NEWS ARCHIVE
October, 2023
31 October 2023
NEXT: SOUTHEND UNITED
Neither Altrincham not Southend United has a fixture this coming weekend after both exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle. And both sides secured an away point last Saturday and are both on good unbeaten runs in the league. The two sides meet in the Vanarama National League at the J. Davidson Stadium on 11 November.The Shrimpers are unbeaten in seven National League games, having won four and drawn three of those fixtures.
Altrincham are unbeaten in nine league outings, having won five and drawn four of those games.
From Roots Hall, Southend United report that "Kevin Maher was happy to come away from Boreham Wood with a point after Blues had to withstand significant pressure from the hosts.
Jack Bridge’s penalty was cancelled out by Érico Sousa to make it seven league games unbeaten, as we continue our recent record of picking up points away from home.
On the game, Maher said 'We had to work hard for it, especially second half. We had to defend our box ever so well'...
The gaffer added 'We lost control of the game a little bit because we were a bit sloppy on the ball. It became a bit of a second-ball game and they’re probably better than us at that'...
1,293 Southend supporters made the trip to Hertfordshire, a magnificent following...
Goalkeeper Nick Hayes put in his best performance since joining the club, making several very impressive saves despite not keeping a clean sheet...
Maher concluded 'You can see the tiredness in the dressing room and that they need a little re-set to come back again strong. We’ll be in Monday and then we’ll try and give them a few days to recover, maybe get away from the club a bit and rest their bodies.'”
ALTY LOANEES
Phil Jordan reports that in their latest fixture, "OLLIE BYRNE was on the bench for the game against Shamrock Rovers as Brooks started again in goal.The match ended 0-0 despite Shamrock having 21 goal attempts, 6 of them on target".
ALTRINCHAM'S PREMIER LEAGUE WINNER RETIRES
He was brought up in Altrincham but now the Metro reports that "Premier League winner and England international Danny Drinkwater has retired from football at just 33 years old.The former Leicester City star has been without a club since being released by Chelsea last year and, despite offers to stay in the game, has decided to hang up his boots.
The midfielder, who won three caps for his country, was a big part of the Foxes team that won the Premier League in 2016 and moved to Stamford Bridge the following year, but his career went downhill from there.
There were loan moves to Burnley, Aston Villa, Kasimpasa and Reading, the last of which was the most successful, but proved to be the last stint in professional football for a man who began his career at Manchester United...rinkwater said... 'I think I’ve been in limbo for too long, I’ve been wanting to play but not getting the opportunities to play at a level where I felt valued...
'If I was playing week in, week out and had to stop through injury or age I think it would be trickier. I’ve had quite a few offers from Championship clubs, but I never felt the burn, it did nothing for me.’".
CHESHIRE NEWS
The BBC confirms that "Non-league Macclesfield have appointed Alex Bruce as manager.Bruce, 39, the son of former Birmingham, Hull City and Newcastle boss Steve Bruce, worked under his dad during his time in charge of West Brom.
He will be assisted by former Manchester United and Burnley defender Phil Bardsley and ex-United academy manager Paul McGuinness.
Bruce starts his first managerial role with the Silkmen seventh in the Northern Premier League..
'Looking at Alex, Paul, and Phil and with my upbringing, the key values of coming through the system at Manchester United is [sic] a fundamental part of why we made these appointments', director of football Robbie Savage told the club website."
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURE
Saturday 4 November 2023- Dorking Wanderers v Dagenham & Redbridge
FA CUP FIXTURES
Just fourteen of the 24 National League clubs remain in the FA Cup as the First Round is played at the weekend. And only four of those teams have a home tie.Saturday 4 November 2023
- Bolton Wanderers v SOLIHULL MOORS
- BROMLEY v Blackpool (ko 5.45pm)
- Chester FC v YORK CITY
- Curzon Ashton v BARNET
- EASTLEIGH v BOREHAM WOOD
- Oxford United v MAIDENHEAD UNITED
- Newport County v OLDHAM ATHLETIC
- Ramsgate v WOKING
- Swindon Town v ALDERSHOT TOWN
- Sutton United v AFC FYLDE
- Yeovil Town v GATESHEAD
Sunday 5 November 2023
- CHESTERFIELD v Portsmouth (ko 12:15pm)
- KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS v Fleetwood Town (ko 2pm)
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
At Rochdale, "Jimmy McNulty says his squad must try to regroup and rest, with a fortnight’s break from action... until the 11th November, when we travel to Wealdstone...
'It's a very welcome break,' said McNulty... We’ve played 18 [league], with a tiny squad.
'We’re very light on depth per position and we’ve had to be creative with playing players in different positions. Jimmy Keohane again today, rotating and ends up as a nine getting on to Kairo’s [Mitchell] flick on.
'We have to do these things, but they won’t always work out... [It is also] some time to hopefully get our injured players nearer to coming back and time to regroup and rest'.
There was better news for Devante Rodney this week, who appeared as a late substitute in Saturday’s win. The striker has been missing for almost all of the campaign due to illness...
'I’ve just got to stay clam about the potential of having Dev with us for the next two weeks, watch this space, and hope that he reacts to the new things he’s doing in the right way'".
30 October 2023
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Alty TV has video highlights of Altrincham's match against Oldham Athletic.
LATICS' LAMENT
The Oldham Times reports that "New Latics boss Micky Mellon... was satisfied with a comeback point in his first home game in charge.
Latics twice came back from behind against Altrincham, with James Norwood scoring the first equaliser before Nathan Sheron rescued a point with a stunning second half strike, after Latics had trailed at half-time.
Mellon was encouraged by the character shown within the game and how it panned out, with Altrincham's second coming courtesy of a farcical penalty award, but also in their recovery from a dreadful defeat at AFC Fylde in midweek.
'We got them in at half-time and just told them to keep going because we hadn't done a massive amount wrong,' said the new Latics boss.
'We can obviously get better at a lot of stuff... but I think we did enough to be in the game, without a shadow of a doubt. I thought we were the better team in what the game was.
'We kept plugging away and we get an unbelievable equaliser, it's a great strike, a fantastic strike. And I think in the end we just ran out of time.
'But it was a better performance, a more controlled performance all round...
'Probably on the balance of the whole game we deserved a victory, but it wasn't to be'", he concluded.
NEXT: SOUTHEND UNITED
Altrincham have no game this Saturday as a aresult of their exit from the FA Cup. So their next match is on 11 November when they welcome Southend United to the J. Davidson Stadium.
From Essex, the Southend Echo tells us that "Southend United defender Harry Taylor will miss the Shrimpers' next match at Altrincham.
Taylor was shown his fifth yellow card of the season towards the end of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood after clashing with Tyrone Marsh.
And the 26-year-old will now serve a one match suspension.
The ban will be Taylor's second of the season after he was also red carded against York City in mid-September".
For their part, Altrincham will welcome back midielder Isaac Marriott for the game against The Shrimpers after he served his one-match suspension last Saturday in the match at Oldham Athletic.
PHIL PARKINSON LINKED TO GRIMSBY VACANCY
The Real EFL claims that "Altrincham’s Phil Parkinson (right) and former Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell are early contenders for the vacant position at Grimsby Town following Paul Hurst’s departure, according to journalist Darren Witcoop.
The North Lincolnshire outfit made the decision after yesterday’s 1-0 defeat away at Doncaster Rovers... which left the club 21st in League Two...
Reports via Darren Witcoop may suggest that Altrincham’s Phil Parkinson is well thought of at the club. Parkinson currently has Altrincham in fifth place in the National League... Another name listed in this report is David Artell. Artell managed Crewe Alexandra for five seasons...
Grimsby Town fans will be pleased to see these names mentioned as potential suitors for the club. This suggests that the board are looking for a progressive, project-based coach".
ALTY LOANEES
Phil Jordan tells us that "OLLIE BYRNE was not included in Cork City's squad for Friday night's Irish Premier Division clash at home to Derry City, his place being taken by Irish U21 international Tiernan Brooks beginning his second loan this season from Notts County. Cork lost 0-1".VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
We learn from the Blackpool Gazette that "AFC Fylde secured a second straight win to move out of the bottom four of the National League with a 4-0 victory at high-flying Gateshead.
Nick Haughton scored twice in the opening nine minutes, first from a free-kick and then from the spot,...
Goals during added time in the second half from Siya Ligendza and Jon Ustabasi completed the resounding triumph...
Chris Beech named an unchanged starting XI to face Gateshead...
The Coasters were then in front on four minutes... It got even better for Fylde with nine minutes played after referee Paul Cooper awarded a penalty when Josh Kay’s attempt from Ustabasi’s cross was handled by Louis Storey.
Up stepped Haughton, who powered his spot-kick in from 12-yards high into the top-right corner beyond Mair...
Coasters interim head coach Beech was sent off late on, but Fylde scored a third on 93 minutes when Ligendza cut inside to drill into the bottom right-corner... and added a fourth when Kay broke forward to play in Ustabasi, who found the bottom corner".
29 October 2023
OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2-2 ALTRINCHAM
Altrincham extended their unbeaten league run to nine matches after withstanding plenty of Oldham pressure in the second half.
Altrincham had Isaac Marriott suspended, and Dior Angus dropped to the bench, so Justin Donawa (right) and James Jones came in.
Oldham likewise had a suspension to deal with; Liam Hogan was out today after being red-carded last time out.
The Latics almost took an early lead when a poor ball from James Jones allowed Lundstram to feed Green. His effort was blocked and the ball came to Hope, who missed badly, hitting his shot over the bar (4 mins).
Indeed the home side had much the better of the opening stages, only for Alty to take a 16th minute lead, when Amaluzor's header from a Conn-Clarke cross found the net.
However, Oldham deservedly levelled in the 31st minute when Lundstram fed Freeman and, in turn, he found Norwood who scored from six yards into the roof of the net.
Altrincham were then awarded a dubious penalty for hands as Hope challenged Donawa. Conn-Clarke sent Hudson the wrong way from the spot to restore Altrincham's lead (36 mins). A great save by Hudson from a Conn-Clarke freekick in added time kept the interval score at 1-2.
With Alty posing little threat after the break, Oldham finally equalised in the eightieth minute from a fine left-foot shot by Sheron.
Match report here.
POST-MATCH PARKINSON
After what he felt was a "far more even game" than last season's 2-2 draw at Oldham, manager Phil Parkinson spoke to Brian Flynn on Alty TV.He described Oldham's late equaliser as a "wonder strike".
LATICS "SHOULD HAVE WON"
Oldham Athletic report that "Latics had to settle for a point at Boundary Park, having to come from behind twice either side of the half.The opening 15 minutes were mesmerising by Micky Mellon’s side, who went forward with attack after attack, and arguably should have been two up by the time Alty took the lead.
Chris Conn-Clarke picked out Justin Amaluzor inside the box, who headed past Hudson to give them the lead.
Norwood equalised from close-range, which was the least Oldham deserved, before Altrincham were controversially handed a penalty for an alleged Hallam Hope handball.
Latics had to battle for an equaliser, but got it when Sheron, for the second time in a week, found the goal with a powerful shot from outside the box
The second half was tougher for Latics, compared to the first, Alty were harder to break down and were happy to slow the game down...
It was all Latics, and an equaliser was the least that they deserved...
Oldham will take a point, but will believe that they should have all three"
ALTY OLD BOYS
Phil Jordan provides a review of the performances of former Alty players and loanees.
League One: JUNIOR QUITIRNA (right) scored both of Fleetwood's goals as they drew 2-2 at Barnsley.
Blackpool were already trailing visitors Peterborough United 2-3 when OWEN DALE came off the bench after 75 minutes, and it finished 2-4.
ALISTAIR SMITH gave Lincoln City the lead at Exeter, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw, and he was substituted at the 90 minute mark.
CARL PIERGIANNI was booked in Stevenage's 3-1 home win over Derby County.
League Two: ELLIOTT NEWBY put in a full shift as Barrow were held to a goalless draw by visitors Salford City.
Neither TOBY MULLARKEY nor LUKE WATERFALL came off the bench as Grimsby Town lost to the only goal of the game at Doncaster Rovers.
Whilst Oldham manager Micky Mellon had to settle for a point against visitors Altrincham this afternoon, his 19 year old son Michael scored a hat trick for Morecambe in a 4-1 home win over AFC Wimbledon. JOEL SENIOR played the full match for the hosts.
CONNOR JENNINGS had an unhappy return to Edgeley Park, playing the full game as Tranmere Rovers, who played most of the second half with 10 men, fell 2-0 to Stockport County.
National League: BILLY SASS-DAVIES was booked again as Boreham Wood were held to a 1-1 draw by visitors Southend United. With DAN MOONEY missing, Southend again fielded only 4 substitutes.
MARCUS DINANGA was booked as Gateshead surprisingly crashed 0-4 at home to AFC Fylde, for whom DANNY WHITEHEAD put in a full shift.
RYAN COLCLOUGH was replaced by JAMES BERRY after 74 minutes as Chesterfield won 1-3 at Kidderminster, for whom ASHLEY HEMMINGS was a 64th minute substitute.
FA Trophy: JAMIE MORGAN (left) put Radcliffe in command at FC United, scoring both of the goals by which they led at the break, but the hosts fought back to earn a penalty shootout. Radcliffe won that 5-4.
JONNY MARGETTS scored Matlock Town's second as they progressed 0-3 at North Ferriby.
ANDY DALES struck twice in Mickleover Sports 0-5 victory at Worksop.
Ireland: BARRY BAGGLEY put in a full shift as Waterford earned a place in the Irish League Division 1 playoff final, beating visitors Athlone Town 3-1 (aggregate 4-2)
Scotland: MILES WELCH-HAYES was on the bench for Livingston as they lost their Scottish Premiership match 0-2 to visitors Dundee. He has still not got onto the pitch for his new club this season.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
After another defeat for his side, speaking to the Hartlepool Mail, manager John Askey said that "he is not thinking about questions over his Hartlepool United future after describing ‘as worse a first half’ as you can see from his side in their defeat to Rochdale.
Hartlepool were beaten for a third successive time in the National League over the course of seven days...
Askey’s side produced a torrid opening 45 minutes which saw them fall 3-0 behind thanks to goals from Cian Hayes, Jimmy Keohane and Ryan East.
Nicky Featherstone gave Pools a glimmer of hope deep into first half stoppage time before Emmanuel Dieseruvwe reduced the score further in the closing stages with his 11th goal of the campaign... as they fell to a 10th league defeat in just 18 games so far this season to drop into the bottom half of the National League table...
It's the second time in their last seven games Hartlepool have lost three consecutive league games... Askey told BBC Radio Tees.... 'When we lose games I hurt, and probably hurt more than anybody else because I feel as though I’m letting the supporters down'...
Explained Askey., 'The first goal kills us.... Their player is able to run straight through which, honestly, from a defensive point of view is ridiculous. It doesn’t seem to matter who plays in the back four or back three, we have issues'".
For Bromley "Deji Elerewe netted his second goal in as many games as the Ravens came away 1-0 winners at Woking on Saturday.
Jude Arthurs returned to the starting line-up for the Ravens, coming in for Ben Krauhaus who served his suspension...
After a very quiet start to the game, the Ravens thought they had a 20 minute opener when... Michael Cheek... fired home. However, the linesman’s flag was raised...
Corey Whitely did well to play a delightful through-ball to Cheek who stung the palms of Will Jaaskelainen before the resulting corner led to Bromley’s winning goal. Arthurs swung in a delightful corner and Elerewe was there to nod home again...
In awful, rainy conditions and facing six added minutes which spilt over to eight, the Ravens held on to clinch another impressive victory.
28 October 2023
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday, 28 October 2023.There were just three home wins on Saturday...
- Boreham Wood 1-1 Southend United
- Dorking Wanderers 2-1 Aldershot Town
- Ebbsfleet United 0-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
- Gateshead 0-4 AFC Fylde
- Hartlepool United 2-3 Rochdale
- Kidderminster Harriers 1-3 Chesterfield
- Maidenhead United 3-2 Eastleigh
- Oldham Athletic 2-2 Altrincham
- Oxford City 0-2 Barnet
- Solihull Moors 1-0 Wealdstone
- Woking 0-1 Bromley
- York City 1-1 FC Halifax Town (k.o. 17:30).
BEFORE THE GAME AT OLDHAM
On the eve of today's match, Oldham Athletic boss Micky Mellon previewed the visit of Altrincham to Boundary Park, following their 3-0 loss at Fylde last time out.Transfer Market has confirmed that Isaac Marriott has incurred a one-match suspension following his fifth yellow card, received against Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday night.
With Joey Jones and George Wilson having been out of action for some weeks, Altrincham are now short of options in midfield as they prepare for the game today.
With 34 yellow cards, Altrincham lie fourth in the National League fairplay table. (Other sources [including Alty Files] record that Alty have only 30 yellow cards in the league this season). Leading the fairplay table are Oxford City, Barnet and Solihull Moors.
Oldham are nineteenth in the ranking but bottom of the fairplay table are Ebbsfleet United.
NOT A WALKOVER FOR ALTY
Warrington Town report that the club's Walking Football group "hosted players from Altrincham FC in... a much anticipated and long-awaited game.This was the first outing for the Yellows as a group, against an experienced in-competition Altrincham side.
Despite the grey and very damp conditions, the home team took advantage of the familiar surroundings and very quickly went two goals ahead.
As the Warrington squad was larger (in number) than their opponents, rolling substitutions had to be made more frequently and this appeared to cause a bit of disruption to the style of play. As a result, Altrincham scored two very quick goals as they got into their stride.
Their big match experience showed, and by half time the home team were 3-2 down.
The second half went very much the way as the latter stages of the first half, with Alty scoring another couple quickly... One more goal each was shared, until the last kick of the game saw Altrincham run out 7-3 winners.
The Enjoy Football/Warrington Town team were not outplayed in the game by any shot... This game was... played in a great spirit befitting of the community aspect that both clubs are trying to achieve for the game.
Geoff Hall, Altrincham captain, said... 'Everyone enjoyed the game and the hospitality...
Highlights from the match can be seen here.
ACCOLADE FOR HARRY
Altrincham FC press and media officer John Edwards reports that "Harry Wood's sterling contribution towards keeping the pitch at The J.Davidson Stadium in tip-top condition has been recognised by the club after he was named as the latest Altrincham FC Volunteer of the Month.
The award is a fitting tribute to the countless hours Harry devotes every week to helping Adam Lawrence and Bryan Ford provide Phil Parkinson's team with a playing surface conducive to their free-flowing style of football.
In the words of Alty groundsman Adam (pictured, right)... Harry has 'done it all, from repairing drains to fixing machinery'...
A native of Mossley, Harry moved to Hale Barns at the beginning of the 1960s and wasted no time deciding where his allegiances lay... It was always Alty for him...
[Harry said] 'I looked after the ground at Bowdon Vale cricket club. I enjoy that sort of work, so when I left the cricket club a couple of years ago, I decided I'd volunteer at Alty... Just before the Cup tie with Oldham, I was fixing a leak in the toilets in the sponsors' lounge, but a pipe hadn't been connected properly, and I got soaked".
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Daily Mirro reports that "Oliver Finney has been suspended by National League side Hartlepool United after being charged with raping a woman following an alleged incident which is claimed to have taken place last year
The alleged incident is said to have happened in 2022, before Finney joined Hartlepool. Cheshire Police has confirmed the 25-year-old will appear at Crewe Magistrates' Court on November 13. Hartlepool have suspended the midfielder pending the investigation...
Finney, from Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, graduated from Crewe Alexandra's academy before making 124 appearances for the Cheshire club, scoring 17 goals. He also completed loan spells at non-league sides Nantwich Town and Halesowen Town.
Finney joined Hartlepool from Crewe on a permanent deal in January. He's since made 20 appearances for Hartlepool... Finney's contract with Hartlepool is due to expire in June 2025. He's primarily a central midfielder but has been deployed as a winger".
Aldershot Town cconfirm that "A deal has been arranged between the club and Reading FC that will see six Reading Academy and one Reading Women’s game hosted at the EBB Stadium.
The first of these games takes place next Monday as Reading Under 21s take on Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League 2...
