Greetings and a very warm welcome to Moss Lane, especially everyone connected with the new Nationwide Conference Champions, Kidderminster Harriers, for what will be their last fixture in the Conference, before taking their place in the Nationwide Third Division next season. May we wish you Bon Voyage and good luck as you embark on your new adventure. You have been a credit to the Conference and no doubt you will fly the flag next season. A special Welcome to Gemma Williams and her dad, up to follow Kidderminster, enjoy the day

Gary Talbot completed 50 first team games this season in the game against Southport, he joins Danny Adams as the only two players to play 50+ games for he Robin’s this season. Skipper Chris Timons’s should complete 100 1^st team games for the Robins, joining Danny Adams and Mark Maddox as the only current players to have notched up 100+ games.

Other News

Congratulations to Wilf McGuinness (Yes the very same) of Moss Lane Timperley on winning the Saturday Yankee. Wilf wins £2900 pounds he was presented with his winnings at the Kingstonian game.

Our own Graham Heathcote will be representing Altrincham at this years Umbro FA Challenge Cup Final in a parade of previous winners.

Both Altrincham Home and Away shirts are now all priced just £10. Also priced at £10 are Altrincham Sweatshirts. If you haven’t got yours yet get across to the club shop either, before, during or after today’s game.

Also as a ‘one off’ offer we are going to offer copies of the ‘UniBond Years’ for a bargain price of £5 at today’s game. So get a second copy.

REMEMBER ALL PROFITS HELP TO RUN YOUR CLUB.

Exciting news for 'Robins' followers at today’s game, the unveiling of the 'Robins' new 2000/2001-season strip. Even more exciting is that you the fans will get to choose the away kit!! The home kit is decided on already and you will be able to see it at the game but their will be three options for the away kit and you the fans will get the chance to pick the away strip that the lads will wear next season.

Thanks to every who has sponsored, advertised or helped Altrincham Football Club in any way this season and last but certainly not least to our Chairman, Gerry Berman, without who there wouldn’t be a club. Thank you.

AND FINALLY….

WE NEED ONE LAST EFFORT SO COME ON EVERYBODY, COME ON YOU REDS!!!

LETS DO IT LADS!!

Bernard’s Banter.

Good afternoon and welcome to Moss Lane and an extra special welcome and congratulations to Jan Molby and the Kidderminster Harriers team, on becoming The Nationwide Conference Champions.

I know that you are all, like me and everyone else connected with this club, very disappointed with the way the results have gone recently. But our season boils down to these last ninety minutes.0ur fate is still in our own hands, we are not dependent on other peoples results, it is down to us.

I could make excuses, the three week lay off, injuries and suspensions but I won't, it isn't my style.

What I have tried to do is lift the players one last time, they know what is needed and nothing less than a win will do today.

More than anything though I am sorry for you the fans, especially those that follow us home and away, I know its not been easy for you over the last few weeks.

Can I make one appeal to you all? Can we all get 100°lo behind the lads this afternoon and drive them on to success. For just ninety minutes can we all get behind the team and save the criticism for after the match, I won't be hiding. But between 3'O' clock and a quarter to five can we ALL be 100% behind the team.

Thanks to everyone who has supported us this year, you the supporters are the best

I won't say enjoy the game, but lets win the game

Bernard

We don't usually like to use the Robin's Review to express our personal views but as we come to the end of another season its time to hand out the brickbats and bouquets and explain a little of our philosophy towards the editing of the programme.

It's a thankless task, compiling, writing and editing the programme, you just can't please all the people all the time. Only a handful of people are truly aware of how many hours are spent each season on producing the Robin's Review (we have also produced the'UniBond Years' book as well during the last close season, for our sins). Most people seem to believe that the Programme just appears out of thin air on match days, but it doesn't, there are hours of typing, writing, research, phoning, faxing, a mailing and trips to the ground, all at our own expense. So our first bouquets go to our respective families, our wife's, Anne and Karen who have been for much of the time 'grass widows' over the last two seasons as we have burnt the midnight oil. Thanks to them and to our children, Chris, Elizabeth and Sarah, for allowing us the time to do it.

