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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: gazwarrington on October 08, 2008, 12:49:45 PM
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So what was your first Alty game, just for the 'newer' members to get an idea when people got hooked on Alty ....
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1977-78 FA Trophy Final at Wembley !!
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oh .. 4th April 1987 - v Enfield - 5.1
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The 2-2 at Moss Lane against Vics, late 1993.
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a tuesday night game with Barrow in 2002/03 ? (a week before the last manchester derby at maine road) can't remember the score.
however the first match i went to that was followed by me going to every home game after was a year later at home to nuneaton when marcus "elvis" hallows scored a beauty, i got a season ticket the year after and havn't looked back.
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No idea as I think my dad used to take me down to games as a babby but first ones I remember Trowbridge at home 4-0 circa 1982 and Runcorn at 1-3 goal by Paul Cruickshank, Gareth someone was in goal for us in 1983 sometime.
First away game a 2-1 win at Vics ;D Davison penalty and Benno (first hero) I think, again about 1983.
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a tuesday night game with Barrow in 2002/03 ? (a week before the last manchester derby at maine road) can't remember the score.
however the first match i went to that was followed by me going to every home game after was a year later at home to nuneaton when marcus "elvis" hallows scored a beauty, i got a season ticket the year after and havn't looked back.
Was that the one played on Bonfire night when it felt like we were playing in Beirut ??? A great game which we lost 2-1.
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it was now i come to think of it, i remeber a penaulty or somthing deciding the game?
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The 2-2 at Moss Lane against Vics, late 1993.
Think this was mine too. Did we have a bald keeper in that match?
My dad did bring me to a match in my pre-school years although don't think we stayed very long after I got bored! :o
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Alty V Dover Athletic, 24th Feb 1994.
I think I went to earlier games, however I still have my Robins Review from that game!
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I'm old enough that I can't remember. I know they were the first 'proper' team I saw. Our next door neighbour took me along when I was 7 or 8 so it would have been 67 or 68.
I do remember that Jackie Swindles was the star of the team.
My favourite games in those days were the North West Floodlit league games (league games were played at 3pm on Saturday no matter what). Don't want to get all 'jumpers for goalposts' but watching footy in a big crowd (1500-2000 in those days I'd guess) on a school night was magical. I was hooked right there and then.
I'm sure I remember us beating Vics 8-1 in the floodlit league around that time but that might be false memory syndrome.
I think this is the thing that modern big club managers miss. If you get a kid hooked at 8 or 9, he (or she) will stay with you until they have a large disposable income to spend on season tickets and replica kits.
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I honestly can't remember. I was about 5 or 6, so early 1980's.
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my dad would go in the early 70s when united werent playing and i would sometimes go . all i remember is sitting in the stand and being bored.
went to the blackburn game with my brother but dont remember that either
i started going to games with a group from school in 1976. i dont have any clear memory but i think it wasnt anything good or important as the othes werent very bothered, whereas i was blown away by it.
for me it was as much about the mates and cameraderie and sense of belonging - us against the world
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it was now i come to think of it, i remeber a penaulty or somthing deciding the game?
Craney put us ahead with a great strike & Barrow's goals were an own goal(Gary Talbot) & a penalty.
I have the video somewhere!
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I can't remember which one of these was first, but it was either:
Beating Welling at home in the mid 90s. They brought two fans and a flag, poor sods. One of their defenders blatantly handled in the box, ref didn't give it. Then another one of their defenders handled about 5 seconds later, ref did give it this time. Still, their players went mental at the ref. Bizarre!
Losing 2-1 to Bath who were nineteenth at the time. A big crowd of us from Stamford Park School went along; the club used to give us free tickets. Even though we lost to a sh*t team it was a brilliant afternoon, nothing beats a bit of footy!
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I first came in 1986, I was a Man U fan and my mum didn't want me to go to OT so she suggested Alty, I was 16 and I went to most home games.
Last season I met a wonderful lady (unfortunately a York City fan) and with rising prices at OT I decided to see how Moss Lane had changed
It hadn't!!!
So my first game was in 1986 but first recent game was the Alty v York 2-2 draw last season with ladyfriend in the away end!!
Have been to 4 games this season (Lewes, Salisbury, Mansfield and Barrow) and hoping to get to some away games soon.
Dave (can be seen with 2 kids sporting Alty shirts!!)
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Nice one Dave.
I really can't remember which was my first game but it was the 90-91 season that got me hooked as an 11-year-old - even after we were denied promotion in the last few games! I've been supporting Alty through thick and thin ever since - mainly thin - but there have been some memorable FA Cup games against Wigan and Chester - although I had to miss the Spurs game :(
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Ellesmere Port Town at home, August 1971. I was 9. Won 4-2 I think. Dennis Fidler, Johnny Worth, Willie Mailey, Merrick Corfield, I remember it all even now. I believe Jackie Swindells finished the season before? I stood on The Golf Rd with my dad, some old fella gave me a Blue Riband chocolate bar. I also had wanted to go to Old Trafford, it was probably nearer living off Dane Rd in Sale but my dad was having none of it. Lucky escape eh? It was 15p in then for me and 5p for The Robins Review, which always had the same redded over photo on the front together with the Hawkers of Altrincham ad at the top.
Went to most home games and several away from then on until moving away in 1982.
Before that day my knowledge of football came from schoolfriends and occasionally being allowed to watch MOTD; although Sunday afternoons Granada showed almost always Utd/City/Liverpool/Everton. As Jim in London says, it was a lot about mates, belonging etc and that's how I felt as I grew older and started going by myself and getting to know people. Something I knew from a young age would not be present at 1st division football.
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Home to Whitby Town in the Unibond, 3rd January, won 4-0, in front of just 501 people... how we've moved on since then..
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I can't remember which one of these was first, but it was either:
Beating Welling at home in the mid 90s. They brought two fans and a flag, poor sods. One of their defenders blatantly handled in the box, ref didn't give it. Then another one of their defenders handled about 5 seconds later, ref did give it this time. Still, their players went mental at the ref. Bizarre!
Remember this game. Think we won 2-0 and the other goal was a bullet header into the top corner....by their right back.
My first game was a 0-0 draw with Barrow at home in the Trophy roughly '88/89. First away was Macc Town, 1-1 draw i think in the same season or next.
I went to loads of games around then. Remember us 'throwing' the title away not long after and just being too young to understand what it was all about.
The kids go free ticket in the messenger in the 90's got me seriously hooked and I never looked back. Now that I can't get to many games i'm hooked more than ever, and my biggest regret is putting work first in the last few years before I moved away. Dont ever take Alty for granted, go to as many games as you can, CSC the lot. Thats my advice!
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not too sure, but have been going since i was four, so ten years ago.
i think i can recall watching alty vs yeovil though, i'll look into it.
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alty vs runcorn 1986 alty won 1-0 ellis the scorer can anyone remember that game it was at old wembley cup match
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Alty 3 Crewe 0 in the FA Cup 1st round, I think in 1980 but could be 1981.
I was about 12 years old at the time and went on my own. Attendance was 5001. I was the 1 :)
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My first game was in the Cheshire League - but I don't remember it - probably in the 66-67 season. I remember not being allowed to go to the Crewe FA cup match in 68 or to a league match with Wigan in December 67 or 68 because my dad told me the crowd would be too big! I remember seeing the 8-1 drubbing of Vics in the NPL in January 69 before heading off to live in New Zealnad for 3 years.
My first match back was a 5-2 win over Lancaster City at the end of the 71-72 season when a sizable proportion of the crowd got verbally frustrated with a 16 year old Graham Heathcote.
I think my first floodlight match was a 2-2 draw with Bangor City in August 72, and my first away game a 2-2 with Ellesmere Port Town in the same month. First time on the coach was for a 0-0 at Buxton in the FA Cup in September 1972.
I had one of those tingling moments with a 3-2 win at Moss Rose on a bitterly cold Easter Monday, offset by a 3-2 defeat to the same opposition at Edgely Park in the CSC SF (40 yard own goal from DAve Mobley in extra time to lose it)
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Alty v Runcorn 1986 was of course the Trophy final - Farrelly was the scorer: our last major trophy!
Alty v Crewe was November 1979 and followed by perhaps our best FA Cup away win ever 2-0 at Rotherham, only 3 years after getting drubbed 5-0 there (and drawing 0-0 with Scarborough as Mickey Moore missed that penalty)
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Cheshire Senior Cup Final 1982. The 1-0 win against Runcorn at Gresty Road. I lived in Crewe at the time. My dad took me to the game. I don't remember much about the game. I was only 7 at the time. I remember we scored after about 5 minutes(I think). I remember the Cup being presented in the old wooden stand.
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And that was Phil Gardner after 4 minutes. I thought I'd never ever see us win the CSC after the three replays against Vics a couple of seasons earlier and the CAmmell Laird and SAndbach Ramblers debacles
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My mate and I chatting on a music forum earlier..
[bazbatteria] you noticed the upturn in Alty's form ? 13 points from 15. now 14th in table.