Entry for all games is FREE to all via the High Street Turnstiles."
No fewer than eight players are out on loan from York City!
"In today’s edition of ‘Loan Watch’, we look back at how some of our players are getting on during loan spells at fellow clubs, as well as their upcoming fixtures.
Finlay Barnes: The young midfielder continues to turn out for National League North side Scarborough Athletic...
Sam Sanders: The 21-year-old continues to turn out on a regular basis for National League South side Truro City...
George Harrison: The young first-year professional recently joined Northern Premier League Division One East side Bridlington Town on a loan deal until the end of the season...
Jonny Haase: The 20-year-old left back continues to make the match day squad at Northern Premier League Division East side Stockton Town...
Maison Campbell: The young goalkeeper recently made a short-term loan deal to Northern Premier League side Marske United...
Kevin Joshua: The 21-year-old has started two of Macclesfield FC’s most recent games, featuring in the heart of the Silkmen’s defence... He hasn’t featured for the last couple of games for the Silkmen...
Cedric Main: The forward has had an enjoyable start to the season with Blyth Spartans since he re-joined his former club on loan until January...
Ethan Henderson: The young forward recently made a one-month loan move to Northern Premier League side Atherton Colleries".
And York Press tells us that "York City have completed the signing of midfielder Olly Green on an initial one-month loan deal from Hull City...
Highly-rated youngster Green was previously captain of Hull City under-18's, before signing professional terms with the Tigers in 2021... before having loan spells with Bridlington Town in 2022 and Markse United...
Green can operate in central midfield...
Manager Neal Ardley said 'Olly is the captain of the Under-23s for Hull City and is a tenacious midfielder who loves to get on the ball and make the team play'".
At Bromley "First-year Pro Rhys Wyborn has joined Combined Counties League Premier Division South side Redhill on a one-month loan.
A product of our Academy, Bromley supporters would have seen glimpses of the full-back in action for the First Team in pre-season... During his time within the Academy, Wyborn was also instrumental in the FA Youth Cup...
Before joining Bromley, he was in the Football League Academy system for seven years".
News comes from Ebbsfleet United that the club has signed "former Gillingham centre-forward Dominic Samuel.
After breaking through the Reading academy, Dominic made his professional debut for the Royals in December 2012. The 29-year-old then stayed at the club for a further five years but enjoyed a number of loan spells including a successful season at Gillingham...
Dominic made the move up north to Blackburn Rovers where he spent three seasons... In 2020, the 6ft 2in striker then made the move back to Gillingham for a further season, before putting pen to paper with Scottish Premiership club, Ross County.
Having spent two years in Scotland, Dominic has now moved back south...
'I’m explosive and a goal threat,' he told the club website".
27 October 2023
ALTY PLAYERS "HURTING" AFTER DRAW
In the Sale & ALtrincham Messenger John Edwards writes that Altrincham boss "Phil Parkinson could not hide his frustration after Altrincham conceded in only the second minute and missed out on a sixth straight National League win in a 1-1 draw with Kidderminster Harriers...
They could not take advantage of a string of second-half chances and had to settle for a point...
'I don’t want to be overly critical of the players, because they have given everything and kept going right to the end, but we can’t start games like that [conceding inside two minutes of kick-off],' said the Alty boss.
'It’s a tough one to swallow, because we let ourselves down really badly in the first two minutes. It’s sickening to concede in that manner and it has cost us maximum points, because without that start, we win 1-0.
'Kidderminster are fighting for their lives, but we dominated from minute two or three onwards and really should be winning games like that. The opening two minutes and poor finishing by us in the second half cost us'".
"Having looked again at the cup tie, I feel we were desperately unlucky to lose. They are a massive club with a big following, but they are not invincible, and if we play to our level, we can take all three points.
'The players are looking forward to it as well, because they are hurting at dropping two points tonight. No one is happy with that, and we want to put it right" concluded the Alty manager.
However, the Latics did knock Altrincham out of the FA Cup at the J. Davidson Stadium a fortnight ago.
The two clubs, with seven draws apiece this season, are top of the National League draws chart.
Last season, neither league fixture took place on a Saturday. The home game at the JDS was a Tuesday night affair which ended 1-0 , thanks to Chris Conn-Clarke's 72nd minute goal,
The return game was on Good Friday and it ended 2-2 with Altrincham snatching two goals in the final ten minutes of normal time, through loanees Oyedele and Sinclair.
Left: Josh Lundstram (left) was an ever-present for Altrincham last season but, he got injured in pre-season for Oldham and has so far made just four starts and a further appearance from the bench for The Latics since recovering. His former midfield partner at Altrincham, Isaac Marriott (right) picked up his fifth booking last Tuesday so is expected to be suspended for Saturday's match.
The Oldham Chronicle adds that "Latics' unbeaten run and rise up the National League table came to an abrupt halt... when bottom of the table AFC Fylde convincingly beat Micky Mellon’s side 3-0...
Prior to the game, Latics had not lost a game in all competitions since losing 3-0 to Bromley in mid-September, winning five and drawing three...
All that changed at Fylde. It was a sluggish performance... with Harrison McGahey dropping to the bench to be replaced by Mark Shelton.
From kick-off they seemed to be second best and were punished with two early goals in quick succession.
From then onwards it was an uphill battle for Oldham, made worse when captain Liam Hogan was dismissed for two bookings shortly before half time... The second half continued in a similar vein with Latics seemingly outrun in midfield...
Their next game will be a tough one when they host Altrincham at Boundary Park on Saturday".
Left to right: Ollie Crankshaw, Joey Jones, Matty Kosylo, Regan Linney, George Wilson.
In addition both James Jones and Gerald Sithole have recently returned to action after missing four and three successive league fixtures respectively.
The tricky forward joins the Hoops after leaving Hungerford Town last season...
Ofosu has youth experience at Stevenage and enjoyed subsequent loan spells at Mildenhall Town and Kings Langley in 2018.
He moved permanently from Stevenage to St Neot's Town but soon joined Biggleswade Town. He then joined Royston Town and his good form caught the eye of Hartlepool United (and their then-manager David Challinor), and the Poolies won the race for his signature in 2020.
He went on to make 12 appearances for Hartlepool... He then moved to Kettering... before again moving, to Spennymoor Town for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.
Hoops fans may be familiar with Ofusu, after he appeared for both Weymouth and Hungerford Town last season in the National League South".
McLean joins the Reds on a deal until January.
He performed outstandingly for Hereford in National League North between 2021 and 2023 and earned his EFL move to Wimbledon in the summer".
McLean was on the bench for the match at Altrincham last Tuesday but he did not get on the pitch.
Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb is furious that the Football Association failed to overturn the decision...
Referee David Richardson felt that Cisse had raised his arms after trying to separate the Fleet’s Hayden White and Fylde’s Josh Kay.
The Fylde midfielder dramatically went down holding his neck but the video doesn’t show any raised arms from Cisse, a view believed to be shared by the match observer.
'We didn’t win the appeal because the footage was not clear and obvious,' said Kutrieb... 'I’m struggling to accept it and I think our club is struggling to accept it'...
'The only thing you can do about it is to work harder and if you have the feeling something is not fair, and it’s obvious to see in the footage that it’s not a red card, then you need to make sure that you get the luck on your side',said Kutrieb."
Meanwhile, Ebbsfleet United add that they have signed "21-year-old centre back Mustapha Olagunju on loan until the end of January.
The 6ft 3in defender joins on loan from Championship side Huddersfield Town... Senior football experience came with loan spells in the Northern Premier League at Tadcaster Albion and seven appearances in Kent with Welling United... He made his EFL debut the following season when he appeared for Port Vale...
'I’m a ball playing centre back and I’m good in the air which are my main two strengths but I also defend on the front foot' Mustapha told the club website".
And as one arrives, another leaves as Ebbsfleet United confirm that "Shaq Coulthirst will head to the National League South with Braintree Town on loan until the end of January.
Coulthirst has made 11 appearances for the Fleet this season in all competitions, with an overall total of 63 appearances for the club since he joined from Billericay back in January 2022".
Cox confirmed that the club had agreed a deal to send Hancox out-on-loan from the club, but the midfielder opted to stay put... Cox is eager for Hancox to prove that he can have an impact in this squad, and wants the 29-year-old to work harder on the training pitch...
'Now we’ve got a couple of injuries he has been back in the squad, everyone has a chance of playing with all of these injuries but at the moment we are staying as what we are...
'Other people have been out of the picture and worked hard, that’s what he’s got to do as well... He’s been training really hard and he’s good to have around the place, hopefully he can get an opportunity... The lads that aren’t playing need to push themselves a little bit more...
'It’s a mentality we need to get into this football club... We need people super fit to play for this football club.'”
Also at York City the club confirms the "capture of goalkeeper George Sykes-Kenworthy on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee from Bradford (Park Avenue)... having featured 88-times for The Green Army across a spell just shy of two years.
The now 24-year-old started his footballing journey with Bradford City... He later joined Stalybridge Celtic... appearing 11 times in all competitions for the Celts". Loans at Stafford Rangers and Guiseley followed before "His senior Bradford City debut... in the EFL Trophy in September 2019....
Sykes-Kenworthy then spent a season with Derby County’s under-23 side after departing Bradford City in the summer of 2020... A deal with Boston United was agreed on the eve of the 2021/22 season... before settling at Bradford (Park Avenue) later that year...
Neal Ardley said 'George is a player who I did a lot of work on during the summer, and he... impressed me a lot'".
Match report here.
Right: On a misty night at Moss Lane, Lewis Banks (right) and Alex Newby take a drink break during the game against Kidderminster whilst (left to right) Eddy Jones, Lewis Baines, Isaac Marriott and Dior Angus head to the touchline for a refresher.
Kidderminster's assistant manager, Jimmy O'Connor, paid credit to Altrincham in his post-match interview, rating the Harriers' point from the game as one of the best points they had gained this season.
However, with the team now unbeaten in eight league fixtures, and lying fifth in the National League, with a game in hand, he asserted that Altrincham FC is "not a yoyo team anymore", alluding to the club's four relegations from the top flight of non-League football and four returns to the National League since 1997.
In the above-mentioned interview with Brian Flynn, the Alty boss indicated that a factor in that decision is the impending return of several long-term injured players.
Regan Linney, George Wilson and Matty Kosylo are all cited to be making good progress towards returns to action in the near future.
No mention was made of Joey Jones who is believed to have a foot injury and is currently walking with a surgical boot on his right leg, nor of Liam Brockbank who, like all of the above-named players, has been in regular attendance at Altrincham games this season following his ACL injury. In addition it has previously been announced that Ollie Crankshaw will miss the entire season following his ACL injury.
It says, "Further to [the] Northern Premier League Premier Division fixture against Worksop Town, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to part company with Head Coach Mark Duffy, Assistant Head Coach Sammy McIlroy, and Head Goalkeeper Coach Dean Baker.
In addition to this, Head of Recruitment Jimmy Holmes will also be leaving his role at the Football Club. All four individuals have been a pivotal factor in all that we have achieved to date and without them, none of this would have been possible...
The challenges we have faced since being promoted to the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League have meant that changes need to be made... Four defeats in the last five games sadly have forced our hand...
.
Whilst accepting the fact that the campaign remains in its early stages, the stark reality is that if our current form is allowed to continue unchecked then our objectives for the season would be placed in jeopardy. Quite simply, we are not prepared to risk that".
In attendance at Altrincham's midweek game against Kidderminster was KEN MCKENNA, whilst JOHN TIMMONS was a participant in the opposition as Altrincham FC's walking football team played a recent friendly fixture.
'After the events of last season and given the sentiments shared by some supporters, I felt that I must put the Club up for sale...
'Upon making the sale public in April I asked any interested parties to provide basic details including how they would take Hartlepool United forward as well as an initial proof of funds...
'A number of enquiries did come in. Several were speculative and timewasting. The factual position is that, despite trying to find a buyer, nobody at this point has come forward with both intent and initial proof of funds to take over Hartlepool United...
'One aspect that has been an evident issue during this process is the Club’s lack of ground ownership. That point was obviously something that I had been looking to address with the local authority longer term. It is unlikely that an international standard investor will step into a Club that doesn’t own its own ground with the potential to develop it for additional revenue streams.
'In light of there being no immediate outright buyer, I have more recently asked to explore whether a small number of local investors might collaboratively come together to take shareholding in the Club...
'Looking ahead, the Club will still formally remain up for sale and I will continue to proactively engage in the process... I will not stand in the way of other another owner or investors who have the right intentions and backing...
'In the interim I will continue to support the running of the Club in a professional manner... and I have reiterated to John Askey, the staff and the team that they have my full backing. We have been exceptionally unlucky with injuries to key players at the start of this season...
'Finally, and once again I ask fans to remember that we are all human and that potential owners, investors and even players will look at us during this process.'”
Both players have featured regularly under manager Neal Ardley over the last month, after the duo signed from Barnsley and Harrogate Town respectively...
The 20-year-old [Marsh] has extended his loan deal for a further month...
Will Smith has enjoyed a fine run of games in the Minstermen back-line, which has seen him make eight appearances over the last month... The 24-year-old has extended his loan deal with the club for an extra month".
Above: Altrincham players joined in the minute's silence before the match in memory of Bobby Charlton.
Altrincham made life difficult for themselves right from the start, conceding a dreadful own goal after just 75 seconds. Oxlade-Chamberlain's long throw from the left was headed back towards his own goal by an Altrincham player and then Angus attempted to hook it clear in front of the near post. Unfortunately, he only managed to deflect the ball past Ross and it went into the net near the back post with the Harriers' captain, Pearce, initally credited with scoring. This was later amended to an own goal by Dior Angus.
Altrincham got themselves level on the 28th minute when Banks took a throw on the right and received the ball back from Amaluzor, ahead of him, before the Alty right-back scored a well-taken equaliser with a low left-foot shot past goalkeeper Dibble.
The Harriers goalkeeper had been winding down the clock since early in the second half and continued to do so with impunity, the ineffectual referee only booking him finally in the 85th minute and failing to add on any meaningful time at the end of the game.
But Altrincham can only blame themselves for failing to convert their superiority into a second goal with several decent chances being wasted by errant shooting and many moves breaking down on the fringes of the opposition box. Meanwhile Kidderminster manager Russell Penn will be proud of his obdurate defence.
To compound a disappointing night, captain Isaac Marriott picked up his fifth yellow card of the league season.
Match report here.
League Two: TOBY MULLARKEY was substituted at half time as Grimsby Town fell 2-3 at home to Colchester United.
National League: JOSH LUNDSTRAM was substituted after 66 minutes as 10 man Oldham Athletic went down 3-0 at AFC Fylde, for whom DANNY WHITEHEAD was booked.
BILLY SASS-DAVIES scored Boreham Wood's equaliser at Dagenham & Redbridge, and they went on to win 1-3.
MARCUS DINANGA was booked as Gateshead came from two goals down at half time to force a 2-2 draw at Rochdale despite going down to 10 men after 78 minutes.
NPL: JACK REDSHAW scored the clincher as Hyde United won 2-0 at home to Ilkeston Town.
JONNY MARGETTS opened the scoring from the spot, then added the second as Matlock Town won 2-0 at home against Basford.
JUDE OYIBO scored the second goal, with JORDAN HULME being credited with the assist, as Radcliffe triumphed 3-1 at home against Stafford Rangers. They remain 8 points clear at the top of the league.
Irish playoffs: BARRY BAGGLEY played the whole match as Waterford drew their semi final away leg 1-1 at Athlone.The second leg at Waterford is on Saturday afternoon.
Over the past decade Altrincham have reached thirty points from the start of a season after the following number of games had been played.
2017-18 saw the quickest run to 30 points of the past decade but that was achieved two levels further down the pyramid than the club's current status.
Before Tuesday night's games, Oldham Athletic reminded us that hewly appointed manager Mick Mellon "oversaw a dramatic win in his first game as manager, Latics scoring four times to secure maximum points in the derby at Rochdale...
'The win on Saturday gives us a good position to work forward from,' he said. 'It was the first time the players have come together as a group for me and it’s now down to us to build on that...
'We want to develop a way of playing and for the players to become consistenly good at that'...
'We’ve got a good squad... We are still without Brennan Dickenson but Dan Ward trained on Monday. It was his first time back with the main group and hopefully after a full week, he might be able to come back into things towards the weekend'", which is when Oldham host Altrincham.
It will be six years since Altrincham last played on that date in a home tie in the FA Trophy against Clitheoe, which Altrincham won 3-0.
24 October 2023
Early this season, The Harriers went eleven games without a win, including eight defeats in that sequence. But October started with Kiddy winning three games on the trot without conceding a goal.
The winning sequence started with a 1-0 win at Dorking, followed by a similar winning margin at home to Wealdstone. Next came a 3-0 win over Ashton United in the FA Cup.
However, that winning run ended with a 2-1 league reverse at The Shay against FC Halifax Town last weekend.
The Harriers start tonight's game second bottom of the National League with 13 points from 16 matches, whereas Altrincham are now fifth with 27 points from 15 matches, having dropped a place through their fixture on Saturday against Dorking Wanderers being postponed.
For that game, without Disney, Taylor, Hannigan, Amis, Short and Sheridan, Altrincham had made one change to the starting eleven as Densmore replaced Short at left-back. After a fairly tight first half in which Altrincham did not get ahead till the 36th minute, when James Poole's well-struck effort from outside the box gave them the lead, the second half witnessed an improved performance from the hosts.
Three goals in the final 16 minutes of a wet second half left Altrincham comfortable winners by the final whistle. Hulme headed in a Johnston cross from the left to make it 2-0 in the 74th minute. Substitute Peers played in Richman, who had earlier picked up a fifth yellow card and a suspension, to score his side's third goal. And, finally, keeper Powell made a hash of a Johnston freekick, from well right of the goal, to concede the fourth in the 87th minute.
With this result, Altrincham went three points clear at the top of the league table, but Shaw Lane had two games in hand.
The attendance was just 618.
Disney, Taylor, Hannigan, Amis, Miller, Sheridan and Short all missed this game, so Densmore came in at left-back for the last-named player.
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Joel BEMBO-LETA, 3. Shaun DENSMORE, 4. James JONES, 5. Ben HARRISON, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. John JOHNSTON, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. James POOLE, 11. Josh HANCOCK. Subs: 12. Max HARROP, 14. Tom PEERS, 15 Sean MILLER 16. Callum JONES 20. Tim DEASY
Caden Gibson reports on this clas "between the Academy sides of Altrincham and Morpeth Town...
Alty started the sharper of the two sides... However, they were unable to make their superiority count, and the game remained level...
Morpeth began to grow into the game... The pressure was too much for Alty to withstand, and they soon found themselves 1-0 behind...
Altrincham’s domination of the game proved to be ineffective as Morpeth extended their lead... After the half-time break, Morpeth saw themselves go 3-0 up...
Squad on the day: Tyler Heyes, Will Knowles, Caden Gibson, Ethan Cosgrove, Jacob Hill, Mo Suwareh, Remi Raymond, Kian Gonzalez, Henry Shaw, Ollie Dixon, Vlad Shtyhlian, Ryan Knowles, Nathan Wood, Charley Jarrald".
"The Altrincham Academy were looking to bounce back from back-to-back defeats against Chester and Fylde...
It was an underwhelming start from the young Robins, as they fell behind very early into the game... It quickly got worse for the hosts, as some poor defending from a corner allowed Boston to double their lead...
With some attacking substitutions, the momentum seemed to be in the young Robins’ favour...
A terrible tackle brought Edson Cata down in the box for an Altrincham penalty... but a great save was made by the Boston goalkeeper...
From this point onwards, Alty’s heads dropped... the youngsters go[ing] four down... In the last few minutes of the game, Boston jumped on an Alty mistake and scored their fifth goal of the game..
Squad on the day: Dane Byron, Sam Bonney Phillips, Joel Bailey, Kaiden Powell, Ian Jose, Harry Douglas, Max Whittle, Alfie Curwen, Kyran Webster, Afernee Denise, Harrison Howells, Alfred Igbinake, Jack Chandler, Edson Cata.
