Altrincham Football Club Reserves
Season 2000-01: Part One
This season has seen a number of Reserve players break through to first-team action, with Ian Craney (pictured left, playing for the first team), Otis Thomas, Eric Seekie, Neil Wakefield, Paul Walsham and James Glendenning amongst those involved. Likewise, a number of the Youth Team have come through into the Reserves. Altrincham's Reserves were managed by George Heslop, following the departure of Joey Dunn with Mark Ward but presumably Graham Heathcote and Bernard Taylor are now in charge following their reappointment as Manager and Coach to the first team. Reserves' home matches are played at Moss Lane, normally on a Wednesday evening with a 7-30pm kick-off. They compete in the Lancashire League Division One, alongside Reserve sides from both higher and lower levels of the non-League football pyramid.
PART 2 of the Reserves' Page for 2000-01 - including the League Table -is HERE. For current season click Home Page button above.
I am very grateful to Bob Allan for supplying the results and fixture information below.
18 June 2001
LAST SEASON AND THIS
The Altrincham Reserve side suffered badly last season from the bad weather, from indifferent management and from the off-field upheavals at the Club. With the new Mark Ward regime installed in Summer 2000, his assistant Joey Dunn ran the Reserves. Bad weather meant that matches were irregular and, inexcusably, were rarely publicised. The weather disruptions to first-team games meant that the Reserves either comprised what was virtually the First Team, playing Reserve league football to keep themselves fit or, was the Reserve team playing a mixture of regulars, trialists, first-teamers who were out of favour or recovering from injury, and Youth team players. The prime example of the up and down season was that the Reserves managed to win and lose games 7-1 and 1-7 respectively within a week of each other. The team's fortunes improved towards the end of the season when Youth Team manager George Heslop was drafted in to replace Joey Dunn. Indeed, the best that can probably be said of the Reserves' campaign last season is that it blooded a number of promising Youth Team players such as Paul Crowther, Mario Daniel, Otis Thomas, Steve Howe and Pat Claffey, some of whom may come through to the Reserves more regularly next season, alongside their Youth team double-winning colleagues of last season. It is believed that Graham Heathcote and Bernard Taylor will be running the Reserves this coming season (2001-02).LEEK RESERVES
Leek Town, who failed to honour some scheduled fixtures last season will not be running a Reserve side next season. Instead, the Club is concentrating on winning first-team promotion. Leek hope to re-form a Reserve side in 2002-3 but, if so, it would play in a Midlands league rather than the Lancashire League in which Altrincham Reserves play.15 June 2001
ALTY RESERVES FACE MORE COMPETITION
The Lancashire League, in which Altrincham Reserves play, is set to grow next season. Although Leek Town are believed to have resigned, four new teams have signed up- including one from Yorkshire! The newcomers are the Reserves of Accrington Stanley, Barrow, Ossett Town and Rossendale United.Last Season's News and Details: 2000-01
14 May 2001
RESERVES FINISH EIGHTH
A fine goal from Youth team striker Rico Richards ended the Reserves' season on a high note, with a win at bottom-of-the-table Leek Town. Morecambe won the championship; see Part 2 for the table.6 May 2001
RESERVES' TRIUMPH & DISASTER
Next (and last) match: away to Leek, tomorrow. The league table is here.
29 April 2001
TWO GAMES THIS WEEK There are two Reserves' games this week at Moss Lane, presumably 7-30/7.45pm kick offs.
25 April 2001
NO CUP FINAL FOR ALTY
League Cup Semi-Finals: Morecambe 4 Altrincham 1 / Southport 0 Burscough 0 (Burscough won 4 - 3 on penalties after extra time).
Recent League results: Altrincham 0 Marine 0 / Northwich 2 Lancaster 1 / Colwyn Bay 0 Morecambe 1 / Lancaster 2 Ashton United 1 / Burscough 3 Leigh RMI 2 / Leek 0 Morecambe 2 / Bamber Bridge 0 Colwyn Bay 1.
The revised table is here
15 April 2001
RESULTS
Recent results are:
The updated league table is here.
8 April 2001
UP TO EIGHTH
The Reserves' two recent wins have taken them to eighth in the table.
4 April 2001
MATCH OFF
Tonight's Reserves' game against Morecambe at Moss Lane has been postponed. Recent results:
31 March 2001
TWO WINS
The Reserves beat Ashton Utd 4-0 on Monday (26th) and then beat Lancaster away by the same score on Friday (30th). Gareth Mostyn scored once against Ashton and twice at Lancaster.
