www.altyfans.co.uk

After the final whistle went yesterday, I had some important decisions to make. Do I either:-

1) Climb over the fence and join the pitch invasion, but that was something I had done many years ago when I was 17 plus. Bearing in mind  I am now 56 and weigh substantially more I felt I would either break the fence as it collapsed under my weight, or get stuck half way over and end up carrying my balls home in a wheel-barrow. I decided to avoid potential humiliation, and damage to the club's property by sensibly walking round to the other side and going to sit in the main stand. I was shattered and also my legs had electric shocks running through them from standing still for so long, probrably because I am older now.

2) Where to spend the evening - Went to the bar after watching player antics in the celebration, loved Nicky Clee's attempt at crowd surfing and watching the players joy on the pitch. It resembled a secondary school playground - Great Fun!!

3). Had three pints in the bar after the game, plus the one before the game. Alex was due to meet friends in Altrincham and Chris was going to a party later that evening. I wished to god we have stayed at the club, going to the chippy and then back again afterwards. I would have enjoyed the sing-song with the players, typical of the closeness of the club and it's players to the fans, as they both shared their success from the season. Can you do things like that at Old Trafford as a United fan? Nope! At 720pm, we reluctantly decided to move on and go into Altrincham, I thought there may be some other fans in the town, and we left just as James Walshaw was singing his own song based on Andrea True Connection's More, More More! Incidentally it may interest you to know I have that song on a 45rpm original single! We headed into town and got soaking wet in a rain shower, and went to the Dilli for a Ruby. After the meal I was so tired that I decided to go home, Chris  was going to a party and Alex decided he was too knackered so we all headed home. That was a wrong decision as not only did the meal cost us £92.00 ( we had a real Pig-Out) but I missed the after game party, thinking everything would close up after we left.

Never mind, it is now Sunday night and I still have not come down yet, I intend to milk this as long as I can. Have a great close season everybody and I hope we do ok in the World Cup, that will at least shorten the close season.

Hi All

Just rang the club to check in view of all the rain, but the game is definitely on as of 1215pm.

Thought you may like to know.

Happy New Year!!

Steve from Sale

Can I just add my thanks to Lee Sinnott for a great season, and his players and back-up management also. Despite the result going against us the other day, Lee you have been genuine and an all round nice guy. Very approachable and honest also. I value reading about your opinions in the after-match analysis, and the fact you can discuss the game exactly as it was earns you more and more respect both inside and outside the club. I also know how you will be feeling as manager of the team at the moment, but do not think for one minute that this will stop us supporting you and what you are trying to achieve. I am sure like myself, that all of the fans know what you are trying to do, and where we as a club are going. There are just one or two tweeks needed, and we as a club are almost there. Personally I would rather the club stayed in this division a season longer if it meant that getting promoted would see us straight back down again. You know what needs to be done but I think you just need a little more time to achieve it. He has done as promised, which was to make us a playoff team within a couple of years. To me he has already proved himself as the man to take us forward, and I feel he should now be given more time to get the team to where we want to be. I have seen enough this season to convince me he is the man to take us forward. One or two more tweeks with the team and we will be there at the top again. Does anybody know how long Lee has on his contract? I assumed he was on a two year one, which means it would expire the end of this season, he needs two to three more years, to see through his more long term plans, but as I say we are nearly there. The smile is back on all our faces Lee, which is exactly what you said you would do.

To the players, I would like to say a big thank you for a great season, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. I am sorry that things did not finally go to plan but we all appreciate your whole-hearted efforts. We are not quite there yet but I know we are closer than we have ever been. You play a lovely style of football, which is great to watch, and are hugely entertaining - I consider myself a lucky football fan to have been treated to some great attacking football which is so delightful to watch; and played exactly the way football should be played. Never resorting to long balls, but sticking faithfully to the formula of pass and move the ball around, and make the ball do the work, and superb support of one another with shrewd movements supporting your colleagues. It is not since the 70's/early 80s, and the 90-91 season since I have seen teams and defenders trying to cope under of barrage of fine attacking football. And some of the passing leading to goals is an absolute treat, you are a very talented squad, so please do not be too disheartened, as I know you will have taken the result badly, hence this message.

Get the majority of the squad under extended contracts, in particular Damien, Scott, Luca, Nicky and Dunc, and lets try and get a couple more seasons out of Stu. Get Lee and his team 3 more years, and lets get this club forward. THINK BEFORE YOU SIGN ANYWHERE DIFFERENT!!!!

Finally I would like to say to my fellow fans, thanks for the laughs this season, and your superb unstinting support of the team. We have been brilliant this season and are the envy of many other clubs - as seen recently by a team I will not mention. Any criticism we do get is born out of jealousy only. I want to assure the team that this support will be ongoing and we will be taking this into next season and beyond. My thanks are also due to Graham and all his back up volunteers from Jenny in the bar, who reluctantly helps feed my Pork Scratching addiction, to George who runs the youth team and like many others, works tirelessly behind the scenes of the club; and finally to the gangsta types who I always buy my programmes from, and Dawn and Keith and colleagues, who work hard in the Tuck shop serving me with Bovril and my MF chocolate bars - you know what I mean!!! Work rest and play!

Great club, great management, great team, great fans and great volunteers. See you all next season and back to the freakin gardening and DIY - friggin A!!!! 

This has become a very important game for Alty. Not least because of maintaining their playoff spot. But also because a win at Guisley will mean we have taken three points off all our playoff contenders at some stage during this season. This means we can go into the playoffs with that little bit more confidence that we can get a positive outcome.