The left-sided defender holds a good pedigree, spending over 12 seasons in the Championship with the likes of Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United.
Mattock, who holds nearly 500 career appearances, has also won promotion from League One on three occasions. He joins from Harrogate, having been at the EnviroVent Stadium since June 2022".
The Hartlepool Mail adds that "Kieran Burton and Edon Pruti have both left Hartlepool United on short-term loan deals...
John Askey has sanctioned the loan exits of defensive duo Burton and Pruti who both leave the club on short-term loan deals to Darlington and Farnborough respectively.
Askey’s decision may come as a surprise given Hartlepool’s struggles with injuries throughout the opening months of the season; Sunderland loanee Zak Johnson the latest to pick up an injury when limping off in the 2-1 defeat to Aldershot Town.
Both can occupy the left-sided centre-back position Johnson has been operating in... But both players have struggled to force their way into Askey’s squad this season – Pruti having made just two appearances... and Burton making three appearances totalling less than 100 minutes having started in just one of those games."
A 5-0 win over Solihull Moors on Saturday [was] Blues’ third straight league win, all with clean sheets to go with them.
Maher said 'It was good afternoon in terms of performance and result, everything you’d want. It’s important to... keep the levels of performance there and make sure complacency doesn’t set in'...
Jason Demetriou’s injury inside the first 15 minutes against the Moors looks to have compounded Maher’s current selection headache, with the gaffer confirming that Demetriou will be out for a 'number of weeks'".
Whilst Alty had to sit out last Saturday owing to a waterlogged pitch at the J. Davidson Stadium, their next opponents Kidderminster Harriers were in action but "lost by the odd goal in three... going down 2-1 at FC Halifax Town.
Amari Morgan-Smith’s fourth goal of the season wasn’t enough to rescue a share of the spoils for Harriers, who conceded either side of the effort.
In the first half at The Shay and in added time at the climax, Harriers had enough chances to have won a couple of games but were ultimately left to rue not pouncing on at least a couple more of them...
Before the half hour, Halifax were ahead with virtually their first effort of the game as Alli planted a header past Christian Dibble, but Harriers responded excellently – and quickly. First, Hemmings had an effort hook off the line, then Morgan-Smith smashed the ball home after Zak Brown had headed a Hemmings ball on to the bar...
Halifax re-establish[ed] their lead early after the break as Alli slotted in a second from close range.
The visitors saw their enthusiasm dented slightly by the second goal, but regrouped to rally again inside the final quarter-hour...
Harriers and their 150 fans threw absolutely everything at it, but came away empty handed, the hosts proving accurate to a deadly degree in scoring from pretty much all of their chances to claim all three points".
Kidderminster Harriers: 21. Christian Dibble, 2. Alex Penny, 3. Caleb Richards, 5. Krystian Pearce (c), 9. Amari Morgan-Smith, 10. Ashley Hemmings, 12. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14. Zak Brown, 20. Sammy Robinson, 22. Barry Maguire, 24. Bailey Hobson. Subs: 1. Tom Plamer, 6. Reiss McNally, 7. Kieran Phillips, 18. Kai Lissimore, 28. Kobe Hall
Manager Paul Carden said 'He was at the club last season and did well. We spoke to him in the summer but he had a trial lined up at another club, unfortunately he then got injured and was out quite a while, he’s since done his rehab and was training a lot with Altrincham. He recently played a game for them so were able to sign him on dual registration terms.
'He’s obviously known in the dressing room and to the fans, they’ll know what qualities he brings. He’ll give us that balance again with Perry’s injury, we want to give Perry the time to get that right as he’s the kind of player who’ll play with a knock. Sean comes into that position and he’s someone who’s been on the radar for some time'".
Ochieng made 11 appearances for Aldershot after joining from Chelmsford City last season...
First-Team Manager Tommy Widdrington said 'Henry was finding it more and more difficult to get game time here this season as we have adapted the style of play from whence he arrived.”
'He’s a great character, and we thank him for all his efforts and appreciate his contribution towards the end of last season'".
Parker scored from the spot after Pierre Fonkeu was tripped inside the box. However, a Olufela Olomola double and an injury time strike from Louis Dennis secured all three points for the hosts.
Ross Jenkins almost struggled to field a squad with the amount of absentees in his squad. Canice Carroll missed the game with illness, whereas Tom Harrison also was absent through injury.
There was still no Reece Fleet, Josh Ashby, Nya Kirby, Aaron Williams-Bushell or Alfie Potter. Joe Wilson was handed a debut and Josh Parker returned to the starting eleven from international duty, in a game where the Hoops could only name four substitutes...
It didn’t take long for Bromley to take the lead.... City’s walking wounded could’ve collapsed... However, City responded in positive fashion and levelled the scores in the 20th minute.
Despite City’s positive performance, the hosts took the lead for a second time... Dennis did grab a third goal for his club in the dying moments...
It was a tough afternoon for a depleted City side who gave it their all, and perhaps the scoreline flattered their hosts".
After putting in a poor first half, part-time Altrincham upped their tempo and emerged with an ultimately deserved point against full-time Kidderminster. The visitors closed down Alty effectively in a first 45 minutes during which the hosts failed to land a shot on target.
Harriers took a deserved 20th minute lead when the impressive right-back Austin got up the right and his cross was missed by an Alty defender allowing Butterfield a free header, which gave Thompson no chance.
Belatedly, Alty came to life in the final five minutes of the first half but still trailed at the interval and they could have few complaints at that situation.
The second half brought both a better Altrincham performance and an improved spectacle. The equalizer arrived in the 74th minute. Alty had just won a corner and substitute Wall came on and his first act was to take the flag-kick. His corner was put into the net at the back post from close range by Moult after an initial attempt from a team-mate had been blocked.
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 3. Andy WHITE, 4. James JONES, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. Ethan WALKER 8. Sean WILLIAMS, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Tom PEERS. Subs: 12. Max HARROP, 14. Luke WALL, 15. Simon RICHMAN, 16. Toby Mullarkey, 17. Shaun DENSMORE, 20. Liam BLACKBURN.
The club explains that "Joining the traditional red and white striped home and the iconic navy and yellow sash away shirt is the new Altrincham FC third shirt for the 2023/24 season.
Produced by our technical partners, Puma Football, the shirt once again features Puma's DryCELL technology.
There are a limited number of shirts available and once they are gone they are gone!"
Footnote: The new shirt is white with a red pinstripe and black sleeves.
"Championship: DUNCAN WATMORE was not in Millwall's squad as they recovered from being a goal down in only 3 minutes to force a 1-1 draw at Preston.
League One: OWEN DALE was booked in Blackpool's 1-1 draw at Oxford United.
League Two: JOEL SENIOR's added time strike earned Morecambe a 2-3 win at Sutton United.
National League: JOSH LUNDSTRAM was booked early in the second half for visitors Oldham Athletic, while hosts Rochdale substituted TYRESE SINCLAIR just before the hour mark. Oldham took the derby day bragging rights, winning 3-4..
National North: JOSH AMIS scored Warrington Town's third in their 1-4 win at Bishops Stortford.
CONNOR BRANSON scored the last goal of the game for Farsley Celtic, but visitors Brackley Town were in total control, winning 1-4.
NPL: JOE PIGGOTT scored the only goal of the game as Warrington Rylands won at home to Hyde. OWEN GERMAN made his debut for the hosts."
The former Cambridge United and Tranmere boss joins Latics as part of the new-look coaching staff under Micky Mellon.
The 52-year-old, who also enjoyed a successful playing career spanning nearly two decades, has also managed Luton and held coaching roles at Blackpool and Port Vale.
As part of the new set-up, Paul Murray will remain involved with the first team in a coaching capacity whilst continuing his role as Academy Manager...
The pinnacle of Brabin’s playing career came during the mid-1990s with Blackpool, where he played alongside Mellon...
Meanwhile, Benny Couto has extended his loan deal at Ashton United until the end of the season.
Couto joined the Robins on loan last month, making seven appearances so far".
Alty's next fixture is on Tuesday evening at home to Kidderminster Harriers.
Last season's league postponements numbered seven, of which just three were due to adverse weather:
The 27-year-old has penned a contract at the Leap76 Stadium until the end of the 2024/25 season, returning to the club he made his senior debut for almost ten years ago.
Peers scored 24 goals last term for fellow National League North side Curzon Ashton, before making the switch to the Silkmen in the summer. He has scored twice in just six starts so far this campaign...
Tom said... 'It felt like the right thing to come back'...
Manager Calum McIntyre [said]... 'His record at this level speaks for itself and for us to have signed a forward that scored over 20 goals last season is enormous for us...
'He is powerful, athletic and his goal return stands up to anyone at this level. He has won promotion from this division, knows the club and is the right age profile to really improve us'...
Peers made his senior debut for the Blues against Braintree Town on 7th December 2013".
Phil Jordan advises us that "BARRY BAGGLEY was substituted after 61 minutes as Waterford won their final league match of the season 2-0 at home to Treaty United. They now face a two-legged play off next week against Athlone, who took 4 points off them in the two league meetings this season.
Having been booked earlier, CONNOR JENNINGS scored for Tranmere Rovers, but they couldn't complete the fightback and lost 1-2 at home to Doncaster Rovers."
The midfielder made his Aldershot Town professional debut in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Lewes in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round...
Tommy Widdrington said 'Keane has impressed us all in training and when playing in the development group matches.
'After making his First-Team debut last weekend, we feel that getting competitive matches and minutes under his belt is the right next step for him'...
Two other young Shots have also recently received loan moves...
Ashley Akpan‘s successful loan with Hartley Wintney in step 4 recently ended but the right-back has now made the move up to step 3 as he joins Gosport Borough...
George Milner-Smith has joined Northwood FC, who currently sit 17th in the Isthmian League South Central Division (step 4)".
It is a condition of the sale, requested by the consortium, that the share capital in the Club be increased. The Club’s shareholders have been invited to a meeting to consider a debt to equity resolution to facilitate this.
My group of companies holds sufficient voting rights to ensure that the resolution is passed, but legal formalities need to be followed, including a statutory notice period of not less than 21 days, which means completion cannot be considered until 17 November.
Once the resolution is passed, and other due diligence items are successfully completed, the Club will be acquired by the consortium. s
The tie will be all-ticket".
Tickets for the tie are now on sale online... Season ticket holders will have until 9am on Wednesday to claim their seat".
Extensive works have continued over the week to make sure that the second kiosk is fully functional for Saturday’s fixture against York City...
The South Stand has also had the installation of Guinness on draught for supporters to purchase for £4.90 a pint as well as other options of drinks.
After taking on supporter feedback, we’ve sourced whiskey barrels for supporters in the concourse to rest food and drinks on.
Rollover hotdogs and cornish pasties will be on sale for supporters to buy in the concourse".
The midfielder, 33, joins the National League South side through to the end of the season.
Willmott made one start for the Cardinals and featured off the bench eight times".
The 18-year-old midfielder, who completed his scholarship during the last two seasons at Boundary Park, joins the U21 set-up at Oakwell after an agreement was reached between the clubs.
Aaron has been with Latics since signing as an U15 from Blackburn Rovers, progressing through the academy and continuing his development in the Youth Team".
Looking to pull away as the record appearance holder for Montserrat, Dyer played the full 90 minutes of back-to-back, in two 3-0 defeats to Nicaragua in the CONCACAF Nations League...
Exciting prospect Bartolo featured three times for the Gibraltar U19s in their U19 European Championship Qualifier campaign. The electric forward started the defeat to Hungary and came off the bench in the two defeats to Latvia and Norway".
20 October 2023
With another home fixture on Tuesday, against Kidderminster Harriers, Altrincham will be hoping for an improvement in the weather between now and then.
Following a very successful loan spell in The North West Counties Football League Premier Division, at Wythenshawe Town, injuries to George Wilson and then Joey Jones led to the central midfielder being recalled early from that loan spell.
He is now moving up two divisions, to the Northern Premier League, Premier Division outfit under the tutelage of Michael Clegg, [who was briefly employed by Altrincham in a scouting role and] who has an outstanding record of developing young talent".
Footnote: This season Owen has made one start, playing the full ninety minutes against 1874 Northwich in the CSC. He also netted a penalty in the shoot-out of that match to help Altrincham progress to the Second Round.
He was also an unused sub in the FA Cup tie against Oldham Athletic as well as occupying the same role for the three most recent National League games.
Last season he made 1(+1) appearances, both of which were in the Cheshire Senior Cup.
A "deep-lying" midfielder, Owen made his debut for Altrincham in the Cheshire Senior Cup on 11 October 2022 at Sandbach. Despite only being seventeen he had already captained the Altrincham FC Academy side on occasions.
He is a product of the Crewe Alexandra youth system, having spent more than a decade at Gresty Road before his release at the age of sixteen. In early 2023 he went on loan at Irlam in the North West Counties League Premier Division. In late April 2023 he was an unused sub for Altrincham in the Cheshire Senior Cup Final at Moss Lane.
Despite not having made a league appearance, his promise was such that he was signed up for the first-team squad for 2023-24. However, on 27 July 2023, it was announced that Owen was going on a season-long loan to Wythenshawe Town, which was curtailed owing to injuries to other sqaud members, as the above statement from the club confirms.
Get Surrey reports that "Marc White drowned his sorrows in carbs after Dorking Wanderers' FA Cup exit...
The Wanderers chairman and manager was nearly at a loss for words after his full-strength side... were comprehensively dumped out of the FA Cup on Saturday by Horsham of the Isthmian League Premier Division (Step 3)...
The visiting team... failed to register a real goal-scoring opportunity throughout the 90, just hitting long-balls, aiming for Jason Prior and Harry Ottaway but instead finding the heads of Horsham defenders...
Admitting it was one of the worst performances he’s seen in the two and a half decades since he formed the club, White apologised to the club’s supporters...
'Yeah, can I get that sausage pizza and also some curly fries?' White interrupted the interview to say into his phone, before explaining 'comfort food'...
'The players let us down and the club down. The management team couldn’t have set them up any differently from what we did. The players were [very] dreadful. Yes, we have injuries so we don’t have our strongest hand to play, but we have players here who are paid double what Horsham pay.'"
We are aware of an incident which took place during Saturday’s FA Cup fixture against Oldham Athletic where a visiting Oldham supporter close to the segregation line was struck on the head by an object.
The club would like to make it absolutely clear that we abhor violence in all its forms and will take the strongest action possible, including pursuing stadium bans...
We will be conducting a thorough investigation into this matter and would appeal to any fans who may have witnessed the incident to please come forward and help us to identify any perpetrators. Any information will be received in complete confidence, and can be provided either by calling the office (0161 928 1045), visiting us in person or by email to the club secretary.
An independent regulatory commission found Haigh guilty... The commission said his behaviour in the incident after February's game against Stockport was 'appalling'...
Haigh and [a] reporter initially exchanged words when the latter walked across the pitch to the tunnel at Spotland... Haigh was unhappy that the complainant was doing so, despite the fact others had done the same... The groundsman then confronted the reporter for a second time as he looked to leave the ground, and it is then that the abuse is said to have taken place".
Miley suffered the injury in the 2-0 win at Woking at the start of October... Miley started all 50 games for the Shrimpers last season and was voted the club's player of the year".
Meanwhile, the Southend United manager "Kevin Maher says Solihull Moors will be a 'tough nut to crack'... on Saturday.
Andy Whing’s side went 14 games unbeaten to start the season and sit comfortably in 3rd...
Maher said 'We want to pick up where we left off in the league away at Woking. Solihull will cause us problems'...
'It’s always an ongoing thing with injuries and a bit of illness. Dan Mooney’s stomach was in a bad way last week so we’ll see how he goes. Callum Powell’s been put in a brace for a number of weeks... Cav Miley’s had a scan and it looks like he’ll be out for a number of weeks. [Nathan Ralph]’s... not joined in training.”
Jon Benton arrives at Moors on a 1.5 year deal from National League South side Aveley, with the option of an extra year.
The creative midfielder counts Braintree, Aveley and Southend United as his former clubs...
Benton recently left Southend in the summer before joining Aveley on a permanent basis...
Benton said... 'I'm an attacking midfielder, very technical and I like to get on the ball and create chances and make stuff happen'"
19 October 2023
Their finishing positions since 2020 have been as follow:
By way of comparison, at the same satge of the league season (ignoring the fact that the season had fewer fixturws in 2020-22) the relative playing records were:
Clearly the current league position is the best yet in this period but, in all the three previous seasons, the finishing position has been lower than that held after fifteen games. So supporters will be hoping to have broken that pattern by the end of the current campaign.
Kieran Weledji and Luca Colville gave Scarborough Athletic a 2-0 lead at the break after a tepid first half showing from City.
However, two goals in quick succession from Tom Harrison and Latrell Humphrey-Ewers in the final 10 minutes brought the Hoops level.
There was though more late drama when Lewis Maloney smashed in a wonder strike during injury time...
The Seadogs took the lead midway through the first half... Colville doubled the Scarborough lead in first half stoppage time...
The second period followed a similar pattern to the first half, with City unable to carve out any openings...
Two quickfire goals pulled the Hoops level [before]... Maloney’s wonderful dipping volley in stoppage time sailed into the roof of the net from 25 yards".
The Maidenhead Advertiser tells us that "Slough Town will host EFL side Grimsby Town in the first round of the FA Cup after overcoming Ebbsfleet United...
Having been pegged back twice by Fleet in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at the Kufflink Stadium.... goals from Josh Jackman and Matty Lench in the latter stages of the first half gave the home side an advantage they refused to relinquish...
Ebbsfleet handed a first start to former Liverpool and Bournemouth player Jordon Ibe... From the first whistle, it was Slough who caused the problems and carved out the best opportunities...
The opening goal arrived just after the half-hour mark when captain Josh Jackman... rifled a low shot into the bottom corner...
In the 42nd minute, they made it 2-0, when Lench was afforded time and space on the edge of the area and hammered the ball past Mark Cousins...
While Ebbsfleet saw plenty of the ball, they struggled to create clear-cut chances".
After it looked like the Marketmen had held the Vanarama National League outfit to another goalless affair, Tyler Cordner swung at a volley at the back post in the 92nd minute, that deflected agonisingly past Marcus Garnham...
'I’m gutted for the lads but I’m so proud of them. So proud of them. I can feel their pain but that gives me more belief with what this group’s about... They’re the best group I’ve ever managed and I’m proud to be their manager...
At Bloomfields, Needham took the game to the side that sat 34 places above them before kick-off and could have taken the lead in the tie, if it was not for Rory Watson in the York goal".
The Heed have lost manager Mike Williamson to MK Dons... Williamson, a former Newcastle United defender, has been replaced by another ex Toon player in Rob Elliott. The goalkeeper has taken over on an interim basis and he will be assisted by Louis Storey and Carl Magnay.
'It’s important for the players to know that things aren’t going to change from what we’ve been doing,' Elliott said".
And although Macclesfield have numerous ex-Robins to call on, only SAM HEATHCOTE was involved in their 1-2 win at Marine".
Above: It got congested in the Alty goalmouth whenever Warrington won a corner kick! Coincidentally, the referee, seen here, was Mr Dale Baines, who officiated at Moss Lane last Saturday when Oldham Atheltic were the visitors.
On an afternoon when the squally wind and heavy rain were the only winners, Altrincham were unable to convert their general superiority into a goal at Cantilever Park. But, with Shaw Lane also drawing, Alty remained top of the table on goal difference and went on to clinch the title and promotion to National League North.
Tuesday, 17 October
Williamson arrives at Stadium MK following an impressive four-year spell in charge of Gateshead... after taking over the Tyneside club following their demotion to the sixth tier.
A former Premier League defender with Portsmouth and Newcastle United who made 466 senior appearances, Williamson is a four-time promotion-winner across his playing and managerial career...
Gateshead... currently lead all National League teams for ball possession (65.7%), shots per 90 (14.28) and passes per 90 (566.25), while ranking in the top three for goals scored (34), touches in the penalty area per 90 (21.33), PPDA (7.95) and fewest shots against per 90 (7.76)...
Williamson said... 'It was a tough decision to leave Gateshead but when a Club like this comes in, it’s a no brainer...
