AS I read last week's letter concerning the way the "one and only Graham Heathcote" was apparently the man solely responsible for Altrincham's FA Cup run, a little tear came into my eye.

Sadly this was not a tear of pride at my club's tremendous achievements this season, but one of dismay that such narrow-minded people are associated with Alty.

What a slap in the face for the manager, Mr. Bernard Taylor, the players, directors, fans and volunteers who put so much work into this year's run. Surely not even the 'Heathcote for Mayor' brigade are so short-sighted not to see that this was a huge team effort and not a one man show.

So on behalf of unblinkered Altrincham fans I say, well done Bernard, Graham, the players and all at the club for putting us back on the FA Cup map. You've all put happy faces around Moss Lane again.

-Alty and Proud, Timperley.

THE UniBond League have slapped a £500 fine on Lancaster City for fielding a grossly under-strength team in their showpiece Pete Swales Challenge Shield clash at Stalybridge in October.

League bosses have taken a dim view of Lancaster boss Tony Hesketh's decision to name a side made up entirely of youth and reserve-team players for the annual champions versus cup winners' showdown and this week announced they imposed the maximum punishment allowable under their rules for such an offence.

Officials say Lancaster's move was disrespectful to their opponents, the League, its sponsors, over 200 paying spectators and Peter Swales's widow.

But Stalybridge manager Paul Futcher, whose side showed Lancaster no mercy in thrashing them 11-0, afterwards expressed sympathy for Hesketh, saying he fully understood his reasons for doing what he did.

The game, which had been held over from the start of the season, came just four days before Lancaster were due to face Vauxhall in a vital FA Cup fourth-qualifying round tie, prompting Hesketh to refuse to risk naming any of his first-team squad.

Stalybridge, who have been commended by the UniBond League for treating the match seriously, were similarly preparing for a Cup clash with Bedlinngton. But Futcner, with no `lesser' team to draw on even had he wanted to, had little option but to name an experienced side, although he did rest several of his stars, replacing them with fringe players and trialists.

City's Preston-based chief maintains the Giant Axe outfit, had just cause for their actions.

Said Hesketh: "We unreservedly apologize for any embarrassment caused to Peter Swales's wife. But, as a football man, I'm sure Peter, as much as anyone, would have appreciated the reasons for us doing what we we did."

Hesketh also questions the consistency of the verdict, adding: "I know at least three other clubs who have fielded only two players from the previous Saturday's league match in midweek UniBond League Cup-ties this season, yet no action has been taken against them.

"Not for one minute am I calling for them to be punished. But the two the don't sit together."

ALTRINCHAM striker Carl Furlong will be out for another few weeks after retiring hurt from his side's 1-1 draw with Burton on Saturday.

He joins Jason Gallagher on the Alty injured list, while Chris Adams missed Saturday's game altogether.

The ever-increasing injury list at Moss Lane is threatening to stretch manager Bernard Taylor's small squad to breaking point over the course of a busy festive period.

The Robins face Droylsden at Moss Lane this Saturday, while they entertain Hyde United on Boxing Day.

A tough trip to Bishop Auckland is on the cards on Saturday 29 December, before the reverse fixture against Hyde on New Year's Day.

Speaking about the Burton match, Taylor said, "I thought the team worked very hard. I was genuinely happy to come away from there with a draw.

"We could have nicked it, but then so could they," he added.

The injury concerns he has may be eased slightly by the signing of two new non-contract players -Leigh RMI's Steven Spencer and Trafford's David Wills.

TOUGH luck Altrincham on just failing to get through to the next round of the FA Cup.

They did well to get as far as they did, and it's thanks to the one and only Graham Heathcote.

Everyone who knows anything about the club realises how much hard work Graham puts in.

He is tireless in his devotion to the club and a great motivator to the players.

So I was thrilled to bits to hear that he has been given the freedom of Altrincham in his testimonial year. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more!

Keep up the good work Graham and we'll be back in the Conference before we know it.

S Adams, Altrincham.

ALTRINCHAM chairman Mark Harris is pleading with the Robins' new-found fans not to desert them now the club's great FA Cup adventure is over.

A bumper crowd of 3,302 saw Alty bow out to third division Darlington last weekend, evoking memories of the days when Moss Lane was regularly packed.

But, on Tuesday, little more than 72 hours later, just 117 people - possibly Altrincham's lowest-ever gate - braved bitter cold to see the Robins take a significant step towards UniBond League President's Cup quarterfinal qualification with a 2-0 victory over Vauxhall Motors.