Thanks also go to the team, Terry Surridge for his guidance, kind words and general assistance. Thanks are also long over due to our regular contributors, 'Flynnzine' and 'The Popular Side' and also to the latest addition to the ranks, 'Long Standing Supporter; thanks Peter your efforts have been truly appreciated and we look forward to your continuing input next season. Cheers also to Cliff Hayes for the truly excellent photos, one day we might be able to show at least some of them in colour, to fully do them justice!

Thanks also to Derek Wilshaw, Alan Johnson , Bernard Taylor, Graham Heathcote, Gavin Price, Katie Walton, George and Jenny Heslop and everyone who has helped us during the season.

As we have pointed out on numerous occasions, the Robin's Review is yours, the fans, official magazine and we will gladly insert anything you wish to see included, be it articles, letters or whatever. For every letter published, everyone has a right of reply. People's opinions are always going to differ, but that doesn't mean that they can't hold those opinions. If you don't agree with something in the programme write to us and we will print your reply, no one has the monopoly on being right, after all opinions are merely subjective!

We all have to accept that everyone has his or her own viewpoint and everyone else should respect that view. One thing we share in common is that we ALL support Altrincham Football Club and that we all want to see her successful. We all may have our own ideas on how this may be implemented but that shouldn't stop us all pulling in the same direction, regardless of ones personal views and opinions.

The reason that we all have such strong opinions is because we all do seriously care what happens to this club. We all have to accept that not everyone is going to agree with everyone else but this is no excuse for shouting down any contrary views. We, as editors have always tried to be as objective as is humanly possible and support the club and management 100%. We have tried to keep our own personal views out of the programme, believing it not to be part of our remit. Occasionally we do wield the 'Red Pen' but that usually is only on the grounds of space. We don't always agree with what we print but we do believe that people should be able to freely express themselves in their own words. All we ask is that you supply a name and address with your submission, we are happy to use pseudonyms in the articles but with the exception of the letter printed in the Kingstonian Programme, which was printed to prove a point, we have not and will not publish letter's unless a name and address is supplied.

So come on get writing you've got the whole summer ahead of you

Grahame & Terry

DEAR GRAHAME & TERRY

I read with great interest your piece on the Alty v Scarborough game on 13 November 1965.1 remember it well, I was there and at Rochdale and Wolves for the next two rounds of the FA Cup. In those days I was an ever present at Moss Lane and had been since 1950, when I was knee high to Lennie Brookes!!

But back to that great team 1965-66-67, what would you give for a goalscorer of the caliber of Jackie Swindell's, Pat Connolly and Johnny Worth in today's team? I remember Jackie hitting seven in an 8-1 win at Chester. Whatever became of him? And in fact the rest of that great team? Have you any idea where they all are now? I'd love to know.

Perhaps you could inform me if you have any details. Meanwhile fingers crossed for Saturday's game we're going to need to need 3 points to be safe

Best Wishes

Peter Crawford Somerset

(Can anyone help Peter with the whereabouts of the 1965-66-67 Alty team? - Eds)

The clear winner was DANNY ADAMS who won with a convincing 198 points. Alty's number 3 polled more first places than all the other players combined. Congratulations to Danny on his success.

Whilst Danny was the runaway winner, there was even less doubt about who would take second place. GARY TALBOT polled 133 points, featuring in the top three of around three quarters of those who voted. Well done Gary!

The award for third place goes to KEVIN ELLISON who received 64 points, comfortably ahead of Jason Gallagher who finished fourth with 33 points. Congratulations go to Kevin for his third place.

Danny, Gary and Kevin were all due to receive their awards from SAFE Chairman Peter Read after the Kingstonian game. Well done to all three players, and thanks to everyone who voted.

Rob Muir, SAFE Committee

As I compile these reflections on the season in the aftermath of the woeful home defeat by Hayes, the prospect of an ignominious (and frankly insufferable, both in football and financial terms) return to the wilderness of the UniBond League has raised its ugly head in dramatic and alarming fashion.

