JUBILANT Altrincham are to bank a further £40,000 from their money-spinning FA Cup run - thanks to the BBC.

Beeb bosses today announced they're to screen highlights of Ally's home second-round clash with Darlington a week on Saturday on "Match of the Day" that evening. That entitles the Robins to a cool 40 grand in TV cash to add to the £57,500 in Cup prize money they're guaranteed for battling through four rounds already.

And, with another £30,000 on offer for beating Darlington - plus the chance to draw a Premiership giant in round three - Ally's Cup proceeds could ultimately take their hank balance soaring into the black less than a year after they admitted to having crippling six-figure debts.

Chairman Mark Harris said: "Our FA Cup run is proving to be a massive financial bonus and the television money is the icing on the cake.

"It will bring us very close to our goal of getting the club back on an even keel. This realty is fantastic news."

Altrincham have agreed to the BBC's request, supported by the police, to bring the kickoff against Darlington forward to 1 pm.

This will avoid the tie clashing directly with Manchester United's home game with West Ham, which kicks off at 3pm that day, and give the "Match of the Day" programme makers more time to edit the highlights.

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 on Monday.

ALTRINCHAM ARE looking forward to a financial windfall after their 4-1 win at Lancaster City in a dramatic FA Cup first round replay on Tuesday earned them a home second round tie against Darlington.

A hat-trick from a first-half substitute, Lee Poland, allowed Altrincham to battle their way past their UniBond League Premier Division rivals on a stormy night at the Giant Axe ground, where two Lancaster players were sent off in extra time. The victory earned the Cheshire club £20,000 in Football Association prize money.

If Altrincham see off Third Division Darlington, who lost 7-1 at Scunthorpe United last Saturday and also had two men dismissed, they will pick up another £30,000 in prize-money for reaching the third round. Whatever the result, they will also receive a television fee of £40,000, as the tie has been selected for extended highlights on the BBC's Match of the Day programme. The kick-off at Moss Lane tomorrow week has thus been brought forward to 1pm.

The unexpected income will be of great benefit to Altrincham, who have been grappling with financial problems in recent seasons. "We are not out of the woods yet in a financial sense and we are still working under a sensible budget as far as wages and recruitment are concerned," their chairman, Mark Harris, said. "The FA Cup monies, which we obviously have not budgeted for, will be used to continue the reduction of the liabilities of the club."

Altrincham can boast a proud history of FA Cup triumphs in the 1970s and 80s, when they were one of the best non-League clubs in the country. In 1986 they won 2-1 at Birmingham City, then in the old First Division. Draws were achieved at both Everton and Tottenham Hotspur. Crewe

Alexandra, Scunthorpe United Sheffield United, York City Rochdale, Blackpool, Hartlepool United, Lincoln City and Halifax Town were all beaten in FA Cup ties at Moss Lane in those two decades.

Tomorrow, though, Altrincham must turn their attention to a competition in which they have twice been victorious in Wembley finals. They are away to another UniBond Premier side, Accrington Stanley, in the second round of the FA Umbra Trophy The prize-money for victory will be only £900 but, given Alty's recent history, every pound helps.

UNIBOND League bosses have issued a "come on down" plea to fans as they seek to attract a bumper gate to tomorrow night's representative clash with the Football Association at Altrincham.

In fact, so determined are they and the FA to boost the attendance that they're offering free

admission to the showpiece clash, which doubles up as the northern trial for the England semi-pro side.

Anyone arriving at Moss Lane in an England shirt will be admitted without charge, as will all those with a current season ticket, whether it be for Manchester United or Mossley!

In addition, all the North West's county associations have plenty of free tickets, so local fans can pop down to the Manchester FAs Brantingham Road, Chorlton, headquarters during office hours,

tomorrow to get theirs. For those unable to take advantage of the free offers, admission on the gate will be just £3 for adults and £f for unaccompanied children.

Pensioners and accompanied youngsters aged 16 and under don't have to pay to get in.