Even allowing for the freezing conditions, that dismal turn-out was a body blow for Alty, leaving Harris to pray that at least some of the "missing" supporters will return for this week's games against Colwyn Bay and Droylsden.

Said Harris: "Allowing for the 500 or so fans Darlington brought with them there were around 2 000 people at last week's game who do not watch us regularly.

"And, while I'm not naive enough to think they'll all stick with us, I'd like to think at least some of them will be back either this week or some time soon.

"Tuesday's attendance was disappointing, if not altogether a surprise, and we can only hope the weather was a factor, allied to the fact that the League Cup group games haven't exactly fired the public's imagination.

"If there's one thing above all else that I desperately hope our Cup run has achieved, it's that it might have reminded the town of Altrincham that it has a football club here which is a massive asset to this community.

"We've got a smashing bunch of players, a great management team and a brilliant hardcore of diehard supporters who are hell-bent on helping this town.

"It's now time the town helped us - and I'm not the first Altrincham chairman who has said that."

The attendance apart, Tuesday's game provided Alty with several plus points.

The win leaves them now needing only to beat struggling Colwyn Bay to book their place in the quarterfinals behind group winners Trafford. whose victory over the Welsh

men on the same night guaranteed them top-spot and, with it, a place in the last-eight of the more prestigious League Challenge Cup.

Altrincham's long-time injury absentees, Paul Taylor and Carl Furlong, both started the game against Vauxhall and neither reported any ill-effects afterwards.

Making an impressive debut at right-back was 26-year-old Neil Ryan, son of Manchester United assistant-boss, Jimmy.

The Hale-based one-time Luton utility player has been patiently awaiting his chance after arriving at Moss Lane a month ago following a summer spent playing in America for Portland Timbers.

Ryan snr was at the game to see his son perform so creditably that Altrincham chief Bernard Taylor immediately named him in his squad for yesterday's crunch trip to leaders Burton.

Meanwhile, Alty's Cup exploits have earned them another £250 to add to the staggering £97,500 they made in TV and prizemoney, all of which has gone to pay off debts.

The latest sum is courtesy of UniBond League sponsors Henkel in recognition of the publicity generated for the company by the Robins' run to the second round proper.

ALTRINCHAM went out of the FA Cup with their heads held high - and a nod of approval from the taxman.

A 2-1 defeat by Darlington was hard to take after the way they'd bridged a gap of two divisions to match their full-time opponents.

But the bottom line on Alty's money-spinning run to the second-round proper is that it has enabled them to pay off debts to the Inland Revenue which less than a year ago threatened to submerge them.

Chairman Mark Harris was quick to swallow his disappointment at losing, saying: "We can take a lot of positives from this run and the biggest of them all is that it has allowed us to clear our massive tax liabilities.

"We'd have gladly settled for half the money we've made from the Cup this season. We're still in the red, but at least we can now say no-one is about to close us down."

Boss Bernard Taylor would have dearly loved one of his defenders to close down Daniel Chillingsworth before he pounced to lob Darlington into an undeserved 22^nd minute lead.

And more slack defending allowed Neil Wainwright to nod in the Quakers' winner just four minutes after Mark Maddox had brilliantly headed Alty level.

But it would be wrong to dwell on the negatives, because the truth is that Altrincham did both themselves and the UniBond League proud.

Within two hours of Saturday's defeat, Alty fans were cheering again when they heard runaway UniBond leaders Burton had unexpectedly crashed 3-2 at Emley.

That has lifted Altrincham's hopes of catching Nigel Clough's side hopes they'll be seeking to boost when they visit Burton this weekend.

Added Harris: "We might be out of the Cup, but we've still got an awful lot to play for and it would be a mistake to write us off in the league.

"As we've proved already, Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote have built a team with great spirit from limited resources."

ALTRINCHAM'S scoring machine Rod Thornley might have been silenced by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson - but he's planning to let his feet do the talking tomorrow.

Sir Alex is reported to have banned United and England masseur Rod from doing press, radio and TV interviews ahead of the Robins' big home FA Cup date with Darlington.

The 24-year-old Salford-based striker, younger brother of former United winger, Ben, has obeyed the gagging order apparently placed on him by keeping his `phone firmly off the hook all week.

But if Thornley can tomorrow somehow reproduce the form which has seen him score eight times in Alty's five ties so far, it could be Darlington whose Cup number is up.