Yesterday's waterlogged pitch at Scarborough has rendered ‘Alty’ the innocent victims of a quite ludicrous fixture backlog and we now have six games in thirteen days in which to preserve the prestige of Conference status. In stark terms, it's either a visit to Rushden again next campaign or a possible day out in Bishop Auckland. Sublime to the ridiculous, anyone?

I can only hope that by the time these notes are published, we are mathematically safe from relegation and our opponents today have successfully secured the Conference title, thereby rectifying the blatant injustice they suffered after their Championship win in 1994. I must confess that I wasn't convinced that Jan Molby would lead Kidderminster into the Football league when I penned an article on the opening day of the season but then again I do feel obliged to point out that a certain Brian Flynn predicted that our visitors would finish in 19th position! So much for all our combined years of Non-league experience!

Anyhow, congratulations to Kidderminster and, in particular, to Tim Clarke, whose goalkeeping performances gained us some vital points during the first few tentative months of the Gerry Quinn era back in 1992.

So after 36 games, to a personal retrospection on the events and personalities of the 1999 - 2000 season.................

In the light of their excellent home record, it was probably the draw we achieved at Kidderminster, although the victory in adversity over Scarborough at Moss Lane was very satisfying.

Last Tuesday's truly inept display against Hayes and its potentially calamitous ramifications haunt the memory bank but undoubtedly the most miserable 90 minutes that we endured occurred in the dismal environment of Hednesford in February.

Undeniably that night in Doncaster back in September. In our present plight, those three points look more valuable every day.

Kevin Ellison has captured most of the headlines but for my money, the most consistent performer has been Danny Adams.

DUFFER OF THE SEASON

Notwithstanding nominations for the likes of Messrs. Doherty, Skelton, Trees and the hugely unmemorable Stuart Quinn and Dave Gardner, the honour must go to Ray Wallace for his cameo at Telford, after which he was rightly exiled to Winsford (now at, soon to be promoted Leigh RMI – EDS).

This category is basically monopolized by Kevin Ellison, responsible for some of the most powerful shooting seen at Moss Lane since the halcyon days of Clive Freeman. His thunderous volley to clinch the home game with Hereford just about eclipses his other efforts against the likes of Southport and Dover. A special mention too for Dickie Landon's exquisite lob at home to Northwich - but then any goal against that shower is a classic!

It certainly wasn't amusing at the time, however, Simeon Hodson's floating header over Lance Key against Scarborough at Moss Lane was executed to perfection.

Graham Heathcote's very public resignation as team coach during the second half of the home game with Forest Green Rovers.

NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE AWARD

Peter Hennerley, in recognition of his petition and all those letters he sent to the Manchester Evening News.

Robert Trees, who was substituted against Rushden at Moss Lane and promptly left the field and went to sit on the Rushden bench! Possibly a case of wishful thinking?

Losing to Stalybridge in the FA Cup at the third attempt, when our lead and tactics simply collapsed before our eyes as we failed to cope with their lumbering giant, Martin Filson. A very traumatic experience.

The sale of Paul Ellender to Scarborough for pressing financial reasons. Would an FA Cup run beyond Stalybridge ultimately have eradicated the need to sell our prized asset so quickly into our first season back at Non-League's highest level?

Woking's Phil Gridelet, who seemed intent on the ill-advised stategy of waging his own private war on the aforementioned Paul Ellender back in September. He was eventually sent off.

Dickie Landon, for all those late equalizers that salvaged us some draws on our travels, notably that last gasp goal at Northwich just after Christmas.

Shared by Steven Hawes and Dickie Landon in the wake of the FA Trophy replay exit at the hands of Southport.

The Stalybridge match announcer, for his rather tactless decision to play the record "Let's Twist Again" during the pre-match entertainment at the FA Cup second replay, which had been enforced by the FA following the revelation that Stalybridge had contravened the competition's rules by fielding the technically ineligible Andy Mason in the first replay.

Easily won by the gallant Alty supporter who streaked across the Drill Field turf on a cold and damp afternoon in December. His cunning body swerve was reminiscent of Barry Howard or Paul Showler in their heyday and left the chasing pack of Northwich stewards completely wrong-footed. Perhaps he had been inspired by the appearance of The Full Monty star Robert Carlyle at Moss Lane in October?

