Woodley S. 0 Barrow 1
7 November 2004
ENJOYABLE NIGHT
The club's Hot Pot and Curry Evening at Moss Lane last night was a successful sell-out. As well as an auction of sporting memorabilia, conducted by Alty boss Graham Heathcote, there was a question and answer session with three of Alty's new signings this season, Colin Potts, Colin Little and Eddie Hussin (left) forming the panel. All three players expressed genuine pleasure to be at Altrincham. They praised the professional way that the club was run and appreciated that they, as players, were well looked after, not least by having chairman Geoff Goodwin's excellent coaches to take them to away games. Colin Potts also singled out the Alty supporters who, he felt, were "unbelievable", especially away from home. Of their playing colleagues, the trio all mentioned goalkeeper Stuart Coburn as a major factor in the side's success this season, whilst Gary Talbot and Marcus Hallows were amongst the others singled out by their colleagues. The three also recalled their best moments in football such as when they had come up against the likes of Paul Scholes and David Ginola on the football pitch. Whilst Colin Little has, of course, plenty of League experience, Eddie has played for Everton Reserves and Colin Potts for Preston North End Reserves.
The evening concluded with an entertaining talk by Test cricket umpire and former Leicestershire cricketer Barry Dudleston, who is a friend of Alty chairman Geoff Goodwin. As a result, the audience included a large contingent from Urmston Cricket Club, with which Graham Heathcote has connections and for whom Alty stand-in goalkeeper Kurt Edginton is a longstanding fast bowler. Amongst Barry's humorous anecdotes were stories about England and Leicestershire spinners Ray Illingworth and Tony Lock, and more recent stars such as Nasser Hussain.
As well as the amusing verbal entertainment which went on throughout the evening, the food (by the Amblehurst Hotel) was excellent and very efficient table service was provided by Sarah Rowley and colleagues, whilst Jenny Heslop and colleagues were the heroines behind the bar. But most importantly, a useful sum was raised to keep the club's finances on an even keel - aided by the £1,800 won by the players in the preceding FA Trophy tie against Ossett Albion.
OLD BOYS
Alty old boys scoring yesterday included Chris Downey (Mossley), Jamie Baguley (two for Rossendale), Ged Kielty (Rhyl), Marc Lloyd-Williams and John Toner (two each for TNS).
Three ex-Alty keepers were in the news. Former youth keeper Dale Newbrook played most of the Trophy match against Barrow when he had to come on as a sub, Ashley Timms kept goal for Mossley and Lance Key (now at Histon) has been nominated as one of the players of the Round in the FA Cup.
Elsewhere, Terry Bowker (Stalybridge), Andy McDonald (Woodley) and Anthony Hargreaves (Flixton) were all in action yesterday. Neil Doherty is back at Barrow, playing for the Reserves.
6 November 2004
BAD NEWS FOR PETER
The injury to Peter Wright picked up in the midweek Reserves' game has now been diagnosed as a fractured eye-socket rather than a fractured cheekbone. Peter is therefore expected to be out of action for six weeks. All at Moss Lane wish Peter good luck in his recovery period.
ALTY INTERESTED
This is Accrington says that "Lutel James has vowed to fight for a first team place until his future with Accrington Stanley is resolved. The striker was anticipating a move away from the Interlink Express Stadium this week, with Droylsden favourites to get his signature. At least six clubs have expressed an interest in either signing James or taking him on loan since he went on the transfer list". James said "I'm on contract here so financially any deal has got to be right for all parties. I would be prepared to go out on loan to get match fit". According to the MEN "Altrincham and Stalybridge have both asked about taking him on loan".
TROPHY
Harrogate Town report that they "have signed striker Danny Holland on a month’s loan from rivals Hucknall Town. Holland... became hot property after joining Matlock Town from NCEL Staveley Miners Welfare... hitting 65 goals in a two-year stint at Causeway Lane. Last term he scored 41 goals to finish as the UniBond League's top marksman".
Harrogate's former Frickley striker "Lee Morris has been loaned out to Wakefield-Emley for a period of 1 month" to regain fitness says Town's website.
Stalybridge Celtic have "announced the signing of centre-half Martin Lancaster (23), formerly of Northwich Victoria". He had been reported to be joining Worksop Town. But "ex-Accrington striker Damien Hindle has been released". Meanwhile Frickley centre back James Cotterill has rejoined Barrow.
On NL Daily "Gresley Rovers have confirmed that Karl Brown has left the club to join Runcorn FC Halton". Brown is based on Merseyside.
The BBC says that "The whole of Nuneaton Borough's first team football squad has been checked for meningitis after... striker Avun Jephcott was admitted to hospital on Tuesday... The 21-year-old is now recovering".
Glenn Murray has signed League registration forms with Barrow and the club are hoping to make things more permanent following the FA Trophy game at the weekend. This will be in agreement with Carlisle who... will be allowed to talk to Glenn first in the future".
