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We've moved our 3rd round home replays twice (to both Old Trafford and Maine Road) in the past.

Here is confirmation of that for you.


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Click for full image.

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We deserved to win against Oldham.  We were the best team that day.
Newport are not anything special and struggled to hold on to a draw with 10-men Eastleigh at home in last weekend's 3rd round game.
We went on the rampage against Barnet for 65 minutes last Saturday and were worthy winners.
When we played Eastleigh at theirs earlier on this season their Manager said we were the best team they had played this season.

All in all, I think that we were just missing that element of good luck that you need to see you through from time to time.  Otherwise we were capable of beating all those teams and switching the 4th Round tie to Old Trafford for a 70,000 crowd and a bumper payout.

The season is 1965/66 and the England National Team was destined to win the FIFA World Cup “upon England’s green and pleasant land.”  However, there was little green and pleasant in Wolvehampton where Alty were drawn to play against Wolves at Molineux in their first ever appearance in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.   I was only 4-years old at the time and I remember nought about either of these two landmark footballing events but my dad was  one of the estimated 10,000 that on Saturday 22nd January 1966 travelled to the midlands to see little Cheshire League Altrincham take on the mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers.  There is some interesting information about the development of Moss Lane under White and Swales.  I have copied and posted all the pages where Alty get a mention.








Click each thumbnail to see each complete image.

Sadly, we lost the game 0-5 but it was to be the beginning of our journey to the pinnicle of non-league football.

 

It's a great scrapbook you've got

Thank you most graciously for your comment.  We aim to please.
Here is a little diversion for a moment (although there is a sort of Alty link to it) that you might like.
 
There is another non-league football club probably within walking distance from Moss Lane (certainly do-able if you are a young, fit and healthy sort, but alas, not me anymore).
They were founded in 1888, play in Red shirts and their nickname is “The Robins”.  They compete in the Cheshire League (Premier League) as we once did and their home ground is Manchester Road… as was ours (I really want to believe this bit) when we were Broadheath FC.   Have you guessed who it is yet?

Anyway, let’s get going with the intended subject matter.  I attended the game associated with today’s football programme in 1974 along with a couple of thousand other lovers of the beautiful game.  Just look at some of the names on there.  Most of the players advertised played even though a few of them only made a short appearance.  I feel that I have to say at this juncture that I doubt many of the big star names of today would be prepared to give their valuable time to help out a local community in such a way (possibly with perhaps, the exception of Marcus Rashford).
Here comes the best bit.  Tony Davies is recorded as a member of Knutsford’s team that evening but what became of him?


Click the two thumbnails to view full images.

Here is a picture of Tony and his wife Lynda celebrating 30 years as mine hosts at the Railway Inn in Mobberley. This image was taken a few years ago now and the couple have since retired handing the running of the pub to their two children Matthew and Laura.


The last time I was there I saw an Altrincham FC fixture list on the noticeboard in the vault. 

That's going to disrupt them before our game, not an attractive gig for Phil/Neil either.

No fear of them leaving Alty for a club any lower than the Championship in my opinion.  They are not motivated by money alone and have shown themselves to be loyal and committed to our club. Phil will see that we reach the EFL2 and then it will be his nature to extend his ambition to win a place in the EFL1.  By then he and Sorvs will definitely on the radar of some much bigger clubs, however, if you were him wouldn't you be tempted with the drive and ambition to push on with Alty.?

This may seem unlikely to some and when I was at Moss Lane watching Alty play Wigan Athletic in a 1974 Northern Premier League match it never crossed my mind that the visitors were going to become a future FA Cup winning Premier League Club. Wimbledon achieved the same thing only their rise began in the Southern League (they might even achieve something akin to it again).  Luton were in the National League just 10 seasons ago.

Where there's a will, there's a way.   

You're most welcome Cheshire Cat.

I am sure without much doubt that you and most others reading this are aware that we won the title that season (1979/80) becoming the first ever National Non-League Champions.  We also won it again in 1980/81 becoming the first Club to retain the title.

We had been knocking on the door of the Football League for some time and following our successful 1979/80 season we appeared to have canvassed a shed load of support that we were certain would see us over the line... lets get my scrapbook out and see what the Chairman of the Alliance Premier League had to say in the Liverpool Echo on 30th June 1980 following the vote...



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Well, its yet another big one again on Saturday and we really do need to be winning it.  Barnet have left behind some of the good form that they had shown early doors when it looked as though they were going to make Chesterfield work for the title, however they will be hoping that their recent win against Southend will give them a boost.  Southend are no mugs as we soon found out when we met them at Moss Lane a few weeks ago.  They will no doubt fancy themselves to take all three points back to North London. Lets hope that the pitch will stay dry and fingers crossed for a bumper crowd to get behind Alty. Is it at all possible that we might see the return of the SuperMaxibon during the January transfer window?  I really hope so.

The first of two featured matchday programmes from the past is from what I believe was our first ever meeting with Barnet occurring during the inaugural season (1979/80) of the Alliance Premier League, the league that essentially evolved into the highly competitive National League. We won the game 1-0.


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I remember that I didn't think much of Barnet at the time. They were in a lowly position in the league and we were "Top of the League" a position that we grew used to.  We were regularly referred to as the "Manchester United" of non-league football.  There was one major point that was not in our favour... look at the poor attendances. Pitiful for such a good team.


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Exactly one week later we met our old friends from Wealdstone in the 3rd Round of the APL Cup in which we were 2-1 Victors.


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Why is this game interesting?  Well, aside from Alex Stepney, legendary Manchester goalkeeper playing for Alty, look who their number 3 was that evening.  Yes, it was the same one.

Does anyone else remember this one? It was the season after we took on Everton in the 3rd Round of the Cup and we all had great expectations but guess what?  I seem to remember that we had a man sent off when it was 0-0 but unlike yesterday we soon found ourselves 3-0 down.  We scored a consolation near the end but overall we were well beaten.  The ground was a dump and there was a churned up speedway track around the pitch.  The pitch itself was a quagmire and it snowed for the best part of the game (not the nice sort of snow but the wet, cold, sticky, sh*tey, sleety stuff that drenches you.

There is a significant rivalry developing between our two Clubs which has added to my enjoyment of recent meetings between them.

I will respect Phil's support of Kossy and will not dwell upon what happened but should anything happen like that again then I doubt that I will be able to restrain my thoughts.

The fight is well and truely on now and I still have dreamy images of walking down Wembley Way (x2) to see the Alty win the play-off final against Halifax and the Trophy final against Macclesfield.

"We love you Alty we do,
"We love you Alty we do,
"We love you Alty we do,
"Oh, Alty we love you"!!!!