanderers 2-1 Southend United
• Eastleigh 3-3 Barnet
• Ebbsfleet United 2-0 Aldershot Town
• Hartlepool United 3-1 Maidenhead United
• Oldham Athletic 1-2 FC Halifax Town
• Oxford City 1-2 Chesterfield
• Woking 3-2 Rochdale
• York City 2-2 Altrincham

Wednesday, 16 August 2023

• Boreham Wood v Solihull Moors

NEXT GAME: YORK CITY

Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson told the Altrincham FC website that "It’ll be another gargantuan task for us because York have really had a go this season and they are a massive club. They have a great support and I’m sure it will be a real tough game for us. We (always) set up to make sure we are on the front foot trying to win the game and not just trying to stay in the game."

Although Altrincham have had the better of the Minstermen in recent years, beating them in both the promotion play offs as well as the FA Trophy and the FA Cup in 2019-20 season and doing the double over them last season in the National League, before that the Yorkshiremen had a much better record in National League-level clashes between the sides, in which Alty had won just one of the first dozen encounters.

Meanwhile, York Press reports that "Michael Morton has confirmed that Lenell John-Lewis is back available for selection ahead of York City’s clash with Altrincham on Tuesday night...

John-Lewis was unavailable for York’s 1-0 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday, whilst [Mitch] Hancox is yet to make his first appearance of the season despite being fit....

Morton confirmed, 'Lenny is back... the only one who is still struggling slightly is Ducky [Michael Duckworth]...

'With Mitch everybody knows what Mitch offers. We could put him in at left-back, but it’s not a position he wants to play... If you’re looking at the ten roles, we have discussions all the time and the two teams we have played have played a high line, so you’re looking for technicians to try and get through.

'Mitch will be the first to say it, his main attributes are getting in beyond the number nine, getting in and around the box and he’s really aggressive out-of-possession. But I wouldn’t say his main attributes are trying to play around a team and to break a team down, that doesn’t mean that Mitch isn’t going to play'...

'There are a few that we want to get out on loan and get some minutes'", he added.

YORK MATCH STREAMING ISSUE RESOLVED

However this has now been resolved and Alty's game can now be viewed on the streaming service via the adjacent icon link.

BEST TOP-FLIGHT START FOR EIGHT SEASONS

A draw or a win at York tonight would be the first time they have put together a run of three games unbeaten from the start of a season in that same four-season period.

For comparison the record since 2020 is as follows, with the first fixture on the left...

• 2020-21: D L D - 2 points
• 2021-22: W L L - 3 points (the third match was actually a win over Dover but that was expunged from the records)
• 2022-23: D D L - 2 points
• 2023-24: D W ? - 4 points

Since 2009-10 this is the club's eighth season at National League level. You have to go back to that eighth season, in 2009-10, to find a better start for The Robins in the top-flight of non-League, when there was an initial draw and then three successive wins.

ALTY OLD BOYS

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Shaymen lost 2-0 at Boreham Wood on Saturday, failing to build on their opening day win against Bromley.

It's been the opposite for Oldham... with The Latics recovering from their 4-0 thrashing at Southend on the opening day to dish out a 5-1 hammering of Aldershot on Saturday.

'Good team, a lot of good individuals, they'll expect to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season,' said Town boss Chris Millington, a former coach at Oldham. 'But I think we're a very good team and I think we're going to beat a lot of the so-called big hitters this season... What you'll get at Oldham is much more space, and that's what we operate in,' he said....

'They'll be right up there,' Millington said... 'Come the end of August we'll have a clear idea of where our strengths and weaknesses are and what we need to do to be successful this season'".

According to the Hartlepool Mail, "Gateshead defender Robbie Tinkler believes Hartlepool United benefited [on Saturday] from going down to 10 men as John Askey’s side snatched a 2-1 victory at the Suit Direct Stadium...

Gateshead defender Tinkler, who was involved in two key incidents against Hartlepool... was the man on the receiving end of Josh Umerah’s challenge which saw the striker shown a straight red card early in the second half before the 27-year-old levelled the scores with his first goal of the season...

'I think when you take away the goals, I know they’re the important bit, but the performance and everything that we’re trying to do, we’re doing,' said Tinkler. 'We’ve dominated the game for 90 minutes... I think if we do that in the 44 games we’ve got left, we’ll win a lot more than we’ll lose'".

14 August 2023

MANAGERS' VIEWS AFTER WOKING GAME

"We tried to do it last week [against Dagenham], it didn't work. We've done it this week.

"On our first-half showing I thought we were good value in terms of the way we played. We were a little sloppy at times but I think you saw what we're trying to achieve. Meanwhile Woking boss Darren Sarll stated, "the first-half goals were so poorly defended...

"Altrincham defended very well in the second half".

Altrincham FC has video match highlights.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Having left Altrincham and joined Scunthorpe United, ROSS BARROWS has now moved on to Ilkeston Town.

Also, Phil Jordan tells us that "In the last 16 of the Australia Cup, Oakleigh Cannons faced a tough task against A-League champions Melbourne City, but CONNOR HAMPSON shocked the visitors by scoring in the opening minute. Oakleigh still led at the break, and after City equalised within four minutes of the restart they regained the lead just before the hour. There was to be no happy ending however, as City equalised from the penalty spot after 80 minutes, and finally clinched victory in the 94th minute".

NEXT: "NEW" YORK CITY

Left: Eddy Jones was one of six Altrincham players who started the corresponding fixture last season.

Last season's fixture saw York field: 18. Ryan Whitley, 2. Ryan Fallowfield, 3. Adam Crookes, 4. Maxim Kouogun, 8. Olly Dyson, 11. Maziar Kouhyar, 16. Mitch Hancox, 19. Dan Pybus, 23. Luke James, 27. Manny Duku, 28. Michael Duckworth (capt). Subs: 7. Alex Hurst, 9. Shaq Forde, 25. Maison Campbell, 6. Paddy McLaughlin, 24. Mark Ellis

Last Saturday, in their 0-1 home defeat by Kidderminster Harriers, the Minstermen's line-up comprised:

13. David Stockdale, 3. Adam Crookes, 5. Tyler Cordner, 6. Paddy McLaughlin (c), 9. Dipo Akinyemi, 10. Quevin Castro, 11. Maz Kouhyar, 19. Dan Pybus, 22. Levi Andoh, 23. Zanda Sizibah, 30. Alex Woodyard.

Subs: 7. Alex Hurst, 8. Olly Dyson, 12. Callum Harriott, 25. Maison Campbell, 36. Thierry Latty-Fairweather

So, York's Dan Pybus, Adam Crookes and Maz Kuohyar are the only three starters from the the Minstermen's squad to have still been starting for the club last Saturday, though current captain Paddy McLaughlin was on the bench in 2020.

As for Alty, there has been a bit more continuity as they had twice as many starters who featured at York in 2023 who also started last Saturday at Woking. They were Eddy and James Jones, Lewis Baines, Elliot Osborne, Isaac Marriott, and Regan Linney.

WOKING 2-3 ALTRINCHAM

Match report here.

After the match, press and media officer Brian Flynn interviewed manager Phil Parkinson on Alty TV

WOKING'S VIEW

Alty’s lead only lasted until the 16th minute, when a free kick from Boateng wasn’t cleared, and the ball fell to Scott Cuthbert. He fired home from inside the box...

A superb cross from Akinola was met by a brilliant header from Reece Grego-Cox, as the ball nestled into the far corner past the despairing dive of Ethan Ross {2=1]...

Kosylo finished high into the net after a cutback from Eddy Jones to level the game once again...

Straight after the break, Woking switched off again, when the visitors simply sliced through the Cards’ backline, and Linney finished off the move with a composed strike into the bottom corner...

Woking came within a whisker away from snatching a point when a free kick from Amond was brilliantly saved from Ross, but it wasn’t to be. Altrincham [were] deserved winners".

GEORGE BURROUGHS INTERVIEWED

ALTY OLD BOYS

Championship: After DUNCAN WATMORE was withdrawn in the 63rd minute, Millwall lost at home to the only goal of the game scored by Bristol City in the 94th minute.

JOSH GINNELLY was an 89th minute substitute for Swansea City at West Bromwich, where they lost 3-2.

League One: The 66th minute introduction of OWEN DALE was insufficient to affect Blackpool's goalless draw at Exeter City.

By the time Fleetwood introduced JUNIOR QUITIRNA in the 79th minute, the scoring had been completed. Visitors Cambridge United ran out 0-2 winners.

Lincoln City opened the scoring in the 68th minute at home to Wycombe Wanderers, and three minutes later sent on ALISTAIR SMITH before going on to win 3-0.

League Two: The introduction of CONNOR JENNINGS at the start of the second half couldn't affect the result as Tranmere Rovers lost 0-1 at MK Dons.

Grimsby Town were leading at half time at Meadow Lane, but an own goal by LUKE WATERFALL (who was partnered in defence by TOBY MULLARKEY) set hosts Notts County on the way to a 3-2 win.

National League: RYAN COLCLOUGH put Chesterfield 0-4 ahead in the 49th minute at AFC Fylde, but after he was substituted 20 minutes later the hosts reduced the arrears to lose 2-4.

Southend United introduced DAN MOONEY after 78 minutes at Dagenham & Redbridge as they went on to win 0-2.

Having trailed since the ninth minute at Hartlepool United, Gateshead equalised in the 66th minute, and promptly substituted MARCUS DINANGA. By that time the hosts had already played 12 minutes with 10 men, but it proved no barrier to them scoring in the 90th minute to win 2-1.

TYRESE SINCLAIR was substituted in the 88th minute at Oxford City as Rochdale won with the only goal of the game.

Kidderminster Harriers withdrew ASHLEY HEMMINGS after 73 minutes at York City, but ten minutes later scored the only goal of the game.

National North: LEWIS SALMON (right) scored the first two goals in Alfreton Town's 3-1 home win over Southport.

ZAK GOODSON opened the scoring for Chester at home to Kings Lynn, and KOLE HALL added a second in a 3-0 victory.

TONY THOMPSON, ANDY WHITE, TOM HANNIGAN, AARON BENNETT and SEAN WILLIAMS (who was booked) all started for Warrington Town at home to Blyth Spartans. Both sides had a man sent off, and the visitors won 0-2.

