Altrincham v Solihull Moors | Vanarama National League | Wednesday 11th November

M FO O T BA L L

C LUB

W E I V E R ROBINS

OFFICIAL MA

TC H D A Y M

ALTRINCHA AGAZINE OF

Altrincham Vs Solihull Moors Vanarama National League Wednesday 11th November | Kick Off 7:45pm | Price £2.50

OFFICIALS CO-CHAIRMAN BILL WATERSON, LAWRENCE LOONEY BOARD OF DIRECTORS JOHN COYNE, DEREK WILSHAW, NEIL FAULKNER, ROB ESTEVA PRESIDENT GRAHAME ROWLEY VICE PRESIDENTS D.ALDCROFT, P.DAINE, I.FODEN, D.WHIPP, D.WHIPP, R.MACAULEY, J.EVANS, D.ORDMAN, J.HESLOP, R.IMPEY, G.MUIR, M.GREEN, N.FAULKNER, B.SMITH, C.HARRISON, B.PETERS, M.HARRIS, P.SMITH LIFE VICE PRESIDENTS D.BALDWIN, B.COOP, G.HESLOP, J.LAIRLAR, E.ROBINSON, B.KING, F.NASH, D.WILSHAW, B.POND, B.FLYNN, A.SHAW, T.SURRIDGE, S.CROMPTON, C.NASH, J.WAGG, R.ARMSTRONG, D.TRACEY, G.GOODWIN, M.MADDOX, J.PRINCE, J.VINCE FINANCIAL ADVISOR MIKE ADAMS CLUB SECRETARY PAUL CARTER FIRST TEAM MANAGER PHIL PARKINSON

INSIDE FROM THE BOARDROOM CO-CHAIRMAN BILL WATERSON

FROM THE DRESSING ROOM CAPTAIN JAKE MOULT

ASSISTANT FIRST TEAM MANAGER NEIL SORVEL SPORTS THERAPISTS TOMMY UDA, RYAN MURRAY SPORTS ANALYST MARK BUSHELL KITMEN JOHN SKELHORN, STEVEN FOSTER CHIEF SCOUT BOB MCCLEMENT CLUB DOCTOR DR ROB JACKSON CLUB WELFARE OFFICERS NICK WOOLDRIDGE, KAREN ROWLEY

FROM THE DUGOUT ASSISTANT MANAGER NEIL SORVEL

CLUB CHAPLAIN REV ANDREW BARCLAY-WATT PRESS & MEDIA OFFICERS BRIAN FLYNN, JOHN EDWARDS DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER ANDREW FLYNN PR & PROMOTIONS MANAGER PETER FOSTER OFFICIAL CATERER RICHIE BENTLEY CATERING CATERING MANAGER DAWN ABBOTT

FOOTBALL MATTERS DIRECTOR ROB ESTEVA

TANNOY ANNOUNCER IAN WILKINSON, ANDY WILSON SAFETY / COVID OFFICER NIGEL BUNCE CHIEF STEWARD IAN COX GROUNDSMEN NEIL BROWN, BRYAN FORD PHOTOGRAPHERS MICHAEL RIPLEY, JONATHAN MOORE VIDEOGRAPHER MARK BENNETT

ALTRINCHAM ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED (176333) THE J.DAVIDSON STADIUM, MOSS LANE, HALE, ALTRINCHAM WA15 8AP

IN TOWN TODAY SOLIHULL MOORS

FROM THE BOARDROOM BILL WATERSON, CO-CHAIRMAN We welcome the players and officials of Solihull Moors to The J. Davidson Stadium for this evening's Vanarama National League game.

This is our second attempt to stage this game after a number of positive tests for COVID-19 put paid to the original date. Today therefore represents only our second home outing of the season, as we welcome you to the live stream this evening.

I congratulate our visitors on a hard-fought win at League Two side Scunthorpe United in the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday, the Moors running out 3-2 winners. At the time of writing, we don’t know the identity of their next opponents, but here’s hoping they can progress to the potentially-lucrative third round and go into the hat with all the big guns from the Premier League.Some of you may wonder if Scunthorpe United have lost to non-League opposition before. Well, in 1974, they were beaten 3-1 by Altrincham at Moss Lane in a replay. And, goodness me, history only went and repeated itself in 1980 when a John Davison penalty gave us a 1-0 victory here after a draw at the Old Show Ground. We went on to play Everton and Liverpool respectively those seasons. Here’s hoping it can be a similar stepping stone for tonight’s visitors.

The postponement of our two home games against Solihull and Bromley is one aspect of a “new normal” in football. The enforced 14-day cessation of training certainly disrupted our start to the season, and we more or less had to start again after the enforced break. There is no point in bemoaning this situation – it will become increasingly prevalent, and most clubs could face it at some point this season.

We are playing this game on a Wednesday, at the request of Solihull, who asked for it to be moved, given their FA Cup involvement on Sunday. This compares with the decision of Hartlepool United to not move our Tuesday night game after we had a Sunday FA Cup tie at AFC Fylde. There are common courtesies that we should look to uphold, especially given the difficult situation all clubs face. Some degree of compromise will be necessary from all parties, but unfortunately not all clubs are as open to this idea as we would like.

I must thank the National Lottery for their £10m grant donation to the National League, to support the 66 member clubs through the necessity of playing behind closed doors for the next three months. The monies have helped us bridge the funding gap that would normally come from your gate receipts and other match day expenditure.