(18:41) [squareball] It hasn't gone unnoticed mate. Tidy win at the weekend
[bazbatteria] Oxford at Moss Lane on Sunday
[bazbatteria] bit of a discussion on the forum right now about first Alty game. was it someone like Dover Athletic in Sept 99?
(18:51) [squareball] I always thought it was Woking at home...
(18:51) [squareball] the year would have been 99 thought
[bazbatteria] 18/9/99 H WOKING 1-1 1-1 1006 Landon 4
[bazbatteria] good call
(18:54) [squareball] thats the bastard - I remember the score, both goals were in the first half
[bazbatteria] I remenber your blossoming relationship with the Woking keeping from the Golf Road End!!!!
(18:57) [squareball] yeah I made my mark that day. Can't believe I abused him as much as I did
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Racking my brains to remember,probably against Mossley in the late 70's.
Vague i know but that's me.
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I quite simply cannot remember.
All I know was that it was October 1974, and I went with a lad called Ian Haigh from my college. His dad owned the paper shop next door to the Fine Kettle. Previously I supported United, but found Old Trafford to be dodgy as they were going through trouble around those times. On complaining to Ian after a MUFC match on Saturday he said, 'I'm going to Alty tonight, why don't you come with me' It's a great atmosphere.
So I remember why I ended up here when I was 17, but no details of the game whatsoever.
Never looked back but still armchair fan of United, and go once in a while, IF Alty are'nt playing!!
Would appreciate who we played at home Oct 74 which would give me the answer.
Never realised it would last this long
Steve from Sale
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I also cannot remember who it was or even the exact date I just know that it was the 1968-69 season (I was 4) and I got hit on the head by the ball at about my 2nd or 3rd game. Ben there ever since
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My first game was in the Cheshire League - but I don't remember it - probably in the 66-67 season. I remember not being allowed to go to the Crewe FA cup match in 68 or to a league match with Wigan in December 67 or 68 because my dad told me the crowd would be too big! I remember seeing the 8-1 drubbing of Vics in the NPL in January 69 before heading off to live in New Zealnad for 3 years.
My first match back was a 5-2 win over Lancaster City at the end of the 71-72 season when a sizable proportion of the crowd got verbally frustrated with a 16 year old Graham Heathcote.
I think my first floodlight match was a 2-2 draw with Bangor City in August 72, and my first away game a 2-2 with Ellesmere Port Town in the same month. First time on the coach was for a 0-0 at Buxton in the FA Cup in September 1972.
I had one of those tingling moments with a 3-2 win at Moss Rose on a bitterly cold Easter Monday, offset by a 3-2 defeat to the same opposition at Edgely Park in the CSC SF (40 yard own goal from DAve Mobley in extra time to lose it)
Whist that wasn't my first game, that was the night I decided to support Alty.It was the first home game of the season after a 1-0 defeat at South Shields in the Saturday.The following Saturday we beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 with goals from Tony Broadhead & Andy Windsor & I was hooked!
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when did the floodlights arrive? i remember being pretty young and sitting with my dad watching a flloodlit match
i still love night matches more than afternoon ones
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Tony Broadhead, Andy Windsor, Lennie Dickinson, Alan Wolfe......the second generation of Alty I watched as a kid. Wolfe could hit a ball couldn't he! I believe some kid called Heathcote popped up about then!
Jon Ryan, a winger, I was only a kid but the fans were unfair to him.
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1st game about 1976ish - lost 4-3 at home to Worksop - I think keeper was Peter Eales, I thought he was rubbish 'cos he let 4 in - soon changed my mind!
1st away game - Mossley away 1977ish 1-1 (Ian Morris scored for us) in the snow - it was absolutely freezing
Mike
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Wealdstone in the Alliance league Cup (or whatever it wad called - Bob Lord Trophy?) Dec 1979 the Tuesday night befor the Orient FA Cup game.
They asked for voulenteers to steward Orient, so I did the game and have been a steward ever since.Only ever paid to get into Moss Lane once!!
Next season will be my 30th season as a steward - I must be bloody mad!!!
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Wealdstone in the Alliance league Cup (or whatever it wad called - Bob Lord Trophy?) Dec 1979 the Tuesday night befor the Orient FA Cup game.
They asked for voulenteers to steward Orient, so I did the game and have been a steward ever since.Only ever paid to get into Moss Lane once!!
Next season will be my 30th season as a steward - I must be bloody mad!!!
Yes but the club has made a profit out of you with all them pie sales
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First game was Welling at home in 1987. Pretty non-descript - we won 1-0 if I remember correctly although I was only five at the time.
Took me a couple of years before I came again - my dad was a teacher at Welly Road so he used to pass on the free tickets he got at school although I wasn't a regular until around 1992. First Tuesday night match was Chester at home - quality, definitely one of my favourite moments!
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I shudder to think how many fans have left Old Trafford to try Alty but ones who leave Old Trafford now will try FCUM instead you know.
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Halifax last home game of 93/94.Only taken to see if I could last a couple of hours at the football,as I was suppose to be a City fan. But the events of that day somehow got me hooked, though didn't attend regularly until Unibond championship season.
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alty vs birmingham fa cup alty won 2-1 is that right alty vs merthyl tydfil alty won 7-2 or 9-2 i cannot remember i will look it up
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I also cannot remember who it was or even the exact date I just know that it was the 1968-69 season (I was 4) and I got hit on the head by the ball at about my 2nd or 3rd game. Ben there ever since
That revelation explains a lot of things.....!
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I am not sure but i vaguely remember 64/65 ish Hyde United 5-1 win
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Scarboro 6-1 FA Cup 1965
Big Jack 5 of 6 goals and a lovely man to meet years later.
Hence my name on here!
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My first game was Alty vs Exeter in the 2005-2006 season where we got a 1-1 draw
i dont know why it made me addicted to alty
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Scarboro 6-1 FA Cup 1965
Big Jack 5 of 6 goals and a lovely man to meet years later.
Hence my name on here!
For the second time, 6-0!
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when did the floodlights arrive? i remember being pretty young and sitting with my dad watching a flloodlit match
i still love night matches more than afternoon ones
Remember how exciting it was when the "Macclesfield Floodlit Cup" became the "Macclesfield and Altrincham Floodlit Cup"
I think this only lasted one season before it became the North West Floodlit Cup! ;)
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I hope some one can tell me the first game I went to.
It was after the firework display at the ground midweek in either 1972 or '73 and Alty were playing at home that Saturday.
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On the thread about music for old folks I was told I was really old. Now I will prove that to be the case.
I have had three spells watching Alty.
Very first game was in first season after the war, I think 1946, was a regular then with my dad and uncle. Who the opposition was I have no idea. I went to all home games and a good few aways until late fifties when an interest in the opposite sex took precedence over footy.
Returned to watching Alty when working with a guy who lived in Acacia Avenue about 1962, and went regularly for the next three seasons.
Women again spoiled things. I got married and did not go to watch the Robins until that FA cup game at Birmingham in 1986. Been a season ticket holder since then.
To pick the most pleasing game I have seen it must be away at the Moss Rose on a Tuesday night. Don't remember the date but we had a few injuries so they cleared tons of snow off the pitch and conned the ref into playing thinking they might turn us over. The pitch was more suitable for ice hockey, game should not have been played. In the event I think we won 1-0. The goal coming from a guy called Pritchard who was so far offside no one could believe the liner did not flag. Macc were to say the least more than a little upset. I still have a good laugh now when I remember the macc fans, players and officials reaction. It was even better than the Doncaster Alamo, if you remember that other famous 1-0
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when did the floodlights arrive? i remember being pretty young and sitting with my dad watching a flloodlit match
i still love night matches more than afternoon ones
Remember how exciting it was when the "Macclesfield Floodlit Cup" became the "Macclesfield and Altrincham Floodlit Cup"
I think this only lasted one season before it became the North West Floodlit Cup! ;)
when i started going it was the northwest floodlit league
this seemed very normal until years later i was reading simon inglis' football grounds of great britain, and realised that most grounds would only have got floodlights in the fairly recent past (i'm talking 1976), so i suppose they had these competitions because playing under lights was still a novelty
of course in those days players just played however many games there were and never complained of being tired.....
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So what was your first Alty game, just for the 'newer' members to get an idea when people got hooked on Alty ....
Everton at old trafford fa cup replay 1974. I sat next to an Everton fan who was so nervous he was shaking ! Always watched mid-week games and got the bug/season ticket in 92/93 when my playing days were over.
Best player; Ricky Harris without a doubt !!!!
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I shudder to think how many fans have left Old Trafford to try Alty but ones who leave Old Trafford now will try FCUM instead you know.
Fair point, some people will. However, I've always considered myself a United fan but went along to Alty every now and again and had some affection for the club. However, what with no standing, stupid ticket prices, foreign investors with no connection to the clubs, the hollow success of teams buying trophies (see Chelsea, probably City, FC Cluj etc) I decided to step up my following of Alty last year and I don't regret it one bit. I'm pretty sure other people in and around Trafford will go along to Alty too. ;D
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Dad brought me to Alty when I was very young. Probably 5 years old so I will got 1974 - 75 season. I remember me asking my dad why everyone was shouting Alty and who were Alty as I came to watch Altrincham lol.
