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Club & Ground Information
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Club & Ground Information
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HOW TO GET TO MOSS LANE
CONTACT DETAILS
GROUND REGULATIONS
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Altrincham Football Club has a proud history, which includes knocking more League sides out of the FA Cup than any other curent non-league side. (For details see below). They have also been founder members of the Cheshire County, Northern Premier and the Alliance/Conference leagues as well as Conference (Nationwide) North.
Nicknamed 'The Robins', Altrincham were ever-present in the National Conference (formerly Alliance) from 1979 until 1997 when they suffered their first relegation, to the UniBond Premier League (Northern Premier). As UniBond champions in 1999 they regained their Conference national status for 1999-2000, but only for one year before being relgated again to the UniBond. They narrowly qualified for the newly formed Conference North in 2004 and went on to finish fifth before becoming the only-ever winners of a North v South play-off, in 2005, to return to the Conference National for their third spell at that level. Despite being one of only a handful of part-time clubs, Altrincham finished a very creditable 18th in the Conference National in 2005-06, only to be deprived of any satisfaction at their achievement when they were deducted 18 points following Accrington Stanley's failure to get international clerance for James Robinson, who had joined Alty from Stanley. The deduction meant they were placed bottom of the league and relegated. But the demise of Canvey Island and then the demotion of Scarborough gave Altrincham a late reprieve at the Conference AGM in June 2006 and they played again in the national division in 2006-07. This time, despite amassing 51 points, they finished fourth-bottom and again looked to be set for relegation. But once again financial shortcomings at another club saved them when Boston United were forcibly demoted to Conference North from League Two. In 2007-08 Altrincham finished 21st so again faced relegation before, for the third successive year, they were reprieved as Halifax Town's financial mismanagement saw them slide into liquidation. So once again Altrincham's policy of remaining part-time and playing within a fixed budget was rewarded as they continue to compete at national level, whilst remaining one of a handful of part-time clubs in the Blue Square Premier division.
In 2008-09 they finished 15th in the division, an excellent outcome, given their limited budget.
The current board having steered Altrincham FC from near financial ruin five years ago through hard work and keeping to strict budgetary limits. During manager Graham Heathcote's managership not a single player has cost a transfer fee. Historic debts have been paid off and though this has meant that the club operates on a much lower budget than virtually all of its competitors.
The Club ran three sides in 2006-07. As well as the first team and the youth team (in the N.W. Allied Trophies Football League), a reserve team (Lancit Haulage Lancashire League) was re-formed in 2004/05, after two years' absence. It played last season (2006-07) in the Lancashire League (East) Division. However, for 2007-08 the Reserves was disbanded and since then a series of friendly games has been arranged for those players not featuring regularly in the first-team. Click on the links, above left, for details of each team.
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On 14 October 2002, Graham Heathcote (left) replaced Bernard Taylor as manager. Graham has spent more than 30 years at Moss Lane as, firstly, a player and then as coach and was part of the famous Altrincham giant-killing FA Cup side which was a national force in non-league football in 1970s and 1980s. He first became Alty coach under John King but resigned, with King, in early 1998. Bernard Taylor then took over and won the UniBond Challenge Cup that season before, early in 1998-99 season, he appointed Graham as his coach. The two then took the club to the UniBond Championship in 1999 but, in December, Graham resigned.