26 March 2001
RECENT RESERVES' RESULTS
21 March 2001
ALTY RESERVES 2 NORTHWICH VICTORIA RES 2
With the first-team friendly at Rhyl postponed, Altrincham fielded a virtual first eleven against a young Northwich side. Graham Heathcote and Bernard Taylor were in command and there was no sign of Reserve Team coach Joey Dunn, who has presumably left with Mark Ward. Graham, as usual, produced a lively stream of encouraging shouts and tactical advice to his players throughout the game. Scheuber played in an unaccustomed front position in the absence of Finney and Thornley, whilst young Phil Burton was played at left-back, having appeared also in last week's Reserves' game. Altrincham went behind after only five minutes when Vics number 7 shot well from the edge of the box and Coburn could do no more than help it into the back of the net. The Robins play improved as the half wore on and they deservedly equalised when Edwards made a fine tackle on the half-way line and raced for goal with a defender in attendance. Though forced wide, to the left, Edwards's shot was goalbound but as a defender and Danny Murphy arrived on the goal-line it looked as if Murphy helped it over the line (28 mins). Terry Bowker left the fray with an injured back (35 mins) but Alty went ahead seconds before the interval when Ian Craney finished well from the edge of the box after the goalkeeper had ended up in no-man's land. Vics came back after the interval but the game turned on events after 70 minutes. Seekie replaced Murphy and Mairs came on for Scheuber. Moments later Edwards hit both posts with a shot which rebounded back into the keeper's hands. The Alty were caught out by a short corner and a far-post header beat Stuart Coburn, though he got his hands to the ball (76 mins). Mairs nearly laid on a winner but Edwards could not turn it past the Vics' keeper.
14 March 2001
ALTY RESERVES' NEXT GAME
Alty Reserves host Northwich Vics at Moss Lane on Wednesday 21 March, k.o. at 7.30pm.
14 March 2001
ALTY RES 2 ASHTON RES 0
A strong Robins' side beat Ashton Res with goals from Thornley and Murphy.
11 March 2001
VICTORY!
Other results:
The revised league table is below.
24 February 2001
RESERVES DRAW
In a largely unpublicised Reserves' game last Wednesday, Altrincham drew 1-1 with Bamber Bridge, despite playing for much of the match with only ten men following a sending off. Four of the Youth Team are reported to have figured in the match.21 February 2001
RESULTS, WEEK ENDING 17 FEBRUARY
4 February 2001
RUNCORN AND RESULTS
Runcorn appear to have dropped out of the league; for the latest table, see below. Results for w/e 3 February1 February 2001
"RESERVES" BIG WIN
Alty's first team (minus Ellison and Murphy) masquerading as the Reserves trounced Guiseley 6-1 at Moss Lane on last night. Steve Finney hit a hat-trick, Ian Craney got two and Steve Hawes one. However, Alty Reserves lost 0-1 to Colwyn Bay last week; other results from w/e 27 January were: Burscough Res 3 Guiseley Res 1 / Morecambe Res 4 Lancaster City Res 1 / BamberBridge Res 0 Southport Res 3 / Leek Town Res P Altrincham Res P14 January 2001
ALTY RES 3 GUISELEY RES 0
After a barren spell, the Reserves made it two wins in a week on Wednesday with this League Cup victory. However, Guiseley gained revenge in Saturday's league match. The league results were as follows:7 January 2001
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
The revised table is below.6 January 2001
ALTY RES 2 BURSCOUGH RES 0
A goal from Paul Walsham put the Reserves on their way to a 2-0 win at Burscough last night. David Wills scored the second. The strong Robins side included Phil Power, Steve Porter, James Glendenning and Eric Seekie.24 December 2000
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
The revised league table is below.
22 December 2000
RESERVES LEAGUE
Only one match was played last week; Guiseley beat Bamber Bridge 2-0.10 December 2000
ALTY RESERVES LOSE
Alty Reserves went down 3-2 at Marine on Friday. Other recent results were:3 December 2000
RECENT RESULTS
For the revised league table, see below.26 November 2000
RESERVES' CRASH
The Reserves lost 0-5 at Morecambe on Friday night. The side included two trialists and the game was played in difficult conditions. Alty Reserves remain eleventh (see below). Other results this week were-12 November 2000
RESERVES' RESULTS
All last week's Reserves' League matches were postponed and the only surviving Cup matches were: Guiseley Reserves 1, Marine Reserves 2 and Bamber Bridge Reserves 3, Runcorn Reserves 1.5 November 2000
RESERVES' RESULTS
30 October 2000
ASHTON GAME OFF
The Reserves game at Ashton Utd (Tuesday 31 October) has been postponed because of the wet weather.MARIO MAKES HIS MARK
The scorer of Altrincham Reserves' goal in the defeat at Northwich (see below) was 16 year-old Mario Daniel, who had also scored in his two previous games for the Youth Team.29 October 2000