My first away game I do recall. I was on holiday in Wales with my family and we went Midweek to watch Alty play Bangor City away. I remember it was raining all night and we sat down somewhere along the side of the ground in the main stand.
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Northwich Vics Boxingday 2006.
it was a year until i saw us win again.
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mine was fa cup 4q round at home leek town who were in manchester league at that time alty were three nil down and came back to win 4-3. then drew notts county at home and lost 1-0 to a penalty.from this point i was hooked on alty.
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A friendly against Irlam Town on the 2nd August 1985. No recollection of the game as I was a month old, but there is photographic evidence somewhere in Nottinghamshire.
The first game I remember was the Tottenham game in 1995...there was lots of balloons and Alty scored but it didn't count. Those were my 2 memories of the day...and how massive White Hart Lane was.
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mine was fa cup 4q round at home leek town who were in manchester league at that time alty were three nil down and came back to win 4-3. then drew notts county at home and lost 1-0 to a penalty.from this point i was hooked on alty.
I recall that game against Leek well, I think Lennie Dickinson bossed the second half and almost turned the whole game by himself. I think however that it was a different cup competition, perhaps even the CSC, Yes I know Leek is in Staffs. It can't have been the Trophy as Leek were as you rightly say, Mcr League then. I think it was the Saturday before we played Notts Co, as I recall leaving the ground after the Leek game and some bloke shouting out that they'll have to nail the goal up next week after that performance!
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when did the floodlights arrive? i remember being pretty young and sitting with my dad watching a flloodlit match
i still love night matches more than afternoon ones
Remember how exciting it was when the "Macclesfield Floodlit Cup" became the "Macclesfield and Altrincham Floodlit Cup"
I think this only lasted one season before it became the North West Floodlit Cup! ;)
when i started going it was the northwest floodlit league
this seemed very normal until years later i was reading simon inglis' football grounds of great britain, and realised that most grounds would only have got floodlights in the fairly recent past (i'm talking 1976), so i suppose they had these competitions because playing under lights was still a novelty
of course in those days players just played however many games there were and never complained of being tired.....
Somewhere I have an old programme for a game where the lights were used for the first time, I reckon 65 or 66. I'll have to dig it out.
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My first Alty game was against Glossop in the FA Cup, I think probably the 4th or 3rd Qualifying round in 1973 I think. Mum and Dad wouldn't let us go to United at the time because of the aggro but thought Alty was fine, thats how I ended up supporting Alty as well. Irony is, as posted elsewhere today, I probably was witness to a lot more aggro at Alty games in those times than I ever saw at United when I was watching them on a regular basis in the '80s!!! Also in that first Alty game I remember Lennie Dickinson offering out members of the Popular side who were having a go at him! Maybe Graham as a youngster at the time learned it all from Lennie!!
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It will be my 30th anniversary as an fully fledged Alty fan this year.
My dad used to take me to Moss Lane as toddler in the late 60's, I don't remember anything of those days other than rolling down the grass bank at the chequers end. We moved out of the area in the early 70's and returned in about 75. My dad always watched out for the Alty scores in the pink and I remember standing in the scoreboard end at Old Trafford for the replay against Everton. But at some point during the 1978/1979 season I went to my first Alty match on my own, a win over Bangor City, and that was that, I was hooked.
Perhaps one of you statto's out there could remind me of the date and score ( I seem to remember it being 3-0 but could be wrong)
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My first Alty game was against Glossop in the FA Cup, I think probably the 4th or 3rd Qualifying round in 1973 I think. Mum and Dad wouldn't let us go to United at the time because of the aggro but thought Alty was fine, thats how I ended up supporting Alty as well. Irony is, as posted elsewhere today, I probably was witness to a lot more aggro at Alty games in those times than I ever saw at United when I was watching them on a regular basis in the '80s!!! Also in that first Alty game I remember Lennie Dickinson offering out members of the Popular side who were having a go at him! Maybe Graham as a youngster at the time learned it all from Lennie!!
I think that this was a First Qualifying Round match & I think both full backs scored (Stan Allan & John Davison).Graham Hetahcote scored the first one,if I remember correctly, a calm side foot finish at the near post from a left wing cross (Chequers End).
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mine was fa cup 4q round at home leek town who were in manchester league at that time alty were three nil down and came back to win 4-3. then drew notts county at home and lost 1-0 to a penalty.from this point i was hooked on alty.
It was the F.A. Trophy.....3rd Qualifying Round if memory serves.Leek had a 100% record in the Manchester League (after about 10 games).Amazingly Leek's third goal wasn't scored until around the hour mark,but we went mad for about 15 minutes & scored four goals.Alan Wolfe scored at least one & John Cooke also was on the scoresheet I think.
A phenomenal game!!
We beat Ellesmere Port in the F.A. Cup 4th Qualifying Round.
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No idea as I think my dad used to take me down to games as a babby but first ones I remember Trowbridge at home 4-0 circa 1982 and Runcorn at 1-3 goal by Paul Cruickshank, Gareth someone was in goal for us in 1983 sometime.
First away game a 2-1 win at Vics ;D Davison penalty and Benno (first hero) I think, again about 1983.
Ballers,
5th November 1983
Altrincham 4 Trowbridge Town 0
29th August 1983
Altrincham 1 Runcorn 3
Benno was the scorer.
Alty local Gareth Smith was the goalkeeper.
13th October 1984
Vics 1 Altrincham 2
Goals by Gary Anderson and John Davison (pen).
Remember it well - our first league victory at The Drill Field since 1973!
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The 2-2 at Moss Lane against Vics, late 1993.
Think this was mine too. Did we have a bald keeper in that match?
Yes, Wayne Baker was that very man.
That was Paul Rowlands's first game as Alty manager.
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I'm old enough that I can't remember. I know they were the first 'proper' team I saw. Our next door neighbour took me along when I was 7 or 8 so it would have been 67 or 68.
I do remember that Jackie Swindles was the star of the team.
My favourite games in those days were the North West Floodlit league games (league games were played at 3pm on Saturday no matter what). Don't want to get all 'jumpers for goalposts' but watching footy in a big crowd (1500-2000 in those days I'd guess) on a school night was magical. I was hooked right there and then.
I'm sure I remember us beating Vics 8-1 in the floodlit league around that time but that might be false memory syndrome.
Excerpt from a programme article I wrote last season:
25th January 1969
Northern Premier League
ALTRINCHAM…8 NORTHWICH VICS…1
Freddie Pye had signed Don Weston from Chester City just 20 minutes prior to the kick-off and the ex-Leeds United striker proceeded to have an astonishing debut in front of 2,430 spectators. Amazingly, the Robins were 3-0 up after only four minutes. Weston scored with his first touch in the opening minute, flicking home a header from an Ian Morris cross, and then two goals from the right winger (who was on loan from Stockport County) duly followed. Weston added his second goal after 36 minutes but John Leigh replied for Vics three minutes later. Swindells netted via the penalty spot in the 64th minute and Alty’s midfield inspiration Mick Metcalf made it 6-1 after 79 minutes. Morris scored his third goal a minute later and then, with two minutes remaining, Weston stabbed the ball home to complete his hat-trick after being set up by Halliwell. This was Vics’ biggest defeat since Wrexham thrashed them by the same scoreline in 1960 and their manager Noel Kelly resigned in the aftermath of this ignominious drubbing. Weston played 16 games for Alty, scoring nine goals, before joining Bethesda.
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I quite simply cannot remember.
All I know was that it was October 1974, and I went with a lad called Ian Haigh from my college. His dad owned the paper shop next door to the Fine Kettle. Previously I supported United, but found Old Trafford to be dodgy as they were going through trouble around those times. On complaining to Ian after a MUFC match on Saturday he said, 'I'm going to Alty tonight, why don't you come with me' It's a great atmosphere.
So I remember why I ended up here when I was 17, but no details of the game whatsoever.
Never looked back but still armchair fan of United, and go once in a while, IF Alty are'nt playing!!
Would appreciate who we played at home Oct 74 which would give me the answer.
Never realised it would last this long
Steve from Sale
Steve,
Alty's home fixtures in October 1974:
Monday 7th: Buxton 5-0
Saturday 19th: Morecambe 3-2
Monday 28th: Skelmersdale 5-0.
Hope that jogs the memory!
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SW -"Somewhere I have an old programme for a game where the lights were used for the first time, I reckon 65 or 66. I'll have to dig it out."
- I think that programme was reprinted and given away as a souvenier edition last year for the first game of the new floodlights against Cambridge.
The Macc game talked about was Tuesday January 30th 1996 at moss Rose (att 1301, I've got a programme from that season in front of me). You are right that Macc cleared a hell of a lot of snow off the pitch to get that game on, so much so that you actually couldn't amke out what was on the advertising hoardings it was piled so high.
