Altrincham

Altrincham
Hawes makes return to Altrincham Conference newcomers Altrincham have brought former captain Steve Hawes back to Moss Lane. Hawes has rejoined the Robins, who clinched promotion via the play-offs, from UniBond League side Stocksbridge Park Steels. The former Sheffield United midfielder, 26, played almost 200 games in his first spell with the club and played in their last stint in the Conference. Meanwhile, manager Graham Heathcote has released striker Jonathan Mitten.

Altrincham, Eastbourne into final
Altrincham and Eastbourne Borough will contest the play-off final next weekend for the last remaining place in next season's Conference National division. Having already knocked out Nuneaton on penalties, Altrincham overcame fellow Conference North side Kettering 3-2 in extra time in the northern final. In Conference South, Eastbourne Borough followed up their semi-final win over Thurrock by beating Cambridge City 3-0. The final will take place at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium on 15 May.

Altrincham promoted to Conference
Two goals in a minute at Stoke's Britannia Stadium helped Altrincham beat Eastbourne Borough in the Conference North/South play-off. Rod Thornley opened the scoring in the 55th minute and Val Owen made it 2-0 one minute later. Scott Ramsay pulled one back in the 89th minute to give Altrincham a scare but the Conference North play-off champions came through. They will now take part in the top Conference division next season.

Altrincham ready for Conference challenge
One of the great names of non-league football plans to stick to its principles when it returns to the national stage next season. Altrincham, famous FA Cup giant-killers and founder members of the then Alliance League in 1979, are back in the Conference top-flight for the first time since a one-season stay six years ago. But after bouncing back from the threat of extinction just four years ago, the Robins are taking a patient approach to trying to re-live the glory days. Despite winning the inaugural Conference North-South play-offs, Altrincham are staying part-time with manager Graham Heathcote happy to work against a backdrop of financial retrenchment. Altrincham promoted to Conference "I knew from the moment we won it we would be in for a difficult time," Heathcote told BBC Sport. "You only have to look at the last couple of years to see that part-time clubs have had problems. I think Crawley last season did the best of anybody. "But we will try and bridge that gap the best we can within the ways of a non-league club, training a few nights a week. "We will find out if Altrincham Football Club, in its present situation, is a Conference National side that can compete with 16 full-time clubs in what it is a fourth division. "Or is Conference North the level for a part-time non-league team. That's what we will find out, but we won't push the boat out just to survive. "There is a bit of suck-it and see and we have got a lot of homework to do on the teams we are going to play." Heathcote admits that Altrincham's promotion has come ahead of schedule following the appointment of a new board three years ago. But the 50-year-old, a Moss Lane stalwart who has been associated with the club as player, coach or manager for most of the last 33 years, is not complaining. "For me personally it means everything and I believe this club is now back at a level it should be operating at," added Heathcote, whose best-known player is former Crewe striker Colin Little. Altrincham won the Alliance (Conference) in 1979/80 and again the following season and enjoyed an uninterrupted run in the league for 18 years up to 1997. The Cheshire club lifted the FA Trophy in 1978 and 1986 and also boasts the proud record of knocking more League sides out of the FA Cup than any other current non-league side. In recent seasons their Moss Lane ground, which has a capacity of 6,000 and meets Football League standards, has been better known as the home of Manchester United¿s reserves. However, Heathcote, manager since October, 2002 and also the club secretary, now wants to attract four-figure gates to watch affordable, entertaining family football. Heathcote has brought former players Peter Band and Steve Hawes back to the club from Northwich Victoria and Stocksbridge Park Steels respectively. There will be one or two other additions but Altrincham will stick largely with the squad that battled through to beat Eastbourne in the play-off final. "One, because of finance, and two, because I believe they have earned the right to have a go," Heathcote added. "They won't continue to play in the Conference National on sentiment but they deserve a chance to show me they are up to it. "I have no fear in terms of the of the players' attitude to it. Now we have to see if we are good enough and I believe that, initially at least, we will be. "I think the spirit that got us up will be a big ingredient this season, especially early doors. "I think that will make sure we pick up some points and then there might be a levelling off point. And if there is, we will have to deal with it."

