16 June, 2001




Altrincham Football Club laid on a Presentation Evening tonight for the "Double"-winning Altrincham Youth side. The squad and their families were guests of the Club as officials of the Altrincham and District Football Association and the Bolton and District North West Youth Alliance presented them with their medals and trophies. Mr Jack Berry, Mr Norman Sheriff and colleagues from the Altrincham FA gave each qualifying player an award for representing the FA during the season before Mr Fred Morris of the Bolton Alliance handed over the League and Cup trophies and medals. Finally, Mr Morris awarded George Heslop with a much deserved "Manager of the Year" trophy. George's assistant, Neil Thomas was also rightly honoured with an award from George for his hard work throughout the season. The evening was compered by Altrincham FC Chairman, Mark Harris, who underlined the importance of the Youth Team to the Club's future. He also thanked the team's parents for their unstinting support throughout the 2000-01 season. After the awards, George Heslop indicated that ten of this year's squad were still eligible for next year's competition. He also confirmed that Altrincham would once again be entering the FA Youth Cup, which starts in July. Many of last year's squad have also progressed onto the books of the Altrincham Reserve side and there is real optimism that a number of these lads will establish themselves at that level and even make their mark in the first team during the coming twelve months. Pictured by Danny Claffey on the Moss Lane pitch, which thanks to Peter Barry looked in superb condition, is the squad as they lined up tonight before the awards ceremony:- Back row Neil Thomason; Paul Monaghan, Rico Richards, Pat Claffey, Neil Wolszczuk, Dale Newbrook, Wes Wilkinson, Otis Thomas, Domain Esdale, Levi Kennedy, George Heslop; Front row Lee McDonald, Paul Crowther, Paul Robinson, Steve Howe, Paul Tilley, Vernum Rowland, Lee Shillito, Danny Leahey. (NB: It is hoped to have a better picture here shortly). For details of the team and their exploits last season, visit the archived Youth Team 2000-01 and Youth Team Players 2000-01 pages. The current Youth Page (2001) is here.
After a quiet start, Altrincham Youth stepped up a gear after half-time to clinch the Youth Alliance championship convincingly in their last match of the season, at Wilmslow Albion F.C.'s ground. The Alty team have therefore now achieved the Double, having lifted the League Cup last Sunday. Alty took the lead after 33 mins after Leahey had done well to win a corner on the right. His corner found Esdale's head at the back of the box and the ball fell for Mark Drew on the edge of the box. His bobbling shot found the left corner of the net, despite a handling offence on the line by a defender. The referee thankfully chose to award the goal and avoid a spot-kick and sending-off. Daniel replaced Wilkinson at half-time and within minutes the sub went up the right, from a feed by Leahey.
Mario's cross found Mark Drew unmarked and after controlling the bobbling ball, he drove it past the keeper (48 mins). Mark is seen, above, during this afternoon's game. Altrincham proceeded to dominate the second period and deservedly scored a third when a fine ball forward by Robinson found Daniel who scored neatly (58 mins). Monaghan replaced Drew (68 mins), who is seen in action, left, during the game, and Shillito came on for Richards (77 mins). In the last ten minutes a Claffey header, just over the bar (82 mins), and two fine shots by Daniel (85 mins) and Shillito (88 mins), which were well saved, almost added to the tally. Rossendale's chances were few; a fine save from Newbrook foiled a good shot by their number eight (54 mins) and Howe cleared up a header from Robinson which went past the advancing Newbrook and threatened to go into his own net (86 mins). After the match, coach Neil Thomason organised a deserved presentation by Steve Howe of a plaque to George Heslop, (above, right), manager of the Altrincham Youth team. Alty's end of season league record is on the Youth Page Two. TEAM 1-Newbrook 2-Rowland 3-Robinson 4-Howe (capt) 5-Claffey 6-Leahey 7-Esdale 8-McDonald 9-Wilkinson 10-Richards 11-Drew. SUBS: 14-Daniel 15-Tilley 16-Crowther 17-Monaghan 17*-Kennedy