*Spits* They had a good team at the time and wanted to get it on so much as we had only won 1 of our previous 15 games (including *spits again* a truly dismal 0-4 reverse at home to Macc and 2 back to back xmas/nyd defeats v Vics *spits once more for effect*).
Now the scorers in the programme are down as Terry 2 (1 pen) and Dean Pritchard but no mention of a young man called Marc Clancy. Now if the memory serves, Clancy was a ginger haired winger plucked from Cheale Town and he DID play that night I'm sure of it. His sole purpose in the game seemed to be tracking up and down the wing man to man marking Darren Lyons I think it was, seriously he did nothing else of note except neutralise Lyons (who had totaly destroyed us at Moss Lane).
Now we attacked down the slope in the 1st half and went 2-0 up, both goals from Stuart Terry, the second one was a penalty awarded when Macc's keeper, a regular nemesis of ours called Steve Farrely got sent off for a professional foul, on Terry(?) but I remember it being quite dubious as it looked to be outside the area.
None the less 2-0 it was and macc had to put an outfield player in goal. i don't remember who but I think it could have a right cock called Steve Wood!
Needless to say, this being Alty we managed to throw away the two goal lead, before Dean Pritchard broke away late on (83rd minute springs to mind but certainly in the last 10) cut inside from the wing (main stand side?) and lashed a shot past the 'outfield' goalkeeper.
Quite an astonishing win and night, I think a bottle got thrown at the supporters coach after as well. In fact this might be a spine tingling Alty moment.
I've got that largely right haven't I Flynny/Cult/Ecky/Joe/Pete/Others??
Sod it, whilst we're on memory lane the programme lists the team as
1. Paul Collings
2. Steve Cross
3. Darren Heesom
4. Paul France
5. Andy Reid
6. Lee Anderson
7. Stuart Terry
8. Neil Doherty ::)
9. Dean Pritchard
10. Neill Hardy
Ah I see the mis print now.
11. Marc Clancy
Subs
12. Darren Royle (came on for Clancy)
13. Jerome John (GK about the size of Chris Senior)
14. Mick Carmody ?
15. Phil Bolland :o (yes Cambridge's current centre half!, came on for Dean Pritchard)
Also programmes reveal that the Runcorn game I remember as my first was in August 1983 (Gareth Smith was in goals), I would have been 4 at the time and have come to home games regularly ever since (missed a few 2000-2005 whilst atrociously impersonating a footballer, although jsut realised I played with or against 6 of the players mentioned above***) which all in all means I have been supporting Alty for 25 years now. 25 YEARS, that's incredible, I can't believe that, I'm going to buy a birthday cake now and celebrate tonight!! ;D ;D
*** A slice of cake if you can guess the 6, clue - a few of them became 'Robins' for another club after leaving Alty.
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when did the floodlights arrive? i remember being pretty young and sitting with my dad watching a flloodlit match
i still love night matches more than afternoon ones
4th April 1966
Cheshire County League
Altrincham 4 Witton Albion 3
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First game was Welling at home in 1987. Pretty non-descript - we won 1-0 if I remember correctly although I was only five at the time.
Mark,
Could it have been this one?
30th January 1988
Altrincham 1 Welling United 0
Goal courtesy of Ossie Smith.
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No idea as I think my dad used to take me down to games as a babby but first ones I remember Trowbridge at home 4-0 circa 1982 and Runcorn at 1-3 goal by Paul Cruickshank, Gareth someone was in goal for us in 1983 sometime.
First away game a 2-1 win at Vics ;D Davison penalty and Benno (first hero) I think, again about 1983.
Ballers,
5th November 1983
Altrincham 4 Trowbridge Town 0 Cheers Cult, I was right Leo Skeete scored in this match. My dad used to take me to games but was away driving a coach for Shearings, my mum took me and we sat on the grass bank, GRASS BANK AGGRO GARSS BANK AGGRO HELLO HELLO, according to my old dear she had a streaming cold :-[
29th August 1983
Altrincham 1 Runcorn 3
Benno was the scorer. :o I disagree, I'm not going back into the cellar to find the programme again but I'm sure it was Paul Cruickshank at the Chequers end, unless I'm getting confused with an FA Cup tie v Doncaster (whcih I think Benno scored a headerat the Golf Road in)
Alty local Gareth Smith was the goalkeeper.
13th October 1984
Vics 1 Altrincham 2
Goals by Gary Anderson and John Davison (pen).
Remember it well - our first league victory at The Drill Field since 1973! Penalty was at the uncovered end wasn't it?
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I hope some one can tell me the first game I went to.
It was after the firework display at the ground midweek in either 1972 or '73 and Alty were playing at home that Saturday.
Jezza,
Possible candidates for your first game:
11th November 1972
FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round
Altrincham 4 Leek Town 3
10th November 1973
NPL
Altrincham 4 Bradford Park Avenue 1
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It will be my 30th anniversary as an fully fledged Alty fan this year.
My dad used to take me to Moss Lane as toddler in the late 60's, I don't remember anything of those days other than rolling down the grass bank at the chequers end. We moved out of the area in the early 70's and returned in about 75. My dad always watched out for the Alty scores in the pink and I remember standing in the scoreboard end at Old Trafford for the replay against Everton. But at some point during the 1978/1979 season I went to my first Alty match on my own, a win over Bangor City, and that was that, I was hooked.
Perhaps one of you statto's out there could remind me of the date and score ( I seem to remember it being 3-0 but could be wrong)
Could it be this one?
16th September 1978
NPL
Altrincham 3 Bangor City 2
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My first Alty game was against Glossop in the FA Cup, I think probably the 4th or 3rd Qualifying round in 1973 I think. Mum and Dad wouldn't let us go to United at the time because of the aggro but thought Alty was fine, thats how I ended up supporting Alty as well. Irony is, as posted elsewhere today, I probably was witness to a lot more aggro at Alty games in those times than I ever saw at United when I was watching them on a regular basis in the '80s!!! Also in that first Alty game I remember Lennie Dickinson offering out members of the Popular side who were having a go at him! Maybe Graham as a youngster at the time learned it all from Lennie!!
I think that this was a First Qualifying Round match & I think both full backs scored (Stan Allan & John Davison).Graham Hetahcote scored the first one,if I remember correctly, a calm side foot finish at the near post from a left wing cross (Chequers End).
15th September 1973
FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Altrincham 3 Glossop North End 1
Goalscorers: Broadhead, Allan and Heathcote (G).
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Also, just out of interest (who's sad?) while I've got the programme from the 1996-97 season in front of me. The memory plays tricks sometimes with reagrds to how things used to be.
Our top 5 home attendances during the 1996-97 season
3,063 v Crewe Alex FA Cup 1st rd - 0-2 - 21/11/95
1,648 v Macc - 0-4 - 18/11/95
1,085 v Halifax - 3-0 - 23/09/95
1,076 v Vics - 3-4 - 1/1/96
1,057 v Bath City - 1-2 - 7/10/95
Our only attendances above 1000 in fact. Lowest league atts 580 v Farnborough 2-2 Tue 24 feb 96, 608 v Stalybridge 1-0 Tu 23 Apr 96 and 633 v Telford 1-0 Sat 16 Dec 95.
Average 852.
About 200 per game better now, couldn't imagine we'd get less than 1,700 against Macc and pretty certain we'll get more than 1,076 when we play Vics on New Years Day.
Alty v Vics games not as well attended through the 80's and 90's as you'd think actually.
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Cult. Thank you so much for the report of the Alty 8 -1 vs. Vics.
That was my first ever game, and you could atrgue that nothing has ever beaten that since (including Wembley, Spurs the first time, Everton, Eastbourne etc). My memories are sketchy but I remember us kicking to the Golf Road in the first half and me being amazed that there were so many goals. I vaguely remember a 1-1 against Boston as my second game soon after because the players had to go off for 20 minutes because of a monsoon.
The only 2 times I have ever sat in the main stand.
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Alty v Wrexham in the FA CUP in the mid 60s last game weymouth away 2007/8,next game Weymouth away 2008/9
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Cult. Thank you so much for the report of the Alty 8 -1 vs. Vics.
That was my first ever game, and you could atrgue that nothing has ever beaten that since (including Wembley, Spurs the first time, Everton, Eastbourne etc). My memories are sketchy but I remember us kicking to the Golf Road in the first half and me being amazed that there were so many goals. I vaguely remember a 1-1 against Boston as my second game soon after because the players had to go off for 20 minutes because of a monsoon.
The only 2 times I have ever sat in the main stand.
Hemel Dave,
Consider it a pleasure.
Who can ever tire of reading about an 8-1 thrashing of the Vics?!
As for your other recollections, well, your memory is spot-on.
1st February 1969
Altrincham 1 Boston United 1
Brian Taylor scored Alty's goal.
Here's an extract from the report in the Manchester Evening News Football Pink:
"The monsoon eventually forced referee Cartlich of Hull to call the players off after 38 minutes.