NPL: Warrington Rylands were totally undone by four first half Radcliffe goals, all scored by former Robins! After JUDE OYIBO had scored twice, JOSH HANCOCK and JORDAN HULME put the icing on a 0-4 victory.

Scottish Premiership: Despite nine substitutes being allowed on the bench, MILES WELCH-HAYES was left out in the cold by Livingston at Ibrox. At least he couldn't be blamed for Rangers triumphing 4-0.

NEXT OPPONENTS: YORK CITY

Altrincham are on the road again on Tuesday as they cross the Pennines to face York City,

Despite an ambitious summer of acqusitions, York City find themselves without a point after their first two fixtures of the campaign.

York Press reports that "Michael Morton admitted that his York City side were 'not good enough' in their 2-1 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers.

A late header from former York striker Amari Morgan-Smith handed Kidderminster the three points, seeing City begin the Vanarama National League season with back-to-back defeats.

Morton admitted... 'It was not good enough. We were absolutely miles off of it, and that’s down to us as staff...

'We had a game plan that we wanted to go and execute, we just started sloppy and it was slow, we didn’t look good in the transition and we lost so many duels... I felt we missed a lot of our experienced players today...

'There’s a lot to do for Tuesday'" [against Altrincham].

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Barnet would take the lead through a free kick that bounced into the box and found the feet of Danny Collinge who slotted it past Grant Smith. The Bromley ‘keeper would provide a fantastic save not long after from Nicke Kabamba’s shot, preventing the visitors from doubling their lead...

Barnet would later score another through Nicki Kabamba who slotted the ball across the goal to double the visitors’ lead. ...

Barnet should have scored a third as a defensive mix-up gifted them an opportunity to score into an empty net before the shot flew wide of the post".

WOKING 2-3 ALTRINCHAM

WOKING (Red & white halved shirts, black shorts, white socks): 22 Will Jääskeläinen, 2 Dan Moss, 4 Scott Cuthbert, 5 Greg Taylor, 9 Reece Grego-Cox, 12 Matt Robinson, 14 Rhys Browne, 15 Nana Boateng, 16 Tunji Akinola, 17 Jim Kellermann, 24 Rohan Ince. Subs: 1. Joe Day, 8 Robbie Willmott, 10 Pádraig Amond, 19 Charlie Wakefield, 28 Sam Habergham.

ALTRINCHAM (All dark blue with yellow sash on shirts): 29. Ethan Ross, 2. Lewis Banks, 3. Eddy Jones, 4. Isaac Marriott, 5. James Jones (c), 6. Lewis Baines, 7. Matty Kosylo, 8. Elliot Osborne, 9. Regan Linney, 10. Chris Conn-Clarke, 11. Justin Amaluzor. Subs: 14. Dior Angus, 15. Jake Cooper, 16. Sam Roscoe, 20. George Wilson, 22. Joey Jones

Altrincham seized an early lead as Kosylo got forward up the left and his cross was converted by Linney with a low shot across the keeper (6 mins).

Right: Regan Linney opened the scoring.

The lead was shortlived. After a foul by James Jones, Boateng's freekick was relayed by Taylor for Cuthbert to drive home to make it 1-1 (16 mins).

With Woking now well on top, it got worse for Altrincham when, following a throw, a cross from the left was impressively flick-headed across goal and into the far corner by Greg-Cox (29 mins) to make it 2-1 to The Cards.

But Altrincham soon equalised when Linney did well on the left to lay on a goal for Kosylo whose sidefooted effort found the upper reaches of the net to make it 2-2 (38 mins).

So the interval score was 2-2.

Alty started the second half well and regained the lead in the 48th minute. Kosylo fed Eddy Jones on the left and he in turn fed Linney, who cut in and smashed the ball into the far corner to make it 2-3.

The visitors hung on until the end to secure a fine win.

SATURDAY FIXTURES

• AFC Fylde 2-4 Chesterfield
• Boreham Wood 2-0 FC Halifax Town
• Bromley 0-2 Barnet
• Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 Southend United
• Dorking Wanderers 0-2 Maidenhead United
• Eastleigh 0-0 Wealdstone
• Ebbsfleet United 1-2 Solihull Moors
• Hartlepool United 2-1 Gateshead
• Oldham Athletic 5-1 Aldershot Town
• Oxford City 0-1 Rochdale
• Woking 2-3 Altrincham
• York City 0-1 Kidderminster Harriers

NEXT: WOKING

Woking add that "Despite being far from their best at Aggborough, a 0-0 draw against a potential banana skin in Kidderminster Harriers represented a decent result for the Cards, and in particular all three substitutes; Nana Boateng, Tunji Akinola and Robbie Willmott, all managed to impress and stake their claim for a starting position against Alty.

Alongside the side-lined Jermaine Anderson, five players were not included in the squad on Saturday, those being Luke Wilkinson, Sam Habergham, Charlie Wakefield, Manny Oyeleke and Dennon Lewis. There is a chance that several could make the matchday squad".

At Altrincham "an exciting summer has seen some promising signings, with Conn-Clarke on a permanent deal from Fleetwood by far the standout... Other additions include former Woking stalwart Joey Jones, exciting forward Justin Donawa, former title winner Dior Angus and pacey winger Justin Amaluzor, who was signed from Aldershot Town.

Last Time Out Alty turned on the style to defeat Woking 3-1 at Moss Lane... The last time these sides met at the Laithwaite was in November 2022, with a last gasp Padraig Amond free kick cancelling out Elliot Newby’s goal just after half time in a 1-1 draw".

Pictured right, in last season's game at Alty against The Shots, Eddy Jones congratulates Regan Linney on his penalty conversion.

ETHAN ROSS INTERVIEW

One of the things that emerges is that Ethan used to share accommodation with Altrincham goalkeeper Matt Gould whilst playing for WBA. Ethan also explains that, in his youth, he tried his hand as an outfield player.

He is also a good friend of Regan Linney and shares his travelling to training with the Alty striker.

Ethan alluded to having played against Alty on several occasions and, as mentioned here previously, he has represented at least five different clubs against The Robins...

• 2016/17 season playing for Worcester City, whilst on loan from WBA
• 2020/21 for Aldershot Town (2020/21 season)
• 2020/21 for Weymouth on loan from Lincoln City
• 2021/22 for Aldershot Town on loan from Stockport County
• 2023 close season for Stockport County in a pre-season friendly.

ALTY OLD BOYS

"In the clash between Cork City and UCD, the only club below below them in the Irish Premier League table, OLLIE BYRNE conceded an equalising goal to the visitors after 66 minutes. It was UCD's first shot on target, but he redeemed himself with four subsequent saves. Cork really needed the win, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

In the division below, BARRY BAGGLEY was substituted after 77 minutes as second placed Waterford lost the lead twice in their home game against leaders Galway United to draw 2-2."

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

That’s the verdict from the 43-year-old German... He watched the Rochdale game from the stands, serving a touchline ban...

'Everyone just needs to be better because in National League South you can afford to come away with a 70 or 80% performance,' said Kutrieb. 'Even from my point of view, I came away with a 70 or 80%... here’s so many things where we need to be spot-on.

'I can’t let myself down by being sent off so I am in the stands and can’t make an impact on the sidelines, for example. So, there’s many things where I have to get better and obviously it’s the same for the boys.

'They need to be better technically this season than last... Every time you climb up [a level] you have to get better as a team because the questions are getting bigger'.

Kutrieb will be back on the sidelines this weekend... watching from the stands at Rochdale. He added 'You can make some adjustments at half-time..

'We have a nearly full-strength squad so we need to make sure we pick the right players for the right game, we’ll definitely see more players over the next two games and that’s why we have a big squad'".

Following the signing by Chesterfield of ex-Alty man James Berry, the Derbyshire Times quotes coach Danny Webb as saying, 'He is very direct, very hungry. He is so happy to be here. He just wants to get on the pitch.

'I think he can play on either side of the pitch, he is right-footed but can play either side, he can play off the front, he can play up front. He is another player who can get supporters off their seats.

'Supporters are getting another young lad who is hungry to succeed and wants to achieve great things for this football club.

'He will certainly be looking to start but if you look at those positions behind the striker now, we have got about five, six or seven, and they can’t all play at once. But it is competition for places, he will bring that...

'He is used to playing football at Macclesfield... in a league where they are expected by their fans to win every game – we are similar, and rightly so. He will come with a lot of experience beyond his years'".

Alty's midweek game is at the LNER STAdium against York City. From there, the York Press reports that "York City manager Michael Morton has confirmed that Lenell John-Lewis will remain as club captain, although he is a doubt for Saturday’s home opener with Kidderminster Harriers...

[On Saturday] Morton will be without his captain John-Lewis, as well as the suspended Callum Howe, but confirmed that his side are nearing full strength, with Tyler Cordner set to make his competitive club debut.

'Lenny will be club captain', Morton confirmed. 'He’s a great character around the place, he’s a really good calming influence, loads of good experience and it would be silly to change that... With the characters we’ve brought in, five or six players were captains at their previous clubs.

'They haven’t got the armband and once they come out of their shell they can be leaders on the pitch, we’ve got a decision to make for who will step in when Lenny isn’t playing... Lenny has been feeling his groin a little bit, then Ducky [Michael Duckworth] has been feeling his Achilles so we need to have a look at them'".

Oldham Athletic "announce the signing of former Portsmouth and Sheffield United right-back Kieron Freeman.

The 31-year-old defender joins Latics on a six-month deal, having played in all of England’s top four divisions.

Kieron came through Nottingham Forest’s youth team... before joining Derby in 2012. After three years at Derby, he joined Sheffield United...

After leaving Bramall Lane, he spent time with Swansea and Swindon, before joining Portsmouth".

According to the Fans Network "Rochdale look set to make another signing as the massive summer rebuild continues with a much needed winger joining the ranks.

Dale are set to sign Chesterfield winger Jesurun Uchegbulam for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old has played 38 times for the Spireites since joining them in July 2022 from Matlock Town....

He’s played for Mossley... Matlock Town... a brief loan spell at Colne and then to Chesterfield who paid a fee for him".

Solihull Moors "announce the signing of Jay Benn on a season-long loan deal from Lincoln City...