Harrogate Today manager John Reed said of the FA Trophy, "I want to go as far as I can in this competition and see just how good a side we really are. There is no reason why we can't go all the way and win it... I'm desperate to avoid a repeat of the Liversedge [FA Cup] fiasco".
Hucknall Today manager "Dean Barrick... has been rewarded with the boss's job until the end of the season by delighted chairman Brian Holmes.
Town failed to reach the First Round proper of the FA Cup yet again last Saturday when nosediving to a 5-1 defeat at Morecambe", a tie they earned by beating Altrincham. "I would expect us to strengthen the quality of our squad, while reducing the quantity," said Hucknall chairman Brian Holmes.
New Runcorn boss Alvin McDonald "has moved quickly to mould the Linnets into his own team after replacing Chris Lightfoot. Striker Stuart Wright, 26, has signed from rivals Altrincham after failing to break into their first team, while utility midfielder Paul Hives, 22, has joined from Warrington Town after a short spell at Vauxhall Motors, McDonald's previous club. Local Runcorn side, General Chemicals, have provided a trio of talent in Martin Molyneux, Ian Cox and Ashley Siner" to bring to five the number of new faces says This is Runcorn.
RESTRUCTURING
The NL Daily reports that "Albany Northern League clubs have given short shrift to the proposal of joining a re-shaped UniBond League... [which] is considering several ideas, one of which is to create a new First Division below the Premier Division, split north and south. But, according to a survey... only three clubs would seriously consider moving upwards at the present time, mainly for financial reasons... If the new UniBond divisions are formed, it means the Northern League would drop down a level in the national system". A Northern League representative said "it would cost £25,000 per season for one of our current clubs to move up the system, taking into account the extra travel cost, extra players’ expenses, and ground improvements... This suggestion of a UniBond North and South is stark, staring bonkers".
5 November 2004
INJURY JINX FOLLOWS ALTY PLAYER
After the broken leg for Stephen Rose and the broken cheekbone for Peter Wright within the last week, comes news that Barry Shuttleworth, released on 28 October by Altrincham, has broken his ankle whilst training for Bamber Bridge. "The left-sided player, who had joined from Altrincham, is expected to be out of contention for six to eight weeks, and was taken to Chorley Hospital last night following a bad break while going for a cross" reports Preston Today. We all wish Barry a full and speedy recovery.
RESERVES' WIN
Alty Reserves won on Wednesday against Chorley. But first-teamer Peter Wright picked up a nasty injury. A report is on the Reserves' page
SUPPORTERS' COACHES
If you don't attend Alty's away games you only experience half of the season so why not join your fellow supporters on the STAR supporters' coaches which run to every away game? Courtesy of travel organiser Mark Eckersall, the STAR supporters' coach details for the away matches at Redditch (13th) and Vauxhall Motors (16th) are here. To book, ring the club on 928-1045.
ROSIE
The STAR Board of Directors has agreed to donate the bucket collection taken against Alfreton on 20 November to Stephen Rose, who broke his leg at Worcester last week and is unable to work as a consequence. If you can help with this or any other half-time bucket collection, please contact Gary Warrington via the Fans' Forum.
This Saturday there will be a collection for the family of the Worcester City steward who collapsed and died last Saturday just after helping to carry the stretcher bearing Stephen Rose off the pitch. Please give generously.
SATURDAY
Altrincham are expected to include Dave Cummins from Trafford FC as their goalkeeping substitute on Saturday.
LOCAL NEWS
"Chairman Mike Worthington is to take over as caretaker-manager of Witton Albion following the
dismissal of [former Alty man and] manager John Davison". Brian Pritchard, the player dismissed for tackling a streaker at Moss Lane in last year's CSC Final, "will assist with team selection".
Meanwhile "Kevin Glendon, manager of Radcliffe Borough, has released three of his first-team squad. Midfielder Simon Carden and forward Rory Patterson have been released from their contracts by mutual consent, while also leaving Stainton Park is experienced midfielder Karl Marginson" reports NL Daily.
NATIONWIDE NORTH
"Phil Wilson, manager of Lancaster City, was jubilant after the 1-0 victory at Scarborough which
sent his side through to an FA Cup First Round meeting with MK Dons. Wilson's tactic of snubbing out the Boro' midfield again worked a treat and left the stage open for defender Joe McMahon to score in the last minute" reports Scarborough Today.
NL Daily follows up reports of the collapse of Carthium who sponsored the Conference league cup and also several teams. "The chairman Gary Calder and manager Garry Hill were informed that there would no longer be the funds available to sustain Hornchurch FC. Players and staff were issued wage cheques on Tuesday, but these were all stopped". However, "The club will continue playing football and will compete in the FA Trophy and the FA Cup". The Carthium Group was one of the largest suppliers of windows, doors, conservatories and glazing components in the UK, with an annual turnover of £140 million".
The Tameside Advertiser says that new Stalybridge boss "Peter Wragg admitted he was looking forward to actually seeing Stalybridge Celtic on the pitch when they face Harrogate Town this weekend. The FA Trophy match at Bower Fold is Celtic’s first game in almost a fortnight".
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