Celtic at the double

The big debate

Bosses united in play-off row

Clayton calls for split in UniBond

Clough blames the M25 

Ivan Crossley

Caring Taylor is a father figure

New home for Altrincham FC??

 Alty switch for United skipper

DUNCAN BAYLEY, the UniBond League secretary, looked back with mixed feelings on a successful annual dinner as eight of the league's 45 member clibs picked up trophies at the Blackpool Hilton.

Only six clubs were not represented in a gathering of 410, but there was also one notable absentee on the top table.

For the first time since the League's formation in 1968; respected chairman Ken Marsden was missing through illness.

"The evening was a great success," said Bayley. "But it was disappointing to be without Ken who has been a key figure in the development of the league over three decades."

Former Football League referee Kevin Lynch was MC, while guests included several other former ,UniBond referees to progress to the professional game, such as Uriah Rennie.

Sponsors UniBond are in the final year of their current league deal but Bayley is hopeful the company will extend their link with the Northern Premier.

"UniBond have been with us over seven years," said Bayley. "They've been active sponsors and we'll have talks to establish whether they want to continue."

The main award went to Stalybridge Celtic, the only club to scoop two trophies; the Premier Division Championship and the President's Trophy.

The latter was won in a penalty shootout at Blyth, while the Border Fold club edged out Emley in a thrilling two-horse race for the title.

Departed manager Phil Wilson, now at Southport, was on hand to collect the silverware along with chairman Peter Dennerly, assistant manager Peter Ward . and five board members.

"Winning two trophies and also the Cheshire. Senior Cup was a fantastic effort," said Wilson. "It was a tremendons campaign and, while my main concem is obviously now Southport; I hope Stalybridge also have a good season in the Conference."

While Celtic claimed a total of £2,750 in prize money, Ronnie Glavin's Emley picked up the Premier Division runnersup trophy and £1,500.

Former Football League club

Bradford Park Avenue won the First Division from Vauxhall Motors and both promoted clubs will experience Premier Division football for the first, time.

"We've,come a long way, in 13-years," said Bradford Secretary Alan. Hirst. "As well as winning-the league, we also won two Team of the Month awards and there's definitely a buzz about the place."

Vauxhall's meteoric rise has.seen the Wirral-based club win four trophies in three seasons but manager Alvin Kirkby is planning for a season of consolidation in the Premier Division.

"The target was to reach the top flight in five years but we managed it in three,". said, Kirkby: "Next season will be a massive challenge especially as it's only our second season in the:UniBond."

Lancaster City and Barrow were the recipients of the League Challenge Cup and the Chairman's. Cup, worth £1,400 and: £1,00 respectively, with both finals settled by penalties.

Worksop Town and, Workington were both £1;000 richer after taking the Fair Flay Award for accumulating the least penalty points in each division.

The new UniBond League season, which kicks off on August 18, will include three new clubs. Nigel Clough's Burton Albion move across from the Dr Martins League to replace Stalybridge, with Ossett Albion and Rossendale promoted to the first division, Stalybridge

IN principle we approve the Conference's plans.

The Unibond League is preparing to introduce a play-off system. We agreed on a rule change for promotion and relegation from the First Division over a month ago.

Two clubs will be promoted automatically and the third-bottom Premiership side and the third, fourth and fifth in the First Division will play off.

The Unibond League has not taken anything away from the current system; instead we have added a play-off.

We believe we are adding something to the make up of the League

The Conference champions have had their position weakened as they are no longer guaranteed promotion.

The concept of playoffs adds tremendous interest to the latter stages of the competition. It creates interest between the top ten or so clubs as they could all finish in the top five,

I support the concept of the Conference's playoffs as there are more pluses than minuses.

But there is a danger that the fifth placed club could actually win promotion.

There could be some pretty serious tears come the end of the season.

Dennis Strudwick Dr Martins League secretary

WE haven't discussed our league adopting a playoff system similar to the Conference.

Maybe that is something we will have to consider in the future if it's for the good of the game.

There are many different opinions on the value of the play-offs, that is something our board wilt have to decide on.

Play-offs have now snowballed down from the Football League to the Conference and our league would have to decide if they are for the good of the game or, for that matter, a viable proposition.

At the moment, the players' contracts expire on the first Saturday in May, so the introduction of play-offs would incur extra costs for those clubs that were involved with them.

I don't believe that the Football Conference adopting it obligates the Southern League, or any other league, to introduce a play-off system.

It will have to be a decision for each league.

Alan Turvey, Ryman League chairman

THE Ryman League would always consider play-offs at an appropriate time but not in the same manner as the Conference.

