Such A Shayme - Fax Fail To Call The Shots....

And so to the start of February, amidst drizzle then sun and an icy wind, and the Shay Stadium and a National League Premier encounter between FC Halifax Town and Aldershot Town FC.

FC Halifax Town was established in 2008, replacing the old Halifax Town AFC which went into administration in the 2007/08 season, owing over £800,000 to HMRC and reputedly £2m in the red.

The Shaymen were initially placed in the Northern Premier League Division One North, and, after a season of bedding in, achieved back to back promotions to reach the Conference North in 2011, spearheaded by the goals of a young Jamie Vardy. Despite play off heartache the following season, defeated by The Holy Blues of Gainsborough Trinity, Fax went up the following year to the Conference National via the play offs after beating Guiseley in the final.

Halifax won the FA Trophy in 2016, beating Grimsby Town 1-0 at Wembley, but saw relegation back to the Conference North in the process. Immediately promoted back, the Shaymen returned to non league's top tier the season after as champions 🏆. 

Since then there has been a play off flirtation in 2021/22 - beaten by Chesterfield - and another FA Trophy success last term, defeating Gateshead 1-0. This campaign sees the Shaymen sit 10th in the Conference Premier after a disappointing recent run - but knocked out of the Trophy by Altrincham at the first time of asking on penalties 😳

And so to the start of February, amidst drizzle then sun and an icy wind, and the Shay Stadium and a National League Premier encounter between FC Halifax Town and Aldershot Town FC.

FC Halifax Town was established in 2008, replacing the old Halifax Town AFC which went into administration in the 2007/08 season, owing over £800,000 to HMRC and reputedly £2m in the red.

The Shaymen were initially placed in the Northern Premier League Division One North, and, after a season of bedding in, achieved back to back promotions to reach the Conference North in 2011, spearheaded by the goals of a young Jamie Vardy. Despite play off heartache the following season, defeated by The Holy Blues of Gainsborough Trinity, Fax went up the following year to the Conference National via the play offs after beating Guiseley in the final.

Halifax won the FA Trophy in 2016, beating Grimsby Town 1-0 at Wembley, but saw relegation back to the Conference North in the process. Immediately promoted back, the Shaymen returned to non league's top tier the season after as champions 🏆. 

Since then there has been a play off flirtation in 2021/22 - beaten by Chesterfield - and another FA Trophy success last term, defeating Gateshead 1-0. This campaign sees the Shaymen sit 10th in the Conference Premier after a disappointing recent run - but knocked out of the Trophy by Altrincham at the first time of asking on penalties 😳

The original Shaymen, Halifax Town AFC, was formed on 24 May 1911 at the Saddle Hotel, and commenced playing in the Yorkshire Combination and the Midland League. The club was a founder member of the Football League Division Three North in 1921, where they stayed until 1958 when the league was restructured and Town joined the new Third Division.

Relegation to Division 4 in 1963 was followed by promotion back in 1968/69 and then a further demotion in 1976. Their most famous victory was against Manchester City in the FA Cup - a 1-0 win in 1980 on a mudbath, and credit being taken by a barmy hypnotist called Romark - real name Ronald Markham - for his work with the players 😆 However the Shaymen lost their League status in 1993, but won the Conference title in 1997/98; it was a short lived stay as Town went back to the Conference in 2002, having finished bottom of the League.

In 2008 the club was placed into administration but failed to get a Company Voluntary Arrangement and was wound up in May 2008.

Aldershot Town FC is another phoenix club - the Shots, playing at the Recreation Ground ('The Rec'), were established in the spring of 1992, taking over from the debt ridden Fourth Division wound up Aldershot FC.

Initially placed in the Isthmian Third Division, Town won the league in their debut season and then were crowned as Division Two champions the following year. Shots won the First Division in 1997/98 and then the Premier in 2003 to gain a place in the Conference.

There they remained for five seasons before ascending, as champions, to the Football League at the end of the 2007/08 campaign. In perfect symmetry five years in led to Aldershot being relegated back to the Conference and entering administration in May 2013 with debts of £1m.