The game itself will provide bags of local interest. The FA squad, drawn exclusively from the Nationwide Conference, includes three Stalybridge players - Paul Beesley, Steve Pickford and Andy Scott - together with Leigh RMI's Neil Durkin.

Included in the UniBond party are Altrincham quartet Stuart Coburn, Steve Hawes, Mark Sertori and Rod Thornley, plus Hyde's transfer-listed frontman, Simon Yeo, and Accrington's former Bury player Lutel James.

The UniBond League has a good record in the fixture, having won eight and drawn four of the previous 19 clashes.

But the last three meetings have all resulted in comprehensive victories for the FA XI.

ALTY chairman Mark Harris has a message for Altrincham fans, and he could not make it any clearer.

The Robins face Lancaster City in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday and Harris has sent the call out for the club's fans to really get behind their team.

A strong support cheered the Moss Lane men on to victory against Nuneaton Borough in the last round and Harris knows the essential part it plays.

"It really is vital that the town gets behind its club and roar the team on to victory on Saturday.

"Lancaster are bringing a lot of their fans, so we need our supporters to come out in force and make it a real game to remember."

Paying tribute to the coaching and playing staff, Harris went on to say, "Everyone has done really well, and it is for the fans that they are doing it.

"Rest assured that everyone here will be doing all they can to make sure Altrincham are in the draw at 4.55 on Saturday, and that there is the same sense of jubilation that there was after the Nuneaton game.

Cash-strapped Altrincham have already won more than £37,000 in prize money from this season's cup, and another £20,000 is up for grabs on Sat urday. No one at Moss Lane is counting their chickens, how ever, and Harris is quick to stress caution.

"While there is a significant amount of money sloshing around in this year's FA Cup there will not be a huge wad of cash available at Altrincham FC this season.

"The reality is that the main bulk of the money wil go towards reducing the liabilities of the club, which is a long-term task that we will be involved in long after this seasons cup run has

ended.

"While we hope we are in cup contention for some time yet, we also have to look at the latter half of the season and focus on when our run is over."

He added, "Should the management express an interest in a player for example, then the board will do everything in it power to help, but the kind of wholesale teambuilding some would like is not possible.

• Jason Gallagher and Kevin Hulme are still doubtful for Saturday's match, and neither played against Woodley Sports in Tuesday night's Cheshire Senior Cup match. Chris Adams, ankle

injury is still causing concern.

• Moss Lane hosts the annual UniBond League XI vs Football Association XI fixture on Monday night, kick-off 7.30pm.

Altrincham coaches Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote are in charge of the league side, and have picked _ Mark Sertori, Steve Hawes, Rod Thornley and Stuart Coburn, along with four players each from Barrow and - Burton, and one each from a Emley, Bishop Auckland, Hyde, Accrington and Worksop Town

ALTRINCHAM manager Bernard Taylor is under no illusions as to the threat Lancaster City will pose this Saturday.

Taking advantage of a fixture-free Saturday, the Robins chief travelled to the Giant Axe Field to cast his eye over Alty's FA cup opponents as they faced Runcorn.

The two teams meet in Saturday's first round with a potential money-spinning second round tie and £20,000 prize money for the victors.

Speaking exclusively to SAM sport earlier this week, Taylor kept his cards close to his chest saying, "They are a good side. You only have to look at their standing in the league to know that.

"You don't get second in the league by being a bad team, that's for sure."

Lancaster and Runcorn fought out a 1-1 draw, with captain Kenny Mayers netting the home side's goal.

When asked about players to look out for, Taylor remained tight-upped, adding, "Worrying too much about the opposition will only keep you awake at night.

"I'll be busy enough trying to get my own players fit," he said.

Kevin Hulme and Jason Gallagher are the main injury doubts, with Danny Murphy expected to return for the game. Chris Adams' serious ankle injury is still causing concern and no decision will be made until later in the week.

So, who are the ones to watch on Saturday, as the two UniBond promotion hopefuls go for cup glory?