Only six weeks into this new season we can see big differences between the National League and the National League North. The club is having to approach many situations very differently to how we would have done last season, but I am very pleased with the speed at which we have adapted. On the field, we are playing our most attractive football at this level for at least 20 years. We have not been overawed and we have more than held our own in every game.

I am delighted to welcome Cathal Morrison to the board, and he will play a major part in our continued forward progress – he brings a wealth of experience to the club, both on and off the field. Furthermore, the appointment of Paul Carter as our General Manager and Sam MacKenzie as Partnerships Manager shows our serious intent. We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to establish this club in the National League and to continue our forward progress.

Enjoy the game, Bill Waterson, Co-Chairman.

FROM THE DUGOUT NEIL SORVEL, ASSISTANT MANAGER

We return to Vanarama National League duty at The J.Davidson Stadium this evening after circumstances combined to leave us with a run of five successive away games after entertaining Weymouth on 3rd October, the opening day of the season.

During that time we’ve proved we're more than good enough to compete at this level, but when we're on top we must score. We visited probable championship contenders Notts County and then Eastleigh with a coronavirus scare influencing team selection for the long journey south to Hampshire, before two more long trips to Hartlepool and Dover. A late rearrangement then took us to Wealdstone last weekend - meaning this is only our second home league game of the season.

For the journey to Eastleigh I had to step up as a late replacement for manager Phil Parkinson when it was revealed that both he and right back Sean Densmore had to miss the game after separately coming into contact with a possible Covid carrier and both were tested before deciding if they could take any part in the proceedings. After consulting with relevant people it was decided that neither Phil or Sean would travel, so both were ruled out of the long journey towards the Southampton area – an unfortunate illustration of what may now become more ‘normal’ circumstances.

We took a well-deserved point at Eastleigh from a team that started the game as league leaders. We thought we were good value and looked good in several periods throughout the game in which either side could have nicked it so a draw was a fair result with both goals similar as balls into the box took several ricochets.

The jury’s out about whether we’ll be able to create sufficient pressure to create chances in the final third though that’s a matter for the whole team, not just the forwards as we go forward in the coming weeks and months.

We took another good point at Hartlepool before an early goal from Tosin Adarabiyo sealed our first win at Dover. Another long trip last Saturday saw a narrow defeat in the game at Wealdstone, despite dominating possession for long spells.

We took another good point at Hartlepool before an early goal from Tosin Adarabiyo sealed a win at Dover before we went down to a narrow defeat to the only goal of the game at Wealdstone, despite dominating possession for some long spells.

At Wealdstone, we had a number of players missing, with Sean Williams, Simon Richman, Dan Mooney and Toby Mullarkey all out over the past few weeks. This was made worse with Sutton and Adarabioyo both having to come off during the game.

We had to bring in Joe Robbins from Crewe for his first loan in senior football along with his club colleague Billy Sass Davies who was a substitute and impressed without even having a training session.

We’ll see how everybody is during Monday’s training and look to seal our first home win of the season as we continue to settle in at the top level of non-League football.

Thank you all for your continued excellent, if remote, ongoing support.

Neil Sorvel

FROM THE DRESSING ROOM JAKE MOULT, CLUB CAPTAIN We are finally back at The J.Davidson Stadium for a home fixture this evening after what must be the longest and most arduous run of away games any team have had to endure.

It takes some believing that any side would have to work their way through seven games on the road in succession, but that has been the story of a fixture list that has taken us from Hartlepool to Dover with several stop-offs in between. It has to be some kind of record, and when you throw a fortnight of self-isolating into the midst of it all, it really does seem an age since we were last at home. It’s not ideal, and Hartlepool on a Tuesday night when you’ve got work the following morning doesn't help, but you’ve just got to adapt and get on with it.

That’s all you can do, and I’d say we did it well enough. In fact, reflecting on the performances overall, we were just a small footstep away from being able to say we did it really well. If you look back over those seven games, there’s only Notts County where we were beaten by the better side on the night. They were very good, but in all the other games, you could put forward an argument that we deserved more than we got. I suppose we should take Dover out of that equation, because, of course, the 1-0 win there was exactly what we deserved. But in the others, we felt hard done by at finishing empty-handed or even with a point. We put plenty into all of them and were often the better team, and I think everyone would agree we showed we can make our mark at this level.

The last of the trips took us to Wealdstone last Saturday, and there’s no question we were unfortunate to come away from there with nothing. We did more than enough to have won, never mind drawn, after dominating for long spells against a possession-based side who favour a similar style of play to ours. The 1-0 scoreline placed them third in the table, yet I’d say we had 70 per cent of the ball at least, and we created several very decent chances. To be fair to them, they defended well and got bodies in the way, but we should have taken something from it. Hartlepool, where we equalised and so nearly won it with a penalty that was saved right at the death, and Eastleigh were two more examples of one point that could so easily have been three, and the win at Dover was by no means a smash and grab act. They are all good signs that we are finding our feet and playing with belief, but it is important now that we make home advantage pay in a run of games here at our ground.

It’s good to see how all the recent signings have acquitted themselves so well and slotted in quickly and effectively. A warm welcome back for a second loan spell to the most recent arrival Billy SassDavies, whose Crewe team-mate Joe Robbins has stepped in with real assurance alongside me in central midfield. Joe is only a young lad, but he has shown up really well in two tricky games so far.