The 21-year-old has previously been at FC Halifax Town, where he made 12 appearances after rising through the Shaymen’s youth system.

Benn was snapped up by the Imps in the summer of 2022... prior to his next loan move to Bohemians in the League of Ireland...

Andy Whing expressed his delight... 'We’ve been chasing after Jay for a few weeks now. He’s a right-wing back, so he’s going to come in and push'".

11 August 2023

ALTY OLD BOY JOINS CHESTERFIELD

Before he signed for Alty he had played in two pre-season games but he never played a competitive match for The Robins

In his earlier career Berry joined Wigan Athletic in December 2016 after spending almost a decade at Liverpool. Three years later Hull City signed him and he made his debut as a substitute in the Championship in 2020. He left The Tigers by mutual agreement in summer 2021.

Now National League title favourites Chesterfield "have clinched the signing of James Berry from Macclesfield... [He] arrives on a three-year deal after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.

Berry said 'I’m over the moon... It’s a massive club'...

Berry scored 26 goals in 35 appearances last season".

It is believed that Altrincham have a sell-on arrangement which should bring them some income from the transfer deal.

With RYAN COLCLOUGH already a Spireite, Chesterfield now have two ex-Robins.

NEXT: WOKING

• GK Joe Day (on loan from Newport County) - goalkeeper
• 2 Dan Moss - defender
• 3 Josh Casey (captain) - defender
• 4 Scott Cuthbert - defender
• 5 Greg Taylor - defender
• 6 Luke Wilkinson - defender
• 7 Ricky Korboa - forward
• 8 Robbie Willmott - midfielder
• 9 Reece Grego-Cox - forward
• 10 Pádraig Amond - forward
• 11 Dennon Lewis - forward
• 12 Matt Robinson - midfielder
• 14 Rhys Browne - forward
• 15 Nana Boateng (on loan from Millwall) - forward
• 16 Tunji Akinola - defender
• 17 Jim Kellermann - midfielder
• 19 Charlie Wakefield - forward
• 21 Manny Oyeleke - midfielder
• 22 Will Jääskeläinen - goalkeeper
• 23 Jermaine Anderson - midfielder
• 24 Rohan Ince - midfielder
• 28 Sam Habergham - defender

As for Altrincham, aside from the four Academy graduates, the only members of the Altrincham first-team squad yet to start a game or be used as substitute are Ollie Byrne (on loan at Cork City), Liam Brockbank, Jake Cooper, Matt Gould and new signing George Burroughs.

GET YOUR SEASON TICKETS

Season ticket sales matter... They matter to the club and they matter to those supporters who buy them and benefit from the many advantages on offer...

If you are a regular attendee at The J. Davidson Stadium... you will save a significant amount by paying for a ticket that will guarantee you a place at every home game in the Vanarama National League.

Ah, but I have already missed one game so will be out of pocket, you may say if you haven't already bought a season ticket but are thinking of doing.

Not so. In a new initiative this year, the club are reducing the price of a season ticket pro rata after every home game for the first few weeks to ensure you can buy a ticket after the campaign has started without value for money being adversely affected.

You will also, of course, be able to look forward to dedicated and speedier access to The J. Davidson Stadium, priority purchase of tickets for our big Emirates FA Cup and Isuzu FA Trophy ties and discount online...

Finally, all season ticket holders, new and old, will be entered into a free draw, with prizes including hospitality for four at a forthcoming home game and a signed Alty shirt.

From the club's perspective, season ticket sales are so important for improved cash flow, easier matchday management and a better connection with our most committed fans...

So don't delay, here are the season ticket prices for purchases up to and including the Boreham Wood game on 19th August.

• Adult £307
• Concession £254 (65 and over, full time students, NHS workers)
• Junior £115 (12-18 years)
• Child £58 (5-11 years)

Season Tickets are available for purchase here.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Mooney had been linked with a move away from Roots Hall this summer.

But Echosport understands the attacking midfielder is now happy to be stay with Blues...

'Dan’s a great part of the group and the lads love him,' said Maher. 'He loves his football and with the ability he’s got he’s going to be a big player for us this season.'

Mooney came off the bench to score against Oldham Athletic on the opening day of the season. But he is still working his way back to full fitness after suffering a calf problem during pre-season.

'He had a stop start pre-season with injury so he’s building up as we go,' said Maher... 'We’re pleased with him '".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The midfielder was injured in the final throes of the opening day draw at Aggborough, with scans revealing knee damage...

Boss Russ Penn said 'We’re gutted to lose Shane for such a long time, especially so early in the season. It’s a big blow for us, and obviously for the player as well.. The early signs are that we’re looking around three months at least... He’ll remain a big part of things while he recovers.'”

at Southend United manager "Kevin Maher says his Blues team have to put their opening-day win to one side ahead of the short trip to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday

'We’re pleased with the performance and result last week but that was put to bed pretty quickly and we’ve got to focus on the game ahead... We’re not going to get carried away and we just want to follow up the level of performance and see where that takes us. You can’t have any complacency...

'[Dagenham] got a decent point away from home [at Altrincham] last week and scoring late always boosts confidence as well so I think it’ll be a very tough one... Strevs [Ben Strevens] has come in, someone we know well, and he’s made a lot of changes. He’ll get them going and they’ll be at it. They’ve made a lot of good signings...

'We always take great numbers there'".

16 minutes of added time were played against Oldham Athletic as part of new rules that have been implemented across the English game. Maher thinks... 'The new rules will settle down after a while and we hopefully won’t get such extremes of added time and the spate of bookings.'”

Eastleigh "announce a new community initiative... 'Charity Champions' has been launched with the focus of bringing the local community together as we continue our pledge to make football accessible for the whole community.

The concept is for the club to reach out to the local community and offer families and individuals who would not be able to, the chance to come and be involved with the club. We hope that in doing this it will give those people some enjoyment, respite and be a positive experience for them to look forward to...

Through our network and contacts, we have been working hard to connect with charities who have identified individuals and families who would benefit from this scheme...

If you wish to support this scheme and pledge a full or partial donation towards a season ticket, this will be greatly appreciated. Alternatively do you know a family who have fallen on hard times, would appreciate respite from caring for someone, has lost a loved one or an individual who is isolated and would enjoy some company? We are truly hoping to reach as many people as we can...

We have priced these tickets at £90 for adults and £30 Under 18’s, should you wish to support this initiative, we would be delighted to hear from you."

Bromley "announce the signing of winger Todd Miller after his departure from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

Our newest recruit began his career within the Dagenham & Redbridge youth set up before Colchester United came calling where he’d go on to make one appearance in League Two.

After impressing at the U’s, 20-year-old Miller joined the Development Squad at Brighton where he’d later return to League Two in a loan spell at Doncaster Rovers. The wide-man made 10 appearances in the fourth tier before departing the Seagulls in June".

LOCAL ELEMENT IN EQUITY INVESTMENT AT ALTRINCHAM FC

The investment has come from a group of over 20 investors who are predominantly leading UK business people with a direct connection to the local community. The new investors will own a significant minority between them and have invested with the aim of supporting the Board’s vision of building sustainable success and [becoming?] the leading local community focused football club in the country. The new investors come from a range of industries including finance, media, property, technology and e-commerce, so bring a range of skills to support the club with its exciting plans for growth.

Lawrence Looney [pictured, right], Co-Chair of Altrincham Football Club, said 'The club has made great progress in recent years moving up two divisions and establishing itself as a full-time professional club. We are delighted to welcome our new investors who are completely aligned with our values and strategy and are passionate about football and the real impact the club can have on the local community.

Aside from the financial aspect, we believe that this group brings a unique breadth and depth of expertise. This investment should enable the club to accelerate its growth plans while maintaining its prudent approach to ensure the club has a strong, sustainable and exciting future.'

Shalni Arora, one of the investors, stated that 'Investing in Altrincham Football Club is more than an investment in football. It is an investment in our community. It is such an exciting opportunity to make a difference to those who live, work and play in our local area'".

Background: According to The British Asian Trust Shalni Arora is "CEO of Savannah Wisdom, a private family charitable foundation, and an investor in life science businesses.

Shalni qualified as an accountant at Arthur Andersen... She is one of the founders of DxS Limited, a venture capital backed, personalised medicine biotech business which she spun out from AstraZeneca and then successfully exited.

She is a Non-Executive Director of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of the Innovation Committee which is focussed on digital technologies to advance child healthcare. She is a Board member of Alder Hey Children’s Charity, a founding Trustee of Belong - the Cohesion and Integration Network, a member of the Network for Social Change and a member of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Council.

Shalni also works for several charities and not-for-profit organisations through her own foundation."

Her husband Simon Arora is the joint owner and a former CEO of B&M, the retail discount store, and the couple live in Hale Barns. His brother Bobby, who lives next door, was in the news earlier this summer when The Guardian reported that "Local people said Rishi Sunak’s helicopter landed in the back garden of Bobby Arora, one of three brothers who own the B&M chain of stores, in Hale Barns, Altrincham. Arora lives next door to his brother Simon, the company’s former chief executive who has previously donated £50,000 to the Conservatives".

Footnote: According to My Accounting Course "Equity investment is a financial transaction where certain number of shares of a given company or fund are bought, entitling the owner to be compensated ratably according to his ownership percentage. In other words, it is an operation where an individual or company invest money into a private or public company to become a shareholder".

NEXT: WOKING

Headed by a Latin motto "Fide et Diligentia. By Faith and Diligence, This is our town, Now this, is our time, Woking Football Club is excited to reveal the adidas home kit for the 2023/24 season.

The shirt features the famous red and white halves, with black trimmings, shorts and socks. The back of the shirt is predominantly red.

Supplied by ProDirect Clubhouse, the shirt will be available in-store at the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Saturday 12th August, for the Altrincham home match".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Cumbria's NW Evening Mail tells us that "Former Barrow AFC midfielder Josh Kay has signed for National League side AFC Fylde.

Kay, who scored six goals in 37 appearances for the Bluebirds in the 2022/23 season, departed Pete Wild's side following the expiry of his contract this summer...

AFC Fylde director of football Chris Beech... said... 'It’s important that we have competition in all positions. Building a competitive squad to attack the National League has presented many challenges, and while we establish a squad of 22 players to compete and support each other, we needed to recognise key skills that will make us stronger as a team.