BARRY PIKESLEY.

Well the season has come to an end and so has my year here at Moss Lane. It has been a very enjoyable experience and one that I’ll never forget. I have made many friends here, one’s who I don’t want to leave and will hopefully keep on contact.

I chose Alty as a place to gain experience before I went to university. This year has been perfect for my degree in tourism & Leisure management, which I will start in September at York.

Between now and then I will hopefully see a few of you around, especially at the pre-season friendlies. This time I’ll be in the stand with the rest of the Hard Core Alty fans and that is what I have become, Hard core Alty.

I have always had a passion for football. Up until now I have been Red through and through, though now there are a few white stripes too.

Thanks to everybody for making my time here at Altrincham FC such an enjoyable one

KATIE XXXXX

Senior Ball Ball

1st - Stuart Wilkinson 30 games

2nd - Sean Greygoose 22 games

3rd - Wayne Sellstrom 21 games

Junior Ball Boy

1st -Peter Malan 31 games

2nd -Thomas Hart 29 games

3rd - Michael Bradshaw 27 games

Ball Girl Winner

Samantha Malan 19 games

Well done to all the Trophy winners in this Millennium year. I think you can tell by the number of games the winners have achieved that there has not been a great need for changes this year. With on or two problems, I think all the ball persons have once again done a fantastic job for Altrincham FC. The totals for the rest of the squad are:. Tanya Lemon - 8 games, Matthew Eaton - 22 games, James Dawson -19 games, Scott Bradshaw - 20 games, Rachel Nichols -8games, Paul Nichols- 7 games, William Harrison - 10 games, Francesca Tracy - 6 games, Daniel

King - 14 games, Jamie Greygoose - 12 games, Ryan Ashton - 15 games, Lee McGuiness - 4 games, John Bradley -7games, Matthew Summerfield-22 games

Thanks also to:- Richard Howard, Carl Swindells, Rory Loughran, James Parfitt, Omar Tajdean, Jordan Richardson, Matthew Warburton, Enrico, Liam Walsh, Ben Wiltshire & Lindsey Taggert.

Thanks also to Francis Malan for helping me out on The Popular Side when the many balls go out of the ground into the brook & allotments.

As usual, if you wish to join the club for next year's campaign, please see me during the match or at any of the pre season fixtures.

Have a pleasant summer's rest.

Ray Armstrong (Ball person co-ordinator)

Conf.				FAC			NMT	FAT
28		Justin Jackson (Morecambe)	+	1			-	1
24		Carl Afford (Stevenage Borough)	+	-			1	1
18		Neil Davis (Hereford United)	+	1			-	2
17		Ian Foster (Kidderminster Harriers)	+	-			-	-
14		Ian Arnold (Southport)	+	1			-	3
		Kevin Ellison (Altrincham)	+	1			-	-
		Joff Vansittart (Dover Athletic)	+	1			-	4
13		Robin Elmes (Hereford United)	+	1			-	1
		Paul Fewings (Hereford United)	+	2			-	-
		Warren Patmore (Yeovil Town)	+	-			2	2
12		Steve Brodie (Scarborough)	+	-			2	2
		Lee Charles (Hayes)	+	5			-	-
		Ritchie Hanlon (Welling United)	+	-			1	1
		David Leworthy (Kingstonian)	+	2	1			2
		Val Owen (Northwich Victoria)	+	1	-			-
11		Nassim Akrour (Woking)	+	-	2			3
		Darren Collins (Rushden & Diamonds)	+	2	-			2
		Phil Eastwood (Morecambe)	+	-	2			2
		Lee Elam (Southport)	+	-	-			1
		Stewart Hadley (Kidderminster Harriers)	+	-	-			-
		Richard Landon (Altrincham)	+	1	_			_
		Mike McElhatton (Rushden & Diamonds)	+	2	-			-
		Marc McGregor (Forest Green Rovers)	+	1	2			1
		Zeke Rowe (Welling United)	+	-	-			-
		Mark Watson (Sutton United)	+	1	-			1
10		Dennis Bailey (Forest Green Rovers)	+	-	-			-
		Dean Bennett (Kidderminster Harriers)	+	-	-			-
		Matt Hayfield (Woking)	+	-	-			-
		Dino Maamria (Doncaster Rovers)	+	1	1			-
		Gez Murphy (Telford United)	+	1	1			5
		Dave Stevens (Hayes)	+	-	-			-
9		Andy Ducros (Nuneaton Borough)	+	-	-			-
		Jake Edwards (Telford United)	+	-	2			4-
		Craig Norman (Kettering Town)	+	-	-			5
		Darren Roberts (Scarborough)	+	-		1		1
		Lee Shearer (Dover Athletic)	+	-		-		-
		ChrisTate (Scarborough)	+	-		-		2
8		Ged Kimmins (Hednesford Town)	+	-		-		1
		Dino Maamria (Doncaster Rovers)	+	-		1		-
		Geoff Pitcher (Kingstonian)	+	-		1		-