'We want to be intense – everything we do we want to do with energy and enthusiasm. We want to play forwards as quickly as we can but we’ve got to have solutions and the players have to understand what we’re tying to achieve.
'A by-product of that is that we want to control the game, and that will equate to dominating possession, but our whole play is about disturbing the backline and when we work our way from back to front, it is with one thing in mind and that is scoring a goal...
Williamson will be joined at Stadium MK by Assistant Head Coach Ian Watson and First-Team Coach Chris Bell, whom he worked with throughout his four-year reign at Gateshead".
Mellon was appointed on a three-year deal on Friday, having most recently managed Tranmere earlier in 2023...
He told BBC Radio Manchester, 'I've done my time [managing in non-league] and it's been a long managerial career... Guys like David Unsworth have begun to turn things around and I get the opportunity to continue that work and build on that'...
'I was able to have six or seven months away from football for the first time since I was 16 or 17. I was determined to use that time well and get to know my family better again,' he added. 'I went out and rediscovered the way I wanted to do things but I was always determined to come back in when there was something that excited me.'"
The Southend United team, led by Head Coach Kevin Maher, are joining ‘Prostate United’, a month-long fundraising effort created by Stephen Gilpin and Ross Burbeary.
The challenge has seen hundreds of football club staff run or cycle every day for a whole month every year since 2018 to raise funds in the fight against prostate cancer; a disease that kills one man every 45 minutes.
Since its inception as a two-man challenge four years ago, Prostate United has branched out into the sporting landscape, with participants running or cycling at clubs across the English football pyramid, Scotland and the USA - as well as rugby league and ice hockey club staff – raising more than £340,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
Participants have the option to choose a daily distance to run or cycle – either 10km or 5km on foot, or 25km or 10km on the bike."
17 October 2023
But whilst Phil Parkinson's disappointment was clear, he was calm in his analysis of the defeat.
'I will always put my hand up. I’d be the first to take blame. I ain’t taking blame for that shower of s---. But what I will do is guarantee that there won’t be a lot more of that from these boys.
'Atrocious. They should be called out. They get told when they do well and that’s how life works. Anyone who goes down that ridiculous thing of, "Oh don’t slag the players", the f----- players get paid, they should do a great job, if they don’t do a f------- great job, they should at least go down fighting.'...
There were, however, at least some sporting words for their near neighbours who play some two tiers below Dorking in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
'They fully deserve to be in the draw,' said White. 'I really hope they get something amazing, life-changing, so my f------ s--- players can learn a f------ lesson because they were so poor. Myself and the club have planned for this game for two weeks and you would have thought we would have planned it on a fag packet. They’ve embarrassed the management team. It’s not about availability, injuries, who was returning, who wasn’t. It was about the fact that that team let the fans down 100 per cent'....
He added: “Some of them showed that, when the going gets tough, they don’t get tough with it, they get going. That’s going to be a short career for them at my club and our club. All I can do is apologise on behalf of the players and the management team. For a team not to turn up in the FA Cup is scandalous'".
Since then they have played six times on 21 October, drawing three times and winning on the other three occasions.
Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years tell us that the last game on the above date was in 2017 when Altrincham played out a goalless draw at Cantilever Park against Warrington Town.
Dale were beaten 1-0 at Hereford...
'We missed a lot of chances,' commented McNulty... 'That’s my assessment to the game and a lot of our games... It hurts when we lose but the wins aren’t for me, they’re for everyone else, but on days like today it really hurts'.
McNulty says the visit of Latics will be a big occasion... "a massive game for us next Saturday. It’s the first one outside of the league [EFL], so it’s a huge occasion.
'Oldham, I expect to be massively lifted after the appointment of Micky [Mellon]'".
Harris began his youth career at Fulham... before he went on loan to Woking in 2020 before returning to Fulham for a further year.
The midfielder then joined Aldershot Town where he went on to make 33 appearances. He completed a month-long loan to Hampton & Richmond Borough.
In August 2022, the 24-year-old joined League Two side Carlisle United".
After the final whistle he said 'It was a tough start [conceding early]. I don’t think we really got going; it was a tough pitch, but we can’t really blame that.
'We’ve got to do better... I think we were the better side but it’s a game of two boxes and we didn’t defend our box too well'...
'We’ve got enough in the dressing room to keep getting points in the league. I want to keep bringing energy and keep pushing forward.'
Academy players Beau MacDonald and Ronnie Blake both came off the bench at Huish Park for their first-team debuts".
The versatile midfielder joins from Boro, having moved to the North East in the summer. Agyemang has also gained experience with Charlton Athletic...
Upon joining Pools, Agyemang states... 'It's a good opportunity for me to make that step into first-team football'".
16 October 2023
The pacy, right-footed striker or wingman had played 82 minutes at Maidenhead United in Alty's win in Berkshire on 26 September, but had then reportedly suffered an injury which seemed to have curtailed his loan. However, Moss Lane got its first view of him in the flesh when he came on as a late substitute against Oldham Athletic on Saturday.
He joins Justin Amaluzor in being an Altrincham player who wears his forename rather than surname on his shirt-back, where the name "Gerald" appears rather than "Sithole". Apparently he is known as Gez to his team-mates.
Like Alty, Dorking Wanderers crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday, albeit the Surrey side were away from home. But their opposition was Sussex club Horsham, who play in the Isthmian League Premier Division, two steps below the National League. Horsham won 2-0 to earn a plum tie at Barnsley.
As well as Altrincham, the following seven teams are also now without a match on 4 November: Dagenham & Redbridge, FC Halifax Town, Hartlepool United, Rochdale, Wealdstone, Dorking Wanderers and Southend United. In addition five other clubs have to face replays this week so could join the above list; they are Barnet, Ebbsfleet United, Woking, Oxford City, and York City.
With Altrincham slated to have Tuesday night games against Rochdale (twice) and Hartlepool, moving any of those three games would avoid one evening match for Altrincham.
And the club was technically managerless yesterday after Danny Caldecott opted earlier in the week to move within the same league to Clitheroe. However, on Sunday morning Trafford FC announced "the appointment of its new manager, Karl Marginson.
Marginson is best known for his 12-year spell in charge of FC United... Under Karl’s guidance FC rose from the North West Counties Division 2 to National League North in ten seasons. Three league titles were secured plus a fourth promotion via the playoffs....
As a player, 'Margy' appeared in the Football League for Blackpool, Rotherham, and Macclesfield. He then had a long and distinguished career in Non-League football playing for clubs such as Ashton United, Stalybridge Celtic, Droylsden, Chorley, Barrow, Salford City, and Hyde. Aged 35 he took the FC United job, and later spent some time as a football director and interim manager at Radcliffe Borough following his departure from FC".
Karl has recently been coaching within our own Trafford Youth set-up and has been a key figure in the successful establishment of our Under-21’s team this summer...
Joining Marginson at Shawe View will be assistant manager Harry Winter, a former Trafford captain who has also played for FC United and Stockport County. The new team is completed with coach Steve Tobin, who played for Leeds United’s FA Youth Cup winning team in 1993 prior to a long career in semi-professional football...
Marginson said 'I’m absolutely certain that the first team’s current position is a false one and I’m confident the quality squad of players that Danny has put together have the right kind of attitudes, behaviours and footballing ability, and are more than capable of producing the positive results and exciting performances that the directors, volunteers and supporters of Trafford Football Club deserve. This will lead to our current league position being turned around".
Two own goals by Slough keeper Rohan Luthra ensured the Fleet twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Stonebridge Road... They conceded after just 62 seconds.
'The worst start in the world is conceding a goal after one minute, and they’d already had a shot on target after 15 seconds,' said Kutrieb... 'But then we scored straight away in the second half. Then it was the most annoying thing which we have to avoid for Tuesday('s replay), that we conceded straight away.
'We put them under massive pressure, it was all us and then we conceded to go 2-1 down and that’s not good enough... 'We’re still in the cup and we can do better on Tuesday and make sure we get a win there'...
One bright note for the Fleet was the return of leading scorer Dominic Poleon, who featured for the first time since coming off injured at Woking on September 19".
"Chris Millington says Town's home hoodoo must be fixed if they're going to achieve anything this season after his team crashed out of the FA Cup...
Ex-Halifax midfielder Louis White's first-half goal condemned The Shaymen to another miserable home appearance, meaning it's still just one win on their own patch in eight matches this season.
'We were really poor first-half, individually and collectively, there was no shining light came out of that first-half,' Millington told the Courier.
'And we're at a loss as to why that is, we prepared the same way as we always prepare, we tried to guard the players against complacency or arrogance'".
A social media has erupted after Leek Town left their lunch outside of AFC Fylde's stadium, telling them to 'stick your sandwiches'.
Fylde are one of the big spenders of non-league football, and they welcomed Leek Town to their state-of-the-art stadium at Mill Farm for a FA Cup fourth qualifying round clash. However, Leek Town were left less than impressed when they were only presented with a tray of sandwiches from the hosts.
Journalist Joshua Smith noted 'Fylde told them they couldn't eat in the bar with the home players, and had to eat in the changing room or team bus. Very odd, very antisocial, very unnecessary.'"
Ties are set to be played over the weekend of 4 November.
In particular, he praised Jake Cooper (right) as "coming of age" on Saturday against the experienced James Norwood.
The video interview can be seen on Alty TV.
"It's been a bit of a smash and grab" by Oldham, Parkinson concluded but it was "no disgrace" losing to as big a team as the Latics.
Above: Alty go close in the second half in front of the rain-soaked away fans. One of those fans, the man in the brown cap, underneath the football, is Latics' chairman Frank Rothwell.
The Latics started the game well, buoyed by 1,115 of their own fans in the away end in a total attendance of 3,874. But Altrincham came into the game and had the better of the second part of the first half and it was they who created the better chances before the interval.
The second half was a more open affair than the first 45 minutes and Altrincham looked the more likely winners with Conn-Clarke, Angus and Amaluzor failing to convert chances that presented themselves. They paid the price when McGahey scored and, indeed, Reid could have made it 2-0 in added time but for a goal-line clearance by Baines.
Match report here
Oldham defended well as Alty threw the kitchen sink at them, advancing to the 1st round for the 119th consecutive season...
Altrincham turned up the heat in the last 15 minutes or so, Latics defended bravely as balls were pumped in, denying them of any chance on goal".
The Wanderers lie fourteenth in the league table, nine points behind Altrincham, having lost 2-0 at Sussex club Horsham on Saturday in the FA Cup.
Saturday 14 October, 2023: FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, Northern Half of the Draw
Southern ties involving National League clubs:
"League One: Having scored the second goal in Blackpool's 3-0 home win over Stevenage, OWEN DALE was substituted in the 87th minute, although CARL PIERGIANNI played the whole game for the visitors.
League Two: CONNOR JENNINGS survived the full game, but his Tranmere Rovers side finished with 9 men as they went down 2-0 at Crewe Alexandra.
LUKE WATERFALL was sent off in the 72nd minute for a second yellow card when it was still 0-0 and, although his Grimsby Town team mate TOBY MULLARKEY put in a full shift, visitors Accrington Stanley won 0-2.
ELLIOTT NEWBY played the full game as Barrow scored twice in added time to salvage a 2-2 draw at MK Dons.
NPL: JACK REDSHAW rounded off the scoring for Hyde United as they won 0-3 at Bradford PA.
JONNY MARGETTS put Matlock Town 2-0 up, but visitors Workington fought back to draw 2-2. Matlock captain JOHN JOHNSTON hit the bar with the last kick of the game.
BRAD JACKSON and JOSH HANCOCK scored the first two goals as Radcliffe, captained by JORDAN HULME, and with JUDE OYIBO in their line-up, plus JAMIE MORGAN on the bench, won 3-0 at home to Ilkeston Town, whose side included ZAK GOODSON.
FA Cup: Alfreton Town had KENNEDY DIGIE in their starting lineup and HARRY PERRITT on the bench as they progressed to the first round proper 3-1 against a Macclesfield Town side who included SAM HEATHCOTE and TOM PEERS in their starting XI, and had HAYDEN CAMPBELL on the bench.
ASHLEY HEMMINGS scored both goals as Kidderminster Harriers won 2-0 at home to Ashton United.
Ireland: For their previous game, Waterford handed BARRY BAGGLEY the captain's armband, but for tonight's game at Kerry he was left on the bench as they tweaked their side in a meaningless fixture that ended 1-1.
A former England youth international, Jordon was with Wycombe Wanderers as a teenager, becoming the youngest Football League player at the age of 15 in 2011. After signing for Liverpool the following year, he made his Premier League debut... He spent time on loan with Birmingham City and Derby County... He went on to score in the Europa League and Premier League for the Reds.
In July 2016 he moved to Bournemouth and made 92 appearances before returning to Derby in 2020. He later signed for Turkish side Adanaspor... During this time, Jordon suffered a broken leg and also spoke publicly about depression...
'I just want to get back out there, show people what I can do again and play football,' Jordon told EUFC.co.uk... The way Ebbsfleet have helped me and put a process in place so I can be ready has been really supportive...
Fleet boss Dennis Kutrieb said... 'This is a signing that will generate a lot of discussion outside our club... Starting or bringing Jordon into the squad is not something we have rushed into because we have had him here with us for a while, getting to know us and his new teammates and waiting until he is ready to play again'".
14 October 2023
Altrincham will be looking to improve a recent FA Cup record which has seen them exit the competition at this first hurdle twice in the past three seasons.
In 2020-21 they lost 2-1 at AFC Fylde in a match played behind closed doors.
The following season they did better, winning 3-2 away at Southport, thanks to a brace from Jordan Hulme and a goal by Tom Peers.
That win earned another away tie in Round One, up at Gateshead, where late goals for Alty by Dinanga and Moult earned a replay in a 2-2 draw.
Sadly, Altrincham failed to capitalise on home advantage, losing to The Heed at the JDS by three goals to two. So the prospect of a home Round One game against Charlton Athletic was lost.
Alty players rush to congratulate Conn-Clarke on his opening goal of the match at Moss Lane last season.
And Gateshead were Alty's nemesis again when the sides again drew 2-2 in the Fourth Round Qualifying at Moss Lane.
They travelled to Tyneside for a replay which they last 2-1, with Dinanga again on target for the Robins.
Victory would have earned the Robins a home tie against Stevenage.
Today Altrincham will be hoping for a win and EFL opposition for the first time since the game at Portsmouth in 2020.
With Oldham certain to bring a huge away following and Alty’s remarkable five-match winning run in the league sending interest levels soaring among Robins fans, club officials at Moss Lane are confident every last ticket will have been sold...
Following a league win last weekend at Gateshead, who have been Altrincham's nemesis in the last two seasons in the FA Cup, Parkinson added 'It could not have gone much better. There are always areas for improvement, but the way we restricted a team who have been getting lots of plaudits and are top scorers in the division was a great credit to the players.'”
The National League adds that "Parkinson has never hid[den] his ambitions to one-day manage in the 92 and would love nothing more than to take Alty to new heights.
He... praised his players for a brilliant first ten weeks of the new campaign as he prepares his side to face Oldham Athletic on Saturday...
'Expectations are a good thing, I’ve no problem with that,' Parkinson said. 'Even when we were part-time, people kept telling me we should be in the play-offs, so it’s nothing new. There is a togetherness in the group that is the cornerstone of everything we do here, and when everyone is on the same page, it does lead to success.
'We will never have a team of individuals. We have flair players, talented individuals, but they are all pulling together. They are all putting a shift in for us, so we are getting something right in terms of player recruitment and the system we play.
'If we continue in that vein, this trajectory will keep going,' he told the Altrincham Messenger".
Following a six-year spell with the Coasters, Rowe went on to join Oldham Athletic, Bradford and Chesterfield...
He joins a Silkmen side currently two points adrift of the Northern Premier League play-off spots".
The midfielder made a total of five appearances during his time with Pools".
Aghatise was a late substitute when Hartlepool visited Altrincham this season.
Since that meeting, several informal meetings have taken place between the club and both RBWM Councillors and Officers. Surprisingly, we have still not received any formal communication from the Council confirming the outcome of the Cabinet decision...
We have clearly been let down by the new Council administration... Furthermore, they failed to recognise or consider that the new stadium facilities would be held independently, in trust, for the benefit of the community and would be delivered and maintained in the long term at NO COST to the Council.
This seems even more incredulous [i.e. incredible] today, given the challenging financial situation the local authority has subsequently revealed. Consequently, there is unlikely to be any substantial capital funding available from the Council in the foreseeable future to invest in the additional sports and wellbeing facilities the local area needs...
Braywick is an established sports hub. The proposed location for the project is already principally used for community sports, meaning our proposal is an enhancement of existing sports provision. ...
In terms of the club's next steps, we have taken legal advice regarding the Council’s contractual obligations to the club, which they have not met. Given this failure and the continued lack of formal communication with us, at this stage, we have no alternative but to take legal action against the Council for breach of contract.
Accordingly, we have asked our legal advisors to commence preparing the case".
13 October 2023
The club are hopeful of making an announcement today, ahead of Latics' FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Altrincham.
The new Latics boss is expected to be in the stand at Moss Lane tomorrow to observe his new team, while Paul Murray will be in the dugout after preparing the players for the cup clash following the departure of interim management duo Steve Thompson and Neil Redfearn earlier this week.
Mellon, 51, has won promotion five times as a manager".
'I am delighted we’ve managed to recruit Ethan as a permanent signing,' said the Alty boss... 'His performances this season have been at such a high level that when the opportunity presented itself to take him permanently, we felt we just needed to make it happen. It is no coincidence that our upturn in results has coincided with Ethan’s arrival. He gives us a great chance in every game, as he’s capable of making key match-winning saves.
'He gives the lads confidence that, even if we make a mistake, he’ll save us in that moment. He’s a great signing for Altrincham and is potentially an Alty legend in the making.'...
The Enfield-born keeper, who grew up in the North-East, has been an ever-present for Alty in the league this season".
Footnote: Ross has made fifteen appearances this season and has saved three of the five spot kicks that Altrincham have conceded in this campaign.
For the visit to Altrincham on Saturday their Academy manager Paul Murray will be in charge.
The Latics are unbeaten in six games, though the last three matches have all been 1-1 draws. However, Oldham have won just one of their seven away fixtures this season.
Altrincham themselves are unbeaten in eight matches, including one match in the Cheshire Senior Cup.
Whereas the Robins lie fourth in the National League, Oldham are in twelfth place, eight points behind.
The game will give Alty fans the chance to see Josh Lundstram (left) for the first time since his transfer to Boundary Park. Josh had back luck in being injured in pre-season but has recently returned to first-team action for his new employers.
The pair become manager Mick McGraa's first signings since the former Vauxhall Motors manager took over from Dave McNabb at the end of September...
Thompson... arrives with real pedigree from further up the non-league pyramid. The 28-year-old helped Altrincham to the National League before joining Warrington Town in July 2022.
He made 56 appearances for the Yellows last season as they secured promotion to the National League North... However, his contract was terminated by mutual consent earlier this season".
Footnote: Bootle FC competes in the NPL Division One West, the same level as our neighbours Trafford FC.
The most recent game on 14 October was against Halesowen Town in 2017 at Moss Lane in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.
After a goalless first half in which Altrincham played plenty of attractive football but lacked the tempo and incisiveness to unlock the Halesowen defence, they turned up the temperature after the break to ensure they went to the top of the table. It took them fewer than 45 seconds of the second half to make the breakthrough. Hancock netted the goal after good work on the right by Bembo and Richman.
Nine minutes later, when Jordan Hulme chased a 50-50 ball inside the box, he was tripped and John Johnston netted the resulting spot kick.
Above: John Johnston, far right, nets his penalty.
Josh Hancock played in James Poole to make it 3-0, in the 82nd minute. Halesowen could have scored twice in the second half but Thompson made two fine stops to keep a clean sheet.
The win meant that it was the first time since September 2013 that Alty have been top of a league table!
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Joel BEMBO-LETA, 3. Lewis SHORT, 4. Tom HANNIGAN, 5. Ben HARRISON, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. John JOHNSTON, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. James POOLE, 11. Josh HANCOCK. Subs 12. Sam SHERIDAN, 14. Tom PEERS, 15. Sean MILLER 16. Shaun DENSMORE, 17. James JONES.