He said there would be a 10 minute break to see if the weather improved sufficiently for play to go on.
After a delay that eventually stretched to twenty minutes, the referee decided that play could go on.
He played the remaining seven minutes of the first half, then turned straight round for the second period."
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It will be my 30th anniversary as an fully fledged Alty fan this year.
My dad used to take me to Moss Lane as toddler in the late 60's, I don't remember anything of those days other than rolling down the grass bank at the chequers end. We moved out of the area in the early 70's and returned in about 75. My dad always watched out for the Alty scores in the pink and I remember standing in the scoreboard end at Old Trafford for the replay against Everton. But at some point during the 1978/1979 season I went to my first Alty match on my own, a win over Bangor City, and that was that, I was hooked.
Perhaps one of you statto's out there could remind me of the date and score ( I seem to remember it being 3-0 but could be wrong)
Could it be this one?
16th September 1978
NPL
Altrincham 3 Bangor City 2
Thanks Cult, thats the one!
Not a bad season to start a life-long obsession with Alty.
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Alty local Gareth Smith was the goalkeeper.
when i saw that i was going to say i saw him a while ago but now i think about it it was the japan world cup do its 2002
blimey life goes by quickly doesnt it
i was mates with gareth at school and after and in all the time i played against him only scored a few times. i think thats when i realised that good players are actually miles better than you
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I took an interest immediately cos he had the same first name as me (this matters when you are 4 and at your first football match). Now I don't recall whether he was a good or bad goal keeper. However, on this occasion at home to Runcorn he had a howler of a game, very bad.
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Also, just out of interest (who's sad?) while I've got the programme from the 1996-97 season in front of me. The memory plays tricks sometimes with reagrds to how things used to be.
Our top 5 home attendances during the 1996-97 season
3,063 v Crewe Alex FA Cup 1st rd - 0-2 - 21/11/95
1,648 v Macc - 0-4 - 18/11/95
1,085 v Halifax - 3-0 - 23/09/95
1,076 v Vics - 3-4 - 1/1/96
1,057 v Bath City - 1-2 - 7/10/95
Our only attendances above 1000 in fact. Lowest league atts 580 v Farnborough 2-2 Tue 24 feb 96, 608 v Stalybridge 1-0 Tu 23 Apr 96 and 633 v Telford 1-0 Sat 16 Dec 95.
Average 852.
About 200 per game better now, couldn't imagine we'd get less than 1,700 against Macc and pretty certain we'll get more than 1,076 when we play Vics on New Years Day.
Alty v Vics games not as well attended through the 80's and 90's as you'd think actually.
That Stalybridge game was live on TV......but which channel ???
A pint of Jenny Heslop's finest on Sunday for the first correct answer 8)
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My first Alty game was against Glossop in the FA Cup, I think probably the 4th or 3rd Qualifying round in 1973 I think. Mum and Dad wouldn't let us go to United at the time because of the aggro but thought Alty was fine, thats how I ended up supporting Alty as well. Irony is, as posted elsewhere today, I probably was witness to a lot more aggro at Alty games in those times than I ever saw at United when I was watching them on a regular basis in the '80s!!! Also in that first Alty game I remember Lennie Dickinson offering out members of the Popular side who were having a go at him! Maybe Graham as a youngster at the time learned it all from Lennie!!
I think that this was a First Qualifying Round match & I think both full backs scored (Stan Allan & John Davison).Graham Hetahcote scored the first one,if I remember correctly, a calm side foot finish at the near post from a left wing cross (Chequers End).
15th September 1973
FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Altrincham 3 Glossop North End 1
Goalscorers: Broadhead, Allan and Heathcote (G).
Doh!!!!
Well Tony Broadhead did look a little like John Davison......in a completely dissimilar type of way ;D
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The Pritchard/Macc game flynny?
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I took an interest immediately cos he had the same first name as me (this matters when you are 4 and at your first football match). Now I don't recall whether he was a good or bad goal keeper. However, on this occasion at home to Runcorn he had a howler of a game, very bad.
to be honest i had moved away by then so i didnt see him play that often. good enought to play a-team and occasional reserves at united but not good enough to make it. wasnt really big enough as he isnt over 6ft which is small for a keeper. he carried on playing (for a while for hayes i think) when he moved to london for his job.
i always remember him saying that training with alty was a culture shock after united, that he would catch a high ball, brace himself and close his eyes because sometime in the next couple of seconds jeff johnon would barge into him....
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My first was the famous 6-0 win against Dagenham (as I think they were just called then) the last game of 87-88 I think. I was 6 and went in the Main Stand with my dad, I seem to remember I was sick and he had to take me outside at half time, I can't remember anything about the game other than we won 6-0. As I have since heard on here Daggers managed to let in their 100th league goal of the season during that game and it produced a loud shout of '100' from the Main Stand as the goal went in (guessing they went down that year). My first regular season I can really remember was 89-90, Mark 'Yosser' Hughes my first Alty hero.
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Yes, Lloyd Scott who had leaukimia was in goal for Dagenham, he went on to do the London marathon in a divers outfit a few years back. I think Nicky Daws, Ronnie Ellis and Gary Stewart may have got amongst the goals that day.
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First game was Welling at home in 1987. Pretty non-descript - we won 1-0 if I remember correctly although I was only five at the time.
Mark,
Could it have been this one?
30th January 1988
Altrincham 1 Welling United 0
Goal courtesy of Ossie Smith.
Yes, I'd imagine so. I remember it was freezing cold and I was pretty bored. Have never heard Ossie Smith talked about on here - take it he doesn't come under the legend category??
I met Paul Cuddy a couple of years back and assume he was in the starting line up for that one.
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SW -"Somewhere I have an old programme for a game where the lights were used for the first time, I reckon 65 or 66. I'll have to dig it out."
- I think that programme was reprinted and given away as a souvenier edition last year for the first game of the new floodlights against Cambridge.
The Macc game talked about was Tuesday January 30th 1996 at moss Rose (att 1301, I've got a programme from that season in front of me). You are right that Macc cleared a hell of a lot of snow off the pitch to get that game on, so much so that you actually couldn't amke out what was on the advertising hoardings it was piled so high.
*Spits* They had a good team at the time and wanted to get it on so much as we had only won 1 of our previous 15 games (including *spits again* a truly dismal 0-4 reverse at home to Macc and 2 back to back xmas/nyd defeats v Vics *spits once more for effect*).
Now the scorers in the programme are down as Terry 2 (1 pen) and Dean Pritchard but no mention of a young man called Marc Clancy. Now if the memory serves, Clancy was a ginger haired winger plucked from Cheale Town and he DID play that night I'm sure of it. His sole purpose in the game seemed to be tracking up and down the wing man to man marking Darren Lyons I think it was, seriously he did nothing else of note except neutralise Lyons (who had totaly destroyed us at Moss Lane).
Now we attacked down the slope in the 1st half and went 2-0 up, both goals from Stuart Terry, the second one was a penalty awarded when Macc's keeper, a regular nemesis of ours called Steve Farrely got sent off for a professional foul, on Terry(?) but I remember it being quite dubious as it looked to be outside the area.
None the less 2-0 it was and macc had to put an outfield player in goal. i don't remember who but I think it could have a right cock called Steve Wood!
Needless to say, this being Alty we managed to throw away the two goal lead, before Dean Pritchard broke away late on (83rd minute springs to mind but certainly in the last 10) cut inside from the wing (main stand side?) and lashed a shot past the 'outfield' goalkeeper.
Quite an astonishing win and night, I think a bottle got thrown at the supporters coach after as well. In fact this might be a spine tingling Alty moment.
I've got that largely right haven't I Flynny/Cult/Ecky/Joe/Pete/Others??
Sod it, whilst we're on memory lane the programme lists the team as
1. Paul Collings
2. Steve Cross
3. Darren Heesom
4. Paul France
5. Andy Reid
6. Lee Anderson
7. Stuart Terry
8. Neil Doherty ::)
9. Dean Pritchard
10. Neill Hardy
Ah I see the mis print now.
11. Marc Clancy
Subs
12. Darren Royle (came on for Clancy)
13. Jerome John (GK about the size of Chris Senior)
14. Mick Carmody ?
15. Phil Bolland :o (yes Cambridge's current centre half!, came on for Dean Pritchard)
Also programmes reveal that the Runcorn game I remember as my first was in August 1983 (Gareth Smith was in goals), I would have been 4 at the time and have come to home games regularly ever since (missed a few 2000-2005 whilst atrociously impersonating a footballer, although jsut realised I played with or against 6 of the players mentioned above***) which all in all means I have been supporting Alty for 25 years now. 25 YEARS, that's incredible, I can't believe that, I'm going to buy a birthday cake now and celebrate tonight!! ;D ;D
*** A slice of cake if you can guess the 6, clue - a few of them became 'Robins' for another club after leaving Alty.
Ballers,
I think that the Macc goalkeeper who was sent off that night was Ryan Price rather than Steve Farrelly.