My view is that the champions should always be the team to go up. One could perceive a situation in the Conference next season where the team that finishes fifth could go up. ,

In normal playoffs the champions are always guaranteed promotion. So I don't believe we would adopt a similar scheme to the Conference.

The Ryman League is not against play-offs. In our proposals to the Football Association regarding restructuring, we did suggest a playoff system.

One of the problems is that the season would have to be extended. It really depends on the timing of their fixtures and everything else. Some Conference clubs are not involved in quite as many competitive matches as some clubs in the feeder leagues who, for example, play in County cups

We don't have to copy the Conference; most people copy us - we introduced three points and brought in goal difference.

ALDERSHOT TOWN boss George Borg has labelled the Conference's decision to introduce a play-off as a `joke'.

The outspoken Ryman League manager is disgusted that the Conference champions should play off for a spot in the Football League.

Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough and Blyth Spartans' John Charlton have also joined the clamour for a rethink from the Conference.

Borg said: "I think the play-off system is pathetic and that the clubs agreeing to it are a joke."

After the Football League's veto of two-up, twodown, Conference chief executive John Moules swiftly revolutionised Non-League's premier competition, which means that teams halfway down the Conference could still clinch the fifth play-off spot during the final months of the season, increasing interest and revenue throughout the division.

Despite the benefits of the new structure, Borg believes the Conference should instead manufacture a compromise for increased promotion and relegation into the Football League.

He said: "The Conference must have something wrong with their brain. The Football League is sticking together and clearly thinks `sod Non-League'.

"The Conference champions deserve to go up in their- own tight as winners of a competitive league."

Likewise, Burton's Clough is concerned at the champions not being guaranteed promotion. He said: "Play-offs are a good idea as they keep the interest going for teams halfway down the Football League.

"I can understand why chairmen have voted for play-offs as it's certain to generate money - they always do.

"But what is the point in playing 42 games and winning the title if you don't get promoted?

Charlton, Blyth's much-travelled manager, believes the Conference introduced play-offs to prevent rich clubs making it to the Football League.

He said: "I believe the best team in the league should have the best opportunity of going forward. If you finish top, promotion is your prize.

"The only reason I can think of is that the Conference chairmen have got together and want to stop the richer clubs progressing. What I mean by this is that sometimes the league doesn't want the richest clubs to progress."

Borg and Clough insisted they would be upset if their respective leagues introduced a play-off system for the champions.

Borg added: "I think it would be an injustice and lottery if the Ryman League introduced a

play-off for the champions."

Clough backed the Aldershot manager's views: "I would be against the champions of the Dr Martens League entering a play-off for promotion.

"League winners, no matter which division you play in, should be just that and clubs should qualify for whatever the next division up is."

NON-LEAGUE reorganisation cannot come too soon for Brigg Town manager Ralph Clayton. The Northern Counties East League champions were denied a place in the UniBond next season when they failed to complete ground improvements in time.

But Clayton greeted the setback with mixed feelings. Disappointed the club's on-field record was not rewarded with a chance to prove themselves at a higher level, he admits to relief that he does not now need a magic wand to put together a team for midweek long-haul trips.

"It would be harder to compete at the next level because of the travelling," said Clayton. "The whole set-up needs reorganising.

"When we set off from Brigg to the other side of the Pennines you never know when you'll get there. Evening matches mean hitting everywhere in the rush-hour and then there is the problem of getting people off work.

"The UniBond needs splitting east and west. It is so much easier for us to travel north and south.

"An east-west split would produce a great league with a higher standard than the present Division One.

"Clubs like Bedlington, Billingham and Marske might be attracted to join a league that doesn't send them down to Cheshire and places like that.

"Why should we want to go all the way to Gretna on a Monday night in the middle of winter to be watched by 80 people?

"When a club gets the chance to go up, you've got to take it and that is still our aim.

"Some clubs are taking it far too seriously and have thrown silly money about. What's the point of spending thousands on players when you're stuck in mid table and being watched by no more than 100 people?

"When we go up I want us to do well and that would be easier if we weren't handicapped by the travelling."

Brigg are one of the oldest cubs in England, formed in 1864. They progressed via the Lincolnshire League to the Midland Counties and Northern Counties East League, picking up eight titles along the way as well as the FA Vase in 1996.

Improvement work at The Hawthorns has been ongoing with the pace stepped up over the past couple of years.

"We've now got one of the best three grounds in this league and our playing surface is lovely," said secretary Bob Taylor.

"The infrastructure is in place to go a lot higher. There's been a lot of money spent. A five-figure sum has gone on all sorts of other work including the stand - which was finished for the end of the season.