Well, midfielder Dean Martin is one Lancaster dange man who needs no introduction to Alty fans. His infringement on Carl Furlong during the sides' last encounter still lives on in their memory, and he is sure to feel the sharp edge of the Alty faithfuls tongues on Saturday.

Another one to watch is free-scoring striker Andy Whittaker, who has netted 21 goals since signing on a free-transfer from Bamber Bridge in the summer. Stuart Coburn may have to pull off another performance on a par with his Nuneaton showing to keep a clean sheet.

At the other end, Altrincham striker Rod Thornley, will be facing down namesake Mark Thornley, who has been the rock on which City's unbeaten run of 15 league matches has been built on.

LANCASTER CITY manager Tony Hesketh is baffled by the omission of all of his unbeaten title chasers from the UniBond squad picked to play England's semi-professional side.

The Premier Division looks a three-way battle between Burton Albion, Altrincham and Hesketh's squad.

Both Albion and Altrincham -whose management team Graham Heathcote and Bernard Taylor picked the side - have four players in the 18 man squad but despite Lancaster striker Andy Whittaker leading the scoring charts neither he nor his team mates appear.

"I had a smile on my face when I saw the team," said Hesketh. "It shows that people don't rate us. It would have been a great accolade for the good work we've put in for some of my players to be included but we've to do a bit more yet to convince people we're a good side. We'll carry on doing that."

Hesketh singled out defender Farrell Kilbane as one player he believes should have been selected for the game at Moss Lane a week tomorrow.

"Kilbane has been absolutely outstanding," he said. "He has a yard of pace he's never had before, timing the ball better than e has ever done and defending better than anybody I've seen at this level for a long, long time."

Taylor and Heathcote have selected striker Rod Thornley ahead of Whittaker. ""How do you turn a guy down who has scored 21 goals?" was Hesketh's only comment.

The Lancaster boss has also been left bewildered at criticism for fielding an under-strength side in the Peter Swales Challenge Shield match against Stalybridge last month. Lancaster lost 11-0 to a Celtic side which itself only contained two first-team regulars, Hesketh opting to rest his injury ravaged squad ahead of an FA Cup tie four days later.

But Hesketh, who took the decision which could yet land his club with a fine and a ban from the competition, said: "Paul Futcher was well aware of what we we were doing. We only had twelve fit players at the time.

"It would have been ridiculous to play the first team. We're sorry we couldn't take a good side and up a good show."

NORTHERN Counties East Goole AFC have been fined £500 -for what a fan wrote about a referee on his unofficial website (http://www.gooleafc.freeserve.co.uk/).

Stunned secretary Malcolm Robinson says the club will appeal against the fine imposed by the West Riding County FA -and has warned that if it is upheld the whole of football could be affected.

"I can't believe it," he said. "This decision opens a can of worms. Are Goole AFC to be held responsible for what governments can't achieve - censoring the Internet?"

The row arose over comments by season ticket holder Steve Jackson on his unofficial website -started earlier this year. He has also been fined £100.

He criticised the referee in the match against Alfreton Town in August. "I was trying to make a point that referees can overcompensate when presented with a much larger than average crowd, as we have: at Goole.

"My comments weren't particularly aimed at an individual referee although I did point out that he had a poor match," he said.

"I am disappointed my hobby has caused such an offence," he added and said he had even been

afraid of going to work after the news broke in a local newspaper.

"No-one has actually spoken to me," he said. "I've been tried and found guilty without even having the chance to reply. It really makes me wonder whether doing the website is worthwhile. I'm really sorry for any problem I have caused my favourite club."

Jackson was also fined. "The letter arrived on Wednesday telling me I had until Friday to pay or there would be further action!"

Robinson has appealed against both fines and hopes the matter can be sorted out. "lf not, the ramifications for football are horrendous," he said.

