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This last season will go down as one of my most memorable. I have now seen the club win 4 league championships in my era of following them - 79/90, 80/81, 98/99 and now 17/18. They have all been very special in their own way, but this was one was against all odds, making it my favourite. Yes I know it was the Evostick Premier League one, but it was against the backdrop of two previous relegations, and some very low and downbeat feelings. The board, new management and the hard core of our players, worked hard over this last season to put it right. New players came in as Phil and Neil bought in signings to take the club forward and rebuild. It had to be right, and my god it was!!

Nobody can underestimate the difficulty of a task to turn a club round from two relegations to where we are now. Phil and Neil came in, changed things and gave us fight, using core players of Tim Deasy, Simon Richman, Jake Moult and Shaun Densmore. These players have the club coursing through their veins and will walk through fire to achieve with us. They are our heartbeat and their contribution will never be under-estimated. But it was not just our original core players, we brought players in who would follow their way of thinking. That was the most difficult judgement for Phil and Neil, but they got it bang on. I think the turnaround by Phil, Neil and the lads is one of the club''s greatest achievements. After the first meeting with Phil/Neil, I thought we may turn it round, but never did I think at the time it would be in their first season. Just steady the ship, then build. But to have won it by 13 points, by playing a great game of football the way it should be played, but with oodles of added style and pazzazz. It was typical of this team to not be satisfied with 100 goals, but to have to score 101. That says it all about their attitude. A previous poster said a few games ago, how many points we may need to win the league towards the end of the season, it turned out we only needed one. The matches that stick out for me this season, are Shaw Lane at home, and Grantham away. They went into that game and most others with the intention of winning and being masters of their own destiny. I wish I could have been there to celebrate.

Carys from Chester came with me yesterday, and as she was tired, we sat in the main stand. I had a great view of the game and the presentations afterwards and Carys commented on how there was so much joy at the game and it was great to see. This from a girl who does not particularly like football. she took many photos and missed the first two goals. The first one she was putting pictures on facebook. Jakes goal she missed as she was getting a coffee, and me a pint of Jennings Cockahoop (my favourite beer). I also missed Jakes goal as a steady procession of fans used the front row behind the board seats to get from one side to the other. This became a constant nuisance throughout the game as everybody tried to get beer replenished/toilets/kids wandering around. Several of us missed the goal, me included. However, this was a one-off as we don't have beer festivals at every home game. I must admit though, on the few occasions I have done it, I did enjoy a pint while watching the game. I will miss that next season.

So what of the future now. Well, I believe we now have the infra-structure at board level to take the club forward, and that includes the current chairman.  There is much to build on, I know we will probrably keep most of the players we had this season, the team only needs one or two minor tweeks.  Phil will update us I am sure in the next couple of weeks.  So long as the club build ongoing in steady stages and stick to their five year plan our growth should continue.  I also feel that Phil and Neil are getting the club coursing through their veins (despite Neil's Macc links). I only hope that these two maintain the success, and are involved with the club long-term. The club now needs to build on it's success and maintain it's stability it has earned this season. This club is so important to it's fans, me included.  And I love the bond between players, management and supporters, my god it is priceless and pretty unique even at non-league level, and must be the envy if other clubs.

What a great day yesterday was, a great crowd, great beer, great atmosphere, great game, great presentations and a great club.

So so happy this morning! Will we ever be a league club, never have I had so much belief since the early 80's that this is achievable, but in careful stages. I just hope it happens within my lifetime. why not! Can we have it in our 10 year plan?

.....and that is all the non-league paper had to say about our win yesterday.

That paper is a waste of £1.50, I wanted to read the report on the game yesterday, and all we got was the above line in the FA Trophy round-up.

I will be emailing the paper in no uncertain terms. Anybody else want to they can do so at  nlp@greenwaypublishing.co.uk

Stop me now if you all found anything further on the game.

Hi all, some of you may have wondered why I have not posted recently, or seen me at any games. On the 05th August, I went to Croatia for my annual jollies, to a place just outside Split called Ciovo Island - near the town of Trogir. They all support Hajduk Split round there of course!!

On the last day of my holiday I woke up feeling unwell. I was offered a cooked breakfast in the hotel but could not eat it. It was my old nemesis Cellulitis returning, and the reason why I am often seen limping at games. The flight home did not leave until 2155pm so we were spending the day in Split. Never during the day have I felt so unwell, but I decided though to see the day through and get treatment at home. I could not face the thought of going to the casualty/doctors in Croatia, or trying to find one for that matter, with the complications out there also. Neither could I stomach casualty at Wythenshawe on a Saturday night, so elected to go the next am the Sunday after our arrival. However, when we got to the airport, the situation worsened and my lower left leg swelled to twice its size and turned a bright crimson red colour. I also had the shivers, loss of appetite and unusually a dryness in my mouth and incredible thirst. To say the flight was memorable was an understatement but I somehow managed to get back. I struggled to walk longer than 5 yards without a rest. We went through the airport process and joined the queue for the taxi. There were 9 of us in total and they all begged and pleaded with me to go to hospital as soon as we got home.