'With his direct running style and attacking intent, Josh will provide us with another option in forward positions... Josh is quick, robust and has the technical capability to play with both feet'...

Kay added... 'I’ve been at Barrow for five years now, and I just fancied a new challenge, and I feel like Fylde’s the right place for that challenge.'”

Boreham Wood "confirm that the Club and Dion Kelly-Evans have agreed the mutual termination of his contract.

Dion joined the Wood on the 1 July 2022 but, following a bright start to the 2022/23 season, he unfortunately suffered a long-term injury after breaking his collar bone on the 1 October at home to Maidstone United, which would see him sit out the majority of the 2022/23 campaign".

Southend United report that "Kevin Maher has been named the Vanarama National League Manager of the Week after Blues’ resounding opening-day victory.

The first boss to take the accolade this season, Maher is a deserving winner, guiding his side to the biggest margin of victory on the opening weekend.

Callum Powell’s strike and three goals in 14 second-half minutes put Oldham Athletic to the sword and earned Maher plaudits from everyone at Roots Hall and beyond.

Maher also won the award back in February when Blues defeated both York City and Maidenhead United in the space of four days".

At the other geographical end of the National League, the Sunderland Echo reports that "Former Sunderland player Harrison Bond has signed for non-league side Gateshead during the summer transfer window.

The goalkeeper joined the club on a one-year deal after he was released by Sunderland at the end of the 2022-23 season...

The 19-year-old made Sunderland's squad for the Carabao Cup fixture against Blackpool back in August 2021 but didn't make a first-team debut during his time at the Wearside club."

"Everyone at Dagenham & Redbridge would like to remind you that we are supporting an all- football approach to ensure that every football fan feels safe attending matches.

For everyone’s safety, all clubs will report anyone carrying out these offences to the police. Prosecution by the police can result in a permanent criminal record, which could affect your employment and education, and in some cases, result in a prison sentence. Anyone who enters the pitch without permission or uses smoke bombs or pyros will now receive an automatic club ban. This could also now apply to the parents or guardians of children involved in these activities.

These measures reflect the seriousness of the risks to fans, volunteers and staff – pyros can burn at 2000 degrees Celsius and can cause life-changing injuries, burns and potentially fatal asthma attacks".

Dorking Wanderers "confirm that first team players Jaevon Dyer and Jack Saunders will both head out on loan as the 23/24 campaign gets under way.

Jaevon, who joined Wanderers earlier in the summer from Epsom & Ewell, will make the move to Isthmian South East Division side Lancing FC.

Former Kinetic Academy and Corinthian Casuals winger Jaevon will further his development this season after featuring for the Wanderers first team throughout pre-season...

Wanderers Academy midfielder Jack will make the loan switch to Combined Counties Premier Division side Redhill for the new season... following the announcement earlier this summer of a new partnership which includes the Wanderers first team training at Redhill's home ground, Kiln Brow...

Versatile midfielder Jack will continue to represent Wanderers' flagship U19 National League Academy side during his loan spell."

PRE-MATCH ROUTINES

NEXT OPPONENTS: WOKING

The hosts had the better of the opening ten minutes before Altrincham enjoyed a good spell. Although they did not trouble the home keeper unduly, Colclough did hit the crossbar (28 mins) before Woking came back into the game. However, the interval was reached goalless.

After each side had won an early corner in the second half, Alty took the lead when Colclough's cross was headed home at the back post by Newby for his second goal in successive matches (48 mins).

It looked as if Altrincham were emerge with all of the points before a needless foul by Osborne gave the Cards a freekick. Substitute Amond scored directly from the freekick, taken some 25 yards or more out from goal, the ball flying past Byrne to make it 1-1 (90+1 mins). And that is how it ended. Following the draw at Torquay this was the second time Alty had lost a lead in added time this season.

Just five of Alty's starting eleven are still at the club in 2023, excluding Ollie Byrne who is in Ireland on loan.

Altrincham's line-up comprised 1. Oliver Byrne, 5. Toby Mullarkey (c), 26. James Jones, 6. Lewis Baines, 2. Eddy Jones, 8. Josh Lundstram, 4. Isaac Marriott, 28. Elliot Newby, 11. Ryan Colclough, 16. Chris Conn-Clarke, 35. Connor Jennings. Subs: 9. Jordan Hulme, 10. Elliot Osborne, 23. Jake Cooper, 30. Marcus Dinanga, 17. Brad Jackson.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Midfield trio JOSH LUNDSTRAM, Devarn Green and Dan Ward are unlikely to feature for Latics this month...

Lundstram was the first casualty, after being injured in a tackle in the penultimate press-season friendly at Barrow".

The article adds that for Lundstram "The results of the 24-year-old’s scan suggested a four-six week lay-off in total".

Phil Jordan advises us that "JOSH GINNELLY made his Swansea City debut as a 61st minute substitute in tonight's EFL Cup tie at home to Northampton Town, and scored in the 94th minute to round off a 3-0 win.

ELLIOTT NEWBY didn't enter the fray for Barrow until the 80th minute at Bolton Wanderers, who won 1-0.

OWEN DALE was substituted in the 74th minute, as his Blackpool side went through 0-2 at Derby County.

Having been booked after 15 minutes, ALISTAIR SMITH (above, left) was substituted after 82 minutes as his Lincoln City team triumphed 0-2 at Notts County. The hosts had been reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute.

JUNIOR QUITIRNA was credited with the assists for both of Fleetwood Town's goals but, despite leading twice, they were knocked by hosts PORT VALE.

After coming on as a 57th minute substitute at Barnsley, CONNOR JENNINGS converted Tranmere Rovers' second penalty in the shootout after the sides had drawn 2-2. Rovers went on to win the shoot-out 7-6.

CONNOR HAMPSON scored Oakleigh Cannons' second goal in a 2-4 win at North Geelong, Australia. Oakleigh will finish third regardless of the result of their last fixture, and have therefore qualified for the promotion playoffs. They have also reached the last 16 of the Australia Cup, and will be at home to Melbourne City on Sunday".

WOMEN'S FA CUP DRAW

The winners will travel to Crewe Alexandra in second qualifying round.

There will be 208 teams entering the first round qualifying stage, with matches taking place on Sunday 10 September and winners receiving £1,800 in prize money, with those defeated landing £450.

A further 128 second round qualifying ties will then be held on Sunday 1 October, with the prize fund £3,000 for winning teams and £750 for the losing sides".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Green missed the season opener at Southend, while Ward was a first-half casualty in the 4-0 defeat at Roots Hall on Saturday.

For hamstring injuries, mild to moderate (grade 1 or 2) tears or strains can heal within three to eight weeks with treatment...

With Oldham still on the lookout for a right back, and Will Sutton starting the first of a three-match ban following his red card at Roots Hall, Latics could look to add reinforcements in midfield and defence this week".

According to York Press "Wealdstone manager Stuart Maynard described York City as ‘ambitious’ following the Minstermen’s opening defeat at Grosvenor Vale last Saturday.

Despite Dipo Akinyemi’s first-half opener, a second half that saw Max Kretzschmar tuck away a penalty, Callum Howe receive a red card and a late winner from Jaydn Mundle-Smith gifted Wealdstone three point...

Wealdstone manager Maynard [said]... 'When you look at the start of the season it takes momentum from last season, we weren’t at our most fluent best but I thought we played really well in possession today...

'It’s exciting times to come away with a win and put points on the board and that’s the main thing for us.

'I think they [York] have a lot of players that are better than this level, they recruited really well in the Summer and they are a team that are ambitious... With the type of money they have spent, they pay transfer fees for players which not a lot of clubs do, but they have...

But it’s not easy to gel them quickly so it could take them a bit of time for them to gel their players properly... They played 4-3-3 all pre-season and changed to a 3-5-2 today to play against us, which is a compliment to us for the way we play.

'It’s pretty much every team we play now, changes the way they play because of the way that we can affect them. It’s a compliment to our lads'...

Maynard also described the new stoppage time ruling to be ‘crazy’, after 17 additional minutes were added on by the end of the match...

'In the second half they added seven and I don’t think there’s been any stoppages, we’ve both made three subs each and that’s it. There’s been three goals in the whole game and we’ve played 17 minutes extra...

'It’ll cause injuries if they add too much time on with the intensity of the game.'”

The Maidenhead Advertiser tells us that "Central defender Kevin Lokko said he’s feeling fit and strong after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with AFC Fylde at York Road...

Lokko was inches away from a goal on his debut... However, although he failed to get a touch, his presence was enough to make Emeka Obi stretch for the ball and turn it into his own net.

That put the Magpies 2-0 to the good on the opening afternoon... Goals from Nicolas Haughton in the first half and Alex Whitmore in the 90th minute earned the visitors a deserved point...

'We’ll take a draw. I didn’t like the way we conceded late on, but we push on and it’s a point on the board... I think it will be a matter of time before we get wins on the board and we push on up the league'". <>

8 August 2023

NINTH SIGNING

Equally at home at right-back or in central defence, George came through the youth ranks at Coventry and was an integral part of the Sky Blues' successful under-23 side prior to a 15-year stay at the club coming to an end in May.

He was taken on by the Robins as a trialist during the build-up to the new campaign and put through his paces as a second-half substitute in the final two pre-season games, a 2-1 win at Macclesfield and 2-0 home victory over Manchester United under-21s."

The Real EFL adds that "The defender... has previously been on trial with League Two side Accrington Stanley...

A Coventry fan, Burroughs managed to have a successful spell at Telford last season".

He follows Justin AMALUZOR, Dior ANGUS, Lewis BANKS, Christopher CONN-CLARKE, Justin DONAWA, Joey JONES, Sam ROSCOE, and George WILSON in signing for Altrincham this summer. In addition Ethan Ross has joined on a season-long loan.

Alty now have nine defenders in their first-team squad, with Banks, Burroughs and Roscoe joining Baines, Brockbank, Cooper, E. Jones, J. Jones and McGeady at Moss Lane.

Two years ago Coventry City reported that "The 18-year-old centre half has progressed through the Sky Blues Academy, signing as an Under 9s' player, and will now link up with the Under 23s side at Ryton.

Throughout his scholarship at the Alan Higgs Centre he has played predominantly as a central defender and has captained the Under 18s team through the majority of the past two years... He is an avid Sky Blues fan".