John Riordan, office manager for the West Riding FA, said both the club and Mr. Jackson had been charged with bringing the game into disrepute relating to comments made on the website later repeated in the club program

"Over the issue of the FA fining Mr. Jackson, the FA has jurisdiction over all participants in the game -including referees, players, managers and spectators," he said. "However, the ruling is now subject to an appeal and is therefore sub-judice."

The backlash against unofficial websites continued as Gillingham FC chairman Paul Scally banned supporter Alan Liptrott from home games for setting up a website dedicated to Gillingham. Mr Liptrott has retaliated by hiring a plane trailing the message `Lift the ban on Alan` over the ground on match day.

http://gillingham.rivals.net

www.gillinghamfootballclub.com

THE BIGGEST FA Cup bonus Altrincham have received is simply being in the competition - and that is due to goalkeeper Stuart Coburn.

Without the 26-year-olds heroics against Nuneaton, the Robins would be watching from the sidelines on Saturday. Instead, they have a First Round clash with UniBond Premier promotion rivals Lancaster City to look forward to.

Coburn's display cannot be understated. "I've not seen a performance like it in all my time in football," was manager Bernard Taylor's assessment.

The Altrincham keeper saved a first half penalty and then went on to pull off a series of stunning blocks to keep his side in the game, which they wemt on to win 3-0.

"H was one-way traffic," said Tay "I think once he made the penalty save, which was well struck, he just got better and better."

Taylor also believes that former Trafford keeper Coburn is now in the form of his life, surpassing the level that almost won him a move to Barnsley. "Everybody watched him. I was disappointed for the lad when he didn't go two-and-a-haff years ago.

"There were a few teams watching him then, including Barnsley when Dave Bassett was the manager, plus Charlton who had a little look.

"He had a bad injury two seasons ago which kept him out quite a while. It has taken him time to get right, but he has been brilliant for us. He's a great talker now and is marshalling his

defence:" Taylor rates his keeper as one of the best he has ever worked with and adds: "Stuart works hard in training and very hard on his wane ups. His reflexes are unbelievable. If he can pull out another performance like the one against Nuneaton, there is no better place to do it than in the FA Cup."

Testing Coburn this time will be Lancaster's UniBond hot shot 21-goal striker Andy Whittaker - who has a point to prove to Taylor after being left out of the League squad to play John Owens' semi-pro eleven in favour of Rod Thornley - one of Taylor's own players.

I WRITE after having the pleasure of seeing the best goalkeeping display in any 20-years-plus watching Non-League football.

The performance of Altrincham's Stuart Coburn in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie against Nuneaton can only be described as world class.

I hope he wasn't reading your paper the day after the event as the match report headlined "Defiant Cockburn Spurs Altrincham".

I am sure his name will be appearing regularly in the Altrincham match reports , until of course a League club snaps him up which can't be far off, but hope he stays and helps Altrincham regain their rightful place in the Conference.

Andrew Crush, Stockport

As in the famous advert for a well-known port, Andrew, you are not the first reader to point that "one doesn't say cock, one says co". Our apologies to Stuart - Ed

ALTRINCHAM may be missing three star players for the visit of Lancaster City in the FA Cup on Saturday week

Kevin Hulme and Jason Gallagher, who both retired hurt from Saturday's FA Trophy match against Spalding, are both doubtful for the game.

To make matters worse, defender Chris Adams, fresh back from a nasty ankle injury, took a rough tackle on the same leg and could not finish Tuesday's replay, which the Robins won 3-2.

Speaking earlier this week, manager Bernard Taylor said, "I don't think Jason or Kevin will play in the FA cup match.

"They were both playing with injuries anyway. I don't know how they manage it, and I can't thank them enough for what they have done."

Free-scoring striker Rod Thornley bagged another two goals for Alty, after Spalding had equalised twice

In a far more entertaining game than Saturday's the Manchester United masseur scored the opener on eleven minutes, sweeping in Danny Murphy's low cross at the back post.

The visitors answered back through Lee Stephenson before Mark Sertori headed his first goal for the club from Steve Hawes' corner.