This I duly did, and my god I am so glad I did so. That superb hospital ran a blood test in casualty and found that during the flight home my kidneys had failed. Apparently, they became aware of what my body had been invaded by, and decided to go into a temporary shutdown to protect themselves. I think it is known as a kidney trauma, and explained my thirst, bad taste in my mouth, and questions by staff about diabetes.

I was in hospital for 4 days from Sat night/Sunday am until Wednesday, and am still very unwell. I am also a lucky b*****d. Had I not listened to my wife and friends I would have gone home for a comfy nights sleep - the beds in Croatia and hard and uncomfortable. At best this would have led to a blue light job during the night, at worst it would have cost me my life. Just one decision can be the difference between life and death. It has really shaken me up and made me think. I have lost all links with the club while in hospital and Radio Robins. I am also off work now until 30th August. I have a constant pain in my left leg which resembles the pain in the wrist after the dreaded playground Chinese Burn. You remember some junior kid skulking away, while some poor infant holds his wrist and cries uncontrollably. At Woodheys Primary they were banned when I was there when some 7 year old went home with a red wrist. Remember the pain and times it by 30, and you will get what I am currently going through. This is the 5th attack in the last year

I know some of you will possibly wonder why I have posted all this on line, but there is a lesson in there for us all. Never, ever ignore your health, or put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Had I decided not to go to hospital that night at 0100am, I may not have been here now.

I am very grateful to Wythy Hospital for the fantastic investigations in their Casualty, and for re-starting my kidneys; and for all the subsequent treatment by all their dedicated staff to at least stabilize me before finally sending me home. They have been brilliant.

To all my fellow fans and the club, I will be back end of August/early September. I will be in touch with Radio Robins as I wish to sponsor a game. The service they provide is going to be priceless to me.

Stick with the club, I do remember the start of the 90/91 season where we finished third. We lost the first game 3-0 at Wycombe!!  We will be fine but I am gutted I have not yet been able to see them. I will be back when I am better, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Ignore the score line it is irrelevant. Enjoyed myself tonight. Thought we played some lovely individual football and love the way we move the ball about. Some stand-out players tonight, in the first half John Johnston, James Poole and a couple who I did not know their names. In the second half the two centre backs, the keeper, Shaun Densmore and a great cross from Billy Hasler-Cregg for the goal. Will not be too long until Shaun is back to his best. Only slight criticism is where are the forwards tonight, we did need someone to put the ball in the net, but there were some creditable attempts. Liked the free kick in the first half and work by JJ on the wing. Nice goal in the second half too.

Thought we played well and the two centre-backs in the second half definitely worth another look, 14 read the game superbly and 18 showed some great skills to take the ball away from the opposition and clear his lines. The keeper did his bit too with some great saves, think he is worth a shout. Felt much better after this game after the players all get chance to gel. The two backs today 2nd half though were my highlight. Definite improvement on last year, much more positive play and will be good side given time. Think maybe PP could do a little more jiggling with the squad, but tonight I just had problems recognising people but didn't we all!! Lot of potential and will be playing a nice game of football once they get used to one another, sooner the better for me. Some of those triallists deserve more game time before PP makes further decisions.

I am going to the meeting tonight, who else is going?

It now looks as if we have turned a corner and we are now looking a very good outfit once again. I am particularly pleased that we have now gone two games without conceding. Good teams start from the back, and we are now looking good in all departments. Funnily enough, though it is early days, we only required small tweaks to the current squad to get where we are now but what an inspired re-signing Greg Wilkinson is proving to be. I was unable to make the Stalybridge game last night as we had a house party - where I quaffed 5 pints of Dunham Massey Alty Ale. Good pint.

I must say that Jim has been a revelation since his arrival, to have turned things round so quickly with the nucleus of the same squad at the start of the season. Long may his success continue. He must know now have much we are behind him, as he deservedly reaps the benefits of our backing. I was really impressed with the following I heard on Radio Robins yesterday, especially as there were over 200 of us and I am sorry I could not be there. Lots of our players are coming good now, and there is no shortage of goals, but ur organisation seems much better, even without Tom Hannigan at present.

Yes after the dark days of the beginning of the season, there is now much to look forward to, so lets close ranks and get behind the team once again - and enjoy coming to Alty once more.

Keeping it going all at Alty, I am sure good days are ahead once more.

Onwards and Upwards!! 

Apart from me is there anybody going this Sunday. I am on my jollies and will miss all the friendlies apart from this one, so it is my only chance to look at our players before the season starts

Hi All
 
Anybody see our Chris singing the national anthem at the Stade Velodome?