Whilst the game against Guisley will be no mean feat, they also have a game coming up against Chester, I think after our game, so there is still much to play for.

After the win yesterday, I am sure the players will go into the final run-in with renewed confidence. Their aim now should be to reach as high as possible in the playoff positions to try and gain home advantage should we reach the final. Now though, they have put themselves into a great position for which they have worked very hard to achieve.

Onwards and upwards!

Currently there seems to be a lot of positive vibes coming from the club and fellow supporters. The side are doing very well at present. They are scoring goals, playing a very attractive game and our now starting to shut up shop in our defence. This seems to have come gradually from just before Christmas and running into the new year. I am sure I am not the only one to say how much I am enjoying the season now that we seem more settled, and have a good strong playing squad. I think our team are a joy to watch at present, they play a lovely passing game of football aka a non-league version of Man Utd. If you see Man Utd, they also emphasise attacking football; but also their defence can sometimes leave a lot to be desired as well. Several times this season I think United and Altrincham have mirrored some games, but both seem to be conquering their original faults on the pitch are are turning into good teams playing football the way it should be played.

Lee and Neil have got Altrincham playing to our expectations now, and even though there is a long way to go as yet this season, I can see where we are heading and how we are progressing. Basically we are doing what Lee and Neil intended to do from their original plan. I say lets give the final push for the playoffs now and see how far we can get. I am not taking too much notice of the latest rumours re Duncan and Damien but we should just concentrate on ourselves at present - there has also been nothing from the club regarding this either, it is just hearsay for me.

Thanks to the players and Neil and Lee for a great season so far, you are definitely getting there lads. Give it your all at Worcester on Saturday pm, and then next Tuesday at Droylsden. Six points from the next two games will put us in a much more commanding position. I really think now that Lee, Neil and the team are the future for this club, and I for one, have taken many positives from last Saturdays game.

So lads, I am enjoying the season, and if you want to achieve success then the ball is in your court, one things for certain, the fans are right behind you all. Good luck tomorrow lads! Stake your claim in the playoff spots and give it your all.

Steve from Sale

Hi guys, I am a fan of 38 years standing, and counting. Over the years I have seen past teams build up a proud record in the FA Cup. I have seen managers come and go, good times and bad times; and more than anything else, teams put down their marker on our fine clubs history. I am very proud of the fact that my football club holds the record of beating league teams in the FA Cup, and I have seen a fair proportion of these games over the last years since my very first 1974-75 season. I have seen the teams play at Anfield, home to Everton, away at Birmingham, Tottenham, SC**thorpe, York City and many others. It is all part of our proud history.

When I saw my current team play at Burton the other weekend, I had my younger son with me. It is the first time he has seen a game of this stature. Alex was then nursing the sore throat virus I now have, and am desperately trying to clear up before Thursday night. Despite this, he didnt care, and we both cheered and chanted with the others, and I have never been so proud of my team as I was that afternoon. It was a throwback to the so called good old days, which many of my fellow supporters have yet to witness. But back in all those past days we did not have a 40+ goalscorerer, or an ex youth team player with so much talent it is frightening, like we do have now. Bear in mind it is not just those players who are part of this fine team, it is all the others, every one of you has made a contribution to what for me is one of the finest makings of a really great side of which we are yet to witness it's full potential.

I hope you can see what I am getting at, because Lee,  Neil and all our players this is your chance to shine, and add to our fine clubs history. We already know what you are capable of, we saw that the other Sunday and you can be assured we will add our voices on Thursday. Teams used to fear playing us or drawing Altrincham, that was then, but this is now!!

So best of luck on Thursday, and if I have learnt one thing in life it's - then go for it. Every one of you puts in 100% on Thursday and you are more than capable of beating Burton. Hopefully we will then see the credit you deserve but do not always get. Best of luck to everyone of you, and remember - that was then this now. I know everybody talks about the past and teams gone by. This time we are talking about you. It's a long time since I have seen so much potential in a team, and last weeks Worcester game backed this up completely. Good Luck lads!

Steve from Sale

Through the fans pages, Alex  I would like to thank the club and its staff for a highly enjoyable afternoon in the sponsors loung - only the second time I have done this (the first was with the Flaggers V Lancaster).

The food we had was great, though I did break my diet! I enjoyed the speeches, meeting all the very hard working staff, and a visit from Lee Sinnott also. The company of the other sponsors was superb, and despite the result, we enjoyed the game, in particular the two fine goals, especially Duncs'

I also enjoyed the evening in the bar afterwards but was unable to stay for the race night, I hope it was a success. I spoke to Nicky Clee, Damien, Lee Sinnott, and also a still shell-shocked Duncan Whatmore, sat in the corner musing over his fine goal he scored. I hope his parents saw that one!! I also spoke to el Capitan - Shauny-boy; and was able to ask after his dad, who I clearly remember from his playing days! It was a fabulous afternoon all round, and it is a joy to say I belong to the club as a supporter. From the banter in the sponsors lounge, to Alex's chinwags with Stu Coburns son, Nicky clee's nephew, and Max Band, and then Alex finally winning a bottle of Ameretto for predicting the crowd - he was out by 1 - 990/989 actual.

It was a fine afternoon/evening, and a good sign off for ehat for me has been an enjoyable season.

Thanks to the club and all their hardworking staff for a great day!!

Message for Ecky

Mark, when does training and selection start for the supporters team?

Cheers and best regards

Steve from Sale