Just under a fortnight later, I recall Marc Clancy being pulverised by some Yorkshire henchmen at Guiseley in our infamous 4-0 FA Trophy defeat there.
He never played for us again after that match...
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First game was Welling at home in 1987. Pretty non-descript - we won 1-0 if I remember correctly although I was only five at the time.
Mark,
Could it have been this one?
30th January 1988
Altrincham 1 Welling United 0
Goal courtesy of Ossie Smith.
Yes, I'd imagine so. I remember it was freezing cold and I was pretty bored. Have never heard Ossie Smith talked about on here - take it he doesn't come under the legend category??
I met Paul Cuddy a couple of years back and assume he was in the starting line up for that one.
Team that day:
1. Phil Jackson
2. Trevor Ross
3. Jimmy Birch
4. Paul Cuddy
5. Bobby Fraser
6. Mike Farrelly
7. Gary Stewart
8. Ossie Smith
9. Ronnie Ellis
10. John Timmons
11. Andy Kilner
12. Lawrence Iro
14. Jeff Parker.
Ossie Smith started at Alty circa 1979/80 but couldn't break into the first team (he played in a Cheshire Senior Cup game or two, as I recall).
He moved on to Runcorn, where he became an England Non League International and was a stalwart of their successful team during the John Williams era at Canal Street.
He returned to Moss Lane for the 1987/88 season and then injury ended his Alty career early on in the 1988/89 season.
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SW -"Somewhere I have an old programme for a game where the lights were used for the first time, I reckon 65 or 66. I'll have to dig it out."
No Ballers, mine is an original. Full programme etc, Perhaps a collectors item. Its mine though, no ones having it!!
On the subject of programmes, how do people generally feel these days? Once, pre Internet, pre TV coverage of anything below "Div 1" there was just no information. A visit somewhere with the programmes sold really would spoil my afternoon. Nowadays I rarely buy.
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when did the floodlights arrive? i remember being pretty young and sitting with my dad watching a flloodlit match
i still love night matches more than afternoon ones
Remember how exciting it was when the "Macclesfield Floodlit Cup" became the "Macclesfield and Altrincham Floodlit Cup"
I think this only lasted one season before it became the North West Floodlit Cup! ;)
when i started going it was the northwest floodlit league
this seemed very normal until years later i was reading simon inglis' football grounds of great britain, and realised that most grounds would only have got floodlights in the fairly recent past (i'm talking 1976), so i suppose they had these competitions because playing under lights was still a novelty
of course in those days players just played however many games there were and never complained of being tired.....
Somewhere I have an old programme for a game where the lights were used for the first time, I reckon 65 or 66. I'll have to dig it out.
Could be wrong but I think we got our floodlights in 66/7 season. I seem to remember the second leg of the CSC final (3-1 vs Strolling Ken Barnes' Witton) being a night match when we overcame a 1-0 deficit by winning 3-1 on the night.
In my youthful exuberance and naivete, I always classed that as winning the 'double'!
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I'm old enough that I can't remember. I know they were the first 'proper' team I saw. Our next door neighbour took me along when I was 7 or 8 so it would have been 67 or 68.
I do remember that Jackie Swindles was the star of the team.
My favourite games in those days were the North West Floodlit league games (league games were played at 3pm on Saturday no matter what). Don't want to get all 'jumpers for goalposts' but watching footy in a big crowd (1500-2000 in those days I'd guess) on a school night was magical. I was hooked right there and then.
I'm sure I remember us beating Vics 8-1 in the floodlit league around that time but that might be false memory syndrome.
Excerpt from a programme article I wrote last season:
25th January 1969
Northern Premier League
ALTRINCHAM…8 NORTHWICH VICS…1
Freddie Pye had signed Don Weston from Chester City just 20 minutes prior to the kick-off and the ex-Leeds United striker proceeded to have an astonishing debut in front of 2,430 spectators. Amazingly, the Robins were 3-0 up after only four minutes. Weston scored with his first touch in the opening minute, flicking home a header from an Ian Morris cross, and then two goals from the right winger (who was on loan from Stockport County) duly followed. Weston added his second goal after 36 minutes but John Leigh replied for Vics three minutes later. Swindells netted via the penalty spot in the 64th minute and Alty’s midfield inspiration Mick Metcalf made it 6-1 after 79 minutes. Morris scored his third goal a minute later and then, with two minutes remaining, Weston stabbed the ball home to complete his hat-trick after being set up by Halliwell. This was Vics’ biggest defeat since Wrexham thrashed them by the same scoreline in 1960 and their manager Noel Kelly resigned in the aftermath of this ignominious drubbing. Weston played 16 games for Alty, scoring nine goals, before joining Bethesda.
I'm absolutely stunned that game was in the 60's! My memory would have me believe it was mid-seventies!
Just goes to show what can happen to your mind after 40 odd years following Alty!
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1st February 1969
Altrincham 1 Boston United 1
Brian Taylor scored Alty's goal.
Here's an extract from the report in the Manchester Evening News Football Pink:
"The monsoon eventually forced referee Cartlich of Hull to call the players off after 38 minutes.
He said there would be a 10 minute break to see if the weather improved sufficiently for play to go on.
After a delay that eventually stretched to twenty minutes, the referee decided that play could go on.
He played the remaining seven minutes of the first half, then turned straight round for the second period."
Cult, here's a question for your encyclopaedic knowledge ...
Was this the famous Colin Cartlich? and if so, which Alty match did he referee in controversial circumstances?
PS: The name rings a bell but I'm sure you can come up with the answer for me to save me reaching for the scrapbooks! ;)
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Ballers,
I think that the Macc goalkeeper who was sent off that night was Ryan Price rather than Steve Farrelly.
Just under a fortnight later, I recall Marc Clancy being pulverised by some Yorkshire henchmen at Guiseley in our infamous 4-0 FA Trophy defeat there.
He never played for us again after that match...
yes, thought it could have been Price actually, shortly after his comeback having had metla plates inserted in his cheeks :o ?
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Could be wrong but I think we got our floodlights in 66/7 season. I seem to remember the second leg of the CSC final (3-1 vs Strolling Ken Barnes' Witton) being a night match when we overcame a 1-0 deficit by winning 3-1 on the night.
Saughall,
I refer you to my previous answer re. the first floodlit game at Moss Lane:
4th April 1966
Cheshire County League
Altrincham 4 Witton Albion 3
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Could be wrong but I think we got our floodlights in 66/7 season. I seem to remember the second leg of the CSC final (3-1 vs Strolling Ken Barnes' Witton) being a night match when we overcame a 1-0 deficit by winning 3-1 on the night.
Saughall,
I refer you to my previous answer re. the first floodlit game at Moss Lane:
4th April 1966
Cheshire County League
Altrincham 4 Witton Albion 3
old age getting to me again, obviously
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First game was Welling at home in 1987. Pretty non-descript - we won 1-0 if I remember correctly although I was only five at the time.
Mark,
Could it have been this one?
30th January 1988
Altrincham 1 Welling United 0
Goal courtesy of Ossie Smith.
Yes, I'd imagine so. I remember it was freezing cold and I was pretty bored. Have never heard Ossie Smith talked about on here - take it he doesn't come under the legend category??
I met Paul Cuddy a couple of years back and assume he was in the starting line up for that one.
Ossie Smith was an excellent player,but his best years were at Runcorn.He still comes down to Moss Lane to watch Alty & I have seen him at one or two other local grounds in recent years.
P.S. I have your signed ball for your brilliant attendance guess at the Wrexham game in the boot of my car.
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My first was the famous 6-0 win against Dagenham (as I think they were just called then) the last game of 87-88 I think. I was 6 and went in the Main Stand with my dad, I seem to remember I was sick and he had to take me outside at half time, I can't remember anything about the game other than we won 6-0. As I have since heard on here Daggers managed to let in their 100th league goal of the season during that game and it produced a loud shout of '100' from the Main Stand as the goal went in (guessing they went down that year). My first regular season I can really remember was 89-90, Mark 'Yosser' Hughes my first Alty hero.
Vintage V.of D. ;D
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I have that programme as I do for all games on the 4th April...
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First game was Welling at home in 1987. Pretty non-descript - we won 1-0 if I remember correctly although I was only five at the time.
[/quote]
Mark,
Could it have been this one?
30th January 1988
Altrincham 1 Welling United 0
Goal courtesy of Ossie Smith.
[/quote]
Yes, I'd imagine so. I remember it was freezing cold and I was pretty bored. Have never heard Ossie Smith talked about on here - take it he doesn't come under the legend category??
I met Paul Cuddy a couple of years back and assume he was in the starting line up for that one.
[/quote]
Team that day:
1. Phil Jackson
2. Trevor Ross
3. Jimmy Birch
4. Paul Cuddy
5. Bobby Fraser
6. Mike Farrelly
7. Gary Stewart
8. Ossie Smith
9. Ronnie Ellis
10. John Timmons
11. Andy Kilner
12. Lawrence Iro
14. Jeff Parker.
Ossie Smith started at Alty circa 1979/80 but couldn't break into the first team (he played in a Cheshire Senior Cup game or two, as I recall).