Up front, Fisayo Adarabioyo did really well at Dover, and, at full-back, Joel Senior looks a revelation who is going to go from strength to strength. Ritchie Sutton has been what we thought he would be solid and reliable - and likewise Matty Kosylo has done exactly what we expected him to. Kossy has been superb so far, and I firmly believe there’s more to come from him. He is such an accomplished footballer, we haven’t seen everything he can produce yet, but we will. He’s getting better and better all the time, and with Yusifu Ceesay’s pace causing problems, it’s clear we carry an attacking threat.

It’s another reminder of the level we have reached tonight, as we welcome Solihull Moors to The J.Davidson Stadium. They have invested heavily in their squad, and they are fresh from a notable FA Cup win at Scunthorpe on Sunday. But we are ready. We feel we are stamping our authority on games, rather than letting our opponents dictate what happens, and we are showing we can compete. We will treat it as we treat all games - a challenge we are all up for.

Jake

FOOTBALL UPDATE ROB ESTEVA, DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL

It feels like an age since our last home game, and there's a good reason for that - it has been! I can't think of many clubs who have had to play seven away games on the bounce, but that's how many we have clocked up since Weymouth were here on the opening day of the season.

Finally, and not before time, we are back at The J.Davidson Stadium, with Solihull Moors the visitors, and as we prepare for what is sure to be a tough test, it's not difficult to see why there has been such an imbalance about this season's early fixtures.

It is a sign of the times, unfortunately, that we were due to face Solihull and Bromley back in October but were unable to due to a COVID outbreak at the club that caused both games to be postponed.

At least, in a continuation of the fixture list's slightly lopsided look, we now have a more favourable run of five home games out of six, which gives us a real chance to kick-start the season and build some momentum. Those two postponements, and the fact we could not train for two weeks leading up to the FA Cup tie at Fylde, were particularly damaging to us. Our performance that day at Mill Farm was relatively good, given the circumstances. Several players were pretty unwell during the fortnight leading up to the game, and the rest were forced to isolate. New signing Fisayo Adarabioyo must have wondered what he’d let himself in for that Monday night when the testing took place!

The stop-start nature of the season, allied to such a long sequence of away games, has not helped us, and I’d suggest it at least partly explains why we have picked up so many injuries. No complaints or excuses, however, and we’ll get on with it and go again tonight.

We are delighted with the signings of Joe Robbins and Billy Sass-Davies, on loan from Crewe, and the way both have slotted into the side seamlessly. The spate of injuries may well force us to make other signings, which is not always ideal.

I’m well aware fans love a new signing, and it often gives a lift around the place. However, the scope for error, making rash decisions, and being in a weaker position when negotiating rarely leads to successful signings. We will stick to our principles and only bring in the players we think are the right fit for this club and the jigsaw we have.

The bonus of a busy schedule after losing a game is the immediate chance it provides to rectify things. The spirit among the lads is excellent and there will be no shortage of desire tonight to get back to winning ways. Your support – even via stream and the way you communicate with the club – is always welcomed.

Enjoy tonight’s game!

Rob

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE TUESDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2020

HARTLEPOOL 1 - 1 ALTRINCHAM ALTRINCHAM, MAKING THEIR FIRST EVER VISIT TO VICTORIA PARK, CAME WITHIN A WHISKER OF ENDING HARTLEPOOL UNITED'S UNBEATEN RECORD. ENGLAND C GOALKEEPER, BEN KILLIP, SAVED MATTY KOSYLO'S PENALTY KICK IN ADDED TIME TO DENY THE ROBINS A VICTORY THAT WOULD HAVE LIFTED PHIL PARKINSON'S TEAM 6 PLACES IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE.

PLAYER SPONSORS 2020/21 HEAD TO ALTYDIRECT.COM TO BROWSE AVAILABILITY AND SPONSOR YOUR PLAYER

1 | TONY THOMPSON H: NIGEL DAVIS A: PETER SMALLWOOD T: AVAILABLE

21 | MATT GOULD H: CATHAL MORRISON A: CATHAL MORRISON T: CATHAL MORRISON

22 | JOEL TORRANCE H: JANE TORRANCE A: GRAHAM BRODRICK T: AVAILABLE

2 | ANDY WHITE H: STEVE BRADSHAW A: RON GALLIMORE T: FLINTSHIRE FURNITURE

3 | CONNOR HAMPSON H: MATT PARKER A: GILL JAMES T: AVAILABLE

20 | SHAUN DENSMORE H: IAN WATMORE A: ANDREW SHAW T: TERRY SURRIDGE

24 | JOEL SENIOR H: AVAILABLE A: AVAILABLE T: AVAILABLE

4 | RITCHIE SUTTON H: GAMBULL LTD A: AVAILABLE T: AVAILABLE

5 | TOM HANNIGAN H: GAMBULL LTD A: SIMON ROSE T: AVAILABLE

25 | TOBY MULLARKEY H: VH INTERIORS A: PHIL HOWDEN T: TOM MURRAY

6 | JAKE MOULT H: M&L WALTON A: STUART LATHUM T: WAYNE DAMANT

30 | SIMON RICHMAN H: MATTHEW WHEELER

7 | DAN MOONEY H: SPENCER FLETCHER

A: IN MEMORY OF JACQUI FORSTER

T: PETE BAKER

12 | CURTIS MILLER H: TOM RAFTERY A: ERIN-BEAU CARROLL T: AVAILABLE

19 | MAX CLAYTON H: PATRICK MCMORROW A: AVAILABLE T: ANDREW FLYNN

8 | SEAN WILLIAMS H: ONE STOP FENCING PRODUCTS A: ALLISON LEWIS T: BRIAN & DARREN BIRTLES

A: FLETCHER PAINTER & DECORATOR

T: AVAILABLE

15 | MATTY KOSYLO

11 | YUSIFU CEESAY H: RICHARD IMPEY A: NIGEL DAVIS T: PETE FOSTER

10 | JOSH HANCOCK

H: PRINCIPAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS H: TIM RITCHIE, MEGAN JONES, OLIVER. JACOB

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16 | LEWIS SALMON H: RENTCASAGRANADA.CO.UK A: AVAILABLE T: AVAILABLE