free-kick by Mark Drew which came back off the wall and Drew then expertly chipped it over the defence for Wilkinson to finish neatly. However, Heys got back in the game when Steve Howe was adjudged to have fouled an opponent and the resulting penalty was put away well (40 mins). There was a lengthy stoppage after 56 minutes when Levi Kennedy was struck on the head by the ball and had to be replaced by Paul Crowther. Soon after play had resumed Rowland's ball forward to Richards led to a neat interplay with Wilkinson and Richards chipped the ball home to make the score 3-1 (59 mins). After Mario Daniel had replaced Richards (75 mins) and Paul Tilley had come on for Domain Esdale (77 mins), Danny Leahey appeared to have wrapped up the game when he scored directly from a free-kick, though the keeper really should have kept it out (78 mins). But Prestwich finished strongly when their number 4 firmly headed home a corner (80 mins). They then scored an excellent goal, directly struck off the crossbar from a free-kick, conceded by Mark Drew just outside the box (85 mins). Mario Daniel was unable to finish the game off with a chance just before the final whistle but Prestwich almost snatched a last-gasp equaliser when their number 11's firm shot was superbly tipped round the post by Dale Newbrook. Altrincham nevertheless held on for a deserved victory. The cup and medals were presented on the pitch (see picture) and a couple of bottles of champagne miraculously appeared from amongst the strong contingent of Alty players' parents and these were duly sprayed around the team in best Grand Prix tradition! TEAM: 1-Newbrook 2-Rowland 3-Drew 4-Howe (capt) 5-Claffey 6-Leahey 7-Esdale 8-Kennedy 9-Wilkinson 10-Richards 11-McDonald SUBS: 14-Daniel 15-Tilley 16-Crowther 17-Monaghan
Lancaster came to Moss Lane after a 1-0 win over Morecambe which opened the door once more to Altrincham to win the league championship but the game was in jeopardy when none of the match officials arrived at the ground. Alty Youth coach Neil Thomason refereed the game, whilst two of the Alty players's fathers ran the lines; Dale Newbrook's father is seen, left, very capably performing his linesman's duties. After only 4 minutes Lee McDonald opened the scoring, picking up a loose ball just outside the Lancaster box, advancing into the area and tucking the ball firmly just inside the left-hand upright. Lancaster pressed hard in the opening stages but their equaliser was fortunate, a through-ball taking a wicked bounce over the advancing Newbrook. Altrincham regained the lead when Vernum Rowland's fine ball into the box, from the left, found Mario Daniel at the back post and he made no mistake with a well-taken effort (27 mins)- his 7th goal in 5 games. Altrincham dominated the second half, with keeper Newbrook protected from any real danger by a solid back-line. Although substitute Wes Wilkinson scored an offside goal, hit the post and induced a fine save from the Lancaster keeper, Alty could not add to the score. Wilkinson had replaced Daniel after 74 minutes and Paul Robinson came on for Domain Esdale after 83 minutes. Neil Thomason put in a fine performance as referee and was scrupulously unpartisan. TEAM: 1-Newbrook, 2-Rowland, 3-Drew, 4-Howe(capt.), 5-Claffey, 6-Leahey, 7-Esdale, 8-Kennedy, 9-Daniel, 10-Richards, 11-McDonald. SUBS: 12-Wilkinson, 14-Shillito, 15-Tilley, 16-Robinson, 17-Monaghan.
Altrincham had enough chances to have won this top of the table clash but only Rico Richards's fine 29th minute finish, from an excellent ball played forward by Levi Kennedy, separated the sides at half-time. Morecambe's equaliser came after 65 minutes from a controversial penalty when a tug on a Morecambe player was spotted by the linesman, rather than the referee. Morecambe's number two smashed home the spot kick past Wolszczuk who, otherwise, had little to do all afternoon as the Alty defence of Rowland, Howe, Claffey (pictured left) and Robinson played solidly. Richards and his strike partner, Wesley Wilkinson gave way to Lee Shillito and Paul Fitzhenry in the closing stages but they were unable to grab a winner. Alty team: 1-Wolszczuk, 2-Rowland, 3-Robinson, 4-Howe (capt), 5-Claffey, 6-Leahey, 7-McDonald, 8-Kennedy, 9-Wilkinson, 10-Richards, 11-Crowther. Subs: 17-Shillito (for Wilkinson 70), 16-Fitzhenry (for Richards 79) and Monaghan (for Crowther 88). A number of today's team will turn out for the Reserves tomorrow night at Morecambe.