The Shrimpers boss currently has just 12 players available...
'We’re only allowed what we’re allowed'... said Maher.
'Trying to replace one for one when they’re only missing a game is difficult and probably wouldn’t be allowed. It’s a huge headache and a near impossible task'".
Amongst the club's inured are "midfielder DAN MOONEY [who] has yet to resume training after suffering a thigh injury...
The Shrimpers are also seeking clarification on if players from the under 19 side can be added to the squad".
“The decision hasn’t been taken lightly but an opportunity has now arisen to utilise the space for commercial purposes that will benefit the club.
“Unfortunately, the only pictures now remaining clearly on the wall are those that have been put on for free. Those that were paid for, have now faded over time and are no longer visible.”
“We take very seriously, the importance of immortalising supporters names at the EBB Stadium and are currently looking into erecting a board behind the memorial garden in order to do so.
“The wall now no longer commemorates our loyal supporters, some of whom we have sadly lost since, and all options are being explored into how the new board can appropriately celebrate their support of the club.”
Since then, the Ravens went unbeaten in eleven...
[Gateshead] have the Player of the Month award to show off... All eyes are on Marcus Dinanga (left) after his stunning start of the new campaign.
He scored eight goals in September... taking his total for the season to 12 in 13 games.
He ended last month as the National League top scorer, some three goals clear of next-best Harry Cardwell. Over a third of Gateshead’s goals have come via Dinanga so far as the 25-year-old sharpshooter keeps producing.
The quick forward spent time with Altrincham, Dartford and Kidderminster in 2022-23. He finally looks settled now".
The 58-year-old spent just three-and-a-half weeks at the helm, assisted by Neil Redfearn, and left the Latics following a meeting with the club’s hierarchy on Wednesday.
Thompson took over from David Unsworth last month and his six-game spell in charge ended in three victories and three draws".
Earlier Oldham Athletic stated "Steve Thompson and Neil Redfearn have left their position as the interim management team ahead of the club making its next appointment...
Academy Manager Paul Murray will oversee training ahead of Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup tie against Altrincham.
An announcement in relation to the managerial position will be made in due course."
The Daily Mail adds that "Micky Mellon and Gary Bowyer are among the names linked with taking the reins permanently, while Thompson will not be returning to his former role as head of recruitment".
Although all three had decent games, the one who, on paper at least, made the most impact was...
Born in Viseu, Portugal, Bruno (right) spent five years at QPR where he reached the first team, making two appearances.
Away from Loftus Road he had loan spells at Aldershot Town, Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage, before signing for Woking, where he played against Altrincham in 2015-16 season.
From 2016 to 2018 he was a regular starter for Boreham Wood before moving to Lincoln City (2018-20). Next came a spell at Salford City (2020/21) and the following season, he returned to Stevenage. Another second-coming saw him rejoin
Boreham Wood last season before a spell at Maidenhead United whom he joined in Spring 2023.
He had spent the start of last season at Nantwich Town on loan but was recalled in the spring. He then experienced another loan, this time at Hereford FC.
In 2019 he joined Aston Villa, from where he went on loan to Newport County in 2022, where he made five appearances before being recalled. A loan spell at Cheltenham Town followed before his release by Villa in June 2023.
The video interview can be seen on Alty TV.
Subject to confirmation 16 year-old Harrison Howells (left) became the youngest player to represent the club's first team, whilst another sixteen year-old, Jack Chandler was, like Harrison, a used substitute in the match
I am grateful to Terry Rowley who reports that, prior to Tuesday night, one of, if not, the youngest players previously to have featured for Alty was Jake Kingdon, who was 16 years 10 months and 25 Days on his Altrincham debut in the Cheshire Senior Cup.
Born on 16 November, 2005, centre-back Jack made his debut for Altrincham in the Cheshire Senior Cup on 11 October 2022 at Sandbach. A Manchester United under-18s' player, he was training with Alty under a work experience scheme at the time.
The club received more than 60 applications for the Boundary Park hotseat... Interviews have been held this week...
It is now almost four weeks since Latics parted company with David Unsworth after a run of one win in the opening nine games...
Despite a delay in receiving tickets Oldham are also likely to sell out their entire away allocation of 1,856 at Altrincham, contributing to what is expected to be a sell-out crowd this weekend.
While Latics go into the tie on the back of a six-game unbeaten streak, Altrincham are boosted by a five-game winning run...
Alty boss Phil Parkinson says his side could not have had a tougher tie. 'Oldham are a Goliath in this division and we could not have had a more difficult draw,' he said... 'It honestly doesn't get any harder in terms of bragging rights and everything else that comes with the two teams' locality, plus the fact they are not far behind us in the form table.
'It should be the tie of the round, really. We are bang in form and they are a huge team and we are going to need our A game to get through'".
Despite being in control of the game at Aggborough, Stones conceded a 93rd-minute winner to Amari Morgan-Smith, which condemned Maynard's men to their second successive defeat in the National League.
'I thought the first half was probably the worst we've been in possession... We thought they would come and high press us, but they didn't. They sat off us and we've controlled the game with the ball, but very sloppily...
'We've come out for the second half on the front foot. We've had the best chance of the game...
'If before the game you'd have given me a point away to Kidderminster, take their form away because this is a league this season where the league table doesn't matter' added Maynard.
'No matter who we play, no matter what form they're in - it doesn't matter in this league!... This is going to be the toughest division that it has ever been...
'We've just gone away to Gateshead on a Tuesday night. We've got in at half four, five o'clock in the morning and then we've got to come to Kidderminster on a Saturday, another three hours on a coach,' said Maynard.
'Without even kicking a ball, in both games before you get here, it's a disadvantage to a part-time team. I've never been one to come in front of interviews and make excuses, but we've got to realise as a football club where we're at.'"
Right: Sam Roscoe and George Burroughs (background) were two of only four players with National League experience this season to start the game against 1874 Northwich.
With a starting eleven including just two players who had started a National League game this season (James Jones and Sam Roscoe), Altrincham took a fortieth-minute lead through trialist Bruno Andrade, the former QPR and, more recently Gateshead, forward, who appears to be on trial at Moss Lane.
But Woolley equalised from the penalty spot for the visitors in the 69th minute and there was to be no further scoring before the end of five added minutes at the end of normal time.
Matt Gould was the hero of the shoot-out, saving the first two Northwich penalties after Roscoe and Owen German had netted theirs. Hayden Lindley, presumably another trialist, thumped in a third penalty for Altrincham before Northwich made it 3-1.
Reserve player Howells then saw his kick saved before Northwich closed the gap to 3-2. However, Andrade converted his kick to clinch the tie 4-2 on penalties.
Match report here
Just a fortnight later, Altrincham travel to Boundary Park for the league clash against Oldham.
The clubs have only met twice previously in the National League. Last season Altrincham won 1-0 at the J. Davidson Stadium and drew two-apiece in Oldham.
Next Saturday's Cup clash will be the first of four successive games, three of them over a ten day spell, at Moss Lane as it is followed by home league matches against Dorking Wanderers (21st October) and Kidderminster Harriers (24th October).
In the NPL, Macclesfield were three goals ahead at Radcliffe within half an hour, but the league leaders fought back to win 4-3, with JOSH HANCOCK scoring the last two goals, the first of them from the penalty spot."
They "host Wealdstone at Aggborough on Saturday looking to build on a crucial midweek win at Dorking. The Reds notched a key three points at Meadowbank Stadium for what was a second away win of the term.
Now attentions turn to Aggborough as the Reds look to get their home campaign off the mark...
[Manager] Jimmy O’Connor said 'We need to get a win at Aggborough. Performances have been okay, they’ve been decent and we’ve given ourselves a chance'...
O’Connor added 'Wealdstone will come here as another good side who play really good football... They’re one of four or five teams who are excellent footballing sides who will cause you their types of problems. It’s up to us to nullify them and then to strike back and give them some problems as well'...
Although all of the injured players continue to make progress, none of Nat Knight-Percival, Reiss McNally, Matt Preston, Jack Lambert, Shane Byrne are likely to be available to face Wealdstone".
"Mark a friend or loved one’s birthday or special occasion with a message on our scoreboard, PA and in our matchday programme!
For only £10, your message will be displayed on our scoreboard several times prior to kick-off and at half-time; the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to the Moors fan in your life!
Our PA announcer will also read your message for the whole stadium to hear, while we will also include it in our matchday programme if submitted in good time ahead of the match".
10 October 2023
More surprisingly, he indicated that the technical area would also be rotated and would be the preserve of the club's Reserves and Youth Team coaches, whilst he and assistant manager Neil Sorvel would be playing observers' roles.
As for the team on the pitch he confirmed that Alty will be "rotating massively", with the squad including a "couple of trialists", "young professionals and lads who have not been playing" regularly in the first team recently.
Parkinson went as far as to name Loui Williams, Owen German and Tom Jones (pictured above, left to right) as participants tonight, but the fourth Academy graduate to have earned a squad number, Ewan McGeady (above, far right) is ruled out by injury.
However for next Saturday's FA Cup tie against Oldham Athletic, which he described as "the tie of the Round", there would be no team rotation.
The video interview with the Alty manager can be seen on Alty TV
For the game there were "no fewer than nine youngsters aged between 16 and18 featuring in the starting line-up....
After quarter-of-an-hour, Crewe's pressure paid dividends when, following a poor clearance, the ball was played to the far post and tapped home to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
Undeterred, the young Robins side kept plugging away and drew level 10 minutes before half time, when Edson Cata nicked the ball off the Crewe centre-half by the centre circle and raced towards goal before firing a low shot into the bottom corner for an excellent equaliser" .
A full listing of all Altrincham matches on this date are to be found in Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years files.
Figures shared by the Home Office show 15 Latics supporters were arrested at football games during the 2022-23 season, which was up from 12 the season before and is the highest number since records began in the 2014-15 season.
Across England and Wales, the number of arrests at football games reached a nine-year high.
Latics supporters were arrested for a range of offences, including:
Nationally, 2,264 football-related arrests were made, up from what was already an eight-year high of 2,198 in the previous campaign. This included 200 arrests for the possession of class A drugs and 101 arrests in England and Wales relating to the World Cup in Qatar. [That alone more than accounts for the overall increase]".
Pedder came through the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur before making the move to the Loftus Road in 2022.
The lively midfielder made his first-team breakthrough recently, he linked up with the Rangers first team during their pre-season trip to Austria, after impressing manager Gareth Ainsworth".
"But we executed our game plan perfectly. It was a big team performance and we went toe to toe with them.
"!t was almost a game of 5 v 5 in the middle OF the pitch. I know they'll be disappointed with the referee but, at the end of the day, I don't think he was superb for both sides".
Gateshead has eleven minutes of YouTube highlghts.
On Saturday 1874 Northwich secured their first home win with a 2-0 victory over Vauxhall Motors despite playing with ten men after a first-half red card.
A penalty by Lucas Weir and a goal by Lucas Matthew Fenton secured the points.
1874 now lie twelfth in the twenty-strong Division One West of the Northern Premier League (step four of non-League).
The club was founded in 2012 by supporters of Northwich Victoria, and it remains a supporters-owned club. 1874 was the foundation year of Northwich Victoria.
Since formation 1874 Northwich they have risen from NW Counties Division One to the NPL First Division. They ground share with Barnton FC.
Sefton GONZALES scored in Clitheroe's 6-3 home win over Mossley, whilst AARON CHALMERS's goal helped Prestwich Heys defeat Skelmersdale United 2-1.
There was a hat-trick for JAMES WALSHAW (right) as Emley thumped Campion in Yorkshire.
And Phil Jordan reports that "There will be no Irish FA Cup Final for OLLIE BYRNE as Cork City were beaten 0-2 at home in the semi-final by St Patrick's.
The final will be an all-Dublin affair as the victors meet Bohemians".
The Spireites won 2-0 at Meadow Park on Saturday thanks to goals in each half from Liam Mandeville and Joe Quigley. Will Grigg also missed a first-half penalty.
Victory means Town are 10 unbeaten and they remain top of the league by three points.
'We were beaten by the better side,' Garrard said. 'They are top of the pile for a reason. That is a side that looks like they are going to win the division.//
'At the minute we are just not at that level. It frustrates and annoys me to say that but they make five changes from their team on Tuesday and they look as strong as they did on Tuesday evening...
He added, 'I am an honest guy and they deserved to win the game of football. No grumbles from me. We got beat by the better manager, we got beat by the better team'".
The Club will now begin an immediate search for a new Head Coach, but in the meantime, Director of Football Chris Beech will take over the running of the team".
The Coasters are currently bottom of the Vanarama National League.
Match report here.
It is unlikely that many, if any, first-teamers will participate in the match and as virtually no fringe players are fit, we can expect to see numerous reserves and Academy players in evidence.
The sides last met in the CSC in January 2018 at Winsford United when goals from John Johnston and Tom Peers secured a 2-0 victory.
Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE gave Millwall an 8th minute lead, but visitors Hull City led at the interval when he was withdrawn. The game finished 2-2.
League One : JUNIOR QUITIRNA was credited with the assist for their goal, but Fleetwood were beaten 1-4 by visitors Wycombe Wanderers.
ALISTAIR SMITH remained on the bench as Lincoln City lost 2-0 at Peterborough United.
CARL PIERGIANNI put in a full shift as Stevenage won 1-0 at home to Wigan Athletic.
League Two : ELLIOT NEWBY played the full game for Barrow, who were held 1-1 by visitors Notts County.
JOEL SENIOR was booked in added time as his Morecambe side won 1-3 at Colchester United.
KEVIN BERKOE, an 87th minute substitute, scored Salford City's last goal as they beat visitors Crewe Alexandra 4-2.
Grimsby Town's TOBY MULLARKEY and LUKE WATERFALL saw Tranmere Rovers' CONNOR JENNINGS equalise in the second half to earn his side a 2-2 draw
ASHLEY HEMMINGS lasted only 39 minutes, but his Kidderminster Harriers side won 1-0 at home to Wealdstone.
Rochdale led at half time at Maidenhead United, but TYRESE SINCLAIR needed to earn them a point with an 87th minute leveller to make it 2-2 at the end.
JOSH LUNDSTRAM put in his first full shift for Oldham Athletic as they drew 1-1 at home to Dagenham & Redbridge.
DANNY WHITEHEAD was withdrawn at half time as his AFC FYLDE team went down 3-0 at Oxford City.
DAN MOONEY was missing from Southend United's squad in their 0-2 win at Woking. As they only had four men on the bench it must be assumed that he is ill or injured.
FA Trophy : After a goalless draw at the Horsfall Stadium, the shootout ran to 16 spot kicks before visitors Nantwich Town, for whom BYRON HARRISON converted his effort, overcame Bradford PA 6-5. SIMON RICHMAN scored his penalty for the hosts.
Macclesfield won 0-1 at Hanley Town, thanks to a HAYDEN CAMPBELL strike.
ZAK GOODSON (right) was substituted after 74 minutes as his Ilkeston Town side were shocked 2-3 at home by lower division Walsall Wood.
A JONNY MARGETTS goal deep into stoppage time saw Matlock Town go through 1-0 at home to Bedford Town.
JORDAN HULME opened the scoring for Radcliffe as they won 3-2 at home to Whitby Town.
JACK REDSHAW both opened and closed the scoring for Hyde United as they won 1-3 at Workington.
7 October 2023
The last time this was achieved by The Robins at this level of football was in 1995 when they won three at home and two away.
Before that you have to go back to 1991 when the five win sequence was repeated. Before that, in 1984-85 in what was then called the Gola League when (subject to confirmation) Altrincham won nine league matches in succession.
However, this clash between two of the four most prolific teams in the National League produced a goalless first half. Alty started well but, by the interval, Gateshead had been the better team in terms of territory and chances.
Alty were indebited to a fine reaction save by Ross from Francis's point-blank effort which kept them level (40 mins).
For some reason, the game kicked off more than six minutes late and there was a further hiatus when referee Marsden had to be replaced by the fourth official Scott Henry just after the half-hour mark.
Two minutes into the second half Altrincham took advantage of Booty's dwelling on the ball as Conn-Clarke dispossessed him and fed Amaluzor, who finished well into the bottom corner of the net to give his side a 0-1 lead.
The visitors remained on top till the hour mark after which the Heed came back at them.
But after withstanding some pressure from Gateshead, Alty made it 2-0 in added time as Angus got free and his shot was parried for Donawa to net (90+3 mins).
Avro are managed by ex-Alty youth and reserve player ALEX FROST.
Right: In the April 2023 game at Moss Lane, Harry Perritt gets to grips with Marcus Dinanga and Miles Welch-Hayes grapples with Gateshead's Louis Storey.
Host Gateshead have won four and lost just one of their last five fixtures, whereas Alty have won their last four games and are unbeaten in six outings.
The Heed are strong at home, winning their last three games, albeit all against clubs in the bottom nine in the league, namely Kidderminster Harriers, Maidenhead United and Wealdstone.
Altrincham will face former employee Marcus Dinanga, whose eleven goals this season exceed the ten he scored in 47 appearances for the Robins.
Dinanga has just been named the Vanarama National League Player of the Month.
It means the versatile right-winger, who can also play wing-back or full-back, will miss Alty's Emirates FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie with Oldham Athletic at The J.Davidson Stadium a week on Saturday.
He should be back in time for the resumption of Alty's Vanarama National League campaign against Dorking Wanderers on Saturday October 21st, though his fitness and general physical condition will have to be assessed after outward and return flights of around 10 hours each and two competitive international fixtures in quick succession".
Footnote: Donawa has so far made 3(+5) appearances for Altrincham and has scored once.
The 18-year-old joins... until January and has already scored three times for the Addicks’ first team this season, including two in League One.
Last season Kanu made 10 appearances in the third tier for Charlton.
Upon joining, he said 'I’m really excited to join such a massive club with massive history.
'I was here on Tuesday night to watch the 2-0 win against Oxford City and... when I saw how hard the lads were working it really pulled me in. I had a couple of conversations with some coaches beforehand and they told me Southend was the place to come to...
Last season he made 14 first team appearances in all competitions, the majority as a substitute
'I like to run in behind, apply pressure on defenders and most importantly I just like to score goals'" said the striker.
"The frontman adds to our striking options following the serious injury Callum Powell suffered recently".
The progress being made is very encouraging and whilst we can’t expect to see either Maghoma or O’Keefe, or Hady Ghandour who is also currently facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, back on the pitch in the near future, all of their recoveries are stepping up as they recover from their surgeries.
Christian Maghoma suffered an achilles rupture just 20 minutes into his first action in a Shots shirt...
Stuart O’Keefe suffered a knee injury, tearing his MCL, early into the 23/24 season. The Shots captain also underwent surgery with a top surgeon and has also shown fantastic early signs of recovery...
Hady Ghandour suffered a hamstring tear just minutes into making his return from a spell on the sidelines in the... game against Wealdstone... The early signs after Hady’s surgery are very positive...
We’d like to thank the surgeons and specialists... We’d also like to take the opportunity to thank Simply Oxygen again for the Hyperbaric Chamber we have received as part of our partnership with the firm. All three of the mentioned players have utilised the chamber to aid their recoveries".
Our newest recruit... has made eight National League appearances so far this campaign...
The 26-year-old, who bagged seven goals in the National League last season, began his career within the youth set-up at Arsenal before moving to Southampton...
The 2017-18 season saw Olomola... spending the campaign on loan at League Two side Yeovil Town... In 2018 as he left Southampton to join League One outfit Scunthorpe United where he’d spend three years...
He returned to Yeovil for another loan spell.... before another loan spell at fellow fourth tier side Carlisle United.
Hartlepool United proved to be his next destination in 2021... Wealdstone came calling after his Hartlepool exit".
6 October 2023
Congratulations to all the winners!
Nevertheless, Altrincham lie third in the Cheshire League but have played more games than any other team this season.
Following a 3-3 draw away at current bottom club Whaley Bridge Athletic on 2 September, the results have been:
The Alty line-up for the most recent game, at Poynton, was:
But that 2022 win was only achieved after a shaky Altrincham had got off to a dreadful start, falling behind inside two minutes.