August 2013 saw the club taken over by a consortium led by former chairman Shahid Azeem. The play offs were reached in 2017 and 2018 but the Shots were 'relegated' in 2019 in 21st position - reprieved as Gateshead were forcibly demoted due to financial shenanigans. The last two seasons have seen Town scrape to survival but this time they look comfortable in 7th after a last gasp 3-3 equaliser on Tuesday at Wealdstone; however they suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat at the hands of Conference North bottom placed Bishop's Stortford in the FA Trophy - this in stark contrast to FA Cup giantkillings at Swindon (7-4) and Stockport County (1-0).

The original Shots, Aldershot FC, was established in 1926 when local sports journalist Jack White persuaded council officials that the garrison town needed a professional football club. Aldershot joined the Southern League and was crowned as champions in 1929/30.

The Shots were elected to the Football League Division Three South in 1932, replacing Thames, and had to seek re-election in 1937. 1958 saw Aldershot become a founder member of the new Fourth Division - and another re-election vote was successful at the end of that season.

Promoted in 1972/73 and relegated in 1976, the Shots became the first ever winners of the Football League play offs, beating Wolves 3-0 on aggregate, for promotion to Division Three in 1987. Their stay lasted only two years however, relegated to the bottom tier again.

Amidst a growing financial crisis the club was wound up in the High Court on 31 July 1990, but this was lifted on 7 August as property developer Spencer Trethewy paid £200,000 to save the club. But it soon emerged that Trethewy had insufficient financial wherewithal to keep the club running, and he was dismissed from the board on 1 November 1990.

Trethewy was subsequently convicted of fraud in 1994, sentenced to a 2 year prison term. He then changed his name by deed poll to Spencer Day and is currently manager of Farnborough FC.

The financial problems continued to beset Aldershot and they became the first club to resign from the Football League in over 30 years on 25 March 1992. Their last game was a 2-0 defeat against Cardiff City at Ninian Park, and the club's results were expunged for that season. Cue the phoenix and Aldershot Town FC...

Numberplates BA66ERS and J1NXX feature as the tram takes me into Manchester past the Taylor Swift mannequin, the Portico Library AD 1806 and the Blue Whale Asian Supermarket. Then Insomnia Cookies, Hanging Ditch and the new Victoria Tap at a station still advertising trips to Scotland, Ireland, Belgium and, er, Goole...

Beyond Newton Heath Traincare Centre, Arrow Mill just outside Rochdale leads to Kindness in the hillside at Todmorden and the Lamp Room and dominoes at Hebden Bridge. Then Halifax, 'Calderdale Culturedale', and Eureka - the National Children's Museum, the Quality Street factory and the Halifax Flour Society 1879.

In the compact town centre are the Square Chapel Arts Centre, Calderdale Industrial Museum, Escaporium, the Piece Hall, a cloth hall since 1779, and the Town Hall where 'Man Prospecteth'. Then Halifax Minster, Inn-Cognito and The Three Pigeons pub with its 1930s Art Deco interior.

To The Shay, the all covered home of FC Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers RLFC, with a capacity of 14,081, 5,830 standing - the ground is bounded by Shay Syke for the Main (East) Stand which houses segregated seating and Hunger Hill with a closed North Terrace - just ten flags on the bare steps today. The Skircoat (West) Stand, missing a few seats is also closed - the A629 Huddersfield Road above it, but the South Terrace is open. £21 in and a crowd of 1,928 - 192 away.

The Shaymen are in predominantly dark blue with light blue and white on their sleeves, and the Shots are in change white and pale blue stripes with black shorts. 

The Shaymen start strongly with Adan George stabbing wide inside the first 120 seconds, but the Shots respond and Lorent Tolaj heads over on 9 minutes when he should have done better. Fax's Jamie Cooke has a shot blocked then Tolaj scuffs wide and has another effort well saved by Sam Johnson.