"That cost £60,000, it's got three tiers of seats with space for 300 people and another 150 standing at each end.

Brigg average crowds of 200-250 and Taylor is confident fans will continue to support a winning team.

NIGEL CLOUGH believes he has finally got rid of the bogey that cost his Burton side promotion to the Conference for the past two seasons - by steering clear of the M25!

Clough blames Britain's busiest motorway for putting the sort of extra pressure on his players that took a crucial toll on them - particularly last season.

But by quitting the Dr Martens League for the more northern-based UniBond he is now confident it could be third time lucky as far as promotion is concerned next season because they won't have any more M25 bottlenecks to face.

"It was a nightmare getting to some matches last season," he said. "We had two midweek matches at Crawley and Havant where we didn't get there until five minutes before kick-off because it took us five hours after hold-ups on the M25. My players were stressed before we even played."

That was the major reason Burton jumped at the chance to transfer to the UniBond League.

"A lot of the clubs we will be playing are in the Manchester or Liverpool areas and the away trips should be a lot shorter. We'll only be on the road for one-and-a-half hours rather than five and the players should be a lot fresher."

But Clough will spell it out to his side not to expect an easier ride on the pitch. "I think it is a myth that the UniBond is less skillful but more physical," he says. "In terms of competition it will be just as tough."

That's why the former Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, and England star is now stepping up efforts to strengthen his squad. "We've spoken to a couple of lads who have been released by League clubs and because of the reduced travelling we have been able to cast our net a bit wider.

"I need to firm up one or two departments because we conceded too many daft goals last season."

Clough is expecting a warm welcome from most of his new Unibond rivals because Burton's travelling fans could sometimes double their gates.

"I'm sure a lot of clubs will welcome us with open arms," he added. "Our support base is excellent and it has stood firm. If last season is anything to go by I would expect to take between 200 and 300 with

us to every game because it's going to be a lot easier for them now"

22 June

Ivan Crossley

It is with great sadness that the club learnt about the sudden death of Ivan
Crossley on Monday night whilst playing 5 a side football. He was fifty years
old. Ivan was at Altrincham for 8 seasons 74-75 to 81-82 playing over 250
goals and scoring 8 goals. He was what today would be termed a utility player comfortable at either right or left back or in midfield. Injury dogged his
last 3 seasons at Alty and he appeared more often on the bench. He was going to attend Graham Heathcote's Testimonial.

Condolences to Ivan's family, he will be sadly missed.


16 June

Caring Taylor is a father figure

Quiet manager shows passion for his club

The Andrew Warshaw interview

From the Non-League Paper 17 June 2001

HE DRIVES a Mercedes, puts so much gel on his hair you wonder whether it is dyed and owns a seven-year-old horse called Paolo. But if you think all that makes Bernard Taylor a football Flash Harry, think again.

"I'm not very good at the media stuff" was Taylor's first comment when I spoke to him about his special relationship with Altrincham, one of the great names in Non-League football. "It's hard to interview me. See, this club isn't just about one person."

You will have gathered, even from those remarks, that trying to get this modest yet fascinating manager to talk about himself is tough going. So tough that you have to ask Taylor virtually every question at least twice before he opens up even slightly.

But make no mistake. Talk to the Moss Lane fans and they won't have a word said against the man who cried his eyes out the season before last when Altrincham were relegated from the Conference and who is regarded as one of the great father figures of the Non-League game. A warm-hearted man who is more than happy to let the fans into his oft-ice for a chat on match days and has a consoling word for just about everyone.

"I wasn't the only one who cried that day," said Taylor, a joiner by profession who has the unusual distinction of having built the bar at Moss Lane with a couple of workmates. "I was mostly crying for the fans, especially the younger ones. Lots of other managers told me we didn't deserve to go down."

Taylor resigned four days later - but was back after ten months to replace Mark Ward. Now he wants to make it up to the fans he still feels he let down. "It would really be something if I could get the club back up to where they belong. Then I could let a new man come in and I'd just be a supporter again."

Where they belong, of course, is with the Non-League elite. Many around the southern Manchester suburbs, still remember the golden era when Altrincham won the first two championships of the old Alliance Premier League, the forerunner of the Conference, in the days when even one-up, one-down was unheard of. Then, of course, there were those magical FA Cup exploits of the 1970s, including matches against Everton and Spurs in which Altrincham famously drew away with both sides, before losing the replays at Old Trafford and Maine Road respectively.