Spalding midfielder Robbie Williams, who should have been sent off for a succession of dangerous tackles, levelled the match, but no-one could deny the resilient Robins another cup win, as Thornley netted his nineteenth goal this season.

• Lancaster City are bringing five coaches of fans for the first round tie, which is shaping up to be Alty's biggest cup tie since their trip to White Hart Lane.

Altrincham have again been awarded the "Unibond Team of the Month" for October. After 3 wins and a draw in the League and impressive FA Cup victories against Witton and Nuneaton, the Robins repeated their award from September.

Duncan Bayley, Secretary of the UniBond and Carl Kaine a Henkel representative present award Mark Sertori, Stuart Coburn and Steve Hawes on behalf of the Club. See Photo

We'd all just like to say a big thank-you to Peter Barry, our groundsman who is I leaving the job on Friday November 9". It goes without saying that the improvement in the pitch is owed a lot to Peter's expertise and dedication. Many an unseen hour has been spent on this pitch when many of us are still in bed. The knowledge gained over many years doing his own gardening business has helped him transfer his skills into the maintenance required for a football pitch, often, it has had to be said, without the appropriate " equipment. Everyone has seen Peter and his friends on the pitch at half time and at full time putting the divots back in place. His awareness that the sooner these divots are back in place the more beneficial to the long-term upkeep of the pitch. Only one League game postponed in 3 years and many commendable comments from visiting Managers and players. The culmination of all the work being that the Football Association deemed the pitch good enough for the Greek National squad to play on it. Manchester United are fulfilling fixtures on it from Reserve team level to U14's and our own inter-league team against the FA XI is to take place here at Moss Lane.

The Manchester United Under-16 side entertain Stoke City at Moss Lane on 14th November. With groundsman Peter Barry's departure his successor will be kept busy by three games in five days at Moss Lane - this youth match, the FA Cup tie against Lancaster City (17th) and the UniBond Representative game (19th).

HOME is definitely where the heart is for Altrincham's FA Cup campaign, with the Robins drawing a fourth successive home tie.

They face UniBond promotion rivals Lancaster City in the first round at Moss Lane on November 17, with another £20,000 up for grabs for the winner.

So far, Alty have banked a cool £37,500 from their cup exploits in prize money alone, with an impressive 1,300 fans watching their memorable 3-0 defeat of Nuneaton Borough on Saturday.

The club will be hoping for another bumper gate against Lancaster, who beat Vauxhall Motors 1-0 in Tuesday night's replay.

Alty manager Bernard Taylor said, "Lancaster will be tough, there's no doubt about that.

"The lads will have to get themselves up for it, like they did for the Nuneaton match."

• Robins notched up another three league points on Tuesday night, riding their luck against a strong Accrington Stanley side.

They netted both their first half chances, through the impressive Gary Scott and Rod Thornley.

Thornley added his seventeenth goal of the season after the restart before Stanley pulled one back via Anthony Bowden.

DISMAYED UniBond League bosses have asked Lancaster to explain their "disrespectful" decision to field a grossly under-strength team in their amazing 11-0 Peter Swales Challenge Shield defeat at Stalybridge.

The League are, not surprisingly, taking a dim view of Lancaster boss Tony Hesketh naming a side made up entirely of reserve and youth team players for what is regarded as a showpiece game.

They are poised to punish the Giant Axe club, whose vice-president, John Baguley, serves on the League's management committee. At the same time, they have commended Stalybridge for taking the game seriously.

League officials have released a statement which reads: "The Peter Swales Shield match was turned into a non-event by Lancaster and predictably failed to be any sort of contest.

"With such disrespect shown by Lancaster to their opponents, the League, our sponsors, Peter Swales's widow and over 200 paying spectators, we have asked them for an explanation before deciding what action to take.

`While it is appreciated that Lancaster had an important FA Cup tie four days later, so too did Stalybridge, but all credit to them for giving the fixture the respect it deserved by fielding a side containing many experienced players from their first-team squad.