Lying 10th in March 2000, Altrincham were relegated from the Conference in May after a disastrous final 11 games, at which point Bernard Taylor resigned. After Mark Ward's managership (2000-01), Graham was again appointed as coach to manager Bernard Taylor, in March 2001. In June 2002 Graham's coaching contract was not renewed by the then Board and Andy May took over as Bernard's new coach for 2002-03. Financial constraints led to a big cut in the playing budget and the side suffered a poor run of results from March 2002, winning only 7 competitive matches out of 35 until Bernard and Andy were dismissed in October 2002 and Graham took over as manager. Graham has also had brief spells in management elsewhere, notably at Barrow and Witton, as well as being John King's assistant at Runcorn. Graham and his assistant, Dalton Steele, masterminded a return to the Conference National division for 2005/06, which must rank alongside the club's greatest achievements, given its limited resources. Even more commendably they steered the team to 18th place in the National division in 2006 on the lowest budget in the division, only to be docked 18 points following Accrington's registration lapse with James Robinson. In 2008/09 season Graham Barrow, a former Alty player with League managerial experience at several local clubs, including Bury and Chester City, became assistant manager and his input has proved extremely valuable. Before becoming manager Graham was Club Secretary and had previously served as coach/ assistant manager/ secretary under both John King and Bernard Taylor. Before that he was a key member of the playing staff, making 502 appearances for The Robins. He was honoured with a testimonial game in 2001-02 against Macclesfield Town and his playing profile is here. |
Below, is a summary of recent management and Board changes:
| SEASON | MANAGER | ASSISTANT/COACH | CHAIRMAN/BOARD |
| 1997-98 | John King, to 5/3/98 | Graham Heathcote, to 5/3/98 | Gerry Berman |
| 1997-98 | Bernard Taylor, from 5/3/98 | Gerry Berman | |
| 1998-99 | Bernard Taylor | Nigel Gleghorn / Brian Kilcline, 8/98 to 11/9/98 | Gerry Berman |
| 1998-99 | Bernard Taylor | Graham Heathcote, from 11/9/98, resigned 12/99 | Gerry Berman |
| 1999-2000 | Bernard Taylor, resigned 11/5/00 | Stan Allan/ Owen Brown, to 5/00 | Gerry Berman |
| 2000-01 | Mark Ward, from 19/5/00 to 18/3/01 | Tony Murphy, from 19/5/00 to 18/3/01 | Gerry Berman, to 1/01; Mark Harris, from 1/01 |
| 2000-01 & 2001-02 | Bernard Taylor, caretaker from 3/01, officially from 1/5/01 | Graham Heathcote, caretaker from 3/01, officially from 1/5/01 | Mark Harris, to resignation 5/02 |
| 2001-02 | Bernard Taylor | Graham Heathcote, to 30/6/02 | Board resigned 24/5/02 |
| 2002-03 | Bernard Taylor, to 14/10/02 | Andy May, from 6/02 to 14/10/02 | New Board, from 6/02 |
| 2002-03 | Graham Heathcote, from 14/10/02 | Dalton Steele, from 23/10/02 to 29/11/03 & from mid-May 2004 to December 2007. Graham Barrow from 5 January 2008. | Geoff Goodwin, from July 2002 |
A fuller list of managers is here.
Graham Barrow (pictured, left, by Gavin Rathbone), succeeded Dalton Steele as Assistant Manager from 5 January 2008. Graham, a former Alty player has extensive managerial experience at clubs which include Barrow, Wigan Athletic, Rochdale, Bury and Chester City and before joining Altrincham was scouting for Millwall. As a player, Graham made more than 500 appearances, mostly in midfield, for Wigan Athletic and Chester City.
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| Derek Wilshaw was appointed the Club Secretary from 24 July, 2006, replacing Graham Heathcote in that position, which he had combined with managership of the club. Prior to his appointment as Club Secretary, Derek had for many years worked on a voluntary basis in the Moss Lane offices of the Football Club. |
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George Heslop is the Club's Youth Team manager, as well as its Matchday Secretary (see below). With coach Neil Thomason he guided the side to the NWYA league and cup double in 2000-01 and again in 2003-04. Neil resigned in summer 2005 and very sadly died that summer at the age of 46. From 2005-06 George has been very ably assisted by Tony Spilsbury, a former Altrincham Reserves' manager and now also the club's commentator on DVD match recordings. They were joined on the coaching side by Gareth Thomas in 2007. In 2007-08 the youth team were runners-up in the league but won the Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup for the third successive season, representing the Altrincham & District FA. Pictured left are (l. to r) Gareth Thomas, George Heslop and Tony Spiilsbury.
George also acts as compere at club social events whilst George's wife, Jenny, runs the Club bar, shop and the weekly "Saturday Yankee" fundraiser, as well as washing the kit and assisting in the club office. In short, George and Jenny are both very popular and vital elements in the Club's on- and off-field activities. |
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Neil Brown was manager of Altrincham Reserves until summer 2007 when he resigned. He subsequently became manager at leek Town and currently at Abbey Hey. Neil has also been coach and manager at successful local junior club, Fletcher Moss, for more than ten years and has been a scout for Liverpool FC.