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FA CUP SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2020

AFC FYLDE 2 - 1 ALTRINCHAM JORDAN HULME HAS ALWAYS HAD A SENSE OF OCCASION AND SENSE OF TIMING, AND THEY COMBINED TO DEADLY EFFECT TO SEND ALTRINCHAM SPINNING TOWARDS A FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND DEFEAT IN THE EMIRATES FA CUP AT MILL FARM. STILL LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST GOAL IN AFC FYLDE COLOURS, THE FORMER ROBINS FAVOURITE CHOSE FOOTBALL'S MOST FAMOUS COMPETITION AND HIS OLD CLUB FOR PUTTING MATTERS RIGHT, AS THE COASTERS SHADED THE TIGHTEST OF ENCOUNTERS.

2020/21 FIXTURES OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

SAT 3 - Weymouth (H)

SAT 7 - FA CUP 1R

TUE 1 - Wrexham (A)

TUE 6 - Notts County (A)

SAT 14 - Aldershot Town (H)

SAT 5 - King's Lynn Town (H)

SAT 10 - Eastleigh (A)

TUE 17 - Chesterfield (H)

TUE 8 - Woking (H)

TUE 13 - Solihull Moors (H)

SAT 21 - Boreham Wood (A)

SAT 12 - Dagenham & Rbr (A)

SAT 17 - Bromley (H)

SAT 28 - Maidenhead Utd (H)

SAT 19 - FA Trophy 3R

SAT 24 - FA Cup 4Q

SAT 26 - Stockport County (H)

TUE 27 - Hartlepool Utd (A)

MON 28 - FC Halifax Town (A)

SAT 31 - Dover Athletic (A)

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

SAT 2 - Stockport County (A)

SAT 6 - Torquay United (A)

SAT 6 - Dover Athletic (H)

SAT 9 - Sutton United (H)

TUE 9 - Wrexham (H)

TUE 9 - Hartlepool United (H)

SAT 16 - FA Trophy 4R

SAT 13 - Yeovil Town (A)

SAT 13 - Aldershot Town (A)

SAT 23 - Barnet (A)

SAT 20 - Boreham Wood (H)

TUE 16 - Woking (A)

TUE 26 - Wealdstone (H)

TUE 23 - Chesterfield (A)

SAT 20 - Dagenham & Rbr (H)

SAT 30 - Macclesfield Town (H)

SAT 27 - Bromley (A)

SAT 27 - Maidenhead Utd (A)

APRIL

MAY

FRI 2 - Yeovil Town (H)

SAT 1 - Notts County (H)

MON 5 - King's Lynn Town (A)

MON 3 - Solihull Moors (A)

SAT 10 - FC Halifax Town (H)

SAT 8 - Eastleigh (H)

TUE 13 - Wealdstone (A)

SAT 15 - Weymouth (A)

SAT 17 - Sutton United (A)

SAT 22 - Macclesfield Town (A)

SAT 24 - Barnet (H)

SAT 29 - Torquay United (H)

50P OFF CASK ALES AFTER TODAYS MATCH ON PRODUCTION OF TODAYS PROGRAMME

ALTRINCHAM'S ORIGINAL HOME OF LIVE MUSIC OLD MARKET PLACE ALTRINCHAM WA14 4DN

CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP WEDNESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2020

BARNTON 0-3 ALTRINCHAM ALTRINCHAM PUT IN A PROFESSIONAL DISPLAY AT THE OFFSIDE TRUST STADIUM ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT & COULD EASILY HAVE WON BY A GREATER MARGIN THAN 3 GOALS.T PHIL PARKINSON & NEIL SORVEL SELECTED A TEAM THAT WAS A COMBINATION OF FIRST TEAM, RESERVES & A COUPLE OF PROSPECTS THAT ARE TRAINING WITH THE FIRST TEAM, FOR WHICH THE CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP PRESENTED A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEM IN A COMPETITIVEV GAME.

ALTRINCHAM FC PATRONS 2020/21 Robert Amstutz Geoffrey Wood Geoff Magee Colin Allsobrook Rob Esteva In memory of David Cameron John 'Logie' Petch Nigel Davis May Davis Mike Conboy & Family Phil & Gill James Barry Alan Clout Ted Small Brian Melling/mortgage2move Patrick J McMorrow Alan Ford Gary Molyneux Alexander Walton Nigel Garner John Cudlip Phil Green Paul Gilbert Sean Cobbledick Graeme Elliott Paul Spencer Paul Brady Darren Jordan Ian Poole Matt, Missy & Mason Renninger In memory of Derek Kennerley Trafford Veterans Paul Steeples Andrew Flynn Simon Ellis Howard Watts Ian Lord Derek Dooley Ron Gallimore Jackie Gallimore Campbell McLay Jacqueline McLay Brian Birtles Terry Surridge In Memory Of James Surridge Nic Read Joe Wood Team Manchester WLC Mark Alton Craig Chaplin David Frain Brian Robinson Jon Rouse Alan Bonson Anthony Taylor John Woodfield Alan Cooper Gail Cooper Graeme McLaren Anita Mottershead Paul Murray Gordon Davies Pete Jackson Paul Barton Craig Bradbury Diane Swindells Richard Hiscock Alex Winstanley Ben Winstanley