Darlington boss Tommy Taylor saw Thornley for once blot his copybook by missing a penalty in Altrincham's FA UmBro Trophy shoot-out victory over Accrington at Moss Lane on Tuesday.

But the one-time West Ham star's not likely to be fooled by that and will be detailing his defenders to pay Hot Rod extra attention.

Altrincham manager Bernard Taylor is under no illusions about the size of the hurdle his UniBond minnows must surmount if the Robins are to build on their reputation as non-League football's most famed giant-killers by overcoming their Third Division opponents.

Just two non-League clubs - Canvey Island and Hereford - defeated League teams in round-one, underlining the size of the task Alty face. But Moss Lane chief Taylor will be more than happy to see Darlington over-occupied in trying to stop Thornley, because that could mean them leaving space which others might just exploit.

The Robins' boss said: "If Darlington do go overboard in attempting to blot out Rod, I'd like to think we've got other lads who'll be busting a gut to cash in on any gaps that might create for us.

"But Darlington are two divisions higher than us and all the reports we've had of them suggest they're a very good side who will take some stopping."

Alty's Cup triumphs this term have netted them £57,500 in prize money and they'll also bank a further £40,000 from highlights of tomorrow's tie being screened on BBC's "Match of the Day."

There's another 30 grand on offer for beating Darlington, plus the chance to draw the likes of Manchester United or holders Liverpool in Sunday's draw.

But True Blue Bernard has slightly more modest ambitions, saying: "No disrespect to United, but I'd love us to get City if we could somehow find a way past Darlington.

game like that would be an unbelievable occasion for us."

Just to be a part of a game like that would be an unbeleivable occasion for us.

Altrincham's main injury doubt lies with left-back Chris Adams, who is undergoing intensive

treatment after tweaking a hamstring in Tuesday's win.

The Robins have brought the kick-off forward to 1pm and are expecting a crowd of around 3,500.

ALTRINCHAM face their toughest FA cup test so far this season on Saturday, when they entertain third division Darlington.

And national fame beckons fog the brave Robins, as BBC television cameras will be recording every kick, every save and every challenge.

The match has second billing on Saturday's Match of the Day highlights programme, and the BBC have asked for a video of Alty's famous win at Birmingham to show on their lunchtime preview, Football Focus.

The club will earn £40,000 in TV rights alone, while their prize honey from the competition so far

stands at a cool £57,500.

Added .to that, former Hyde United striker Simon Yeo is in transfer negotiations at Moss Lane.

Yeo, who watched Altrincham beat Accrington Stanley in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night was headed for Southport, but I have learned that Altrincham are indeed talking to him.

Alrincham need to strengthen their squad sooner rather than later, a injuries are startin; to take their toll.

Both Chris Adam and Kevin Hulme limped off the field on Tuesday night, whih substitute Anthony Hargreaves was stretchered off after left him motionless on the ground.

However, Chairman Mark Harris has said in the past that the FA Cup monies will go towards clearing the clubs liabilities, the two main ones being the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.

Speaking exclusively to SAM sport, Harris said, "What the money has allowed us to do is to put some stability into the club and, while the club will still be in debt, we have something of a clean slate to work with. The purse strings will still be tight."

He added, "What we have to do now is manage supporters' expectations to a degree. The board is as committed to moving this club forward as anyone else, but we simply cannot throw money at players willy-nilly,"

Looking forward to Saturday, Harris said, "The eyes of the nation will be on us and it is imperative that we give as good an account of ourselves as possible, both on and off the field.

"Everyone here is working very hard to make sure that both sets of fans have a pleasurable day. It is the biggest event we have hosted here at Moss Lane in a longtime."

• All 13 turnstiles will be open from 11am, and supporters are urged to arrive as early as possible. I have been told that under no circumstances will the 1pm kickoff time be delayed.

• Altrincham have negotiated extra car-parking space at the nearby British Gas site, at a cost of £2 per vehicle.

ALTRINCHAM may be featuring on BBC's Match of the Day on Saturday, but as far the club and its loyal fans are concerned, this is their match of the year.

Altrincham have enjoyed something of an FA Cup renaissance this season, with memorable victories over Nuneaton Borough and Lancaster City taking them to the threshold of the third round traditionally a very happy hunting ground for the Moss Lane side.

However, Tommy Taylor's Darlington stand in the way of a potential Premiership tie, and the North Easterners come to Moss Lane as bookies' favorites.

Alty manager Bernard Taylor has gone on record as saying that sort of thing means nothing to Altrincham these days, and his super confident cup heroes rightly fear no one.