18 February 2001| DATE | AT | AGAINST | RES | SCORERS |
| 3.9.00 | A | EUXTON VILLA | 10-0 | Wright 4, Crowther 3, Monaghan 2, Schofield |
| 10.9.00 | A | ROSSENDALE UNITED | 2-0 | Monaghan 2 |
| 17.9.00 | H | DATEN SPORTS CLUB | 3-2 | Crowther (pen), Tilley, Thomas |
| 24.9.00 | N | ALTRINCHAM F.A v MACCLESFIELD F.A. | 1-0 | District Youth Challenge Cup, at Trafford FC. Schofield 70 |
| 1.10.00 | A | RYLANDS F.C. | 2-0 | Daniel, Thomas |
| 22.10.00 | H | WALTON-LE-DALE | 4-1 | Daniel (17), Schofield (30, 42), Monaghan (pen. 72) |
| 7.1.01 | A | WALTON-LE-DALE | 8-0 | Crowther (7,11,52), Daniel (12,13,59), Kennedy (17), Thomas ( ) |
| 14.1.01 | H | EUXTON VILLA | 4-0 | Monaghan (44,50) Crowther (74) Schofield (89) |
| 28.1.01 | A | LANCASTER CITY | 3-2 | Crowther (25), Daniel (32,38) |
| 18.2.01 | H | RYLANDS FC | 1-1 | Daniel (42) |
| 19.2.01 | A | STOCKPORT COUNTY YOUTH | 3-1 | Daniel (7), Wilkinson (55), Coverley (88) |
| 4.3.01 | A | PRESTWICH HEYS | 0-2 | At Sandgate Road |
| 11.3.01 | A | MORECAMBE | 2-3 | At Lanc. & Morc. College Monagahan 2 |
| 18.3.01 | A | NW ALLIANCE v NORTHERN ALLIANCE | 1-0 | At Garforth Daniel |
| 20.3.01 | A | RUNCORN | 1-2 | Daniel |
| 25.3.01 | H | ALTRINCHAM F.A. v STALYBRIDGE F.A. | 3-0 | Kennedy (38), Wilkinson (72), Fitzhenry (77) |
| 28.3.01 | A | ALTRINCHAM F.A. v RUNCORN F.A. | 4-1 | At Warrington T.-?scorers- |
| 9.4.01 | H | EUXTON VILLA | 4-1 | Cup match Kennedy (3), Wilkinson (54), Shillito (67), Richards (85) |
| 15.4.01 | H | MORECAMBE | 1-1 | Richards (29) |
| 22.4.01 | H | MORECAMBE | 3-2 | Cup S/F Wilkinson, Leahey, Shillito |
| 24.4.01 | A | ALTRINCHAM F.A. v STOCKPORT F.A. | 0-0 | At Woodley Sports |
| 2.5.01 | H | RUNCORN | 5-1 | Daniel (11,51) Richards (18,37) Drew (46) |
| 4.5.01 | A | ALTRINCHAM F.A v WIRRAL & DISTRICT F.A. | 2-2 | Lost 5-6 on penalties; at Vauxhall Motors. Penalty scorers- Claffey, Monaghan, Tilley, Drew, Shillito |
| 6.5.01 | H | NW ALLIANCE v NORTHERN ALLIANCE | 2-0 (3-0 aggreg.) | Daniel (45), Bamber (83) |
| 9.5.01 | H | PRESTWICH HEYS | 3-1 | Daniel (34,65) Drew (52) |
| 13.5.01 | H | LANCASTER CITY | 2-1 | McDonald (4), Daniel (27) |
| 16.5.01 | A | DATEN SPORTS | 4-1 | Wilkinson (28,40), Richards (65pen), Drew (68) |
| 20.5.01 | A | PRESTWICH HEYS | 4-3 | CUP FINAL at Winsford FC Richards (24,59) Wilkinson (37), Leahey (78) |
| 27.5.01 | H | ROSSENDALE UTD | 3-0 | At Wilmslow Albion, Oakwood Farm, Styal Rd. Drew (33,48) Daniel (58) |