Owen signs new deal at Altrincham
Midfielder Val Owen has agreed a deal to stay with newly-promoted Altrincham. The experienced 34-year-old former Halifax and Northwich player was an integral part of the Robins play-off success last season. He joins keeper Stuart Coburn, defender Chris Adams, winger Colin Potts and former Crewe striker Colin Little in signing new deals. Robins boss Graham Heathcote has also brought in former Moss Lane men Peter Band and Steve Hawes.

Aspinall gives Altrincham boost
Altrincham defender Steve Aspinall is expected to be fit for the Robins' Conference return following successful surgery on an ankle injury. Aspinall missed several games during Altrincham's promotion run-in at the end of last season However, the 28-year-old should be ready for the start of the Conference season on August 13. Club captain Eddie Hussin is also recovering from an operation to repair knee cartilage damage. However, Robins boss Graham Heathcote will have to wait a couple of weeks before he knows if the 27-year-old midfielder will be fit for the start of the season.

Conference fixtures are announced
Cambridge United's first Conference game, following their relegation from the Football League, will be away at Forest Green Rovers on 13 August. Meanwhile, Kidderminster Harriers start life outside the League with a home game against Woking. Conference newcomers Altrincham, Grays and Southport have all been handed ties away from home on the opening day. Grays visit Burton Albion, Southport travel to Dagenham & Redbridge while Altrincham go to Stevenage Borough. All the Conference fixtures As is customary, Boxing Day features a number of "derbies" - such as York v Scarborough - with the return fixtures on 2 January. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nationwide Conference opening day fixtures (Saturday, 13 August): Accrington Stanley v Canvey Island Aldershot Town v Tamworth Burton Albion v Grays Athletic Dagenham & Redbridge v Southport Forest Green Rovers v Cambridge United Gravesend & Northfleet v Exeter City Hereford United v Scarborough Kidderminster Harriers v Woking Morecambe v Halifax Town Stevenage Borough v Altrincham York City v Crawley Town Tuesday, 16 August Altrincham v Accrington Stanley Cambridge United v Hereford United Canvey Island v Aldershot Town Crawley Town v Dagenham & Redbridge Exeter City v Kidderminster Harriers Grays Athletic v Gravesend & Northfleet Halifax Town v Burton Albion Scarborough v Morecambe Southport v York City Tamworth v Forest Green Rovers Woking v Stevenage Borough

Altrincham 0-1 Accrington
A Michael Welch header five minutes from time was enough to give Accrington victory over Altrincham. The home side's striker Colin Little hit the woodwork with a shot after 30 minutes and then hit another effort narrowly wide. A long-range effort by substitute Kieran Lugsden was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in a lacklustre second half. Then at the end Welch popped up to claim all the points for the visitors. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Altrincham: Coburn, Hawes, Maddox (Rose 87), Talbot, Adams, Potts, Owen, Band, Chalmers (McKenzie 78), Little, Williams (Kieran Lugsden 71). Subs Not Used: Acton, Olsen. Booked: Kieran Lugsden. Accrington Stanley: Jones, Williams, Welch, Flynn, Richardson (Cavanagh 45), Jagielka (Brown 60), Barry, Craney, Roberts (O'Neill 76), Mangan, Mullin. Subs Not Used: Alcock, Proctor. Booked: Williams. Goals: Welch 85. Att: 1,264. Ref: M Haywood (West Yorkshire).