George (d.o.b. 21 September, 2002) has scored twice in eight appearances for Scotland's under-19s level, before progressing to the under-21s.

ALTY'S RECRUITMENT PHILOSOPHY

Left: Two of Alty's new recruits are Dior Angus (left) and Joey Jones.

He said "We were delighted to get our work in the market done early to allow the vast majority of the lads to go through the entire pre-season together and absorb what Phil and Neil want them to do.

"The very fact we have been able to commit to a stronger core group of players, as permanent signings rather than loans, will also give us greater stability throughout the season.

Everybody is aware of the vulnerabilty that [the loanee] approach can lead to, and we saw that last January especially.

"Additionally, there are no buy-out causes within the squad, which will ensure we have greater control over matters as and when other teams show interest in our players....

"We identified a number of key characteristics we wanted in our summer recruitment; leadership, experience, pace in attacking areas and some additional height. And we have ticked all of those boxes.

"I think we are perhaps one x-factor attacking player away from being a side that I hope will challenge for the play-offs to one that should challenge for the play-offs."

Also on the subject of recruitment, assistant manager Neil Sorvel adds, "We have brought in players who are established in the National League and have made their mark at this level and we felt that was important...

"All of our new signings are of a calibre we were hoping to attract to the club".

SALUTE ALTY'S GROUND STAFF

The hard work of head groundsman Adam Lawrence (fourth from right) and his volunteer helpers ensured that the fixture was completed, despite more heavy downpours during the game. The ground staff are pictured above as they lined up for the salute to the late John Moules and Graham McLaren before the match on Saturday. In their number was former head groundsman Neil Brown (fourth from left) who had attended to pay tribute to Graham as he had been a volunteer in Neil's pitch maintenace team.

SPONSORSHIP FOR ALTY'S VOLUNTEERS

The retail and leisure park offers a range of experiences to residents and visitors and... it will be the first official shirt sponsor for the club's volunteers...

Andrea George, director of town centres and consumer brands at Bruntwood, said 'We are delighted to join forces with Altrincham Football Club as the first-ever official shirt sponsor for its volunteer programme'...

Sam Mackenzie, director of partnerships and sponsorships at Altrincham FC added 'The partnership we are starting with Bruntwood is centred around our volunteers...

'The core values Bruntwood holds around Altrincham mirror our own. For me, this is a perfect partnership'".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Spireites edged a seven-goal thriller on the opening day of the season 4-3.

White said, 'I think Chesterfield is such a great club. No disrespect to anyone else in the league at all but I do feel like they are probably the most professional team in the league.

'I don’t know the owners there but Paul Cook and Danny Webb run that like a really professional outfit. Their pre-season was one of a Championship side. The way they do things is phenomenal. They are ready, massively, for the next step...

White explained that he was chuffed with the performance given five of the starting line-up had not played many minutes in pre-season...

He said 'The game boiled down to two things really. We had a player who let us down significantly in Joe [Cook,who earned two yellow cards] and that has cost him dearly. Football players can win you matches and get pay increases and football players can lose you matches - and Joe lost us that match. Joe is a great lad but he let himself down, he let the team down.'

And White was unhappy with the amount of added-on time, with five in the first-half and 13 in the second-half...

'30 per cent of the second-half was added back on top, that is absolutely impossible to come to that conclusion. Player welfare is going to go down the drain.'”

According to Luton Today "Former Luton midfielder Casey Pettit has signed for National League side Maidenhead United after being released by the Hatters at the end of last season.

The 20-year-old had been at Kenilworth Road since he was 16 following a stint with West Ham United...[He] has now moved on to York Road, to join ex-Hatters Sam Beckwith and Kane Ferdinand in manager Alan Devonshire’s squad."

7 August 2023

ALTY 1-1 DAGENHAM: THE MANAGER'S VIEW

Following the 1-1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge, Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson spoke to Ben Knight , a student volunteer with Alty TV.

The Alty boss was happy with his team's performance but less so with the new practice of playing long stretches of added time. The interview can be seen on the Altrincham FC website.

Right: The manager's view, from his vantage point near halfway; Phil Parkinson surveys the scene in the aftermath of a foul on Justin Amaluzor (right). Alty captain James Jones and midfielder Elliot Osborne walk towards the scene of two Daggers' players seated on the ground, whilst Lewis Banks is the player with his back to the camera.

Match report here.

STAY TILL THE END

The game at Altrincham was a prime example with ten seconds short of nine minutes played in the first half, and ten minutes played in the second half.

Across all of the 12 NL games, eight goals were scored after the ninety-minute mark on Saturday, in many cases substantially later, like Dagenham's equaliser at the JDS as the game went into its eighth added minute.

In all eight goals were scored after the 90th minute, which is suggestive of the massive amounts of added time creating tired defenders after so long on pitch, especially when the first halves of those games usually also experienced lengthy spells of added time.

At least four of those added time goals altered a result from a win or a draw

As well as the equaliser that deprived Alty of a win, a 99th minute goal was the winner for Chesterfield against Dorking Wanderers. Two other late goals transformed wins into draws; Boreham Wood levelled at Gateshead and Solihull Moors retrieved a draw from a losing position in added time. There were also very late goals for Southend United (96 mns), Hartlepool United (95 mins) and Oxford City (97 mins).

So the lessons to be learned include; not making "late" substituions too early when there is no idea how much time remains in a game and, for spectators, not to leave matches early to beat the car park rush or to catch a train or bus.

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES

With E(ddy) Jones and J(ames) Jones already on the books, Joey has had to resort to using his second name and Alty's new number 22 now has "J D JONES" on his back as seen, right.

And on the same subject of shirt names a curious development has seen Justin Amaluzor, who until 2016 was known as Justin Nwogu, opt to use his forename Justin rather than his surname on his shirt. This is surprising as Alty also have another new signing whose forename is Justin, namely Justin Donawa.

More predictably, he has Donawa on his back for 2023-24 season.

ALTY OLD BOYS

ZAK GOODSON was an unused sub as his Chester FC side lost 2-0 at Bishop's Stortford.

There was a hat-trick for JOEL BROWNHILL as Padiham progressed in the FA Cup at the expense of Silsden.

OLLIE BYRNE's Cork City loan continued with another defeat on Sunday evening, as they lost 2-1 at Shamrock Rovers.

NEXT: WOKING

The hosts were showing all the confidence of a newly promoted side, putting together some nice passing moves, and they almost took the lead...

With high winds and torrential rain, both sides were finding it hard to create chances... The hosts were fairly dominant without fully seizing the initiative...

Ashley Hemmings had been causing problems all game, and his strike from outside the box moved in the air before rattling the crossbar, just before nine minutes of added time were announced...

A... point apiece to kick off the season seemed fair on all accounts. Woking will take positives out of the way all three subs influenced the game, with a banana skin avoided on opening day.

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Dan Moss, Josh Casey (Akinola 73’), Scott Cuthbert, Greg Taylor, Rohan Ince, Jim Kellermann, Matt Robinson (Willmott 64’) Padraig Amond, Reece Grego-Cox (Boateng 57’), Rhys Browne. Unused subs: Joe Day, Ricky Korboa".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Southend boss Kevin Maher was only able to register 15 players for their National League opener due to a transfer embargo... But they got off to a flying start when Callum Powell managed to squirm an effort in after Latics struggled to clear their lines from a corner in the eighth minute.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute following Will Sutton's lunge at Nathan Ralph.

Oliver Coker scored just seconds after coming on as a substitute with an 83rd-minute strike from 25 yards, before Dan Mooney added to their lead with a calm finish four minutes later.

Southend fans were in dreamland when Coker turned provider as Harry Cardwell nodded home in the sixth of 10 minutes added time for an ultimately convincing opening win".

The BBC adds that "Southend United's season-opening 4-0 win over Oldham was a fitting reward for fans and staff after a difficult summer, says manager Kevin Maher.

The club remains up for sale and have another date at the High Court on 23 August for the hearing of the latest winding-up petition...

'The strength of a football club is its fans,' Maher told BBC Essex. 'And the staff that have stayed loyal to the football club deserved that as much as anyone'...

Southend only received a safety certificate for their 117-year-old stadium on 1 August, which meant the game against Oldham could go ahead as scheduled...

'I don't think anyone who turned up expected that, we were lucky to have a game on,' Maher said. "We won't get too far ahead of ourselves but it was, I suppose, an outpouring of relief about the football club that was needed, for everyone," he added... Substitutes, Ollie Coker and Dan Mooney, were among the three scorers inside the final 10 minutes.

Maher added... 'Moons [Mooney], it was a hell of a finish; he's got that in his locker. People talk formations but he's a good player, he can play anywhere, what we've got to do is get him the ball in the right area to get the best out of him.

'He can make a difference in the final third where we probably didn't score enough goals last year'".

We learn from the Oxford Mail that "Oxford City began life in the Vanarama National League with a crushing 5-2 defeat away against Aldershot Town.

Josh Parker scored the Hoops’ first ever goal at the level, cancelling out Jack Barham’s early opener.

However, the home side added goals via Haji Mnoga and Lorent Tolaj to lead 3-1 at half-time.

Josh Stokes added a fourth for the Shots just two minutes into the second period, with Tolaj completing his double at the death.

There was still time though for Parker to get his brace during stoppage time...

Hoops head coach Ross Jenkins named a familiar looking side, with Nya Kirby the sole debutant. Fellow summer signings Marcin Brzozowski, Tafari Moore and Pierre Fonkeu were included on the bench...

After the game, Jenkins told the Hoops’ YouTube channel 'In terms of the actual game, the first 15 to 20 minutes, I was pretty happy with it. We conceded a goal that was very unlike us, that was a sloppy moment.

'A good comeback to get a decent goal, and make it 1-1 and we thought "let’s kick on now" but I just thought it was a little bit sloppy. I’d look at their goals and say I don’t really think they’ve earned their goals...

'It might take three, four, five or six games but I know what these boys can do... I don’t think it was a 5-2 game if I’m being honest'...

Jenkins confirmed Zac McEachran missed the game through illness".

Following FC Halifax Town’s opening day victory over Bromley, manager Chris Millington spoke to Shaymen TV...

