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Written by Pete Grimes
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Friday, 08 December 2006 |
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Address
Moss Lane
Altrincham, Cheshire
WA15 8AP
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STAR Altrincham Supporters Trust
The origins of Altrincham AFC can be traced back to around 1891 when they were
known as the Rigby Memorial Club, formed from a local Sunday school. They went
on to merge with another local club know as the "Grapplers" to form Broadheath
F.C. and become founder members of the Manchester League in 1893. Today, they
are the only founder members of the Manchester League still in existence. Prior
to 1903 the club played on a variety of fields in Broadheath, West Timperley and
Altrincham before acquiring a new home at Pollitt's Field and, at the same time,
changing their name to Altrincham AFC (see Footnote). They won the Cheshire
Amateur Cup in 1903-04, beating Congleton Town 4-1, and the following season won
the Cheshire Senior Cup, (defeating Chester 2-1), and the Manchester League
title, a feat they repeated 2 years later. For the start of the 1910-11 season
Altrincham were installed at Moss Lane after agreement with The Urban District
Council. Moss Lane was officially opened on 3rd September, 1910 with the
visitors being Macclesfield, who won 3-1.
Altrincham joined the Lancashire Combination Second Division for season 1911-12
and gained promotion to the 1st Division at the first attempt, finishing second
on goal difference. In 1919 they became founder members of the newly formed
Cheshire League and found success in the 1930s, winning the Cheshire League Cup
in 1932-33 and the Cheshire Senior Cup the following year, as well as finishing
runners-up in the League to Wigan in 1935 and 1936.
The Club are well known for their FA Cup exploits which started in 1934 when
they reached the First Round proper for the first time, losing 1-0 at
Gainsborough Trinity, though they had already notched their first league scalp
in a 4th Round Qualifying tie against Tranmere Rovers in 192112, winning the
replay 41 after a 4-4 draw. Altrincham missed the first Post-War season and
struggled to achieve any success in the 1950s and early 1960s, almost going out
of business on a couple of occasions. Fortunes however were revived with the
arrival of Peter Swales, Noel White and manager Freddie Pye in the mid-sixties
and Altrincham won the Cheshire League title in back to back seasons in 1966 and
1967 and were runners-up in 1968. Altrincham then made it a hat-trick of
foundations when, in 1968, they became founder members of the newly formed
Northern Premier League (NPL) and went on to establish themselves as one of the
leading Non-League clubs in the country over the next 15 years. A 1-1 draw
against Everton at Goodison Park in 1975 and a respectable 2-0 defeat at Old
Trafford in the replay established their Cup credentials. They won the FA Trophy
at Wembley in 1978, the NPL Cup in 1970 and were the losing finalists in 1974,
before finishing runners up in their final season in the NPL.
In 1979 Altrincham FC became founder members of the Alliance Premier League,
winning the title in its first two seasons, as well as the Bob Lord Trophy in
1980-81. They played in two further FA Trophy Finals, losing to Enfield in 1982
but winning again in 1986 against Runcorn. In the FA Cup the team excelled,
playing the likes of Liverpool and Spurs and beating sides like Crewe, Blackpool
(twice), Rotherham, Sheffield United, Scunthorpe, York City and First (now
Premier) Division Birmingham City 2-1 at St Andrew's. In 1991 they came close to
winning the title again but were pipped at the post by Barnet. Decline set in,
culminating in relegation, (the club's first!) in 1996-97. Altrincham then spent
two seasons in the UniBond League and changed management before returning to the
Conference for season 19991000. Unfortunately, a poor run of results in the
last third of the season resulted in relegation back to the UniBond after just
one year. In March 2001 Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote took temporary
control of the club till the end of the season and eventually accepted
responsibility full time at the end of the season.
After reaching the FA Cup First Round and challenging for the league title,
Altrincham eventually finished ninth in the league in 2001-02. Former Manchester
City player Andy May was appointed as coach to Bernard Taylor for 2002-03 but
financial problems led to the departure of a number of first-teamers in the 2002
close season including Steve Hawes (to Worksop), Mark Sertori (to Accrington),
Kevin Hulme (to Mossley) and Stuart Coburn (to Leigh RMI). A poor run of results
at the start of 2002-03 led to the replacement of Bernard Taylor and Andy May.
Graham Heathcote took over as manager in October 2002, with Dalton Steele as
assistant and they guided the club to a mid-table finish. With a Board, led by
Geoff Goodwin and determined to budget sensibly, the Club entered its centenary
season with stability returning to Moss Lane. At the end of November 2003,
Dalton Steele resigned but returned in May 2004. In the interim, Graham
Heathcote had steered Altrincham into a qualifying place for Conference North
for 2004-05 despite a tight budget and long injury list. The following season,
Altrincham gained promotion back to the Conference National division by winning
the promotional play-off against Eastbourne Borough. They started 2005-06 as one
of the few part-time sides in the division and with the smallest budget of any
club in the Conference. But with the vast non-league knowledge and experience of
their management duo and the players' ability and team spirit, hopes are high of
remaining in the division despite the odds against us.
From the Altrincham FC Website by John Laidlor.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 September 2007 )
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