ALTY RESERVES LOSE AT NORTHWICH
LANCS LEAGUE RESULTS FOR 28 OCTOBER 2000
*** This fixture was rearranged at short notice from December.
LANCS LEAGUE CUP RESULTS
22 October 2000
MIDWEEK LANCS LEAGUE RESULTS
15 October 2000
MIDWEEK LANCS LEAGUE RESULTS
7 October 2000
MIDWEEK LANCS LEAGUE RESULTS
4 October 2000
RESERVES LOSE TO LANCASTER
In a fixture postponed from last week, Altrincham Reserves lost 0-3 to Lancaster City Reserves tonight at Moss Lane. Dickie Landon and Barry Crowe were in the side, Ryan McMahon kept goal and Otis Thomas came on for the last 17 minutes. Altrincham enjoyed a lot of possession but conceded two breakaway goals after 50 and 76 minutes to add to Lancaster's opener on 19 minutes.Saturday 30 September 2000: Colwyn Bay Res 1 Altrincham Res 2
Altrincham Reserves moved up to ninth after this fine result. See below for the League Table.Wednesday 27 September 2000: Match Postponed
Altrincham Reserves versus Lancaster City Reserves; this match was postponed due to heavy rain.Saturday 23 September 2000: Altrincham Res. 0 Bamber Bridge 2
Altrincham went down 0-2 to what was effectively Bamber Bridge's first eleven, so this was a creditable result. The Bridge had no League match so gave their first-choice players a run-out. Leroy Chambers, returning from injury, came through the 90 minutes unscathed.Reserves' Fixtures: Lancashire League Division 1
| DATE | AT | AGAINST | RES | SCORERS |
| 23.8.00 | H | LEEK TOWN RES | 3-1 | Porter, Thomas, Walsham |
| 30.8.00 | H | LEIGH RMI RES | 0-3 | --- |
| 1.9.00 | A | SOUTHPORT RES | 0-4 | --- |
| 9.9.00 | A | RUNCORN RES | 4-4 | Furlong, Glendenning 2, Mairs |
| 23.9.00 | A | BAMBER BRIDGE RES | 0-2 | --- |
| 30.9.00 | A | COLWYN BAY RES | 2-1 | Jackson, Seekie |
| 4.10.00 | H | LANCASTER CITY RES | 0-3 | - |
| 28.10.00 | A | NORTHWICH VICS RES | 1-3 | Daniel |
| 24.11.00 | A | MORECAMBE RES | 0-5 | - |
| 9.12.00 | A | MARINE RES | 2-3 | - |
| 5.1.01 | A | BURSCOUGH RES | 2-0 | Walsham, Wills |
| 10.1.01 | H | GUISELEY RES | 3-0 | League Cup Match |
| 13.1.01 | A | GUISELEY RES | 0-3 | -- |
| 24.1.01 | H | COLWYN BAY RES | 0-1 | - |
| 31.1.01 | H | GUISELEY RES | 6-1 | Craney 2, Finney 3 (1 pen), Hawes |
| 21.2.01 | H | BAMBER BRIDGE RES | 1-1 | - |
| 7.3.01 | A | LEIGH RMI RES | 3-1 | -- |
| 14.3.01 | H | ASHTON UNITED RES | 2-0 | Cup match? Thornley 35, Murphy 47 |
| 21.3.01 | H | NORTHWICH VICS RES | 2-2 | Murphy 28, Craney 44 |
| 26.3.01 | A | ASHTON UNITED RES | 4-0 | Mostyn, Claffey + 2 others |
| 30.3.01 | A | LANCASTER CITY RES | 4-0 | Mostyn 2 + 2 others |
| 11.4.01 | H | BURSCOUGH RES | 1-1 | - |
| 18.4.01 | H | ASHTON UTD RES | 1-2 | - |
| ?.4.01 | H | MARINE RES | 0-0 | - |
| 2.5.01 | H | MORECAMBE RES | 7-1 | Thornley, Murphy, Gallagher were amongst the scorers |
| 4.5.01 | H | SOUTHPORT RES | 1-7 | - |
| 7.5.01 | A | LEEK TOWN RES | 1-0 | Richards |
Reserves' League Table: Lancashire League Division 1
This table is now on the Reserves' page, Part Two.
Reserves' Squad Members 2000-01
This section is now on the Reserves' page, Part Two.