But then a long ball from Mullarkey was well controlled by Dinanga who fed Conn-Clarke. Though Langley's feet stopped the midfielder's first effort, Conn-Clarke equalised despite home claims for offside (12 mins).
Yet Altrincham remained very much second best until Dinanga, who will now face Altrincham, scored a fine 20-yarder from an Osborne feed to make it 1-2 (32 mins).
Second-half play was unexceptional till the 70th minute when Altrincham made it 3-1 as Stoke loanee Dan Malone finished calmly after Barrows and Conn-Clarke had combined well. Alty saw out the game without too many alarms to rise to eighteenth in the table.
Just 798 watched the game, with 29 in the away section.
GATESHEAD: 1. Dan Langley, 2. Robbie Tinkler, 24. Mike Williamson, 10. Greg Olley (c), 33. Luke Daley, 3. Ethan Pye (Stockport County loanee), 8. Owen Bailey, 11. Adam Campbell, 42. Kamil Conteh (Middlesbrough loanee), 12. Dan Ward, 9. Paul Blackett. Subs: 4. Dan Jarvis, 21. Rob Elliot, 20. Lirak Hasani, 41. Jevon Mills (Hull City loanee), 45. Adi Yussuf.
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Oliver Byrne, 22. Ross Barrows, 5. Toby Mullarkey (c), 23. Jake Cooper, 2. Eddy Jones, 10. Elliot Osborne, 8. Josh Lundstram, 16. Chris Conn-Clarke, 31. Dan Malone, 11. Ryan Colclough, 30. Marcus Dinanga. Subs: 3. Liam Brockbank, 9. Jordan Hulme, 26. James Jones, 18. Ben Pringle, 27. Aaron Bennett.
The only starters from that Altrincham squad for last season's match who also started last Tuesday's fixture against Aldershot Town were Jake Cooper, Eddy Jones, Elliot Osborne and Chris Conn-Clarke,
Dan Mooney was the scorer of Altrincham's goal which came as a consolation after the Magpies had taken a three-goal lead.
Not a single player from the Altrincham squad for the match three years ago was in the Robins' squad for their most recent fixture on Tuesday night.
However, one player who started at Meadow Lane in 2020 is still at Alty; that is Matty Kosylo (right), who is currently injured.
Altrincham's squad comprised 1. Tony THOMPSON, 20. Shaun DENSMORE, 2. Andy WHITE, 25. Toby MULLARKEY, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 15. Matty KOSYLO, 8. Sean WILLIAMS, 23. Tom PEERS, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Yusifu CEESAY. Subs: 7. Dan MOONEY, 30. Simon RICHMAN, 3. Connor HAMPSON, 4. Ritchie SUTTON, 17. Curtis MILLER.
After a deal was agreed in principle for a consortium led by Jason Rees to take over the football club, it has been revealed that a fresh planning application for the renovation of the dilapidated stadium is set to be submitted as a matter of urgency.
With the Blues now set to remain at Roots Hall, off Victoria Avenue, it is understood plans will be put together for the 500 homes proposed for the stadium to be moved to Fossetts Farm.
This will take the grand total of homes at the Fossetts Farm site, near Waitrose in Southend, to 1,400 homes and the plans for a new stadium removed.
Southend Council, which helped seal the deal with Southend United chairman Ron Martin and the new consortium, said it would continue to ensure a smooth path for the club and planning permission is expected to be granted inside the next nine months."
Garrard watched on as his side claimed just a second win of the season at Meadow Park after Ndlovu’s strike 12 minutes from time separated the two teams...
Hartlepool boss John Askey... slammed official Andrew Humphries for awarding the goal after what he felt was ‘a blatant foul’ on Pools defender Zak Johnson... to condemn Hartlepool to a third straight defeat...
Humphries remained unmoved as the home side held on despite late pressure from Askey’s side...
Garrard, however, has credited his striker for his improvisation and finish, admitting it was a ‘massive three points’ for his side. 'The goal deserves to win any game of football in my opinion...
'It’s the work he did beforehand with the little bump and then the body to get into his running lane... It was excellent...
'It’s a brilliant three points'".
In 2019 I was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver condition that has no cure. Ever since that day, I knew that I would require a transplant. Three months ago, I was admitted to the Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. A fortnight ago came the life-changing news that I was to be the recipient of a new liver, and would swiftly undergo a transplant.
This morning I was discharged from hospital... My appreciation goes beyond words...
I return home with my optimistic outlook that I worried would never return... I want to thank my hometown club Ipswich Town who have been in regular contact with me, and also Chesterfield, where I am on the coaching staff after joining towards the end of last season".
5 October 2023
The decision has been taken to make the tie, at The J.Davidson Stadium on Saturday October 14th (3pm), all-ticket, with each club supervising sales to their own supporters.
Alty season ticket holders and LoyAlty members will be sent a private link at 9am tomorrow morning (Thursday), and they can buy as many tickets as they wish, with prices kept at the same rate as for league games at £20 for adults, £15 concessions, £9 12-18 years old, £4 under-12s and £1 under-5s.
Twenty-four hours later, at 9am on Friday morning, tickets will go on general sale, and the club are urging Robins fans not to delay in booking their place...
To reiterate, the tie is scheduled for 3pm kick-off on Saturday October 14th unless we are instructed otherwise by the relevant authorities, in which case an update on arrangements will be brought to you at the earliest opportunity.
And please remember, these ticket details apply to home fans only. Oldham will be responsible for selling their allocation of tickets to their supporters, and any Oldham fans found in the home end will be ejected from the ground".
And manager Phil Parkinson was interviewed by John Edwards after the final whistle. The video interview can be seen here.
Whilst at Altrincham, Dinanga only netted ten times in 33(+14) appearances!
After finishing last season strongly, Mike Williamson's team has continued in good form and currently lies a point ahead of Altrincham in fourth place in the National League.
However, Alty go into the match in good form with four straight victories. Last weekend The Heed lost 3-1 at Bromley. The only other defeat for Gateshead this season was also a 3-1 defeat, at home to another club from south of the Thames, Woking.
Gateshead are the joint leading scorers this season with Chesterfield, both having netted 34 times. Altrincham are the fourth highest scorers with 26 goals. The Heed have conceded three goals fewer than Altrincham's twenty.
The Chronicle Live says that "Gateshead FC will benefit from their close neighbours Newcastle United's U19s' UEFA Youth League conquest.
The Magpies asked the Heed if they'd be willing to host the youth competition this season, with Gateshead and the council more than happy to oblige...
Mike Williamson's side have repeatedly impressed the Toon head coach [Eddie Howe], both on and off the field and the generosity of Newcastle will see them help our their neighbours again...
Gateshead FC vice-chairman Bernard McWilliams exclusively told Chronicle Live... 'We had to jump through a few hoops with UEFA and make sure the stadium was classified for these sort of games for television.
'It was no problem... In essence, the stadium is obviously the council's but the football club is doing the hosting, the infrastructure, the ticket sales, we've got the bars open and the café and Newcastle are going to cover the cost which comes in handy for us. We get a little bit of return from it so like everything else, every little helps...
'Obviously we'd like to have some of their excellent young players, but they also know we don't just take loanees for the sake of it'...
Newcastle have agreed to underwrite any losses and won't see Gateshead out of pocket, with any profit from food kiosks going to the Heed".
Wednesday, 4 October 2023
We are grateful to our creditors for the patience and support".
Justin Rees and his consortium have agreed terms to take control of the Shrimpers.
But it is believed payments to lift the restrictions cannot be processed until the takeover is officially completed.
Blues have been in a transfer embargo for the past 12 months but could be allowed to bring in a striker to replace the injured Callum Powell".
Background on the new owner is to be found in the Daily Mail which tells us that "A consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees has agreed a takeover of troubled fifth tier English soccer club Southend United.
Rees, a former student at the University of Technology Sydney, is effectively rescuing the club from being liquidated due to unpaid debts. Owed to the British tax authorities and others, they total at least £1.3million ($2.5m)...
With an estimated completion date of the start of next month for the takeover, Southend may have to seek another extension to the petition, the fourth, at Wednesday's hearing.
Rees's purchase follows that of fourth tier Swindon in 2021 by Sydney businessman Clem Morfuni, the founder of the Axis plumbing chain.
Rees is understood to have made his fortune in IT... The Australian is hoping to emulate Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds at Wrexham and transform the Essex club".
Garrard watched on as his side claimed just a second win of the season at Meadow Park after Ndlovu’s strike 12 minutes from time separated the two teams...
Hartlepool boss John Askey... slammed official Andrew Humphries for awarding the goal after what he felt was ‘a blatant foul’ on Pools defender Zak Johnson... to condemn Hartlepool to a third straight defeat...
Humphries remained unmoved as the home side held on despite late pressure from Askey’s side...
Garrard, however, has credited his striker for his improvisation and finish, admitting it was a ‘massive three points’ for his side. 'The goal deserves to win any game of football in my opinion...
'It’s the work he did beforehand with the little bump and then the body to get into his running lane... It was excellent...
'It’s a brilliant three points'".
In 2019 I was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver condition that has no cure. Ever since that day, I knew that I would require a transplant. Three months ago, I was admitted to the Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. A fortnight ago came the life-changing news that I was to be the recipient of a new liver, and would swiftly undergo a transplant.
This morning I was discharged from hospital... My appreciation goes beyond words...
I return home with my optimistic outlook that I worried would never return... I want to thank my hometown club Ipswich Town who have been in regular contact with me, and also Chesterfield, where I am on the coaching staff after joining towards the end of last season".
4 October 2023
Right: Chris Conn-Clarke is Altrincham's ;eading scorer, with seven goals this season.
Altrincham took a 24th minute lead when Conn-Clarke was set running at goal and finished with a strong, low shot into the net. The Shots almost levelled two minutes later when Glover hit the post.
The visitors equalised from the penalty spot when Mnoga was upended as he advanced into the box. Although Ross had saved three of the four spot-kicks he had faced this season, Harries sent him the wrong way to make it 1-1 (72 mins).
But parity lasted barely six minutes before Alex Newby swept home a second goal for the Robins and that proved decisive. The win left Altrincham in sixth place ahead of a trip to Gateshead on Saturday.
Match report here
ALTRINCHAM : 29. Ethan Ross, 2. Lewis Banks, 15. Jake Cooper, 4. Lewis Baines, 3. Eddy Jones, 6. Elliot Osborne, 8. Isaac Marriott (c), 11. Justin Amaluzor, 28. Alex Newby, 10. Chris Conn-Clarke, 14. Dior Angus. Subs: 5. James Jones, 16. Sam Roscoe, 17. Justin Donawa, 18. Owen German, 21. Matt Gould.
ALDERSHOT TOWN : 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 2. Haji Mnoga, 3. Ollie Harfield, 4. Cian Harries, 6. Theo Widdrington, 9. Lorent Tolaj, 10. Josh Stokes, 11. Ryan Glover, 17. Aaron Jones (c), 22. Jack Barham, 27. Tommy Willard. Subs: 5 Coby Rowe, 12. Keane Anderson, 20. Joe Haigh, 24 Maxwell Mullins, 38 Finlay Westen.
The Shots made two changes from the side that beat Dagenham & Redbridge 3-2 at the weekend. Jack Barham and Tommy Willard replaced Kwame Thomas and Tyler Frost who didn’t travel with the squad with injury concerns...
Altrincham grew into the game and former-Shot Justin Amaluzor looked lively on the right-wing... But Chris Conn-Clarke was the dangerman for the hosts and he gave his side the lead in the 24th minute. A sharp touch took him away form Haji Mnoga and a great effort from outside the area gave Jordi Van Stappershoef almost no chance of saving it...
Aldershot would be gifted their route back into the game in the 71st minute. Haji Mnoga drove forward and was shoved in the back with the referee deeming the foul to be in the box and awarding a penalty.
Cian Harries stepped up again and for the second game in a row, sent the opposition ‘keeper the wrong way to equalise...
Altrincham retook the lead just four minutes later through Alex Newby. The winger ran onto a loose ball on the edge of the Shots area and found the bottom corner.
The Shots continued to push forward [but]... failed to really test Ethan Ross in the Altrincham net".
After a strong end to the season last year, Gateshead finished fourteenth but would have been thirteenth but for a one-point deduction for a player registration issue.
They beat Alty 1-0 at the International Stadium last season but Alty won the reverse fixture 3-1
News from Tuesday's games comes from Phil Jordan who tells us that in the...
Championship: DUNCAN WATMORE was credited with the assist for Millwall's opening goal at Plymouth Argyle. He was substituted after 77 minutes, and his team clinched the game with a second goal deep into added time.
After 83 minutes at Bolton, CARL PIERGIANNI was substituted by Stevenage for the second game in a row as they lost 3-2.
JUNIOR QUITIRNA opened the scoring for Fleetwood as they won 0-2 at Cheltenham, who have now failed to score in any of their 11 matches, and who finished with 10 men.
ALISTAIR SMITH was introduced by Lincoln City at the start of the second half as his side trailed to a lone goal at Leyton Orient. Unfortunately the match was abandoned after 84 minutes due to a medical emergency in the stand.
League Two: TOBY MULLARKEY and LUKE WATERFALL played the full game for Grimsby Town in their 2-1 home victory over Barrow, for whom ELLIOTT NEWBY also put in a full shift.
JOEL SENIOR was booked in the second half of Morecambe's 1-1 home draw with Accrington Stanley.
KEVIN BERKOE again came into the action for Salford City in added time as they won 0-2 at Sutton United.
CONNOR JENNINGS was credited with the assist for Tranmere Rovers' winning goal in a 2-1 home victory over Bradford City.
National League : DANNY WHITEHEAD scored in the opening minute for AFC Fylde at Barnet, but was later one of seven Fylde players booked as their hosts fought back to win 2-1 in the 97th minute - by that time one of the seven offenders had picked up another card. Fylde are now bottom of the league.
After 66 minutes of Chesterfield's 2-0 home win over Bromley, RYAN COLCLOUGH came on as a substitute in place of JAMES BERRY.
ASHLEY HEMMINGS was substituted after 57 minutes at Dorking as his Kidderminster Harriers side climbed off the bottom with the only goal of the game.
MARCUS DINANGA drew a rare blank for Gateshead despite playing the full game, but his side came from behind to beat visitors Wealdstone 2-1.
After managing only 19 minutes on his Oldham Athletic debut before suffering a bad injury, JOSH LUNDSTRAM started for his new team tonight after a 10 week layoff, and played 72 minutes of the 1-1 draw with Maidenhead United.
Rochdale substituted TYRESE SINCLAIR after 57 minutes in their 2-0 defeat at Solihull Moors.
DAN MOONEY was an 88th minute substitute for Southend United as they beat visitors Oxford City 2-0.
NPL : JACK REDSHAW scored both goals as Hyde United won 1-2 at Atherton Collieries.
JONNY MARGETTS netted from the penalty spot for Matlock Town as they visited his old club Gainsborough Trinity, but they went on to lose 5-3.
The two most recent fixtures on this date reveal the depths and heights experienced by Altrincham in recent years. In 2017 the opponents were Rushall Olympic in the NPL whilst in 2020 it was Notts County, now doing well in EFL2 who were the opposition.
After weeks of uncertainty, the sale of Southend United has been confirmed and should be completed on November 1 as an agreement is in place with a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees.
The Blues faced a winding up order over a £275,000 HMRC debt and are due back in the High Court tomorrow, but a statement has now confirmed this has 'been paid in full'...
A joint statement released by the club, Justin Rees’ consortium, and Southend Council today said 'We can confirm that an agreement for the sale of the Club has been reached with a consortium led by Justin Rees. Everyone is working towards a completion date of November 1, that is when the consortium will formally take control of the club.
'In the interim, the petition debt to HMRC has been paid in full'".
Also at Southend United, "Oli Coker says it’s 'amazing' being a big part of the first-team squad this season as the midfielder starts to make his mark at Roots Hall.
Having made his debut all the way back in 2020 and then spent some time out on loan, the 20-year-old has already made 10 appearances this season...
Coker said 'It’s been a big jump, you’ve got to be on it every day in training. I’ve played step 3 and that but this is proper week in, week out...
'I’m just happy to be playing and getting the games in my legs, so that’s the main thing. You don’t expect it when I was coming here watching as a kid, so to be on the pitch is amazing'...
Coker was full of praise for the gaffer. 'It’s been brilliant as a young lad coming through... He’s a really good person to learn from and because he was a centre-mid as well, it’s really good for me to get his ideas on the game'".
Geoff has had an association with the Club spanning six decades, first joining as a player, becoming manager in 1984, and today retires from the position of Football Secretary.
He is widely regarded as one of Woking’s greatest-ever players and is the Club’s most successful manager, having won three FA Trophies, two promotions, and led the Cardinals through multiple memorable FA Cup campaigns...
Woking Chief Executive Officer John Katz said, 'Personally, Geoff has been a selfless mentor to me as I made the transition from baseball into football and continue to learn the intricacies of the business. His knowledge is endless, his heart is kind, and he’s given me the most generous gift of time and leadership as I came into this Club which has been and will continue to be invaluable'...
'Ever since I was made aware of Geoff retiring it has made me very grateful for the short amount of time that I have had the pleasure to work with him,' said Manager Darren Sarll....
Geoff, on his last working day at the Laithwaite Community Stadium, said... 'I have enjoyed many happy years at the Club playing and managing, and the past few years as Football Secretary...
'At my first match as manager against Clapton in 1984, we had an attendance of 87. To help lead the club through its transition to being a force in non-league and recognisable nationwide, and engage the local community with its football club, has been a privilege and honour'".
3 October 2023
Report to follow.
Wednesday, 4 October 2023
So those who have made their debuts as club employees in 2023-24 season are, with their squad numbers: 2. Lewis BANKS, 10. Chris CONN-CLARKE, 11. Justin AMALUZOR, 14. Dior ANGUS, 16. Sam ROSCOE, 17. Justin DONAWA, 19. George WILSON, 22. Joey JONES, 27. Oliver CRANKSHAW, 32. George BURROUGHS, 28. Gerald SITHOLE, 29. Ethan ROSS, 30. Alex NEWBY
Above are four of Alty's debutants this season: Lewis Banks, George Burroughs, Sam Roscoe and Joey Jones
Just eight players who were at the club last season have made appearances this season but sadly three of them have missed a significant number of games through injury this season (James Jones, Kosylo and Linney).
The eight are: 3. Eddy JONES, 4. Lewis BAINES, 5. James JONES, 6. Elliot OSBORNE, 7. Matty KOSYLO, 8. Isaac MARRIOTT, 9. Regan LINNEY, 15. Jake COOPER.
Above are Altrincham's current four leading appearance makers: James Jones (169), Elliot Osborne (84), Matty Kosylo (76), Eddy Jones (74).
Apart from their two away wins, they have lost at Oldham, Ebbsfleet United and Barnet. So, on the road they have yet to draw a game
Aldershot Town, who lie tenth in the National League, have drawn lower-league Lewes, at home, in the FA Cup.
Over last weekend, Aldershot Town announced "the signing of exciting attacking midfielder Joe Haigh.
The 20-year-old has been without a club since leaving Chelsea in the summer.
Haigh has represented England at Under 15 and Under 16 level...
Head of Recruitment Jamie Hedges said 'We tried to get Joe available before Saturday’s win over Dagenham but unfortunately confirmation of his international clearance didn’t arrive in time!'”
Their most recent fixture on today's date was a goalless draw behind closed doors at home to Weymouth in 2020.
The central midfielder puts pen to paper at the Suit Direct Stadium having already made 380 appearances for Pools, leaving him eighth on the all-time list...
'I'm absolutely buzzing to be back at the Club, I jumped at the opportunity. It's easy to settle in with the squad; it's like I've never been away. I've been keeping myself fit over the last few months and I can't wait to get straight into action on Wednesday night.'
Manager John Askey commented 'We needed someone who could play in that midfield position. We spoke to Nicky and I think he's still got a lot more left in him'".