John Coyne Emma Coyne Isabella Coyne Matthew Wheeler SK Kits Paul Daine Arnold Rogerson David Meadows David Walton Stuart Ritchie David Slack Mark Embury Pete Baker In Memory of Jacqui Forster Jimmy Wagg Tracey Porter Alan Murray Thomas Murray Katie Murray Richard Impey Robert Sharpe John Laidlar Dana Laidlar Dr Nigel Lord Daren Birtles Harold Smith Ian Watmore Paul Salt Andrew Timms Bob Allan Clare Allan Nic Seller Dave Potts Mrs N Potts Steve Peters Bob Peters Derek Wilshaw Ann Wilshaw Neil Faulkner Hazel Faulkner Anthony Faulkner Darren Faulkner Richard Faulkner Peter Higson Premix Services Ltd Joanne Higson Alan Marks Dave Goodrum Ian Gordon Allison & Peter Lewis The Rowley Family Ian Rosendaal David Parker Keith Piercy Rob Prastka Peter Scotson Jon Wall Bill Waterson Russell Neil Paul Ogilev Oli, Charlotte, Louise and Pat Thomson Ashley Mowers The Rooney Family The Buchan Family Eric Burgess Freddie Stott Dr Andrew Weaver

Nigel Bunce Martin Gillet Simon Caine Richie Bentley Catering Barry Pond Carol Pond Angela Stone Allan Gordon Bill Egan David Grundy Bryan Ford Roger Holt John Lamey Paul Aldridge Ali Bongo Nikki Combe Helen Dunn Mark Eckersall Richard Furber David Gale James Gibb Chris Haddon Peter Hindmarsh Laurence Howarth Thomas Jacobs Stuart Kilburn Lawrence Looney Steve Mason Dan Whitelegg John GillIan Foden Mark Bennett In memory of Martin Jordan Vincent Sweeney John Henderson Martin Hamnett Marie Hamnett Tom Hamnett Jack Hamnett Roger Wade Jordan Tyms Erinbeau Carroll & John Hogburn Mark Rogerson Alison Barnett Mallorca Alty Peter Pennington George & Tom Raftery Geoffrey Price Ollie / Lew Needham Neil Dawson Charles Ledigo Jackie Hudson David Hudson David Lewis Helen Randle Ian Beesley Pete Hughes Matt Taylor Archie Taylor Poppy Taylor Mark Roberts London and Home Counties Alty Terry Caine Ray Whitelegg Martin Gill Malcolm Jackson Fran Morris Bill Morris David Baldwin

ALTRINCHAM FC PATRONS 2020/21 The late Tom Baldwin The Sandbach Rowleys Geoff Carter Noel Shield Gary Stubbs Les Roberts Jonathan Robinson Eddy Bishop Andrew Leslie Phil Rasmussen Stephen Garratt Declan Cavanagh Paul Howe In memory of Revd Brian Chantler Stuart Harrison Lewis Chapman-Baker Phil Taylor Alan Pennycook Alison Pennycook Catriona Pennycook Melissa Pennycook Andrew Pennycook Oscar Pennycook Mollie Dover James Hughes Frank Costello Alasdair Costello Isla Costello Mark Harrison J Wall Annie & Noah Kicks Celine & Andrew Kicks Paul Varty Albert Mackey Kenny Yearsley In memory of Kenny Palin Edward and Alasdair Mackellar Steve Barnes Dave Cowburn Val Shaw Phil Marchant, Will Cross & Jamie Taylor Thomas Birt & Diane Walton Hazel Parker Anjan Trivedi Chuckle Brothers Nigel Swinbank Phil Howden Mike GreenIan Southworth In memory of Betty Southworth Peter Foster Judy Foster Charlie Carr John Skelhorn Bob Large David Corris Andrew Horner Adam Martell Neil Walker Nick Smith Jennifer SmithJ ohn and Hazel Skelhorn Peter Clarke John Norbury Simon RoseIan Casey Alan Bates Alan Budenberg Ted Clucas Ben Clucas

Alison Kelly ER Amstutz Les Pearson Alan Blinkhorn Bill Waterson Martin Green Adam Quayle Michael Eakin Barbara Blaber Robert Moussalli Mark Tighe Alan Mayall Music Services Anni Gibbon Ronald Neil Mike Waites Joan Taylor Barry Pikesley Damian Keeling Terry Caine Steve Foster Bob Miller John Wadsworth Stephen Hazlehurst Ava & Natalie Baker Billy Baker Paul Raftery Kenneth Dorrington Simon Marshall Graham & Robert Muir Paul Dunne Cathal Morrison Kirstie Morrison Charlie Morrison

ROBINS REVIEW EXCLUSIVE

KING OF THE GOLF ROAD? GETTING TO KNOW ANDREW FLYNN

MEET ALTY'S MR SOCIAL

Andrew Flynn has been following Alty for as long as he can remember. Following in his father's footsteps, the club is definitely in the Flynn family blood. Now involved with the club officially, via his role as the head of Social Media, Andrew recently caught up with club director John Coyne to talk about all things Alty....