'The first half we were quite controlled,' Millington said. 'Maybe a little too controlled, a bit too safe at times in our possession, but we were good out of possession... They went long a lot, trying to win free kicks in our half...

'There were an awful lot of yellow cards given for what I felt, in most cases were good tackles. For both teams there were fouls given that weren’t fouls last season and yet the threshold is meant to have moved in favour of allowing more contact... But, I was really pleased by the combative nature of the players...

'As we got into the second half, I think we tried to assert ourselves a little bit more'...

Town took the lead in the second half courtesy of Jack Evans who lifted the ball over the keeper to score on his debut... Millenic Alli provided Town’s second goal of the game and gave the Shaymen a two-goal cushion to see out the remaining 17 minutes'...

[Next opponents] 'Boreham Wood are a real challenge,' Millington said. 'We know what they’re like, probably not dissimilar to ourselves in many respects; hard working, organised, competitive, want to win but want to compete for everything, and will do everything they can not to get beaten. It’s a tight pitch down there at Boreham so it’s a very different game to here at the Shay, most of our squad are recruited to play at the Shay on this big open space.

'Boreham offer a very different type of environment to play in so we’ll address that'".

6 August 2023

ALTRINCHAM 1-1 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

Right: Chris Conn-Clarke is concealed beneath his bedraggled team-mates after his goal at a sodden J. Davidson Stadium.

Altrincham had taken an 80th minute lead when substitutes Donawa and Angus combined on the right to feed Conn-Clarke, who rifled a shot past Justham.

When debutant Ross made a fine save to deny Dagenham deep into added time, the points looked safe for Alty, only for the resulting corner to be be nodded onto Phipps whose looping header earned a draw.

Match report here.

Below: A new flag appeared at the J. Davidson Stadium on Saturday.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan keeps us up to date with the activities of former Alty players and loanees who were in action this weekend...

"CHAMPIONSHIP : On his return to Tees-side, DUNCAN WATMORE was substituted for Millwall after 73 minutes with the game goalless. His team went on to win 0-1. Also, JOSH GINNELLY was an unused substitute for Swansea City in their 1-1 home draw against Birmingham City

LEAGUE 1 : ALISTAIR SMITH was an 81st minute substitute for Lincoln City, but the scoring had been completed by then, hosts Bolton Wanderers winning 3-0.

Although he was booked after only 4 minutes, CARL PIERGIANNI will be happy tonight as he scored the only goal of the game for Stevenage at Northampton Town.

Having returned from last season's loan at Portsmouth, OWEN DALE was a 75th minute substitute for Blackpool in their 2-0 home victory over Burton Albion.nst Birmingham City.

LEAGUE 2 : TOBY MULLARKEY played the full game as Grimsby Town drew 0-0 with visitors AFC Wimbledon. LUKE WATERFALL was left on the bench.

JOEL SENIOR played the full game for Morecambe in their 2-1 home win over Walsall.

In Barrow's 2-1 win at Prenton Park, the scoring had been completed by the time the home side introduced CONNOR JENNINGS in the 73rd minute. The visitors substituted ELLIOT NEWBY four minutes later.

NATIONAL LEAGUE : The honour of scoring the first goal of the season fell to MARCUS DINANGA (above, right) after only 9 minutes as Gateshead raced to a two goal league inside a quarter of an hour against visitors Boreham Wood. His afternoon was tarnished by a 61st minute booking, and despite going down to 10 men, the visitors forced a 2-2 draw.

In an eventful game at Chesterfield, RYAN COLCLOUGH (left) opened the scoring against Dorking Wanderers but the visitors went ahead early in the second half. Eventually reduced to ten men late on they fell to a 4-3 defeat by the hosts, who substituted Colclough in the 88th minute.

DAN MOONEY was a 72nd minute substitute for Southend United, and 15 minutes later scored his side's third goal in a 4-0 demolition of Oldham Athetic.

TYRESE SINCLAIR started for Rochdale against Ebbsfleet United but his side lost 0-1 to the promoted Kent side.

In Scotland, MILES WELCH-HAYES was not even one of Livingston's nine substitutes at home to Aberdeen.

And finally, in NATIONAL NORTH, SEAN WILLIAMS opened the scoring for Warrington Town in their 0-4 romp at Southport".

NEXT OPPONENTS: WOKING

Pre-Covid, it was the custom for the season to start on a Saturday but with a midweek match in the first week of the season. The midweek venue would be the opposite of that for the opening Saturday, as would be the following Saturday's game. But since Covid, the pattern has changed to there being no midweek fixture in the first week of the season.

Therefore, after hosting Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, it will be a full week before Alty travel to Woking for their second league fixture at the Laithwaite Community Stadium (Kingfield).

In their opening game, Woking played a goalless draw at Kidderminster Harriers.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 28-year-old began his career at Newcastle and made a handful of appearances for the Premier League giants. Loans moves to Carlisle, St Mirren, Fleetwood, Hartlepool, and Gateshead followed before he moved away from St James Park on a permanent deal to Notts County.

Moves to Morecambe and Darlington followed before Campbell eventually landed in Gateshead in 2021".

And the Sunderland Echo reports that "Luke Hannant (29)... [is] the Heed’s latest summer addition...

The former Cambridge United and Colchester United midfielder enjoyed a successfully two-year spell with the Heed earlier in the career before going on to make over 200 appearances in the EFL and Scottish Championship. Hannant became a free agent last month after he contract with Colchester came to an end...

He told The Echo 'It helps knowing there are people I’ve worked with and played under before so that helped me settle back in here'"

The Heed's new signings include defender Jordan Hunter, on-loan goalkeeper Archie Mair and England C midfielder Regan Booty.

In his Saturday programnme notes, Southend United manager Kevin Maher wrote "It’s certainly been a challenging three months with the circumstances really limiting what we can do...

There’s no denying we’re coming into the season slightly short; we’re a little bit behind other clubs but we’ve prepared as best we can amid lots of uncertainty... We’ve had some positive pre-season games. Although we have a small squad, I believe every member of that squad is extremely capable".

In addition to Shaun Hobson who joined Oldham Athletic, "We said goodbye to a number of... players over the summer. Steve Arnold was a great person to have around the dressing room and was a big contributor to the superb season that Collin had last term. We wish him the best at Sutton. Jake Hyde and Rhys Murphy will be playing together again for Yeovil...

Chris Wreh showed real talent at times last season but unfortunately he left us to join Hartlepool. Finally, academy graduates Jon Benton, Henry Sandat and Tom Clifford have all moved on....

It’ll be great to have Jason Demetriou stepping up to join the coaching staff in a more official capacity this season".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Aldershot Town 5-2 Oxford City
• Altrincham 1-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Barnet 3-2 Hartlepool United
• Chesterfield 4-3 Dorking Wanderers
• FC Halifax Town 2-0 Bromley
• Gateshead 2-2 Boreham Wood
• Kidderminster Harriers 0-0 Woking
• Maidenhead United 2-2 AFC Fylde
• Rochdale v Ebbsfleet United (k.o. 5.30pm)
• Solihull Moors 1-1 Eastleigh
• Southend United 4-0 Oldham Athletic
• Wealdstone 2-1 York City

NEXT: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

The season kicks off against Dagenham & Redbridge who finished tenth, followed by three of the next four games pitting Alty against teams which finished in the play-offs (Woking 4th, Boreham Wood 6th, and Chesterfield 3rd). The other club in the first five fixtures is York City who, although they finished 19th last season, have invested heavily in their squad this summer.

Alty's first opponents, Dagenham & Redbridge report that "after a successful pre-season, The Daggers kick off the 2023/24 Vanarama National League season at Altrincham...

Altrincham has been busy in the summer reinforcing their ranks, signing nine players, including ex-Aldershot winger Justin Amaluzor (left).

The London-born man had a productive 2022/23 campaign, scoring 8 goals. He also ranked 6th for key passes, 10th for touches in the box and 7th for dribbles amongst National League Wingers".

ALTY OLD BOYS

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 31-year-old attacking midfielder has an impressive record across a number of clubs in the EFL and has worked with manager Paul Cook previously.

His previous clubs include Wigan Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portsmouth...

'I’m buzzing to be here and even more buzzing to be back working with the gaffer,' he said. 'He’s a fantastic manager and I’m looking forward to working with him again...

'I’m here to help get the club promoted back to where it belongs'".

As well as Dorking manager, Marc White, who will be sitting out his side's fixture today because of a touchline ban, another National League boss won't even be at the stadium to watch his team kick off the new season.

That is because OLdham Athletic report that "David Unsworth will be absent from tomorrow’s opening National League fixture at Southend United as he recovers from Covid-19.

The manager has not been present for training during the latter part of the week and did not travel with the team as they set off to Essex earlier today.

The team will be taken by assistant manager John Ebbrell and coach Steve Thompson. David will remain in constant dialogue with his staff in the lead up to the fixture and during the game".

At Boreham Wood the club is "delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Charlie Owens following an impressive pre-season with the Wood...

The 25-year-old becomes our sixth summer signing following his departure from QPR at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Owens began his career within Tottenham Hotspur’s youth set up before moving to QPR in 2017... Owens also spent a short time on loan at Wycombe Wanderers during the 2018-19 season in League One, whilst more recently he spent last season on loan at League Two side Colchester United.

Owens has also represented Northern Ireland at youth level...

Luke Garrard had this to say, 'Charlie has been with us now for over four weeks, and has featured in the majority of our pre-season. In that time he has shown a level of performance to warrant an offer'".

Aldershot Town "confirm that dynamic left-wingback Olly Scott has signed for the club.

The 21-year-old was most recently at King’s Lynn Town, where he played under Tommy Widdrington, before mutually agreeing to terminate his contract.

Scott has also played for Blyth Spartans and Consett AFC and racked up 20 National League appearances in the 21/22 season.

Tommy Widdrington said 'I was interested in Olly earlier in the window but saw an official approach rebuffed and moved on. After my surprise at learning Olly was available after cancelling his contract, I invited him in to train and subsequently to join the group'...

Head of Recruitment Jamie Hedges added... 'We had him at Kings Lynn and he is a committed and wholehearted player. He is energetic, a great 1 v 1 defender and will provide competition down the left flank.'”