Darlington are likely to be missing Barry Conlon and Mark Ford, who are appealing against red cards they received in the recent match against Scunthorpe.

Both players' bans are due to start on Saturday, and Darlo boss Taylor has said he is preparing for the cup tie without those two.

Danny Mellanby, who signed for the Quakers from Bishop Auckland in the close season, will take Conlon's place up front, while Brian Atkinson, who played for Sunderland against Liverpool in 1992's cup final, will take Ford's place in midfield.

Quakers center-half Gary Caldwell is on loan from Newcastle United, and is unlikely to start, as the premiership club do not want him cup tied. David McGurk will take his place.

• Quakers boss Taylor cancelled a planned appearance at a supporters' association meeting to watch Altrincham face Accrington Stanley in Tuesday night's FA Trophy replay.

He has admitted that Mark Sertori has been Altrincham's stand out player for him, and he said, "I know what I am going to do with (the Altrincham) game."

TRIUMPHANT Altrincham chiefs Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote will have to exercise patience as they wait for a slice of the cash from the Robins' glorious FA Cup run.

Alty's 4-1 midweek replay victory at Lancaster, secured with the help of a Lee Poland hat-trick, took their share of the Cup's prize-fund to £57,500 with a further £30,000 at stake against Darlington next Saturday.

That's in addition, of course, to the mouth-watering prospect for the winners of being paired with a Premiership giant when the likes of Manchester United and holders Liverpool enter the competition.

And with Altrincham learning within 24 hours of beating Lancaster that extended highlights of the Darlington clash are to be shown on BBC's `Match of the Day', that will net them another £40,000 in TV money.

It's little surprise Taylor and Heathcote want at least a small portion of all that lovely lolly to devote to squad-strengthening as they attempt to keep track of runaway UniBond premier leaders Burton, now 15 points clear of third-placed Alty.

But, while ever mindful of this need, chairman Mark Harris stressed that, first and foremost, Altrincham would use the Cup cash to wipe out debts which only months ago threatened to submerge them.

Harris said: "Our first priority is to completely settle our liabilities and then we'll start thinking about pumping greater resources into the team.

"The management team are fully aware of our position and we thank them for the patience they have shown and are continuing to show.

"They have made us aware, though, of players they want to bring in and the board will be doing their utmost to provide them with the necessary finance."

One target Alty are now resigned to missing out on is Hyde's goal ace Simon Yeo, who's set to join Southport in a deal which would take former Stalybridge favourite Tony Sullivan to Ewen Fields on a three month loan.

The transfer also involves Southport's Ben Obong, who's already or loan at Hyde, joining them permanently along with his Haig Avenue clubmate, Kevin Leadbetter.

Altrincham, meanwhile, have agreed to the BBC's request, supported by the police, to bring the kick-off against Darlington forward to lpm.

This will avoid the tie clashing directly with Manchester United's home game with West Ham.

As a gesture to fans, Alty chiefs have decided against raising admission prices.

Only the seated areas will be all ticket. Standing supporters can pay at the turnstiles, which will be open from 11am. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

ALTRINCHAM'S second round tie nearly didn't happen after manager Bernard Taylor failed to put hat-tick hero Lee Poland's name on the team sheet.

Taylor handed in the sheet to the referee without sub Poland and only realised when he spotted the player sulking in the dressing room.

When the manager realised he had written James Wilkinson on the bench by mistake he tried to change his list - but had to get permission from Lancaster manager Tony Hesketh.

Hesketh must have regretted his co-operation when Poland came off the bench to cancel out Kenny Mayers' opening goal, then netted two more after the replay went to extra-time, with striker Rod Thornley bagging the other goal.

Taylor admitted: "I realised the mistake the second our secretary gave the team sheet to the referee. Poland had a miserable face, which you wouldn't expect on an FA Cup night.

"James Wilkinson was brilliant because I had to go over to him and get him to take his strip off."

The victory guarantees a Moss Lane sell-out.. Taylor, who ended up marching 500 supporters around the pitch to an improvised drumbeat, said: "I didn't know I could play the drums but I felt like I could have played the piano after the game. We are all still on a high and this Darlington game will be the biggest of my career."

Taylor and assistant Graham Heathcote were back at work the morning after.

"I've been down to the gas board down the road to ask for permission to use their car park

for the Darlington game.

"I've also got to get the turnstiles working while Graham is at the other side of the ground doing paperwork. There are loads of jobs to do," said Taylor.

"They talk about the glamour of the Cup. -I suppose this is it!"