He moved on to Runcorn, where he became an England Non League International and was a stalwart of their successful team during the John Williams era at Canal Street.
He returned to Moss Lane for the 1987/88 season and then injury ended his Alty career early on in the 1988/89 season.
Ossie does still come to ML occasionally and I met him at Stockport County School of Excellence a couple of years ago where he was doing some coaching. It was the day they played Tranmere one of whose teams was being coached by Eddie Hussin.
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Trophy Semi-Final against Enfield 1982. "Dougie Newton makes sure"!!!!!
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I should have mention the Witton Floodlit game in my list..
Amazing experience, allowed to go on my own aged 10
Spent some of the nite collecting coke bottles from the Golf Road grass bank to get the 3d deposits back. Loads of folk didn't seem to bother taking them back; then legged it home across the golf course to the far end of Timp. (Arderne Road).
Sadly, under the influence of a few beers on Boxing Day (i think) last year I managed to get hold of one of the old lights (from the heap of scrap on pop side) - I think its one of the smaller ones which was an original from 1966. They looked small from the ground, pretty dam big though.No idea what to do with it, but Mrs JackSwindells No 1 Fan seems to understand and hasn't chucked it out.
With a new bulb and a heavy duty cable I reckon I could light up the whole village here in the football desert that is the East Midlands.
Whilst on the first games subject, some folk mention Bangor City. Our dear Gazelle will recall one sojourn to North Wales, midweek game, lots of nasty Bangor thugs, at one point several of us had to climb the fence onto pitch side to avoid the yobs.
I seem to remember the coach was under siege as we left.. lost as well (not sure) then stopped at chippy in Llandudno Junction.... Perhaps Gazelle would finsh the story... if he doesn't I will later....... over to you Pete!
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Could be wrong but I think we got our floodlights in 66/7 season. I seem to remember the second leg of the CSC final (3-1 vs Strolling Ken Barnes' Witton) being a night match when we overcame a 1-0 deficit by winning 3-1 on the night.
Saughall,
I refer you to my previous answer re. the first floodlit game at Moss Lane:
4th April 1966
Cheshire County League
Altrincham 4 Witton Albion 3
... and another thing, Cult old mate, Don't shout! or I won't buy you a pint on Sunday! ;)
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Trophy Semi-Final against Enfield 1982. "Dougie Newton makes sure"!!!!!
86.
Sorry, I left that first time round but couldn't this time. 1986.
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So what was your first Alty game, just for the 'newer' members to get an idea when people got hooked on Alty ....
Going back to when I used to watch MUFC when at home when I was about 8 my dad always brought me to Alty if MUFC were away & Alty were at home. So give me a bit of time as I'll have to look back about 40 years.
Do remember coming to Alty in what I remember as the 'glory years' when Alty were seeking league promotion but the 92 Club kept voting to look after their own. Was a bit despondent when it became auto promotion / relegation & Alty ended mid-table that year.
I still adhered to that principle up until Aug08 when I stopped going to OT & now come here when I can. Work / family / finance committments dictate otherwise.
Will come more often but only if games are on at 3pm on a Saturday.
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Message to Cult from Steve from Sale:-
Cheers for the work trawling through our archives. The Buxton game was the first match. I know it was a high scoring game and was also just after my birthday, I had been to ManU the previous Saturday or the one before and had complained to Ian Haigh about feeling intimidated in the Scoreboard paddock when some away fans had accidentally gone into our end and were surrounded by United fans bordering on aggressive behaviour. I only asked them to leave them well alone, but they started to turn on me so I walked away and avoided confrontation. I had seen one of the away fans who was so absolutely terrified his left leg shook uncontrollably, and it really got my back up. Fortunately the stewards and police arrived just in the nick of time and escorted the away fans to their own end. The lad who was terrified, flashed me a look of gratitude on the way out which pleased me immensly.
When you read the above story you can now begin to understand why I like non-league so much. The majority of fans go just to watch a football team play good football, not go out looking for confrontations. I neither understand or care for the mentality of loutish behaviour, but I still have a deep love of the game, especially at non-league and junior football level, having been involved for the last 8 years with Unicorn.
Footy is great, footy is bazzin', footy is my way of escaping from life's problems, without it I would be lost. But more importantly I had a club that gave me what I wanted, where the players felt like everyday lads such as me. But played the game for love of it, not for money. I remember speaking to Chris Adams who is ex Unicorn. Chris told me of his similar love of the game, and how he spent hours on fields with his mates as a kid and at Unicorn playing the game he loved. There were battles with parents trying to get him in at night to go to bed!!
That is real football, you may get the crowds in the premierships and atmosphere, but theres no way you are as close to the club and team as we are; and you certainly cant have a pint with em afterwards in the bar!! There is not one of those lads in the team at present who do not think likewise.
Keep it up Alty, ignore the 'No Disrepect Crew' and carry on shocking and ramming it down their throats!!
Steve from Sale
And thanks once again cult!!!!
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Excerpt from a programme article I wrote last season:
25th January 1969
Northern Premier League
ALTRINCHAM…8 NORTHWICH VICS…1
Freddie Pye had signed Don Weston from Chester City just 20 minutes prior to the kick-off and the ex-Leeds United striker proceeded to have an astonishing debut in front of 2,430 spectators. Amazingly, the Robins were 3-0 up after only four minutes. Weston scored with his first touch in the opening minute, flicking home a header from an Ian Morris cross, and then two goals from the right winger (who was on loan from Stockport County) duly followed. Weston added his second goal after 36 minutes but John Leigh replied for Vics three minutes later. Swindells netted via the penalty spot in the 64th minute and Alty’s midfield inspiration Mick Metcalf made it 6-1 after 79 minutes. Morris scored his third goal a minute later and then, with two minutes remaining, Weston stabbed the ball home to complete his hat-trick after being set up by Halliwell. This was Vics’ biggest defeat since Wrexham thrashed them by the same scoreline in 1960 and their manager Noel Kelly resigned in the aftermath of this ignominious drubbing. Weston played 16 games for Alty, scoring nine goals, before joining Bethesda.
Thanks Cult. Not only a wonderful account of a game which (as I was only 8 ) I only vaguely remember but also confirmation that I'm only partially living in a dream world.
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On the subject of programmes, how do people generally feel these days? Once, pre Internet, pre TV coverage of anything below "Div 1" there was just no information. A visit somewhere with the programmes sold really would spoil my afternoon. Nowadays I rarely buy.
I rarely buy one these days but there was a time when the program was a must have. Sometimes it was the only way to get anything more than the score for away games or a midweek game that you had missed.
Another reason was that it was the only way to deciper the half time scores on the boards at the side of the pitch. This will of course be completely meaningless to the younger viewers.
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Trophy Semi-Final against Enfield 1982. "Dougie Newton makes sure"!!!!!
86.
Sorry, I left that first time round but couldn't this time. 1986.
Indeed, I had been on the Asahi yesterday after surving an attack of Socialist workers at the office.
It should have read " Trophy Semi-Final against Wycombe Wanderers (scum) 1982"
I actually wrote that first and deleted it?!?!?!?!? Time for contemplation pierside......
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Quite, I think perhaps you need to find a quiet pier to do some more contemplating on with regard to the effect Dougie Newton might have had on the 1982 semi final.
The effect his penalty in the 2-0 semi final win against Enfield in the second leg in 1986 had was undemiable however. ;)
Bloody Socialists.
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First game i remember was just before my birthday against Cheltenham, we won 2-0. Must have been about nine or ten at the time so would have been 86 or 87... Remember getting soaked and covered in mud heading back over the golf course. Can't for the life of me remember the scorers though.
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My first was the famous 6-0 win against Dagenham (as I think they were just called then) the last game of 87-88 I think. I was 6 and went in the Main Stand with my dad, I seem to remember I was sick and he had to take me outside at half time, I can't remember anything about the game other than we won 6-0. As I have since heard on here Daggers managed to let in their 100th league goal of the season during that game and it produced a loud shout of '100' from the Main Stand as the goal went in (guessing they went down that year). My first regular season I can really remember was 89-90, Mark 'Yosser' Hughes my first Alty hero.
Vintage V.of D. ;D
My,my. That takes me back.
I started watching Alty irregularly in 84-85 season, but the match that got me hooked ever since was the cup victory at Birmingham in 86.
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First game i remember was just before my birthday against Cheltenham, we won 2-0. Must have been about nine or ten at the time so would have been 86 or 87... Remember getting soaked and covered in mud heading back over the golf course. Can't for the life of me remember the scorers though.
Wheeey, I was mascot in that game! . I think Gary Anderson may have been one of the scorers. The ref let me keep the 50p he used for the toss (alty's skipper let me call, I said heads, it was heads and we decided to attack the Chequers end in time honoured fashion). :)
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First game i remember was just before my birthday against Cheltenham, we won 2-0. Must have been about nine or ten at the time so would have been 86 or 87... Remember getting soaked and covered in mud heading back over the golf course. Can't for the life of me remember the scorers though.