Taylor, 56, speaks softly but passionately about the dream of putting the UniBond Premier club back on the map. He entered management late - in his 50s - and in two spells at Altrincham has tasted both the euphoria of promotion and relegation heartbreak.

"I still don't really know why I was given the job in the first place," he says, referring to his role as caretaker back in 1998 just after Altrincham were relegated from the top-flight for the first time.

"I thought they probably wanted a big name, but when I did okay, the chairman asked me to carry on the following season."

Remarkably for someone with such limited managerial experience - he had a brief spell at Barrow - Taylor went on to win five trophies in 12 months including the UniBond championship, virtually unprecedented at any level.

Even now he refuses to take the credit. "You need good people around you, like Graham Heathcote, You read about big-name managers being successful, and all that. But let me tell you, it's almost always about the people around you. One man never does it on his own."

Which is why Taylor and Heathcote have become such a trusted double act. Taylor, who still loves to potter around the club doing bits of building work, is the affectionate, lovable one who has a kind word for everyone - he says he gets it from his Italian mother - while Heathcote is the tactical coach who isn't afraid to bark at the players if he needs to.

"I don't think I could have done it all without Graham," said Taylor. "We worked together at Barrow and have always hit it off. But I don't need reminding that we finished 33 points behind Stalybridge last season even though we were seventh. That wasn't good enough for this club."

Heathcote, who played for Altrincham as a teenager, has virtually become part of the furniture after 30 years at Moss Lane and has his testimonial in July.

He says that although Taylor is relatively raw to management, he has qualities which are dying in football. "For a start he's a very good listener," said Heathcote, who is still the club's full-time secretary as well as coach. "He is great at erasing problems, he mothers the players which builds a happy ship and he lets me get on with the coaching without interfering.

"In terms of involvement in management, it's an incredible story given his age. He'd be the first to admit that people gave him a lot of help, but the CV he can put on the table after 30 months, most managers would be proud to achieve in a lifetime."

THE proposed £20m stadium for Trafford could be used as a new home for Sale Sharks, with Altrincham FC also in the running to be the new tenants at Bradley Lane, Sale.

The 15,000 seater stadium, financed by a consortium of local businessmen would be part of a community sports complex including a 5,000 , seater athletics stadium, a 130 acre municipal golf course and a tennis and leisure centre.,

If the proposal gets the green light from planning chiefs at Trafford Council, work would begin on the site west of the A56, south of the M60 motorway.

Spokesmen for both Sharks and Robins maintained it was only one of a number of proposals they were both looking at, but confirmed they were considering the Bradley Lane development.

The client named on the plans, drawn up by Sale architects Howard and Seddon, is Manchester Sale Rugby Union Football Club.

When told of this on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Heywood Road club said that meant it was intended for the amateur side, as opposed to the professional side who are called Sale Sharks RUFC.

Chairman of Sale Members Club Richard Trickey denied this, saying, "The amateur side" has no plans to move - from where they already are, and a 15,000 capacity for an amateur side is optimistic to say the least.

"There is a consortium looking at options for a new stadium in Trafford and that's just one of them.

"If the package is right and the financial arrangements are right, there is the possibility that the professional side will go to the Bradley Lane site."

Sharks Chief Executive Peter Deakin echoed his words, confirming it is only one option the club is looking at. Several other options were available to them, including Manchester City's Maine Road stadium, which they vacate next year.

He said, "We have no definite plans to move anywhere at the moment.

"We are looking for a new home, but we have nothing concrete on any of those options."

Altrincham Chairman Mark Harris said, "We have been discussing with Trafford Council the possibility of alternative stadia, because of the obvious limitations of what we can do at our current site.

"We have looked at a number of options but could not and would not enter into any agreement without full and proper consultation with our shareholders and supporters."

When asked how closely involved Altrincham were with the proposed stadium, Harris said, "There is no direct link between the consortium that may or may not build this stadium, and the one that rescued the Robins earlier this year."

Trafford council have unanimously rejected the proposal because of environmental and traffic concerns, and if the developers continue to fight for planning permission, a public enquiry will be held.

ALTRINCHAM FC's team building efforts continue with the recruitment of Ashton United captain Jeremy Illingworth.

The midfielder has come to the end of his contract at Hurst Cross and has moved across Manchester to sign up to be a part of Bernard Taylor's vision for Alty.

The former Huddersfield Town man scored for Ashton against Altrincham last season, on his way to an impressive record of 16 goals in 53 games.

The Robins have scotched rumours that they are in the hunt for no less than five of Stalybridge Celtic's championship winning side from last season.

Neither are they interested in Stuart Locke or Gary Bauress, which is contrary to reports earlier this week.