Flynnzine

90 minutes this afternoon will decide the fate of Altrincham Football Club. After a season, which has strangely had a number of high points, we find ourselves quite literally tip-toeing around the Nationwide Conference stage, hoping that the trap door doesn't open and send us into the UniBond abyss.

The position is reasonably clear. Victory today against the newly crowned Conference champions will ensure that conference football is played at Moss Lane come August. A draw will leave an opportunity for either Forest Green Rovers or Welling United to preserve their conference status if either them overcome Kettering or Hednesford in their respective games at "The Lawn" and "Keys Park":

In simple terms, we need to match what our two adversaries achieve, which means we could lose today and still stay up, providing the losing margin is by no more than a single goal.

How we have managed to get ourselves in this painful scenario is difficult to fathom. There will be plenty of time for inquests from 5.00 PM this afternoon, but for now everyone needs to focus on us trying to achieve the three points that have been more elusive than the Holy Grail itself.

On thing is for certain, we will receive no flavours from our visitors today who have had a fantastic season. Harriers are proving to be very popular champions after their bitter experience in 1994 when they were denied their rightful place in the Football League, due to bureaucracy. Thankfully, this has now been dismantled, due to the experiences of today's visitors, Stevenage and Macclesfield.

There have been many opportunities to have gleaned that one vital win since our woeful run of 4 points from 30 started, ironically, with our impressive 1-1 draw at Aggborough on March 11th. Kettering and Yeovil both immediately spring to mind, but the bold fact is that we now have just one more chance to strike.

The Conference gauntlet is thrown down before us -let us all do everything we can do to help the club survive in this great league.

Brian

Meet the players

Mark Maddox

Full Name:- Mark Maddox

Date Of Birth:- 01103/73

Occupation:- Self Employed

Height- 6ft 1 inch

Weight: 12s 71b

Where do you Live:- Liverpool

Current player Most Admired (Semi-Pro):Phil Power (It hurts to say it) Current player Most Admired (Professional): Roy Keane (Again, it hurts to say it.)

Favourite Ground: Anfield

Least Favourite Ground: Frickley

Most Memorable Match: My debut at home to Rushden & Diamonds. We won 4-3.

Most Embarrassing Moment in Football: Haven't got one

Funniest Moment In Football: Kevin Ellison tackling two corner flags at Hayes

Favourite Food:- Hayes

Favourite TV Programme: The Soprano's

Favourite Film:- Good Fellas

Newspaper Read:- The Observer

Favourite Drink:- Pepsi

Best Goal Ever Scored: I can't remember scoring a goal.

Biggest Regret In Live So Far: Not taking football serious when I was younger.

Aspirations For The Future: To play in the Football League with Altrincham.

Which Player At Altrincham Has The Most Annoying Habit:Vic & Phil talking rubbish about Manchester United.

Which Player At Altrincham Has The Worst Dress Sense: Jason Gallagher.

Whose The Comedian At Altrincham: Danny & I when we room together

Who's Your Best Friend At Altrincham: Everyone

Who Do You Fancy For The Title This Year: Rushden & Diamonds.

What's Your Motto In Life: Have a laugh!

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