Now he is the Moss Lane groundsman and he has done a superb job in making it one of the best surfaces in the Conference. Indeed, Manchester United Reserves now play at Moss LAne, with Neil's pitch being a major factor in that choice. |
Established in 2007, in conunction with Hale Barns United Junior FC, Altrincham FC Juniors aims to provide a link between the Football Club and junior football. For details see the Juniors FC page.
Sean Riley (left) succeeded Andy Hosgood as the Alty physio for 2007-08. Sean originally joined as the club physio in mid-October 2004 and was formerly the physio at Accrington Stanley and has also been resident physio for the Blackburn Sunday League and for Gt Harwood Town and Bamber Bridge. He was also involved in the GB team for the World Student games in Beijing and holds an FA diploma in the treatment and management of sports injuries. Latterly Sean had been employed at Kendal Town. Off the field Sean has a reputation as an accomplished "rapper" and has also played in goal - and kept a clean sheet - for the AFC Staff XI versus the Supporters XI!
In the Moss Lane treatment room, Sean is ably assisted by Alan Ainsley (right) who came to the club four years ago as the Reserves' physio.
In late July, 2002, Geoff Goodwin (left) was named as Chairman. (Geoff is seen, right, with director, Grahame Rowley, in Alan Johnson's photo). In the previous two years the Board had seen many changes. Mark Harris had become the Chairman following the resignation in early 2001 of Gerry Berman, a Manchester businessman, who had been in charge for several years. However, Mark, who was formerly the Deputy Chairman, himself resigned w.e.f. the end of the 2001-02 season. New Directors were appointed from February 2001 after the Club had been saved from a winding-up order threatened by an ex-Director. The remaining Board members resigned in May 2002, and the major shareholders, led by Gerry Berman, held an EGM on 17 June 2002. From this, a new Board emerged comprising Grahame Rowley, Geoff Goodwin and Andrew Shaw, who have brought much needed stability to the club's operations, with a small operating profit being made in 2002-03. However, they battled hard to pay off the club's debts, which they inherited and the local council's ale of the car park at Moss Lane brought a much-needed cash injection in 2007. In summer 2006, Grahame Rowley was named as Vice-Chairman and Derek Wilshaw joined Carole Hassan and Barry Pond on an expanded Board. Derek also assumed the role of Club Secretary from Graham Heathcote. A significant step in the club's remergence at national level came when Andrew Shaw was elected to the Football Conference's national board in October 2006. At the end of May 2007, former Football League chief executive David Burns joined the Board. Sadly, David died in January 2009.
In June 2008, Carole Hassan resigned due to her other commitments, her place on the Board being taken by Paul Daine, a local businessman who owns the Premium Collections company.
On 16 January 2007, Geoff Goodwin announced his intention to relinquish the chairmanship, with effect from May 2008 but at the end of the 2006-07 season he indicated a desire to continue. During his tenure he has taken the club from the brink of insolvency to a position of stability through a policy of financial prudence. Under his chairmanship the club has consistently reported a small profit each year. His son, Jay, is an emerging talent in kart racing.
Above, left to right: Grahame Rowley; Andrew Shaw (foreground), Derek Wilshaw (background); Barry Pond; Paul Daine.
Former Chairman Gerry Berman remained the largest minority shareholder until he transferred his shares to the current Chairman, Geoff Goodwin, in April 2005. Other major shareholders for many years included Club President, Noel White and former manager John King as well as Graham Heathcote. However, in early 2005, White and King donated their shares to the Board. The Club's Associate Directors include Angus Loughran, 'Statto' of TV sports punditry fame.
The Club's Matchday and Company Secretary is George Heslop, who is also the Youth team manager (see above).
Barry Pond is the club's commercial director. He has done a magnificent job over the years coordinating the sale of advertising, matchday hospitality and other important commercial activities. In June 2008, Lisa Jones was appointed as Commercial Executive, to assist Barry. Sadly Lisa's employment had to be terminated for economic reasons in 2009. Barry is aided in the sponsors' lounge on matchdays by a dedicated team which includes Neil Dawson, Mike Healing and John Skelhorn.