A club spokesman confirmed that there had been no indication whatsoever that manager Bernard Taylor was in the race for any of these players' signatures.

• One player who is definitely not coming to Moss Lane next season is Hyde United's Simon Yeo.

The striker has one year left on his contract at Ewen Fields and Alty have been unsuccessful in their bid to tempt him over to Moss , Lane.

• Leroy Chambers, who scored twice for Frickley Athletic against Alty while still extracting a wage from the Moss Lane coffers, has been recruited permanently to the Yorkshire outfit.

Altrincham, who are desperate to win back their Conference status are once again said to be eyeing Bridge's midfield partners Kevin Parr and Steve Pickford.

The Robins could be ready to move, too, for Celtic's trusty defenders Stuart Locke and Dominic Crookes, should they get a sniff of an opening.

It's not just present Stalybridge stars that Altrincham boss Bernard Taylor has on his summer shopping list, either.

He is keen to prise Stalybridge's championship-winning captain Gary Bauress from Southport, where he has barely had time to settle in. Bauress was only recently installed as Southport's player-coach, but it has not stopped more tempting offers to move.

WHILE wishing the new management well and understanding that due to the poor state of Altrincham’s finances, the board had no choice but to reappoint Bernard Taylor, I do feel that being told that we now have "our most successful manager back in the job" is going too far.

Surely the only man that could claim that title is Tony Saunders. During his reign he took two Conference championships and won the FA Trophy twice. He made Altrincham known and feared by League clubs throughout the land with five visits to the FA Cup Third Round.

The present incumbent has a long way to go before measuring up to Mr Saunders. A good start to this task would be a good run in the FA Cup next season.

Stephen Leigh, Altrincham

Robins Review top programme

Altrincham's Robins' Review programme has won the  Wirral Programme Club Non-League Football Programme of the Year award for the UniBond Premier Division 2000-0. Robins Review  won  with 160 points, second were the programmes of Hucknall Town (153) followed by Leek Town (152). Congratulations to Grahame and Terry Rowley, the Editors. Excerpts from all issues of Robins Review for the 2000/2001 and the 1999/2000 seasons can be seen on this site

Altrincham youth team to be honoured

The Altrincham youth team which won the North West Alliance League by beating Rossendale 3-0 and the League youth Cup will be presented with their medals and trophy on the evening of Friday 8th June. The Altrincham FA will also be present as the team provided 16 representatives in the Cheshire competition

Hard man: the combative John King, Non-League Player and manager of Altrincham FC.

If Hardisty and Allchurch represented pure skill, then John King - a player whose name on a team sheet could spread fear among the opposition before a ball was even kicked - was the master midfield ball winner.

His name was known both north and south of Watford, and although most fans hated King's bristly, aggressive style, they nevertheless respected him.

King began his career' as a junior with Everton and Shrewsbury before going into Non-League with Kirkby Town, Wigan Athletic and Northwich Victoria the latter two in the tough world of the Northern Premier League.

He then joined Altrincham for the first time in 1977 and began a love affair with the Robins that lasted on and off for 20 years but, sadly, ended on a sour note.

To say that King was competitive would be something of an understatement. Playing in front of some equally tough and uncompromising defenders,

King formed an almost impregnable barrier that brought Altrincham many honours during the 1970s and early 80s. He skippered the Robins to two Alliance Premier title successes, as well as an FA Trophy win in 1978, and featured in the club's many FA Cup giant killing exploits.

In 1982 Altrincham reached Wembley again to meet Enfield in the FA Trophy. That was to be King's swansong as a player because an injury sustained during that match ultimately ended his playing days. He was a natural candidate for management and was quickly snapped up by Northern Premier side South Liverpool, where he revitalized the ailing Merseyside outfit. Such success was swiftly noted by his old club, and in January 1984 he was appointed manager of Altrincham.

Two years later he became the first man to captain and manage an Altrincham side to FA Trophy success but left the club immediately after the game to become boss at neighbouring Runcorn -his victims at Wembley.

King returned to Moss Lane in 1988 and almost steered the club into the Football League two years later when they finished third behind champions Barnet and runners-up Colchester after a 28-match unbeaten run that season. At the end of that campaign he left the club again, this time to have a spell in charge at Barrow, and then became assistant manager at Bury to Mike Walsh.

In June 1995, King wrote another chapter in his association with Altrincham when he answered an SOS from the ailing club and became its outright owner and manager. However, things were probably worse than he thought and it didn't work out. Altrincham were relegated to the UniBond League and very nearly went out of business. In hindsight, it was perhaps a mistake, but the call to help the club he loved was too much to ignore.