Also at Aldershot Town the club has announced "that Stuart O’Keefe has been named as Club Captain for the 23/24 season with Aaron Jones named as Vice Captain.

O’Keefe signed for the Shots this summer... The 32-year-old was captain at previous club Gillingham...

Aaron Jones also signed for the Shots this summer...

Tommy Widdrington said 'Whilst I’ve had a few names rattling around in my head, once Stuart joined us, I was fairly set with my choices'".

4 August 2023

NEXT: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

For that game, against a Manchester United XI, he was hampered by the absences of the injured Sam Roscoe (left) and Joey Jones, as well as Dior Angus being fit for the friendly but severely lacking in game-time after missing five firiendlies with injury. Additionally, Liam Brockbank has not figured in pre-season for reasons that are unclear.

The starting eleven last Sunday comprised Ethan Ross, Eddy Jones, Isaac Marriott, James Jones (c), Lewis Baines, Matty Kosylo, Elliot Osborne, Regan Linney, Justin Amaluzor, Chris Conn-Clarke and Lewis Banks.

Joining Angus, on the bench the outfield players were Justin Donawa and Jake Cooper, as well as George Wilson, who was said to be going out on loan when he was signed from Coalville in the summer. However, he has featured heavily in the Alty pre-season and there has been no indication of his actually going on loan at this stage.

The only others on the bench on Sunday were sub keeper Matt Gould and a trialist, George Burroughs.

So, depending on fitness, there could well be at least eight Altrincham debutants in their squad for Saturday, (Ross, Amaluzor, Angus, Banks, Roscoe, Donawa, Wilson and Joey Jones) and even more if any of the Academy graduates are named.

PARKY PERKY AS SEASON STARTS

Manager Phil Parkinson [pictured, right]... said 'When your next game is the first one of a new season, you want a really good performance, with the lads putting into practice what you’ve worked on in training, and that is exactly what we got...

'Chris Conn-Clarke is getting his fitness levels to where they should be, Lewis Banks, in particular, was outstanding and Justin Amaluzor demonstrated what he has to offer in terms of athleticism, pace and a goal threat.

'It has been the toughest pre-season we’ve had against high-calibre opposition, but we’ve had positive performances, with players getting minutes in their legs, and it feels like there are positive signs, going into the opening game'".

DRINKS ARE ON MARK

Mark has kindly agreed to buy every fan, who enters the Fan Zone between 1:30 and 2pm, one drink of their choice, allowing you to choose anything from the extensive list of drinks. Frankie Burton, Fan Zone Bar Manager, has brought together an outstanding selection of craft beers and beverages... which we’re excited to present fans with on Saturday.

Significant amounts of time and resources have gone into redeveloping the club’s Fan Zone over the summer, hoping to improve the space for the fans to gather before a match. We've committed to getting this right to make it an attractive place for all Alty fans to make it part of their pre-match routine...

With turnstiles opening at 1.30pm, get in early, grab your free drink, and we hope to see a thriving Fan Zone!"

ALTY JOIN TIKTOK

Our official TikTok page will feature a closer look into all things at Alty, with exclusive content from training sessions and matchdays allowing you, the fans, access to all areas of the club. The page will feature unparalleled and exclusive access to your favourite Alty players as they will be taking on your favourite viral challenges, putting them to the test away from the grass.

Hot on the heels of launching our Junior Robins membership, running yet another successful Elite Coaching Camp and record Season Ticket sales for under-16s, we’re making the plunge into the TikTok world to communicate better with our younger supporters".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 35-year-old is set to reunite with former teammate Stephen Ward, who was recently appointed as the club’s director of football and is set to drop into the National League, following his exit from Pride Park in June.

The experienced defender has made over 400 senior appearances in the Premier League and Championship throughout his career, turning out for the likes of Wolves, Fulham and Ipswich Town...

Solihull Moors... are now under the management of former Coventry City defender Andy Whing as well as being led by former Wolves and Republic Of Ireland international Stephen Ward.

Stearman would be the club’s latest signing, following the arrivals of... former Bolton striker Connor Hall, former Coventry defender Joe Newton and Birmingham City defender Nico Gordon on loan...

This summer, Solihull have lost the leadership of goalkeeper Ryan Boot and captain Callum Howe".

Off the field, Solihull Moors "invites all Season Ticket holders that are above the age of 18 to submit a passport style portrait photo...

In order to take full advantage of the Season Ticket holder discounts such as £0.10 off all draught lager at the stadium and My Moors Rewards offers, all season ticket holders over the age of 18 must have a printed season ticket card with a photo on it."

FC Halifax Town "confirm the signing of Jack Evans after leaving National League North side Hereford.

Evans, who can play in both midfield and at left-back began his career in the Blackburn Rovers youth system... Evans made a short loan spell to Lancaster City in the Northern Premier League Premier Division in 2019...

In 2020, he left Blackburn to join then League Two side Forest Green Rovers... In December 2020, Evans joined National League South side Hungerford Town on a one-month loan deal...

In January 2022, he joined AFC Fylde for the remainder of the 2021/22 season...

At the end of the 2021/22 season, Evans was one of seven players released by Forest Green and signed for Hereford in July 2022. He made 29 appearances in all competitions for The Bulls, scoring three, however missed part of the season after suffering from an elbow dislocation and broken arm in training. Evans returned to play the final few games of the season".

Oldham Athletic look like they mean business next season as they "announce the signing of James Norwood from Barnsley for an undisclosed fee.

The 32-year-old joins Latics on a two-year deal, with an option of a further year.

James started his career with his hometown side Eastbourne, but his breakout season came in 2012/13 with Forest Green Rovers...

[Next] he linked up with... Tranmere Rovers" before joining Barnsely.

The BBC adds that "The 32-year-old scored 11 goals in 42 League One appearances for the Tykes last season.

He has now dropped two divisions...

Norwood is the Latics' second signing of the day after they added former Carlisle midfielder Brennan Dickenson on a one-year deal".

JAMES JONES INTERVIEW

James is also the only player at the club who was at Altrincham when Phil Parkinson's first season as manager started at Moss Lane in 2017, having been one of the new manager's first signings following a spell as a trialist that summer.

James was a midfielder as a teenager so, although he is a defender, he is comfortable further up the pitch as well as in his main position of centre-half.

Right: James is pictured right, captaining the side against a Manchester United XI last Sunday.

ALTRINCHAM LOOKING TO END SEQUENCE

That was a 2-1 win secured by Steve Aspinall (pictured, left) as the Robins beat Stevenage Borough for the first time in eleven meetings.

This Saturday's opponents, Dagenham & Redbridge, are managed by Ben Strevens, the former Eastleigh player and boss. Amongst the clubs that figure in his playing career, his longest spells were at Barnet, Dagenham & Redbridge and Eastleigh. Appointed in March 2023, he is the eighth manager of the Daggers since 1997 though that number includes the legendary John Still twice.

In that same period, since 1997, and excluding numerous brief caretakers, Altrincham have had eleven managers, namely Bernard Taylor (twice), John King, Mark Ward, Graham Heathcote, Ken McKenna, Lee Sinnott, Neil Young, Jim Harvey, Matt Doughty and Phil Parkinson.

ALTRINCHAM SQUAD PHOTO

The 19 players and management lined up as follows:

Back: Justin Amaluzor, Joey Jones, Ethan Ross, Sam Roscoe, Matt Gould, Jake Cooper, Regan Linney

Middle: Dior Angus, Lewis Banks, Lewis Baines, Elliot Osborne, George Wilson, Liam Brockbank

Front: Justin Donawa, Eddy Jones, James Jones (capt), Phil Parkinson (manager), Neil Sorvel (ass't manager), Isaac Marriott, Chris Conn-Clarke, Matty Kosylo.

The players who have been assigned a squad number but who are not shown on the photo are Ollie Byrne, Ewan McGeady, Loui Williams, Tom Jones and Owen German.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

First-half goals from Connor Barrett and Nick Haughton saw the Coasters to victory... with Murray having seen plenty of positives...

The Fylde boss said 'It was a really good day. We knew today would be an extreme test for us...

'First half, I thought we were excellent when we had the football and we pressed well when we needed to. Second half, we dug in and we did all the stuff that you have to do to get a result'".

Oxford City "announce the signing of goalkeeper Marcin Brzozowski.

Appearing for the Hoops throughout pre-season as a trialist, the 6ft 4in shot-stopper has impressed Manager Ross Jenkins... Brzozowski (whose name is pronounced BRR-JOI-SKI), was born in Poland before moving to the UK aged 10.

He was quickly snapped up by QPR and went on to stay with the R's until 2021... Marcin has also represented Poland at Under 18 and Under 19 level. After leaving Loftus Road, Marcin had brief spells at Torquay United, Hendon and Hartley Wintney...

Marcin said... 'Last season, I set myself a target to get back into the National League and I'm really happy to achieve that with this club'".

The 72 confirms that "Stockport County have let Billy Chadwick join Gateshead on a season-long loan deal...

Stockport County have allowed the attacker to head out the exit door on a temporary basis... Chadwick, 23, only made the move to Edgeley Park in late June after they snapped him up on a free transfer following his exit from Hull City.

The versatile forward penned a one-year deal with the Hatters, with the club holding the option for a further year".

There are more arrivals at the Rceration Ground as Aldershot Town "confirm the loan signing of talented defender Haji Mnoga from Portsmouth until the end of the season!

Mnoga will be familiar to Shots supporters, having made 17 appearances in the second-half of last season in an impressive loan spell.

The 21-year-old is a senior Tanzanian international...

Tommy Widdrington [observed] 'Haji impressed me on my arrival last season and I made it clear to him then that should the opportunity to work together arise I would be delighted to take that up'...

'Obviously with the recent news of Christian [Maghoma]s unfortunate predicament, Haji comes as a very welcome addition to the group and along with the return to training of Coby Rowe, the options are a little more varied'".

Also announced at Aldershot Town is the news that "Zain Walker has joined Vanarama National League North Bishop’s Stortford on a loan deal until January.

The 21-year-old joined the Shots this summer after leaving King’s Lynn Town and previously spent time at Bristol Rovers...

Tommy Widdrington [observed that]... 'Zain is a player I feel, at 21 ,is still yet to fulfil the undoubted potential he showed after making his EFL debut as a young teenager. Having worked with him before and knowing he hasn’t had the best of luck in his personal life , away from football, I know he is now fully fit'".

