Race and presentation night

 John Laidlar's report from the Official Site  

PRESENTATION AND RACE NIGHT

• 1st- Stuart Coburn 
• 2nd- Rod Thornley
• 3rd- Mark Sertori

  Stuart, who was receiving the prize for the second time in his career, made a short acceptance speech in which he thanked the voters but, tongue in cheek, said that whilst his team-mates had played well last season, he himself had been "brilliant"! Graham Heathcote indicated that the team had had a fine season till being blown of course by off-the-field events and injuries in the latter part of the campaign.

  Alty in Exile coordinator Jacqui Forster then made a very welcome and commendable presentation of £300 to the Club. This had been raised by the Exiles- Alty's fans based away from the Manchester/Cheshire area. Outgoing Chairman Mark Harris made a short speech thanking everyone for their support of the Club but especially the players and supporters. He declared that "Altrincham FC will go on" despite the present financial crisis.

  Alty striker and England masseur Rod Thornley was then introduced to auction an England shirt which he will get signed by all the England squad from Sven-Goran Eriksson downwards at the first World Cup match against Sweden. This was Rod's own fundraising initiative, for which he is to be applauded. He went on to wind up the bids for the shirt to a superb total of £1,150 pledged by Director Jeremy Pollitt, who just saw off determined counter-bidding by Brian Flynn. Gary Warrington generously donated his first prize in the raffle draw, a David Beckham signed Manchester United shirt, which was sold by auction for £300. Rod Thornley himself won the Alty signed football in the raffle and this was bought by auction for £160 by Russell Woodward of the Alty Exiles. Later in the evening Rod also raised £575 for an Argentina shirt to be signed by their World Cup squad, through the offices of Juan Verón. This was bought by Brian Flynn. Towards the end of the evening the players left for their own end of season outing but, before doing so, Gary Scott gave the audience a display of his dancing skills!

  The races themselves were well supported and thanks are due to Race Night "Totemaster", Toni, for making the night a very entertaining one. Above all, however, the event organiser Alan Brotherton and his colleagues in S.A.F.E. are to be congratulated for their hard work in making the night both enjoyable and a financial success.

  Photographs by Russell Woodward, an Alty in Exile - thanks Russ

  Graham Heathcote announces that Ian Craney is the Player of the Year chosen by the web forum run by Gary Warrington, seen here

  On behalf of the Alty in Exiles, coordinator Jacqui Forster makes a donation to the Club and it is accepted by Mark Harris

  Outgoing chairman Mark Harris gave a short speech thanking all those who had helped the Club, especially the player and supporters

  Graham Heathcote and Alan Brotherton, of SAFE  present Mark Sertori with 3rd placed Player of the Year award.

  Gary Warrington generously donated a , Gary Warrington generously donated his first prize in the raffle draw, a David Beckham signed Manchester United shirt, held by Alan Brotherton,  which was then sold by auction for £300 by. George Heslop compare for the evening

  Rod Thornley won the Alty signed football in the raffle and this he gave for auction and it was bought  for £160 by Russell Woodward of the Alty Exiles

  Graham Heathcote and Alan Brotherton, of SAFE  present Rod Thornley with 2nd placed Player of the Year award.

  SAFE's Player of the Year Stuart Coburn makes his acceptance speech

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A message from SAFE Committee member, Alan Brotherton:

Tuesday's game brings the curtain down on another season which has seen us having to really use all of our available resources of a small squad of players to its limits, with, on numerous occasions many of the players in the squad having to take to the field when not being fully fit and it has been an added bonus that because of the endless injury problems we have been able to see some of our talented Youth Team players progressing through to the First Team. Tonight is game number sixty five of this long and sometimes difficult season which despite recent blips in form has still managed to produce many highlights. Let us not forget those earlier Cup runs which gave us all plenty to shout about, but having those Cup successes left us with a lot of catching up to do in the League. All those games in hand proved to be too much for a small squad to cope with but the Cup runs did bring in much needed funds and the players fighting spirit came to the fore in the F.A. Cup. So the last few weeks have not gone the way that supporters would have wished but there have been many good things to remember over the course of the season. On Saturday (4 May) evening, supporters can recognise that fact by coming along to our Race Night/Presentation Evening to see the Player of the Year Awards. All of the races are now sponsored, all of the horses are sold, we just want you the punters, to come along, place your bets and have an enjoyable evening. Tickets are still available in the SAFE Cabin at Friday's Match. Price £2.

  Sponsored walk  

Peter Read

The SAFE Committee have decided that three members of the SAFE Committee will act as co-chairman. They are Alan Brotherton, Mark Eckersall and Rob Muir. The Association's representative on the Board will be announced shortly 

SAFE Events

"Christmas" draw 

The draw took place in the Noel White Suite at Altrincham Football Clubs' Moss Lane ground on Saturday 2nd February 2002 at 5.30 pm. Altrincham Football Club Chairman Mark Harris compared. Altrincham players Stuart Coburn and Danny Murphy made the draw.

Alan Brotherton, Draw Promoter

Due to postponement  of several home games due to the weather the draw could not take place until 2 February after the Colwyn Bay game. The winner of the main prize, an airline ticket for two on any of the Easy Jets routes was won by Simon Brotherton, son of Alan, the organizer of the event! Congratulations Simon. The draw raised about £2400 to assist the Club

Danny Murphy, selecting the prize envelopes Stuart Coburn the stubs for Alan Brotherton and Mark Harris

Russell Woodward (left) an Alty in Exile, who was responsible for the construction of the  shelter for the disabled fans winning one of the draw prizes.

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