JC: Tell us about your role at the football club, and how you first became involved?

and

I

think

noticed

is

one a

of

shift

the

biggest

changes

from

reactive

to

I've

proactive

AF: I help us with our digital marketing, so in a

planning. You only need to look at the ambitions

nutshell it's all about growing our audience and

we have for The J. Davidson Stadium to see that

getting

we're

us

looking

as

mint

as

possible online.

now

thinking

beyond

'getting

by'

next

Primarily I look after our Twitter, Facebook and

season, and from my perspective it's a goldmine

Instagram - and that's where it all started at the

to

beginning

imagination of the town, but also when you're

of

the

2016/17

season,

following

on

market

from the hard work of Leah and Simon Brotherton

looking

and

investors.

Mark

Eckersall.

More

recently

my

role

has

to

-

not

put

the

only

club

to

in

help

front

capture

of

the

potential

broadened and I've been given more scope to

output is as professional as it can be, such as the

JC: What are the Alty faithful like to interact with on our social media channels?

upcoming

AF: Our fans are great and we get really good

work on wider marketing projects to ensure our

2020/22

home

shirt.

I'm

a

digital

marketing manager at an agency so it's great to

engagement

be able to provide the club with a service that

Facebook has more of a family feel for me, while

rates.

It

differs

across

platforms;

other clubs are paying two or three members of

Twitter has more room for me to post with a

staff for.

sarcastic/jokey tone and Instagram is a younger demographic. I run our matchday coverage from

JC: How has the football club changed since you first got involved?

the terraces as opposed to the press box, as it's all hands on deck to get the atmosphere going,

AF: There have been some fantastic additions to

so it's always nice to see familiar names and

the club's leadership over the past few seasons

faces getting involved online after the game.

JC: All time favourite player?

AF: Shaun Densmore, for me. At any level of football these days, it's not often you see players stick around at one club for this long, let alone in the rapidly shifting landscape of Non-League. You can tell that he just gets it and as Ecky said on Twitter once, he plays like you'd play if you ever got the chance to pull on the red and white stripes. I'd love for him to go on and

reach

500

appearances

but

his

legacy

and

status at Alty is already well cemented regardless.

Legend.

JC: Tell us a bit about the Kings of the Golf Road project...

AF: With KGR (myself, Jack Jolly, Dec Cavanagh and Joe Wood) we're creating high-quality alternative-Alty merchandise and reinvesting all of the profits back into the terraces in the form of flags or renovation work, the club directly when there are specific fundraisers, or specific charities that resonate with Alty supporters. Really it's all about trying to generate a bit of terrace culture about the place and unifying different types of supporters behind the shared goal of improving the match day atmosphere. We're considering how we can do this in the form of an independent supporter's group at the moment, but we know it takes time and the last thing we want is for it to become organised fun.

JC: You've been at all of the Meet the Board, Meet the Manager events. Looking at the club's long term plans, what excited you the most?

AF: Define Architects are located minutes from my office in the city centre so I've been over to meet Gavin Watts and get a full feel for the Moss Lane 2030 project, it's impossible to not be excited about that vision.

Aesthetically, I love the fact that the roofing on the stands has a considered meaning to it, as opposed to that sort of 'flat-pack' Meccano type stadium you often visit these days. It's our job to make sure fans are included in this process so I'm looking forward to communicating the developments in some unique and interesting ways, and hopefully putting on some events to give fans a platform to feed back to Define and the club.

JC: Tell us about your matchday routine...

AF: I've got the matchday responsibility of the Twitter updates but I try not to let it impact the routine too much.

Brian Flynn will often send me a photo of the team sheet once we have it, so I'll often process our team news from a nearby pub and I'll arrive closer to kick-off! Like I say, I much prefer to run our social commentary from the terraces because as much as I have a job to do, following Alty is still my weekly release so it's good to have a balance and still feel part of the atmosphere.

JC: All time favourite Alty moment?

AF: I organised a whip around before the Barnsley game in 2015 and we ended up putting

ÂŁ130 on us to win at

9/2. It was a fiver in so there must have been 26 contributors in total. Collected it straight after the game and launched it all behind the bar in the Tatton Arms for everyone to celebrate. An unforgettable day and night, that.

As far as singular moments in a game go, unsurprisingly it just has to be Greg Wilkinson's winner in the 2014 playoff final. That just does not happen in football, and definitely not at Alty.

JC: All time favourite Alty goal?

AF: James Lawrie's stunning 90th minute winner in the first Altrincham - Macclesfield derby for 17 years. It's all a blur after that went in.

JC: Favourite ever Social Media update you've posted?

AF: Announcing us as Northern Premier League Champions was a nice moment. Hopefully I can get some content ready for an upcoming Play-Off Final this season.

In conversation with

SEAN WILLIAMS

By Andrew Flynn Q1) If you could sum up last season in one sentence, what would it be?

Unbelievable and well deserved after seeing all the hard work everyone around the club put in!

Q) What was your favourite goal of 2019/20 Not one of mine but the Dens' goal after Hulmey's chip......a great bit of football with my mate scoring! No contest in the goal of the season!

Q) What was your favourite game of 2019/20?

One I didn’t play in unfortunately! The Chester play-off game had a bit of everything even if it wasn’t great watching while I was in isolation! The lads had my nerves gone but it was a great game!

Q) What was your favourite moment of 2019/20?

Getting promoted! The game wasn’t great but the celebrations were! Players, staff and fans all coming together and having a pint and sing-song. Great times!!

Q) Would you prefer to have been promoted automatically or via the drama of the play offs?