Altrincham hope for James return
Altrincham manager Graham Heathcote hopes to have summer signing Lutel James ready for action next month. Former Accrington striker James, 33, joined the Robins on the eve of the new season but is yet to feature for the Conference new boys following injury. "He got an injury at the back end of last season and he needs to time to get fitter," said Heathcote. "Hopefully in two or three weeks' time, he will be ready to be in contention," he added. Heathcote's squad has been undermined by injury problems, with Gary Scott facing up to six weeks out following a hernia operation to join six others on the sidelines. But the Altrincham boss saw his side collect their first win since promotion back to the Conference by beating Forest Green on Saturday and has been encouraged by their start. He added: "Overall with the first three games, I have been quite pleased with the way we have started, although there is lots of room for improvement. "You need to get the points on the board because if you keep looking at a nought that can dent your confidence so it was nice to get started on Saturday. "We know we are in for a tough season but we know where we want to be at the end of it and the number of points we are aiming for."

Altrincham 2-0 Morecambe
Altrincham notched their second win in three days with victory over Morecambe. Morecambe offered little, a long-range drive by Garry Thompson in the first half proving a rare threat. Colin Little opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with a left-footed drive from the edge of the box after good work on the flank from Colin Potts. Little then turned provider and his cross from the left was neatly tucked into the bottom corner by strike partner Potts.

Altrincham in hunt for new keeper
Altrincham manager Graham Heathcote hopes to bring in a new goalkeeper ahead of Saturday's trip to York City. Heathcote needs an understudy for Stuart Coburn after Richard Acton broke a bone in his foot in the Cheshire Cup win over Woodley Sports on Tuesday. "I'm going to get another goalkeeper as soon as possible," Heathcote told the Sale Altrincham Messenger. ¿It's not easy to find someone who will come here to sit on the bench. But that's what we'll have to do."

Halifax 2-0 Altrincham
Halifax secured a 2-0 win against Altrincham despite getting Martin Foster sent off in the dying minutes. The home side took the lead through Craig Midgley's 20th-minute penalty after Chris Senior had been brought down by Karl Munroe. And Halifax secured the three points when John Grant converted a Justin Bowler cross from inside the box. But Foster soured things for the home side when he was dismissed for foul and abusive language. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Halifax: Dunbavin, Haslam, Ingram, Quinn, Wright, Forrest (Young 90), Thompson, Foster, Midgley (Bowler 60), Grant, Senior (Leister 84). Subs Not Used: Doughty, Sugden. Sent Off: Foster (90). Booked: Thompson. Goals: Midgley 21 pen, Grant 83. Altrincham: Coburn, Munroe, Band, Maddox (Olsen 45), Adams, Hawes, Rose, Owen, McKenzie (Williams 62), Chalmers (Lugsden 70), Little. Subs Not Used: Thornley, Hilton. Booked: Munroe, Owen, Chalmers. Att: 1,453 Ref: D Foster (Tyne & Wear).

Altrincham youngsters leave club
Altrincham have allowed defender George Melling and striker Keiran Lugsden to leave the club. Melling, 19, joins Unibond League side Clitheroe on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell at Shawbridge. Altrincham have retained Melling's Conference registration after he made five appearances for the Robins earlier this season. Robins boss Graham Heathcote has allowed 19-year-old Lugsden to join Radcliffe Borough on a temporary basis.

Bushell staying with Altrincham
Altrincham have secured the services of on-loan Halifax Town midfielder Steve Bushell for a second month. Bushell was due to return to Halifax after Altrincham's Boxing Day clash at Kidderminster but has now been given the all-clear to stay on at Moss Lane. The 32-year-old has so far started three Conference games for Graham Heathcote's side as he looks to return to full fitness following a broken leg. Club captain Bushell has not played for Halifax since being injured in April. In the short term he has a better chance of playing first-team football with the Robins.

Warhurst snubs Altrincham chance
Former Blackburn and Bolton defender Paul Warhurst has decided against playing for Altrincham's reserve side. Warhurst, 36, was supposed to play for the Robins on Wednesday but is instead looking to resume his career with a Football League club. He started the season with Wrexham but left the Racecourse Ground in January after making 12 first-team appearances. Altrincham manager Graham Heathcote is planning to take a look at former Port Vale and Carlisle midfielder Mark Boyd.

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