The Altrincham FC Welfare Officer is Paul Roberts, who also coordinates the Altrincham FC Juniors.
For details of all aspects of sponsorship please visit the Sponsors' Page of this website or contact the club.
The official ground capacity (2006) is 6,085 which comprises:
Turnstile Prices
Season Ticket Prices
A £10 discount will apply to the above categories (only) if bought before the end of June.
Please visit the club office to obtain your ticket during normal weekday working hours or ring on 928-1045.
Altrincham Football Club was so named in 1903, as a continuation of Broadheath FC, which was founded around 1891. (Broadheath is a southern area of Altrincham). The club has played in the following leagues:
For Alty's league record, click the links below:
Altrincham were founders of the Alliance Premier League (now the Nationwide Conference) in 1979/80 and were its winners in the first two seasons of the competition, at a time when automatic promotion to the Football League was not in place. They failed to gain election to the League by one vote in 1980- see here. In 1997 the Club suffered its first ever relegation and for two seasons were in the Unibond Premier League (Northern Premier League). These years are chronicled in detail in Grahame and Terry Rowley's Altrincham Football Club: the Unibond Years, published in 1999. The turbulent mid-1990s are covered in Mark Harris's informative Altrincham FC: Kingdom come, published in 1995. See the full Alty league record, 1907- here.
See this site's FA Cup page for Alty's full record.
Tranmere Rovers were the first League victims of Alty, beaten 4-2 in 1921/22 in a FA Cup Qualifier.
This is still the most recent defeat of any First (Premier) Division team at their own ground by a non-League club in the FA Cup. David Seaman was City's keeper.
Altrincham beat Sale Holmfield 14-2 in the 3rd Round of the Cheshire Amateur Cup on the 5th December 1903. They also won 10-0 away at Earlestown in the FA Cup 1Q in 1963-64. Their record league win was 9-2 at home to Merthyr Tydfil in the Conference in February, 1991. Alty's 7-4 win over Nuneaton Borough on 11 November 1985 also matched this aggregate, which remains a Conference record - albeit equalled by Burton Albion 4 Telford U. 7 in 2003. Another Conference record is Altrincham's 23 games without defeat in 1990-91. Alty's best UniBond League score was 7-1 v Emley in 1997/98.
The highest away score at Moss Lane was in the 3-7 defeat by Slough Town in October 1991. Away from home, Alty have conceded seven on 27 occasions, the last being at Morecambe on 17.2.1996. The worst home defeats in the Alliance/Conference were 0-5 by Dagenham & Redbridge in 2005/06 and 2006/07.
Runs without a win in recent times include 15 (1996-97) and 11 (1999-2000) in the Conference, and 12 consecutive defeats at the end of 1960-61 in the Cheshire County League. After the 2000 relegation, Alty did not return to the Conference till 2005, when they lost their first two games to extend their run to 13 games without a win.
Players Moving to the League
All three domains can be searched, separately, using the appropriate Google search box below. Make sure you check the correct button beneath each search box.
I am sorry that this is a bit messy but eventually I will get everything into just one domain. However, the above method does allow you to find everything on the site which has appeared since Spring 2000.
Counter at 1/1/2002: 69,547
Presidents
Matchday and Company Secretary
Commercial Management
Club Doctor
The Altrincham FC doctor is Dr Richard Parris.
Welfare Officer
Kit Men
Dave Mitten, Charles and Danny Heathcote, sons of the manager, are the club's efficient kit men.
Ball Boys and Girls
Moss Lane prides itself on the strength of its team of ballboys and girls. Normally more than a dozen will be in place for home games. Their coordinator is Mike Antrobus, who succeeded Ray Armstrong from 2007-08 season, though Mike is standing down at the end of the 2008-09 season.
Club Photographer
The club photographer is Gavin Rathbone, who runs GR Photography.
Club Chaplain
The Altrincham FC club chaplain is the Rev. Andrew Barclay-Watts of Sale Baptist Church.
Club Sponsors 2007-08
Geoff Goodwin's Go Goodwins Coaches are the club's main sponsors. Carole Nash Insurance sponsor the main stand and the Hale End of the ground as well as having their logo on the team shorts and the shirt-backs. Ian Senior's Sensport Kits sponsor the Youth Team kit. Browne, Dunne and Gray sponsor the Family Stand. See the Sponsors' Page for fuller details.