Adam Murray maintains AFC Fylde won’t stray from their principles despite a difficult return to life in the National League top flight.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat against Woking kept the Coasters third-bottom of the table ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Barnet.
Fylde had gone into the game on the back of four points from their previous two matches but were beaten by a goal in each half.
It also means they are still to register a first clean sheet of the season after 13 matches".
2 October 2023
The full draw is:
On Saturday, The Shots beat Dagenham & Redbridge 3-2 at The Rec, a win which left them in tenth place, three points behind sixth-placed Altrincham.
The corresponding fixture last season kicked off with Altrincham in bottom place in the National League but Ryan Colclough's penalty won the match 1-0 and set Altrincham on a climb away from the relegation places. This time Aldershot face an in-form Altrincham, fresh from their third successive win this season, gained by a 2-1 victory at Oxford City.
In last season's game, Aldershot Town side paid the price for three rash challenges in a game low on quality. Two of those ill-judged challenges came from Tom Whelan and the latter of these saw him dismissed in first-half added time when he picked up his second yellow card for a foul on Colclough.
The third incident was a trip on Osborne when he was going nowehere on the far left of the box and that gave Altrincham a penalty which Colclough converted cleanly in the 76th minute.
Above: Alty players walk back to their own half after Ryan Colclough had converted the match's winning penalty. The images shows, left to right: Lundstram, Eddy Jones, Colclough, Conn-Clarke, Osborne, Barrows and Dinanga.
ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Oliver Byrne, 22. Ross Barrows, 5. Toby Mullarkey (c), 23. Jake Cooper, 2. Eddy Jones, 10. Elliot Osborne, 8. Josh Lundstram, 16. Chris Conn-Clarke, 17. Brad Jackson, 11. Ryan Colclough, 30. Marcus Dinanga. Subs: 3. Liam Brockbank, 21. Matt Gould, 26. James Jones, 18. Ben Pringle, 34. Byron Harrison
City ‘keeper Chris Haigh also made some outstanding saves late on to keep the Hoops in the game but ultimately, the good performance counted for nothing.
Ross Jenkins made four changes to the starting team that lined up away at Oldham...
It may not be the result that Oxford City wanted, but goalkeeper Chris Haigh will certainly remember this game after he made three world class saves in the last five minutes of the match...
A tough result to take for City, who were made to rue a string of missed chances".
The atttendance was 712 (88 Altrincham).
Championship: DUNCAN WATMORE played a rare full shift for Millwall, but to no avail as they crashed 0-3 at home to Swansea City.
League One: OWEN DALE played the first 84 minutes of Blackpool's 0-1 win at Barnsley.
JUNIOR QUITIRNA was credited with the assist for the only goal as Fleetwood beat visitors Leyton Orient.
ALISTAIR SMITH was a 61st minute substitute for Lincoln City, but the 2-0 win over a Cheltenham Town side still without a league goal after 10 matches was already assured by then.
Stevenage had struck first against visitors Oxford United, but when they trailed 1-2 after 70 minutes CARL PIERGIANNI was one of four players substituted by Steve Evans. Alas the effort was in vain as Oxford added a third goal later. Swansea City.
League Two: CONNOR JENNINGS put Tranmere Rovers ahead after only 4 minutes at AFC Wimbledon, but they were 2-1 down by the time he was booked just after the hour, and eventually succumbed 4-1.
ELLIOT NEWBY played the whole game in Barrow's 3-2 home win over Doncaster Rovers, as did JOEL SENIOR in Morecambe's 1-2 win at Forest Green Rovers.
TOBY MULLARKEY (right) and LUKE WATERFALL both put in a full shift for Grimsby Town, but hosts Swindon Town won 2-1.
National League: MARCUS DINANGA scored again, but Gateshead were beaten 3-1 at Bromley.
BILLY SASS-DAVIES was sent off after 64 minutes as Boreham Wood lost 3-1 at Ebbsfleet United.
ASHLEY HEMMINGS was substituted at half time as Kidderminster Harriers lost 1-2 at home to Barnet - a result that leaves them bottom of the league.
Chesterfield were surprisingly held 1-1 at Maidenhead. JAMES BERRY replaced RYAN COLCLOUGH after 79 minutes - and was booked within a minute of coming on.
Rochdale substituted TYRESE SINCLAIR after 61 minutes when they led visitors Southend United 2-1. Southend promptly equalised, then brought DAN MOONEY off the bench in the 67th minute, but there were no more goals.
National North: In this afternoon's only fixture, CONNOR KIRBY featured for Buxton as they scored three without reply at troubled Scunthorpe United.
NPL: JONNY MARGETTS and JOHN JOHNSTON both scored as Matlock Town won 0-3 at Marske.
FA Cup: YUSIFU CEESAY scored the second goal as Hereford progressed 3-0 at home to Cambridge City.
Ardley’s side took the lead in the first-half through Thierry Latty-Fairweather, before goals from Callum Maycock and Josh Kelly cancelled out the York left-back’s earlier opener.
Substitute Maziar Kouhyar did score a late goal to claim City a point, but Ardley vented his frustrations at what felt like more points dropped for the Minstermen.
'I’m really frustrate' Ardley told BBC Radio York...
'I thought that the second half, everything we said to them in the half-time, you might as well have taken those conversations and flipped it to do the opposite...
'The last thing we said was that they were going to pressure and to be ready to play beyond them, we didn’t and their goals were terrible, so, so bad.
'We’ve conceded 26 goals in 13 games, you don’t need to be a rocket science to wonder why York City are down by the bottom...
'We’ve scored goals, 19 or 20 and we know the goalscoring is okay... We’ve had one clean sheet all season and it’s not good enough... If we’re saying it’s a better performance, then it shows that things haven’t been good.'”
Latics had won their three previous matches... and led through Alex Reid, before Sam Bowen fired the hosts' first-half equaliser.
The visitors punished Wealdstone's sloppy defending just after the half-hour mark when Reid intercepted a poor back pass and calmly rounded the goalkeeper to slot home the opener.
But Wealdstone went in level at the break thanks to Bowen's impressive finish, as the midfielder converted his third goal...
Latics were then indebted to goalkeeper Matthew Hudson, who produced a decisive second-half save'".
Wednesday, 4 October 2023
1 October 2023
With Joey Jones now added to their extensive injured list, two Academy graduates (Tom Jones and Owen German) were named on the bench.
The game started well for Alty as they took an eighth-minute lead when a Conn-Clarke cross-shot was followed up at the far post by centre-back Jake Cooper, who netted his first goal of the season.
However, it then took two fine blocks by Baines to prevent the hosts for levelling the score in a first half in which the hosts created four presentable chances.
Apart from the goal, Altrincham's only real opportunity to double their score in the first half came when Newby squandered a chance.
Within two minutes of the restart, Kirby equalised for City.
However, with ten minutes remaining, an Amalauzor and Conn-Clarke one-two led to the latter squaring the ball for Eddy Jones to net from close range. And that proved to be the winning goal.
Match report here.
Gez is pictured, right
In the division below, BARRY BAGGLEY, having been out injured for seven weeks, was a 61st minute substitute for Waterford, but couldn't prevent them being held 0-0 at home by Wexford."
The 20-year-old centre-back has been training with Blues for the past few weeks.
Speaking last week, Shrimpers boss Kevin Maher said “He’s someone we’ve had our eye on and we think there’s a lot of potential there'".
However, Tuesday’s narrow home defeat to Altrincham was much better than the scoreline would suggest and Alan Devonshire’s side... are unbeaten against Chesterfield at York Road since their return to the National League in 2017...
Tobi Sho-Silva bundled home Jayden Mitchell-Lawson’s low cross in the 30th minute.
However, Paul Cook’s side... levelled matters with a lovely curling shot from the edge of the area by Michael Jacobs just before the hour mark".
NEXT: OLDHAM ATHLETIC
When Altrincham take on Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park on Saturday it will be a clash between the fifth-placed Robins and eleventh-placed Latics who have six fewer points from one more game played.
COUNTING THE COST
Altrincham have had numerous long-term injuries this season, with the following still out of action at a combined cost of 44 matches so far, the equivalent already of losing one player for virtually the whole season.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Hartlepool United "confirm Mikael Ndjoli has joined Blyth Spartans on a short-term loan deal"
Oxford City "announce the signing of versatile forward Claudio Ofosu.
At Kidderminster Harriers the club has "signed AFC Wimbledon winger Ryan McLean on loan.
According to Kent Online Ebbsfleet United "Midfielder Ouss Cisse is serving a three-match ban after what his manager described as the 'most embarrassing red card' he’s ever seen.
According to York Press, "York City assistant manager Neil Cox is hoping that Mitch Hancox can prove to the management team that he deserves an opportunity to start- after turning down an opportunity to leave two weeks ago.
26 October 2023
ALTRINCHAM 1-1 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS
Alty TV has video highlights of Tuesday's draw with Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday night.
ALTY "NOT A YO-YO TEAM ANYMORE"
In his post-match interview with Brian Flynn on Alty TV manager Phil Parkinson say of the draw against Kidderminster Harriers thet conceding a goal inside two minutes "cost us two points".
NO GAME ON 4 NOVEMBER
Despite Altrincham having now FA Cup game on Saturday, 4 November following their exit from the competition, Phil Parkinson has confirmed that no replacement league game has been arranged for that date.
CHESHIRE NEWS
A statement has been issued by Macclesfield FC
OLD BOYS
Before they sacked their management team Macclesfield FC announced that "JAMES HARDY has been recalled from his loan at Ashton United".
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Hartlepool United "Chairman Raj Singh ha... given an update on the sale of the Club...
'It does however seem that no matter what I do, part of the fan base will not be happy and abuse towards my family and I from a minority has unfortunately continued.
At York City "forward Aiden Marsh and defender Will Smith have both extended their loan deals with the club.
25 October 2023
ALTRINCHAM 1-1 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS
Despite dominating possession and territory for the vast majority of the evening, Altrincham were unable to find a way to win this match against an unambitious Kidderminster.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday, 24 October 2023
ALTY OLD BOYS
Phil Jordan informs us that on Tuesday, the following former Alty players or loanees were in action.
GETTING TO 30 POINTS
Had Altrincham beaten Kidderminster on Tuesday night, they would have reached 30 points in just their sixteenth league fixture of the season.
NEXT: OLDHAM ATHLETIC
Altrincham make the short journey to Boundary Park on Saturday to face Oldham Athletic. The Latics will be licking their wounds after crashing 3-0 at AFC Fylde, in a match where they were reduced to ten men was Liam Higan was sent off.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 28 October
Altrincham are away at Oldham Athletic on Saturday (28 October). The Robins' last game on that date is revealed by Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years data.
BEFORE THE MATCH: KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS
Altrincham are scheduled to entertain Kidderminster Harriers tonight at the J. Davidson Stadium.
ALTY THROUGH THE YEARS: 24 OCTOBER
Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years tell us that the last game involving Altrincham on the 24 October date was in 2017 when Altrincham beat Lancaster City 4-0 at Moss Lane in the Northern Premier League.
ACADEMY SIDE KNOCKED OUT
Altrincham FC report on a National Youth League Cup tie which ended Morpeth Town 3 Altrincham 0.
LEAGUE DEFEAT FOR ACADEMY
Harry Douglas reports for Altrincham FC on Alty Academy's home defeat, 0-5 by
Boston United in the National League Under-19 North Division.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Hartlepool United "announce the short-term loan signing of Joe Mattock from Harrogate Town.
At Southend United "Kevin Maher emphasised the importance of guarding against complacency following a resounding win at the weekend...
23 October 2023
NEXT MATCH: KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS
Altrincham host Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday night in the Vanarama National League.
ALTY MAN JOINS NANTWICH ON DUAL FORMS
When 20 year-old SEAN LAWTON played for Altrincham at left-back on 11 October 2023 against 1874 Northwich in the Cheshire Senior Cup, his status at the club was unclear. However, Nantwich Town have announced that "The Dabbers are very pleased to announce the signing of defender Sean Lawton...
Sean joins us on a dual registration from Altrincham. The full-back will be very familiar to Dabbers supporters from his loan at the club from Crewe last season, where he made 26 appearances. After the Dabbers he went on loan to Hereford before being released by the Alex in the summer and eventually signing for Alty.
ALTY LOANEE NEWS
Phil Jordan reports that as he continues his loan spell in Ireland, "There was a clean sheet for OLLIE BYRNE as Cork City won 0-2 at already relegated UCD on Sunday".
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Aldershot Town "confirm that Henry Ochieng has left the club on a mutual termination of his contract.
On Saturday "Josh Parker returned from international duty with a customary goal, but it wasn’t enough on the day, as Oxford City were beaten 3-1... by promotion-chasing Bromley.
22 October 2023
NEXT LEAGUE MATCH: KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS
Next Tuesday (24th), Kidderminster Harriers visit Altrincham for a Vanarama National League game. It will be the first such match at Moss Lane since the sides met in the Vanarama National League North on 21 December 2019. That match ended 1-1.
ALTY'S THIRD KIT
Altrincham FC has unveiled a third kit for this season.
ALTY OLD BOYS
From Phil Jordan comes news of Altrincham's former players and loanees who were in action on Saturday...
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Before this weekend's games, the Oldham Chronicle reported that "Latics have appointed Gary Brabin as assistant manager.
21 October 2023
SATURDAY FIXTURES
Saturday, 21 October 2023
POSTPONED: ALTY v DORKING WANDERERS.
As announced yesterday afternoon, today's fixture against Dorking Wanderers has been postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch. Some two inches of rain have fallen in the Altrincham area in the last 48 hours,
POSTPONEMENTS
The scheduled fixture at home to Dorking Wanderers today is the first postponement of this season for The Robins.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Chester FC "are delighted to welcome back striker TOM PEERS (right) following his departure from Macclesfield!
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
At Aldershot Town, "Keane Anderson has joined Sholing on a month’s loan.
There is more drama from owner Ron Martin at Southend United where "The sale of the Club to the consortium led by Justin Rees is progressing, however, for the reasons explained below, the target completion date of 1 November is going to slip.
Bromley "confirm that our Emirates FA Cup First Round tie at home to League One side Blackpool will take place on Saturday 4th November and will be shown live on BBC2 with the kick-off time changing to 5.45pm.
Likewise at Chesterfield, the Spireites' "Emirates FA Cup first round tie at home to Portsmouth will be shown live on ITV1 on Sunday, November 5 (12.15pm).
From Eastleigh comes an "update on the development of the Nuffield Health Community Stand...
Meanwhile, Woking "confirm that Robbie Willmott has been loaned to Weston-super-Mare.
Closer to home, Oldham Athletic's "Academy graduate Aaron Atkinson has moved to Barnsley for an undisclosed compensation fee and package.
It has been "Another fruitful international break for Wealdstone who "saw Alex Dyer feature twice more for his national side Montserrat, fresh off the back of his record 25th cap in September and saw three more caps for 17-year old academy forward Jaiden Bartolo, who played for Gibraltar U19s.
MATCH VERSUS DORKING POSTPONED
Saturday's fixture at home to Dorking Wanderers has been postponed. After an inch and a half of rain in the area in the 36 hours before the match was called off this afternoon, it is hardly surprising that the pitch is waterlogged. And as more heavy rain is forecast throughout today, the prospects are poor.
OWEN GERMAN GOES ON SECOND LOAN
Altrincham FC announces that "Talented academy graduate, Owen German is today (Friday) joining Warrington Rylands on a one-month loan deal.
NEXT: DORKING WANDERERS
Should the atrocious wet weather that is forecast to persist throughout Friday not prompt a postponement, Altrincham will welcome Dorking Wanderers to the J. Davidson Stadium on Saturday.
ALTY INVESTIGATE INCIDENT
Altrincham FC has "issued a statement following Saturday afternoon’s game against Oldham Athletic.
ALTY OLD BOYS
DAMIAN REEVES has signed for Dearne & District, who play in the Central Midlands Alliance (step 7). Phil Jordan adds that "They're top of League, having won all of their 13 games so far this season. It will probably be his last hurrah as Damian will be 38 the week before Christmas".
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The BBC confirms that "Rochdale head groundsman Joshua Haigh has been suspended for six weeks after being found guilty of racially abusing a member of the media.
According to the Southend Echo, "Southend United midfielder Cav Miley has been ruled out for 'a number of weeks' with a thigh injury.
Solihull Moors "announce the permanent signing of attacking midfielder, Jon Benton...
ALTY'S RELATIVE POSITION
This is Altrincham's fourth season back in the top-flight of non-League following their promotion in 2020 so how is the team faring in this campaign compared with previous seasons?
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
In the FA Cup two more National League sides bit the dust in Tuesday's replays, bringing the total of clubs alreday knocked out to ten.
Oxford City could not make home advantage pay as the Oxford Mail reports that "City were denied a place in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup after a stoppage time stunner killed off the Hoops’ late comeback.
Tuesday night's other victims were Ebbsfllet United, who lost their replay at Slough.
And there was almost another upset as the Suffolk News reports that "Needham Market boss Kevin Horlock admitted that their last-minute defeat to York City in the Emirates FA Cup was ‘horrible’ and ‘heartbreak’ but he couldn’t be more proud of his group that is the ‘best he’s ever managed’.
The Derbyshire Times tells us that "Gateshead will be without a permanent manager when they visit Chesterfield this weekend.
4 October 2023
WALKING WOUNDED
Altrincham's seven-game unbeaten run in the league has been built up despite numerous players being sidelined through injury.
The tally of missed league games through injury, so far, includes:
ALTY OLD BOYS
From Phil Jordan we learn that on Tuesday night, in the "NPL : JAMES HARDY scored the final goal as Ashton United crushed a Matlock Town side featuring JOHN JOHNSTON and JONNY MARGETTS 5-0.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 21 October
Altrincham host Dorking Wanderers on Saturday (21 October). The Robins' last game on that date was a goalless draw in 2017 at Warrington Town.
FA CUP REPLAYS
In Tuesday's FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replays, two more National League teams were knocked out of the competition.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The MK Dons confirm "the appointment of Mike Williamson as Head Coach.
The BBC reports that "Oldham Athletic boss Micky Mellon says the club's ambition to grow and return to the English Football League inspired him to join as their new manager.
Southend United "are again joining football fans and staff from across the UK in uniting throughout this month to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK by taking on a mammoth fitness challenge.
NEXT: DORKING WANDERERS
Altrincham's match against Dorking Wanderers this Saturday sees two teams meet who were knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend.
On the contrary, the Daily Telegraph reports that "Dorking manager Marc White delivered what is surely the most brutal post-match assessment in FA Cup history following his team’s 2-0 derby defeat against Horsham on Saturday. 'Today was, wholeheartedly, a bunch of players that were absolutely s---,' declared White.
ALTY THROUGH THE YEARS: 21 OCTOBER
Altrincham have not lost on Saturday's date, 21 October, since 1978, when they lost at Matlock Town in the NPL.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Rochdale boss "Jimmy McNulty says Dale must bounce back quickly from Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup exit.
A player moving from one end of the country to the other is the subject of a move to Eastleigh who report "the signing of Jayden Harris on a short-term loan from Carlisle United.
Southend United's Oli Coker gave "his thoughts on the Emirates FA Cup defeat to Yeovil Town...
At Hartlepool United the club announces "the signing of Terrell Agyemang on a short-term loan deal from Middlesbrough.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Alty TV has produced extended video highlights of Altrincham's FA Cup tie against Oldham Athletic
SURPRISE RETURN FOR GERALD
The most surprising name on Saturday's teamsheet for Altrincham was that of Gerald Sithole (right), who had joined the club on a one-month loan from Bolton Wanderers which was announced on 21 September.
NEXT: DORKING WANDERERS
Altrincham welcome Dorking Wanderers to the J. Davidson Stadium next Saturday as they seek to extend their league run to six successive victories and eight without defeat.
BLANK SATURDAY?
Altrincham's exit from the FA Cup leaves them currently with a blank Saturday on 4 November. However, with eight National League sides already knocked out and a further five to contest midweek replays, there is plenty of choice to choose from for a rearranged fixture on that date.