It's the Play-offs for me. I’ve done both but the play-off pressure and rollercoaster has a unique feeling. We got to win three games against teams in the top six which is an unbelievable ask and a great way to get promoted.

Q) Away from the pitch - What was your proudest moment of 2019/20?

I have had loads of proud moments... but I’ve just moved into my first home with my girlfriend which we both have worked so hard for and that makes me really proud.

Q) What are your personal goals for 2020/21?

Currently to play as much football as possible! I'm out injured at the minute but before that I was feeling sharp. I've had a tough couple of seasons with injuries so just desperate to stay injury free and get back on that pitch!

Q) Finally, if you could sign any player, worldwide for Alty, who would it be?

No brainer, got to be Steven Gerrard! It would be to replace Moulty or Ringo though (haha) so I could play in there with him! Not many would fancy it against us two scousers!

IN TOWN TODAY

SOLIHULL MOORS PREPARED BY Paul Brady

PHOTO CREDITS Solihull Moors FC www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk

SOLIHULL MOORS Solihull Moors are managed by Jimmy

Ryan Boot

Shan who started his career with a

Goalkeeper Ryan turned professional

three-month period in the youth set-

at

up at Walsall at the age of 15 and

initially been an academy player at

then moved into non-League as a

Stoke

youth

at

there he made 28 appearances and

Sheffield

had various loan spells at Worcester

player,

Torquay

attending

United

Wednesday.

and

Shan

also

trials played

for

local club Paget Rangers.

Port

Vale

City.

in In

April a

2013

five-year

having career

City, Newcastle and Macclesfield. He joined the Moors in the summer of 2018 after being released from Vale

He was a part of the coaching staff at

upon the expiry of his contract. He

childhood

went on to play in every minute of

club

Birmingham

City,

coaching various age groups in the

every

club's academy set-up and joined the

season and kept 20 clean sheets.

coaching Albion,

staff

of

working

West with

National

League

game

last

Bromwich the

club's

Mellis Bushaj

under-7s age group. He later worked

Teenage left back Mellis progressed

as manager of the under-18, under-21

from the Solihull youth ranks and has

and under-23 sides, before joining

signed a contract to next summer

the first-team coaching staff at the

with a one- year option.

end of the 2017–18 season. In March 2019

he

manager

was

appointed

following

the

caretaker sacking

Cameron Coxe

of

Right back Coxe began his career at

Darren Moore, leading the club to a

Cardiff City, joining the club's youth

3–0 victory against Swansea City in

academy at the age of seven before

his first game in charge. In April 2019

signing his first professional contract

it was announced that Shan would

in

remain as caretaker manager until

professional

the end of the 2018–19 season.

defeat against Burton Albion in the

February

2017. debut

He

made

during

a

his 2–1

second round of the EFL Cup on 22 In

June

West

August 2017. However, Coxe did not

Slaven

feature for the first team for another

Bilic's appointment as head coach.

two years. He appeared in two FA

On

was

Cup fixtures under new manager Neil

appointed as the interim manager of

Harris in January 2020, but was later

Kidderminster Harriers, leaving on 11

released at the end of the 2019–20

February 2020. The following day he

season

was announced as new manager of

signed for Solihull.

Bromwich 6

2019, Albion

December

Solihull Moors.

Shan

left

following 2019

Shan

and

in

August

2020,

Coxe

SOLIHULL MOORS Alex Gudger

Harrogate on their way to a place in

26-year-old central defender Gudger

the play-offs.

signed from Brackley Town prior to the start of last season. He was an

He featured in all but one of the 46

ever present with the Saints in his

league games, scoring nine times for

two-year stint at St James Park and

a side that kept 14 clean sheets. This

was also a member of the squad that

form earnt the defender the Players’

came so close to gaining promotion

Player of the Season award at the end

to the National League, losing away

of the campaign. A former National

at Harrogate Town in the play-off

League

final. He played at Wembley in the

Lincoln City, Howe has also featured

nail-biting Buildbase FA Trophy win

for

over Bromley.

Vale.

winner

Southport,

in

2016-17

Eastleigh

with

and

Port

Alex progressed through the youth

Jordan Piggott

ranks

won

Piggott signed for Dundee in July

promotion to the Conference but is

2017 after being released by West

was at Rugby Town that he made his

Bromwich Albion. and made his debut

mark as a 19-year-old and went on to

for

play 111 times for them, collecting the

Premiership

Player of the Season award in his

Johnstone on 10 March 2018. He came

first

on as a sub in the 18th minute, and

at

Nuneaton

season

and

as

being

they

made

club

Dundee

in in

a

the 4–0

Scottish loss

to

St

captain for the 2013-14 season. He

had a shot deflected off

signed for Worcester City in 2015 and

own goal in the 24th minute. He was

moved on to Brackley for 2016-17. He

released by Dundee at the end of the

played a huge chunk of games in his

season.

first season at the Moors, gaining

joined

plenty of recognition for both his

Bangor City, after having to wait six

defending

weeks for international clearance to

and

goalscoring

ability.

Gudger collected a number of awards

In

October

Welsh

him for an

2018,

second

Piggott

division

side

sign a deal.

at the end of season dinner in April 2019.

In

summer

2019,

Piggott

joined

Halesowen Town prior to arriving at Callum Howe Defender Howe signed a three-year deal with the Moors in July 2019 and was one of the stand-out performers in the division last season, helping

Moors.

SOLIHULL MOORS Tyrone Williams

He

Williams is a versatile defender who

before joining Ebbsfleet United of the

was

National

signed

from

Kidderminster

spent

a

season

League

at

in

July

Stevenage 2019.