Stalybridge boss Paul Futcher has, however, voiced sympathy for Hesketh, saying he can understand his decision not to risk senior players with Lancaster's Cup date with Vauxhall Motors so close.

The Shield debacle had a strange post-script when Stalybridge won their fourth qualifying round Cup clash with Bedlington, earning themselves a plum first-round proper date with Second Division Chesterfield, while Lancaster needed two attempts to see off their UniBond foes Vauxhall and line up a trip to Altrincham.

ALTRINCHAM goalkeeper Stuart Coburn has only one regret about his heroic display in the Robins' magnificent 3-0 FA Cup victory over Nuneaton - that his father wasn't there to see it.

Coburn snr, was to have attended the game but opted to spend the weekend in Blackpool and so missed his son give a performance which proud Alty boss Bernard Taylor described as the finest exhibition of goalkeeping he'd ever seen.

But among those who did witness Stuart's wonder show was John Owens, manager of the England non-League side, who couldn't fail to have been impressed.

Coburn is now hoping for another chance to catch Owens's eye in the annual northern semipro international trial at Moss Lane a fortnight tomorrow.

It's hard to imagine that Taylor and his Alty sidekick, Graham Heathcote, will overlook the Northern Moor-based keeper in their first match in charge of the UniBond League's representative side for the yearly showdown with the FA.

And that's great news for Stuart, who was cruelly denied an England trial two years ago due to a cartilage injury.

But now, after a comeback campaign which saw him called up for trials at Crystal Palace and Leicester, 26-year-old Coburn is clearly right back to his best.

He told the Pink: "I've always said I'd like the chance to play in the League, even though I love it here a Altrincham.

"Perhaps, at 26, the chance has passed me by, but I feel I'm now back to the form which attracted a number of League clubs to watch me just before the injury struck.

"I've certainly never played better than I did against Nuneaton and the only thing I'm upset about is that my dad wasn't there to see it. He's gutted, too.

"But I'm delighted John Owens was there and, with any luck, he'll have been impressed. Hopefully, I'll get another chance to show him what I can do in the representative game - if selected, of course."

Stuart's also looking forward to appearing in the FA Cup first round for the first time in his career and scoffs at suggestions that Alty's failure to draw a League club is a disappointment to semi-pro soccer's most famous giant-killers.

He added: "I think us drawing our UniBond rivals Lancaster at home is brilliant because it gives us a realistic chance of progressing to the round, which would then take us to within 90 minutes of a possible tie with a Premiership club."

ALTRINCHAM bosses Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote have made a plea for co-operation from fellow managers as they prepare to take charge of the UniBond League's representative side.

They are desperate to be given the chance to field the strongest possible team for the League's annual clash with the FA, which this year will be staged at Alty's Moss Lane ground on November 19.

The showpiece encounter doubles up as the northern trial for the England non-League international squad, of course, but has sadly become somewhat devalued in recent seasons by a host of withdrawals.

That's something Taylor and Heathcote want to avoid as they seek to restore the fixture to its former status in their first game in charge since being appointed in place of stalwart Marine boss Roly Howard.

In a statement endorsed by the UniBond League management Taylor and Heathcote said: "We think over the past few years players have not recognized how prestigious it is to be asked to represent the League.

"We know of many NPL (UniBond) players who have gone on to play for England after being spotted in this fixture.

"We have been impressed by the standard of play in the League this season and are looking for the players we select to consider it an honour and to turn up with a view to doing the League proud in what is bound to be a very tough game.

"We shall be getting in touch with managers and players shortly and will be looking for a more positive response than in the past few seasons, otherwise what is the point of playing this fixture?

"Surely for players to be made and make themselves available for one game a season isn't too much to ask?"

It promises to be quite a night on November 19 as the FA XI, which will be drawn exclusively from the Nationwide Conference, will, as always, be managed by England boss John Owens, who, of course, starred alongside Heathcote in Alty's glory days of the late 1970s and early 80s.