LOCAL NEWS: TRAFFORD FC
Robbed of their first three points of the season by a late goal at City of Liverpool, our neighbours Trafford remain winless and bottom of the NPL Division One West.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
According to Kent Online, "Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb was left bemoaning his team’s defending after they narrowly avoided an early FA Cup exit on Saturday.
The Halifax Courier quotes FC Halifax Town boss Chris Millington as saying "Clearly there's a problem playing at The Shay and we've got to fix it" after his side lost 0-1 at home to Marine in the FA Cup.
The Daily Star claims that "AFC Fylde have found themselves at the centre of a social media storm after Leek Town slammed them for only serving sandwiches after their FA Cup qualifying clash
15 October 2023
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF OLDHAM GAME
Oldham Athletic have three minutes of video highlights from Saturday's game at Altrincham.
FA CUP FIRST ROUND PROPER
Altrincham's conquerors in the FA Cup have drawn an away tie at Newport County in the First Round Proper of the competition.
"A BIT OF A SMASH AND GRAB" SAYS PARKY
After the FA Cup defeat by Oldham Athletic, Phil Parkinson spoke to Jonny Crowther. "We had the better chances in the game" but "didn't pose enough of a threat", said the Altrincham manager.
ALTRINCHAM v OLDHAM ATHLETIC
For the third year in the last four Altrincham bowed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle with this narrow defeat to Oldham. It was the home side's first defeat in eight games and was delivered by a 79th minute close range goal by McGahey following a left-wing corner.
LATICS VIEW
Oldham Athletic report that "Latics advanced to the FA Cup First Round thanks to a second-half goal from an unlikely candidate in Harrison McGahey. Harrison came into the Latics line-up for the first time since Woking away, 396 days ago, starting in a defensive midfield role...
NEXT LEAGUE MATCH: DORKING WANDERERS
Next Saturday (21st), Dorking Wanderers pay their second visit to Altrincham for a Vanarama National League game.
FA CUP FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND
Eight National League clubs bit the dust in the FA Cup yesterday.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Phil Jordan has reviewed yesterday's games to update us on the latest action by former Altrincham players and loanees.
National North: Despite having ANDY WHITE (right) sent off after just 8 seconds, going behind to the resulting penalty, and being 0-2 down to visitors South Shields inside a quarter of an hour, Warrington Town fought back to draw 2-2. SEAN WILLIAMS started for the hosts (and was booked), while JOSH AMIS and TOM HANNIGAN were used substitutes, while AARON BENNETT stayed on the bench.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Ebbsfleet United "announce publicly the signing of Jordon Ibe...
The 27-year-old attacker has an outstanding football pedigree having made 119 Premier League, eight Europa League and 32 Championship appearances.
TODAY: OLDHAM ATHLETIC
Altrincham face Oldham Athletic today in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, the Latics having appointed Micky Mellon as their new manager yesterday.
ALTY'S "UPWARD TRAJECTORY"
In the Sale & Altrincham Messenger John Edwards writes that "Altrincham are gearing up for a likely sell-out all-ticket crowd as they stage the biggest game in Greater Manchester this weekend against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round...
Alty boss Phil Parkinson (left) summed up the mood...'When you speak about the FA Cup, you want a big gate, and when you look at the numbers we are expecting, it should be a really entertaining game and a great occasion'".
CSC HIGHLIGHTS
Alty TV has highlights from last Tuesday's Cheshire Senior Cup tie against 1874 Northwich.
CHESHIRE NEWS
The Northern Premier League reports that "Former Chesterfield, AFC Fylde, and Bradford City Striker Danny Rowe has joined Macclesfield.
The 34-year-old spent much of his career at Fylde...
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Hartlepool United "confirm the departure of Osazee Aghatise upon the expiration of his short-term contract.
Maidenhead United state that "It is ten weeks since the RBWM Cabinet decided to withdraw the Council’s support of Maidenhead United’s proposed move to Braywick Park.
NEW BOSS FOR ALTY'S OPPONENTS
The Oldham Times reports that "Oldham Athletic are set to appoint Micky Mellon as their new manager. The Oldham Times
understands that the former Tranmere Rovers and Shrewsbury boss has agreed a deal to the summer of 2026....
ROSS JOINS ALTRINCHAM
After almost three months at Altrincham on loan from Stockport County, Altrincham FC reveals that goalkeeper "Ethan Ross has given Altrincham a massive boost on the eve of their entry into this season's Emirates FA Cup by committing himself to the Robins and turning his loan status into a permanent signing...
It's another signing coup for manager Phil Parkinson...
NEXT: OLDHAM ATHLETIC
Altrincham welcome Oldham Athletic on Saturday for an FA Cup Fourth qualifying Round match between two teams in good form.
Following a club meeting on Wednesday, The Latics surprisingly announced that their unbeaten interim management team had resigned. Interim manager Steve Thompson and his assistant, Neil Redfearn, had guided Oldham through six unbeaten fixtures following the sacking of Dave Unsworth. They had aspired to be appointed to the managerial role permanently but clearly someone else will now take up the reins.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Bootle have announced that "Midfielder Sam Hughes and experienced goalkeeper TONY THOMPSON have joined Bootle.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 14 October
Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's data reveal all of Altrincham's previous games on 14 October when, this year, Altrincham host Oldham Athletic.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reporys that "Southend United boss Kevin Maher is facing a ‘near impossible’ task picking a team for Saturday's FA Cup clash at Yeovil Town.
At Aldershot Town Commercial Manager Mark Butler on the Fans’ Wall writes, "The football club has deliberated for some time on what to do with the fans’ wall as time has taken its course and faces have begun to fade, leaving it looking dated and untidy.
The National League monthly awards for September have been announced and their announcement says "It’s really rare that a team wins six times in the league inside a calendar month. But for two to do it? Well, our panel had some serious thinking to do.
Bromley and Chesterfield hit the deadly dozen... In the end, it has to be Andy Woodman. Taking 19 points from a possible 21 was good enough for the decision makers... after [Bromley ended] August only three points off the foot of the table with just one win to their name...
12 October 2023
OLDHAM'S UNBEATEN INTERIM BOSSES RESIGN
Some 72 hours before Oldham face Altrincham in the FA Cup, the Latics have been rocked by the resignation of interim manager Steve Thompson and his assistant Neil Redfearn. They had hoped to be put in permanent charge of the club's management.
However, the Daily Mail reports that
"Steve Thompson [has] resigned as Oldham Athletic’s interim manager after his position became untenable.
ALTY'S TRIALISTS
Amongst the unfamiliar faces in Altrincham's line up on Tuesday in the Cheshire Senior Cup were three trialists.
ALTY'S YOUNGER GENERATION
Press and media officer Brian Flynn spoke to Alty Reserves' joint manager Ross Speight (right), following the Cheshire Senior Cup tie on Tuesday night, which featured many of his young reserve-team squad.
DOUBLE INTERVIEW
Alty TV has a video showing how "Brian Flynn caught up with Alty midfielder Isaac Marriott and defender Eddy Jones at Altrincham's Egerton training ground" recently.
NEXT: OLDHAM ATHLETIC
The Oldham Times claims that "Oldham Athletic expect to be under new management before their next league game, away to rivals Rochdale.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Kilburn Times reveals that "Wealdstone boss Stuart Maynard was left disappointed with his side's performance as they went down to a last-gasp defeat against Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday.
11 October 2023
ALTRINCHAM 1-1 1874 NORTHWICH, Alty win on penalties
Altrincham progressed to Round Two of the Cheshire Senior Cup with a 4-2 win on penalties after finishing level with 1874 Northwich after ninety minutes.
NEXT: OLDHAM ATHLETIC
Altrincham face Oldham Athletic twice in the next month, starting on Saturday when the Latics visit for an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie. It is the first time the two relative neighbours have met in the competition.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 14 October
On 14 October, Altrincham entertain Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup. Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years data reveal previous club fixtures on that day.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Phil Jordan reports that "In the Republic of Ireland, BARRY BAGGLEY was handed the captaincy of Waterford tonight, but they were beaten 3-1 at Galway United. The hosts had already won the league, and Waterford will finish second, regardless of the results of their last two matches.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Kidderminster Harriers visit Altrincham on 24th October and after a poor start to their first campaign back in the National League, their form has improved.
This season Altrincham have installed an electronic scoreboard and Solihull Moors report on their own use of such a feature.
"ROTATION" THE NAME OF THE GAME
In an interview with press and media officer, Brian Flynn, manager Phil Parkinson confirmed that whilst Altrincham would field a "strong team" for tonight's Cheshire Senior Cup tie against 1874 Northwich it would include "rotation" of the players from recent league fixtures.
DRAW FOR ALTY RESERVES
Altrincham FC report on a 1-1 draw for the Reserves away to Crewe FC.
ALTY THROUGH THE YEARS
Today's date has been a popular one for Altrincham games with no fewer than five matches being played on 10 October since 2015.
NEXT SATURDAY GAME: OLDHAM ATHLETIC
After starting their cup campaigns tonight (Tuesday) in the Cheshire Senior Cup, Altrincham face Oldham Athletic on Saturday in the FA Cup.
The Oldham Times reports that "The number of Oldham Athletic supporters arrested last season was the highest number of any of the previous eight seasons.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE GATES
According to Transfer Market average home attendances in the Vanarama National League are currently as follows...
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
On Saturday Oxford City announced "the signing of attacking midfielder Rafferty Pedder on loan from Sky Bet Championship side Queens Park Rangers.
9 Octber 2023
"A BIG TEAM PERFORMANCE" SAYS PARKY
Following the 2-0 win at Gateshead the NL Paper quoted Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson as saying, "Gateshead have been doing very well this season. Everyone has been heaping praise on them for their brand of football and I've got a soft spot for them myself in terms of the way they play...
NEXT GAME: 1874 NORTHWICH
Altrincham's first cup match of the season takes place at the J. Davidson Stadium on Tuesday night (7.45pm) when 1874 Northwich are the visitors for a Cheshire Senior Cup tie.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Ex-Alty loanee goalkeeper from Northwich Victoria, LANCE KEY, has been sacked as manager of Histon, a post he had held for seven years.
BEN ELLIOTT netted for West Didsbury & Chorlton in a 1-1 draw with Kendal Town.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Derbyshire Times tells us that "Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard admitted that Chesterfield were the ‘better team’ and said that they will probably win the title.
A statement has been issued by AFC Fylde which reveals that "Following the recent run of results, the Board of Directors have decided to relieve Head Coach Adam Murray of his duties with immediate effect.
8 October 2023
GATESHEAD 0-2 ALTRINCHAM
Alty moved up to fourth with a fine win at the International Stadium. It was Alty's fifth successive victory in the National League.
NEXT 1874 NORTHWICH
Altrincham's Cheshire Senior Cup campaign gets under way on Tuesday night at the J. Davidson Stadium.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Phil Jordan records the exploits of former Altrincham players or loanees this Saturday.
National League : Both JEFF KING and RYAN COLCLOUGH were substituted in the second half, while JAMES BERRY was left on the bench as Chesterfield won 0-2 at Boreham Wood. For the hosts, BILLY SASS-DAVIES had already been substituted earlier in the half.
WINNING SEQUENCES
With the win at Gateshead, Altrincham have won five league games in the run, three of them away from home.
GATESHEAD 0-2 ALTRINCHAM
Alty moved up to fourth with a fine win at the International Stadium. It was Alty's fifth successive victory in the National League.
SATURDAY FIXTURES
Saturday 7 October, 2023
ALTY OLD BOYS
In the FA Trophy on Friday night, Warrington Rylands, whose line-up included JOE PIGGOTT, were soundly beaten 4-0 at AVRO, who are a division lower than them, reports Phil Jordan.
BEFORE GATESHEAD
Two in-form teams meet today at the International Stadium.
NO FA CUP TIE FOR DONAWA
Altrincham FC announce that "Justin Donawa's fine form for Altrincham has earned him another international call-up after he was named in Bermuda's squad for two forthcoming group games in the Concacaf Nations League....
They travel to Belize on Saturday October 14th (kick-off 8pm local time) and then take on the same opponents at home on Tuesday October 17th (kick-off 7.30pm local time).
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Southend United "announce the signing of promising young striker Daniel Kanu on loan from Charlton Athletic.
Aldershot Town "caught up with First-Team Sports Therapist Liam Charles, Christian Maghoma and Stuart O’Keefe to discuss the work being done to aid their rehabilitation...
At Bromley the club has announced "the signing of forward Olufela Olomola from fellow National League side Wealdstone for an undisclosed fee...
ALTY MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS
The Altrincham FC monthly draw for September 2023 has been made with the outcome as follows:
DISAPPOINTING SEPTEMBER FOR RESERVES
September was a month best forgotten for Altrincham Reserves as their five matches did not include a single win; they drew twice and lost three times.
46 RESERVES
The Cheshire League website reveals that Altrincham FC Reserves currently have forty-six players registered. Players with first-team squad numbers are capitalised below..
NEXT: GATESHEAD
Altrincham are likely to face a much tougher test at the International Stadium on Saturday than they did last season when they undertook a 310-mile return trip to Gateshead on a Tuesday night. On that occasion, the Robins returned with a 3-1 win. That game was almost exactly a year ago, on 4 October 2022.
With this 3-1 win on Tyneside, Altrincham secured their first away win of the season, a result which lifted them out of the relegation places. They arrive this season in the play-off places, as are their opponents.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 7 October
Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's data reveal all of Altrincham's previous games on 7 October when, this year, Altrincham play at Gateshead.
The last match on this date was a 3-1 defeat at Notts County in 2020. That was a match played behind closed doors and was only the second game of that season after Covid had delayed the start of the season.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
According to the Southend Echo, "Fresh plans are being worked on at 'break-neck speed' to upgrade Roots Hall and add an additional 500 homes to plans for Fossetts Farm.
It has been an uncharacteristically poor start to the season at Boreham Wood, but the Hartlepool Mail reports that on Wednesday night, the Wood manager "Luke Garrard has dismissed any notion of Lee Ndlovu’s winning goal for Boreham Wood against Hartlepool United being contentious admitting it was worthy of winning ‘any game.’
At Chesterfield "Coach Kieron Dyer has released the following statement after undergoing a transplant:
FA CUP MATCH IS ALL-TICKET
Altrincham FC has confirmed that "Altrincham's Emirates FA Cup meeting with Oldham Athletic has been made all-ticket...
ALTY 2-1 ALDERSHOT TOWN
Alty TV has extended highlights of the 2-1 win over Aldershot Town on Tuesday night.
NEXT: GATESHEAD
Altrincham travel to in-form Gateshead next Saturday where they will face the league's current top scorer this season, the former Altrincham striker Marcus Dinanga.
Marcus (right) has hit the net eleven times in thirteen outings this season, though he did not score in Tuesday night's 2-1 home win over Wealdstone.
ALTY KNOCKED OUT OF FA YOUTH CUP
On Wednesday Altrincham FC Youth were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup, losing 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 score in normal time.
WEDNESDAY FIXTURE
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
In a two-line statement, Southend United report that "Earlier today [Wednesday] the Court dismissed the winding up petition presented by HMRC.
However, the Southend Echo reports that "Southend United are likely to remain under a transfer embargo until at least the first few weeks of November...
It has been an uncharacteristically poor start to the season at Boreham Wood, but the Hartlepol Mail reports that on Wednesday night, the Wood manager "Luke Garrard has dismissed any notion of Lee Ndlovu’s winning goal for Boreham Wood against Hartlepool United being contentious admitting it was worthy of winning ‘any game.’
At Chesterfield "Coach Kieron Dyer has released the following statement after undergoing a transplant:
ALTRINCHAM 2-1 ALDERSHOT TOWN
In an entertaining, end to end game, Altrincham extended their winning run to four matches with a narrow win against an Aldershot side who will be disappointed that their pacy attacking intent was not accompanied by a goal from open play.
SHOTS' REPORT
Aldershot Town report that they "fell to defeat on a cold and wet night in Altrincham. Chris Conn-Clarke and Alex Newby twice put the home side in front to cancel out an Aldershot equaliser from the penalty spot through Cian Harries.
The second-half was an even affair with both sides sharing possession and chances...
NEXT: GATESHEAD
Altrincham travel to in-form Gateshead next Saturday. On Tuesday night, Gateshead hosted Wealdstone and won 2-1 and moved up to fourth in the table.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Curzon Ashton explain that "Adam Lakeland resigned from his position as manager along side Sam Walker in order to pursue professional football at King’s Lynn Town leaving the post to his club captain CRAIG MAHON, Mark Bradshaw and Jack Salkeld, who was also offered a similar deal but chose to stay with the Nash".
League One: OWEN DALE (right) put in a full shift for Blackpool, but they were turned over 1-3 at Bloomfield Road by Derby County.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 7 October
On 7 October, Altrincham are away at Gateshead. Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years data reveal previous club fixtures on that day.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reports that "Southend United's petition debt to HMRC has been paid in full as an agreement for the sale of the club has been reached today, it has been revealed.
An old managerial foes of Altrincham is subject of a report from Woking who announce that the "Football Club and Club legend Geoff Chapple jointly announce his retirement on 2nd October 2023.
ALTRINCHAM 2-1 ALDERSHOT TOWN
MIDWEEK GAMES
Tuesday, 3 October 2023
DEBUTANTS AND OLDER FACES
A measure of the changes at the J. Davidson Stadium since last season is that, whilst 21 players have made appearances for Altrincham this season, almost two-thirds, 13, were not employed by the club until this summer.
TONIGHT: ALDERSHOT TOWN
Alty's opponents tonight, Aldershot Town, started the season with a 5-2 win over Oxford City followed a week later by a 5-1 defeat at Oldham. Their ups and downs have continued as they have yet to win two successive fixtures.
They have won four matches, two at home (v Oxford City and Wealdstone) and two away (at AFC Fylde and Boreham Wood). They have drawn three times at home to maintain an unbeaten home record.
ALTY THROUGH THE YEARS
Altrincham have not lost a game on today's date for twenty-five years according to the Through the Years data of Howard Watts and Mike Garnett.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Hartlepool United "announce the return of Nicky Featherstone on a one-month contract.
According to the Blackpool Gazette "AFC Fylde will stick to their guns
FA CUP DRAW
In today's draw for the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, Altrincham have been drawn at home to Oldham Athletic on Saturday, 14 October 2023. Though both clubs are part of Greater Manchester, they have never previously met in the FA Cup.
NEXT: ALDERSHOT TOWN
On Tuesday, Altrincham welcome Aldershot Town to the J Davidson Stadium for the second home midweek game of the season.
OXFORD VIEW
Altrincham's opponents Oxford City said that they "were left to rue a string of missed chances, after a late Eddy Jones goal against the run of play consigned City to defeat...
Centre-half Jake Cooper had given Altrincham the lead in the first-half but City were in the ascendancy from the on in. Nya Kirby equalised two minutes after the re-start as City looked to take all three points.
ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES
Phil Jordan reports on the weekend activities of former Altrincham players and loanees...
KEVIN BERKOE only came off the bench in added time as Salford City beat visitors Newport County 2-1.
VANARAAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
York Press says that "York City manager Neal Ardley reprimanded his team after a 2-2 draw against an unbeaten Solihull Moors side...
We read in the Oldham Chronicle that "Latics' recent surge up the National League table under interim boss Steve Thompson was checked as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Wealdstone.
OXFORD CITY 1-2 ALTY
Altrincham moved up to sixth place with their third win in a row but it was not a wholly convincing performance.
MORE INJURIES
In his pre-match interview at the weekend, manager Phil Parkinson confirmed that Joey Jones's injury sustained last Tuesday has sidelined him for the time being and also that Gez Sithole's loan from Bolton Wanderers is effectively over after one start and one substitute appearances, after injury.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Phil Jordan reports that on Friday, "OLLIE BYRNE was booked as Cork City lost 0-1 to visitors St.Patrick's Athletic in the Irish Premier League.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reports that "Southend United have completed the signing of defender Brooklyn Kabongolo on a non-contract basis.
Maidenhead Advertiser reeports that "Leaders Chesterfield dropped points for the first time in eight matches as they were held by a struggling Maidenhead United side who produced their best performance of the season to date.
VANARAMA NATIONAL FIXTURES
Tuesday 3 October