The Derbyshire Times tells us that "Dorking Wanderers manager, Marc White, will not be on the touchline against the Spireites this weekend... because he is serving a five-match ban which has carried over from the last campaign.

White was sent off against York City in March and his subsequent remonstrations with the officials led him to be handed a big suspension.

The FA charges at the time read... 'It is alleged that following the completion of the fixture, in or around the car park area, he acted in an improper and/or threatening manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards match officials.'

White was in the stands for three games at the end of last season... and he will do the same this Satuday, and against Maidenhead United".

ALTY'S CHANGING FACE: PART TWO

Now, we refer to several other measures to improve the supporters' experience at the J. Davidson Stadium.

In particular, spectators in the main stand will appreciate that pigeon netting has been added to the roof space of the whole main stand too. The nets make a huge difference to the cleanliness and professionalism of the place.

In addition, over the summer, volunteers have repainted all the metalwork at the front of the stand in fresh red paint.

As for the Fan Zone, as noted yesterday, spectators are not permitted to drink in the Fan Zone whilst watching the match, hence the wooden fascia to the area.

However, this season, during games taking place on the pitch outside, it is understood that there are plans for the TVs inside the Zone to live-stream the action so that those who wish to do so can continue drinking and eating whilst following the game on screen.

It is not just the fabric of the J. Davidson Stadium that has been upgraded since last year, but the team on the pitch has also undergone major changes as is illustrated below.

Compared with the eleven players who started the CSC Final at the end of last April, just four players from that starting eleven also started Sunday's game against a Manchester United XI. The players concerned are indicated in bold, below:

Above: Altrincham as they lined up before the CSC Final kick off. Back row: Perritt, Linney, James Jones, Gould, Ferguson, Hulme. Front row, Eddy Jones, Lundstram, Marriott, Bennett and Burgess.

ALTY'S SEASON TICKET PUSH

[Also], If you already have a season ticket for 2023-24 prior to today's date and someone buying one between now and Saturday afternoon names you as the person who referred them, you will receive a £50 voucher to be spent on anything you like from the online club shop.

In addition, ALL season ticket holders, existing ones and anyone who purchases in the next 100 hours, will be entered into a free draw, with prizes including hospitality for four at a forthcoming home game and a signed Alty shirt...

Said Alty boss Phil Parkinson... 'We have managed to add quality and experience to all areas of the squad, which I'm really excited about, but we all know what can happen during the course of a season, with injuries and suspension, so if we are able to recruit one more, so much the better'".

NEXT OPPONENTS: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

The 21-year-old creative midfielder is the latest addition to Ben Strevens’s squad after impressing in pre-season as Trialist D....

[Manager, Ben] Strevens said 'I was impressed when I used to watch him train at Luton. I’m glad he’s come in and shown the same levels with us over his trial period. We believe he can cover all the midfield positions for us and means we now have good competition for places in that area'...

Having come through Reading's academy, Lawless signed his first professional contract with the club in September 2018... Lawless was released by the club in summer 2021...

In September 2021, Luton Town announced the signing of Lawless... In February 2023, Lawless signed for National League South club Farnborough on a one-month loan deal. At the end of this spell, he joined Dulwich Hamlet until the end of the season".

ALTY OLD BOYS

JACK REDSHAW scored twice as Hyde United won 0-3 at Bootle.

JAMES BERRY scored the final goal as Macclesfield won 0-3 at Buxton. SAM HEATHCOTE was also in their starting XI, while CONNOR KIRBY started for the hosts".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

It’s likely the centre back will unfortunately be out of action for a long time and is likely to miss a large part of the 23/24 campaign.

Christian will be undergoing surgery with a well-renowned specialist surgeon on Tuesday...

First-Team Sports Therapist Liam Charles says 'Christian has responded well to the early stages of rehab. He’s working hard to begin his journey back to full fitness and although it’s going to be a fairly long process, we’re all going to put in the maximum effort to get him back to play some part this season'...

Maghoma [said]... 'I’m gutted to have started my Aldershot career this way but I’m completely focused on fighting back to fitness now'".

On a happier note, Aldershot Town "confirm the signing of promising midfielder Ethan Burnett!

Ethan has been on trial with the Shots since the start of pre-season and has impressed in the centre of midfield. He came through the Southampton Academy ranks before signing for Reading on a free transfer.

The 21-year-old spent time on loan with Havant and Waterlooville last season, making 24 appearances...

[Manager] Tommy Widdrington [said]... 'He has very good pedigree having spent time at both Southampton and Reading and we feel he brings a slightly different skill set to the other central midfielders we have in the group. He has a great engine, and times his arrival into advanced areas very well'".

Meanwhile, Hartlepool United "confirm that Nicky Featherstone has officially left the club. The midfielder leaves after making 380 appearances for the club, leaving him eighth on the all-time list.

Nicky started his career with Pools in October 2014... In the 2021 Promotion Final, Nicky started and captained the side...

After being promoted with Pools, he penned a new deal and went on to play two further seasons in blue and white, both as club captain after Donaldson's departure...

John Askey has added,'He will remembered as a club legend. A great player who offered me great support during last season'".

The Kidderminster Shuttle us that Kidderminster Harriers' "pre-season concluded with a goalless draw at AFC Telford this past Saturday, with Russ Penn’s charges now looking ahead to their first game at this level since 2016...

Harriers return to a very different National League. Big guns Chesterfield, Oldham Athletic, Barnet, Southend and Hartlepool are all among this season’s opposition for the Reds".

Owner, Richard Lane, said of the management duo Russ Penn and Jimmy O'Connor, "They have an extended contract [and] we did that for one reason – we believe in them. They’re learning. They’re two young men and this is their first job in management, and they’re learning very quickly... We have a three-year plan to get out of this league… the feel around this stadium and the whole of Kidderminster is that we’re still bigger than this league we’re in.

'If we can follow in the footsteps of Wrexham and Notts County from last season, that’s what we’ll do in the next two or three seasons.'

Lane, the son of former Harriers Director Graham ‘Rocky’ Lane, assumed control of the club as Owner in 2019".

The already depleted playing squad at Southend United has been further reduced as the club confirms that "Tom Clifford has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent, which has allowed him to join Vanarama National League North club King’s Lynn Town.

Clifford made 62 league appearances and scored five goals, which all came in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns. He also played 63 games for our youth team.

The 23-year-old signed his first professional contract at Roots Hall in 2018".

1 August 2023

CHANGING FACE OF THE JDS

Other visual changes to the appearance of the JDS involve the upgrading of the Fanzone, which is located in the corner of the ground between the Golf Road End and the Popular side as shown below, as Justin Amalozur celebrates his goal last Sunday. Also, the cosmetic appearance of the electronic scoreboard has been improved by the erection of two new boards advertising stadium sponsors J. Davidson, scrap metal processors, either side of the screen.

Above, Justin Amalozur celebrates his goal last Sunday in front of the Fanzone, which regulations insist cannot allow its customers a view of the pitch.

ALTY'S NEW CEO

John explains why he applied for the post and outlines his past experience and future plans. His previous role was at FC Halifax Town as Commercial Director but he was also with Huddersfield Town when they were at Premier League level. In his early career, John worked for Vodafone and his involvement with their sponsorship of Manchester United was his introduction to the football world.

The brief to him from the Altrincham FC Board was summarised by John in one word, "progression", with his short-term objective being "to stand and watch" how the club operates currently before attempting to improve procedures and processes.

VERDICT ON UNITED GAME

NEXT OPPONENTS: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

He told the club website that "It’s been nine long and hard months. It’s such a relief to be back on the pitch after such a long time out... You can’t do much after the surgery and then from there it’s just ups and downs. Some days you feel motivated and get after it, but other days are hard when everyone’s training and your just in the physio room...

"Gaffer [Ben Strevens] and Youngy [Lewis Young] have done such a good job on recruitment and just creating a good atmosphere... I think the plan is to get some more minutes against Northwood and then that will put me in a really good place going into Altrincham next weekend...

Alty last came across Tavares when he was at Wealdstone and he was an unused substitute in the game in London in September 2021.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU 12: LOUI WILLIAMS

He is Loui Williams who has been given number 23 for his shirt in 2023-24. A forward, he was brought up in the Oldham area.

It was in early July 2023 that it was announced that Loui would be assigned a squad number at Altrincham, after two years of playing for the club's Academy team. His route to Altrincham was unusual as it stemmed from Alty player Matty Kosylo putting a leaflet through his door advertising his own coaching business!

Prior to that Loui had not been attached to a club but he soon made an impression in the Altrincham FC Academy set-up.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Club and Darren have been in conversation about this for some time and have mutually agreed due to Darren’s personal circumstances and his need to spend more time with family at this point. Darren has been completing an extended handover into the start of 2023/24 campaign working closely with both the Board and the Manager.

The former Oldham Manager and Newport Director of Football has played a key role in 1st team player signings as well as working with wider football operations including the Academy.

Club Chairman, Raj Singh stated... 'It was clear from the start that Darren would provide great support to the Manager to help build a squad that was ready to compete in whichever league we were in... The search for a new Sporting Director is underway. The Sporting Director role is something that we will ideally look to retain'...

Darren Kelly commented 'I'm very proud of the work that we have done this summer in preparation of trying to get the Club back to where it truly belongs in the football league'".

Unfazed by their chaotic summer off the pitch, Southend United announce that "Jason Demetriou will be joining Kevin Maher’s coaching staff at the start of the 2023/24 season.

Demetriou, who has previously experienced the coaching side of things at Blues in preparation for life after his playing career, will add his knowledge to Maher’s football department alongside first team coaches Darren Currie and Mark Bentley...

Said Demetriou 'I’ve always thought I wanted to go into coaching, and I can’t wait to get going. The gaffer has been great with me since he’s come in... Anything they need me to do I’m happy with, whether that’s with the first team or working with Danny Heath and the youth team. I’ll help out wherever I’m needed, and I feel lucky to come on board'.

The former Cyprus international captain has not retired from playing completely and hopes to continue that when he can be registered... 'Obviously with the embargo we have at the moment we’re only allowed a certain number of players, but hopefully that can get sorted'", he concluded.