He

Harriers in February 2018. He was a

moved to Solihull Moors in October

graduate

2019.

of

the

Harriers

academy

after signing his first professional contract in 2013. He made his first

Darren Carter

team debut for the National North

Midfielder and club captain Carter

team in 2016 (at which time he was

was part of the Forest Green Rovers

Harriers longest serving player) and

squad who gained promotion to the

went

on

to

appearances,

make

more

with

Hednesford,

loan

than

70

Football

spells

at

former England under-19 and under-

Redditch

League

in

2017.

He

is

a

and

20 international. He began his career

with

with Birmingham City where at the

valuable experience. The 24-year-old,

age of 18 his penalty in the 2002 First

comfortable at centre back and right

Division play-off final clinched the

back, quickly established himself as a

club's

regular

a

League. He was loaned to Sunderland

powerful defender who can also score

in winter 2004 and helped them win

goals.

promotion to the Premier League. He

Stourbridge

providing

in

Moors’

him

team.

He

is

promotion

to

the

Premier

moved to West Bromwich Albion in James Ball Ball

July 2005 and had spells at Preston

started

his

career

in

central

North End, Cheltenham Town, and

midfield at Bolton Wanderers. During

Northampton

his time at Bolton, he was loaned out

Forest Green Rovers.

to

Conference

North

club

Mitch Hancox

the

Former

of

the

2014–15

before

joining

Hyde

United on a work experience loan at start

Town

season.

National

League

Solihull-born

May 2015, Ball spent the following

club’s first signing of the summer.

season

at

the

He

The ex-Birmingham City star spent the whole of his youth career with

Stalybridge Celtic ahead of the 2016–

the Blues before going on to make 40

17

appearances in the first team.

before

Victoria.

became

joined National League North club season

Northwich

Mitch

winner.

Following his release from Bolton in

signing

for

Stockport County a month later in September 2016. After two seasons at

He made 15 appearances during a

Stockport, Ball signed for Stevenage

loan spell at Crawley Town, scoring

in May 2018.

twice.

SOLIHULL MOORS His time at St Andrew’s then came to

Joe Sbarra

an end as he signed for Macclesfield

Sbarra is an attacking midfielder who

Town in August 2016.

most recently played as a midfielder for League One club Burton Albion.

He most recently spent the season

He

with MK Dons who gained automatic

through

promotion back to League One at the

Championship club West Brom. On 25

first time of asking, although Hancox

March 2019, Sbarra joined Solihull

found

Moors on loan until the end of the

opportunities

limited

in

an

began

his

the

footballing youth

career

academy

of

injury-troubled campaign.

season and subsequently remained.

Callum Maycock

Adam Rooney

Maycock made his professional debut

Irish

coming

6

played for Stoke City, spent spells on

November 2016 in a 1–1 FA Cup draw

loan at Yeovil Town, Chesterfield and

with

Bury,

on

as

a

substitute

Morecambe,

coming

on on

to

striker

was

replace Andre Wright. On 30 July

member

2018,

Maycock

was

loaned

out

Rooney

a

for

previously

regular

first-team

Inverness

Caledonian

to

Thistle, and played for Birmingham

Macclesfield Town until January 2019.

City and had a loan spell at Swindon

The deal was later extended for the

Town. He played for Oldham Athletic

remainder of the season.

and

spent

four-and-a-half

seasons

with Aberdeen before returning to Jamey Osborne

England to sign for Salford City.

Solihull-born Osborne came through the youth ranks at Hednesford Town

Kyle Storer

and was promoted to the first team

31-year-old

who

began

towards the end of the 2009-2010

with

side

Bedworth

season. After a spell at Redditch he

before joining Tamworth in July 2004.

joined Moors in April 2016 and was an

He racked up 27 appearances in his

integral part of the Moors squad that

first

retained

National

joining Nuneaton Town. Kyle made

subsequent

the step to play full-time football

its

Vanarama

League

status

season.

He

in

moved

the

onto

Grimsby

local

season

at

The

his

Lamb

career United

before

with Kidderminster Harriers in July

Town half way through the campaign

2011

before,

became club captain. After a spell

year

signing

deal

but

a

two-and-a-half-

happily

for

Moors

with

as

a

24-year-old

Wrexham

he

moved

where

he

he to

returned on first on loan and then

Cheltenham

permanently.

skipper for the last two-and-a-half years.

Town

where

was

ALTRINCHAM FC TONY THOMPSON ANDY WHITE CONNOR HAMPSON RITCHIE SUTTON TOM HANNIGAN JAKE MOULT DAN MOONEY SEAN WILLIAMS JOSH HANCOCK YUSIFU CEESAY CURTIS MILLER MATTY KOSYLO SHAUN DENSMORE MATT GOULD JOEL TORRANCE TOM PEERS JOEL SENIOR TOBY MULLARKEY SIMON RICHMAN JOE ROBBINS BILLY SASS DAVIES

SOLIHULL MOORS FC RYAN BOOT MELIS BUSHAJ CAMERON COXE JORDAN CRANSTON ALEX GUDGER CALLUM HOWE REISS MCNALLY JORDAN PIGGOTT TYRONE WILLIAMS JAMES BALL DARREN CARTER MITCH HANCOX CALLUM MAYCOCK JAMEY OSBORNE KYLE STORER JOE SBARRA BEN USHER-SHIPWAY JAKE BEESLEY ADAM ROONEY LEWIS MICCIO STEPHEN GLEESON

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