Wheeey, I was mascot in that game! . I think Gary Anderson may have been one of the scorers. The ref let me keep the 50p he used for the toss (alty's skipper let me call, I said heads, it was heads and we decided to attack the Chequers end in time honoured fashion). :)
Ballers & jimwarrington,
Could this be the game you refer to?
18th October 1986
Altrincham 2 Cheltenham Town 0
Attendance: 2,453.
Scorers: Paul Edwards and Eddie Bishop.
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I'm not entirely sure. What are the other options?
I remember the large attendance for that game was due to a) us being goo and b) a huge promotion of free tickets to schools in the area.
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My first game was at home against Bishops Stortford in the FA Trophy in the 81/82 season. I had only just started going out with my future hubby, he met me off the 371 bus and we walked across the golf course to the ground, I also met his Mum and Dad for the first time on the same day. I don't remember much about the match apart form the fact that we won - we must have, because we were at Wembley for the final a few months later. My first away match was the same season, a league match (I think), against Stafford Rangers when Mal Bailey got hurt and was lay on the side of the pitch for ages.
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I don't remember much about the match apart form the fact that we won - we must have, because we were at Wembley for the final a few months later.
actually a draw and required a last minute equaliser to get that. the replay was a different matter altogether an would have gone down in alty folklore as one of the most complete performances (rivalling the way we played away at wycombe in the semi) if it had been witnessed by more than 20 alty fans.
i'm not sure why so few went to that game but its an abiding memory
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First game i remember was just before my birthday against Cheltenham, we won 2-0. Must have been about nine or ten at the time so would have been 86 or 87... Remember getting soaked and covered in mud heading back over the golf course. Can't for the life of me remember the scorers though.
Wheeey, I was mascot in that game! . I think Gary Anderson may have been one of the scorers. The ref let me keep the 50p he used for the toss (alty's skipper let me call, I said heads, it was heads and we decided to attack the Chequers end in time honoured fashion). :)
Ballers & jimwarrington,
Could this be the game you refer to?
18th October 1986
Altrincham 2 Cheltenham Town 0
Attendance: 2,453.
Scorers: Paul Edwards and Eddie Bishop.
I was indeed. My birthday was the day after, not a bad present. My mum played hell with the state of my shoes though, got a right hiding ;D .... Good game I remember trying to get to the front at the Golf Road end.
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Re Bishops Stortford:
Phil McGreal's 93rd minute equaliser got us the right to travel down to Stortford - who had won the Tropjhy the previous year and were therefore holders.
I remember a dour 1st half in the replay, followed by Alty going 1-0 down before Barry Howard in particular took control for a 3-1 win.
I was at Uni in London and traveled to the game by train with a mate of mine and fellow Alty fan.
We sat drinking in the pub next to the station until about 10 ish before strolling over to discover that BR had gone on strike and there were therefore no trains back to London.
We decided to hitch hike back to London, got to the M11 pretty quick and were stuck at a junction for ages.
A small van pulled onto the roundabout, did a complete lap, and then another before pulling up next to us.
The driver winds down his window "Hitching?"
"yes we're going to London"
"No mate, which way to Hitchin" and he drives off.
Finally got a lift to somewhere in the East end, a nightbus to Victoria station and a walk to South Kensington.
In bed by 3am
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Totally unrelated to football, but I once worked in Morden, at the real arse end of the Northern Line. One night after a few got a late train, living centralish in Shepherds Bush then. Woke at High Barnet, the full length of the line later about 1:30ish. No trains till 6am. Somehow got home via two hitched lifts, a couple of night buses and a jolly good kicking from the missus when I arrived home 4ish!
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Also, just out of interest (who's sad?) while I've got the programme from the 1996-97 season in front of me. The memory plays tricks sometimes with reagrds to how things used to be.
Our top 5 home attendances during the 1996-97 season
3,063 v Crewe Alex FA Cup 1st rd - 0-2 - 21/11/95
1,648 v Macc - 0-4 - 18/11/95
1,085 v Halifax - 3-0 - 23/09/95
1,076 v Vics - 3-4 - 1/1/96
1,057 v Bath City - 1-2 - 7/10/95
Our only attendances above 1000 in fact. Lowest league atts 580 v Farnborough 2-2 Tue 24 feb 96, 608 v Stalybridge 1-0 Tu 23 Apr 96 and 633 v Telford 1-0 Sat 16 Dec 95.
Average 852.
About 200 per game better now, couldn't imagine we'd get less than 1,700 against Macc and pretty certain we'll get more than 1,076 when we play Vics on New Years Day.
Alty v Vics games not as well attended through the 80's and 90's as you'd think actually.
That Stalybridge game was live on TV......but which channel ???
A pint of Jenny Heslop's finest on Sunday for the first correct answer 8)
Seeing as nobody appears to have replied was it not L!ve TV, the cable channel.
As well as conference football I seem to remember it also produced some of the greatest viewing of that era including Topless Darts, Norwegian Weather and Tiffany's big city tips!
You might have to put the pint on hold until Crawley away.
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Home to Mossley 3-3 draw in 1963. Sat in the main stand and the entrance fee for kids was one shilling. Freddie Pye was Manager.
Golf Road End was uncovered in those days.
I am sure our striker then was Johnny Mitten and that I am not confusing him with "the Bogata Bandit" (Charlie Mitten former Alty Player-Manager). One day I will climb in my loft and sift through my programmes. There was also a John Mitten, born in Davyhulme, who played cricket for England around the same time. There are a lot of Alty connections with the Mitten family.
First away game a 4-1 thumping of Vics in about 1965
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Scarborough - very late 1980s. It was the game before the Orient cup game. Tickets were on sale after the scabby match from the various tea bars around the ground. Stood on the chequers end.
I dread to think how much cash I've spent over the years, but Alty have given me some of the best moments of my life, and none of the worst. I am an addict.
COME ON ALTY.
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Scarborough - very late 1980s. It was the game before the Orient cup game. Tickets were on sale after the scabby match from the various tea bars around the ground. Stood on the chequers end.
I dread to think how much cash I've spent over the years, but Alty have given me some of the best moments of my life, and none of the worst. I am an addict.
COME ON ALTY.
York Alty,
That was Boxing Day in 1979.
Alty 2 Scarborough 0.
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Yep, the first a ricochet off Jeff Johnson's nadgers and then a tap in from Barry Whitbread.
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first was either runcorn 5-1 or vics 8-1 ive got them mixed up but it would be 1968. went onmy own thinking it was alty when we first moved from blackpool to alty and it was actiually northern nomads v irlam? in a local cup final . but persevered and my first game on my own was 4-4 draw against macc in the npl equivalant of the charity shield 9 maybe 1970). all could be a right load of bowlarks as my memory is fuddled
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Also, just out of interest (who's sad?) while I've got the programme from the 1996-97 season in front of me. The memory plays tricks sometimes with reagrds to how things used to be.
Our top 5 home attendances during the 1996-97 season
3,063 v Crewe Alex FA Cup 1st rd - 0-2 - 21/11/95
1,648 v Macc - 0-4 - 18/11/95
1,085 v Halifax - 3-0 - 23/09/95
1,076 v Vics - 3-4 - 1/1/96
1,057 v Bath City - 1-2 - 7/10/95
Our only attendances above 1000 in fact. Lowest league atts 580 v Farnborough 2-2 Tue 24 feb 96, 608 v Stalybridge 1-0 Tu 23 Apr 96 and 633 v Telford 1-0 Sat 16 Dec 95.
Average 852.
About 200 per game better now, couldn't imagine we'd get less than 1,700 against Macc and pretty certain we'll get more than 1,076 when we play Vics on New Years Day.
Alty v Vics games not as well attended through the 80's and 90's as you'd think actually.
That Stalybridge game was live on TV......but which channel ???
A pint of Jenny Heslop's finest on Sunday for the first correct answer 8)
Seeing as nobody appears to have replied was it not L!ve TV, the cable channel.
As well as conference football I seem to remember it also produced some of the greatest viewing of that era including Topless Darts, Norwegian Weather and Tiffany's big city tips!
You might have to put the pint on hold until Crawley away.
You are spot on...........funnily enough I had forgotten about the Topless Darts but I do remember Tiffany's Big City Tips!! :o
Crawley away it is then...a pint of your favourite nectar available on request!
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a tap in from Barry Whitbread.
tautology or oxymoron?
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I dread to think how much cash I've spent over the years, but Alty have given me some of the best moments of my life, and none of the worst. I am an addict.
As discussed with Jacobs on Monday, Do not, do not under any circumstancesstart trying to think how much money you have spent on Alty. Do not even try to calculate what you have spent this year.
It will a) make you cry b) realise you can't afford it and c) make you think about doing something else.
A bad idea.
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class james class. going to start a new game