Sponsors' Bond
There are three sponsors' bond packages, each costing £1000 +VAT. For details contact the Club.
Club officials 2008-09
Main Sponsors
The Ground: How to Get There
Above: The Main Carole Nash Stand at Moss Lane viewed from the Hale end, with the smaller Go Goodwins Family Stand to its left.By Road, Public Transport or on Foot
Admission Prices 2008-09
The following are prices for entry in 2009-10:
Match-Day Programme
The excellent match-day programme is The Robins' Review, edited by Grahame and Terry Rowley. It is an all-colour publication, packed with news, statistics and photographs. It sells (2008-09) for £2.00 and has previously won the Wirral Programme Society award for the UniBond Premier three years running.
Inside the Ground
When segregation is in force, the home supporters' terracing is at the Golf Road end (the end nearer to Altrincham town centre). The Golf Road End was renamed the Debbie Dawson Stand for 2004-05 as a prize in the STAR raffle and in 2006/07 by the same process it was named the Dawn Abbott Stand and for 2007-08 became the Leighton Stand. Away supporters normally use the Carole Nash Family Stand (Hale) End of the ground, which is uncovered. As shown on the adjacent plan, the Carole Nash (Main) Stand and the Go Goodwins Family Stand (formerly the Blue Cannon) are both on Moss Lane. The opposite side of the ground comprises terracing known as 'The Popular Side'. There is a licensed bar inside the ground which is open on match days before, during and after the match- this is known as the Noel White Suite. It is situated under the main stand at its Golf Road end. Also, at the Golf Road end, is the Robins' Shop (between the bar and Golf Road) as well as a mobile catering unit, which will be replaced for 2008-09 by a newly constructed refreshment block. For details of shop merchandise, click here. Another catering unit is situated at the Hale end of the ground and toilets are to be found adjacent to this, as well as at the Golf Road end and near the main stand.
Food and drink
PLEASE USE THE CLUB BAR- IT IS OPEN FOR EVERY FIRST-TEAM GAME. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are available at the new permanent facility opened in 2008-09 at the Golf Road End and from the mobile canteen at the away end, both of which are open for all first-team games..
Room Hire
Why not hire a function room at Moss Lane? Details of this and sponsorship opportunities are here.
Altrincham F.C. History
For Terry Rowley's brief history of Altrincham F.C., please click here; see also the Archive.
Honours
For Altrincham's full historical league and cup records, click as follows
FA Cup
Sixteen FA Cup victories against Football League clubs have been recorded by Altrincham, as follows:
Honourable F.A. Cup results:
Aprt from the above victories, the club's most famous FA Cup results include:
Best Gate
Best Results
Worst Results
Transfers
Biggest Fee Paid
Biggest Fee Received
Biggest Sell-on Fee
The Supporters' Trust: S.T.A.R. (Support The Altrincham Robins)
S.T.A.R. was established in 2002 as a supporters' trust. Its forerunner, S.A.F.E. (Save Altrincham's Football Existence) was the Altrincham supporters' association, founded in 1995 in the financial crisis engendered by chairman John Maunders's departure. S.A.F.E. helped to engineer the club's survival but disbanded in August 2003 to make way for S.T.A.R.. There is also an Alty in Exile group for those outside the Manchester or Cheshire area. S.T.A.R. was "mothballe" at a meeting in August 2008 and will be replaced during 2008 by a new supporters' association. For S.T.A.R.'s website, click here.
Away Travel
Supporters' coaches run to all away league and cup matches. Details are on the Away Travel page of this site and are also published in the SAM newspaper.
SEARCHING THIS SITE
Searching this website is slightly complicated by the fact that at present, its content from the year 2000 to date is spread over three domain names. Therefore each domain name needs to be searched separately to get a complete list of search "hits".
At 1/1/2003: 178,589
At 1/1/2004: 296,757
At 1/1/2005: 456,114
At 1/1/2006: 697,566
At 1/1/2007: 1,001,771
At 1/1/2008: 1,385,722
At 1/1/2009: 2,036,148
Compiled by John Laidlar