On 26 minutes the deadlock is broken - an unconvincing punch by Shots' Dutch keeper Jordi Van Stappershoef lands at the feet of Max Wright and his 25 yard sumptuous effort into the top right corner puts Halifax ahead.

There is almost an immediate response - Jack Barham, after a jinking run a minute later, is denied by a smart save from Johnson. George nearly doubles the lead but shoots over the bar after his initial effort is parried. The Shaymen lead 1-0 at the break.

The second half sees an immediate response from Aldershot as Tolaj sweeps home from a Ryan Glover cross three minutes in. Thereafter Cooke has an effort saved, Barham is just wide for the Shots and Halifax's Belize international Angelo Cappello's daring shot narrowly misses.

But on 69 minutes Aldershot substitute Kwame Thomas arrives late at the back post to volley home decisively, and the Shots lead. It's very nearly 3-1 as Barham has a good strike beaten away by Johnson. 

Aside from sub Jack Jenkins' mazy run, with four minutes to go, culminating in a smart save from Van Stappershoef and Luke Summerfield's 95th minute free kick which shaves the post, Aldershot comfortably hang on. Indeed Thomas should have put the game to bed, breaking from his own half, dancing past Johnson, but a heavy touch allows the shotstopper to recover and scramble the ball away.

A Tale of Two Cities - InSpired Minstermen Jump Through Hoops !!

And so to an autumnal and cold November Tuesday evening and the LNER York Community Stadium for a National League encounter between York City and Oxford City.

The Minstermen, originally nicknamed the Robins, were founded with the formation of the York City Association Football and Athletic Club Limited in May 1922, initially playing at Fulfordgate, and subsequently was admitted to the Midland League. York played in the Midland League for seven seasons, achieving a highest finish of sixth before making its first serious attempt, in vain, for election to the Football League in May 1927. 

However, the club was successful two years later, elected to the Football League in June 1929, replacing Ashington in the Third Division North and winning their first League match 2-0 against Wigan Borough. City moved to Bootham Crescent in 1932 where they remained for 88 years, then moving to the much awaited and much delayed Community Stadium in January 2021.

The club was forced to apply for re-election for the first time, successfully, after finishing bottom of the Third Division North in 1949-50. After a 13th place finish in 1957-1958, York became a founder member of the new Fourth Division, with clubs finishing in the top half of the North and South sections forming the new Third Division.

York just missed out on the runners-up spot in 1958-59 on goal average, but they achieved promotion for the first time in third place - with relegation following the season after. Thereafter a series of applications for re-election (1964, 1967, 1968 and 1969) was interrupted by promotion in 1964-65 - for one season only before relegation inevitably followed.

York's record of earning promotion every six years was maintained in 1970-71 with a fourth-place finish in the Fourth Division. After surviving demotion twice on goal average, the Minstermen hit form in 1973-74, ascending to the Second Division - but only for two campaigns. City dropped further still, relegated in 1976-77, and was forced to apply for re-election yet again in 1978 and 1981.

York won the Fourth Division championship with 101 points in 1983-84, becoming the first Football League team to achieve a three-figure points total in a season. 

Then in January 1985, City recorded a 1–0 home victory over First Division Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup, courtesy of an 89th-minute penalty scored by Keith Houchen. The following month City proceeded to draw 1–1 at home with European Cup holders Liverpool, but lost 7–0 in the replay at Anfield.

After relegation in 1988 York ended a five-year spell in the Third Division by gaining promotion to the Second Division via the play offs, beating Crewe Alexandra on penalties at Wembley. The Minstermen reached the Second Division play offs at their first attempt, but lost 1-0 on aggregate to Stockport County. Memorable League Cup victories over Manchester United and Everton followed in the ensuing seasons, but City received more media coverage from the death of player David Longhurst from a cardiac arrest on the pitch on 8 September 1990 against Lincoln City - a stand at Bootham Crescent was later named in his memory.

City suffered relegation in 1999 and during December 2001, long-serving chairman Douglas Craig put the club and its Bootham Crescent ground up for sale for £4.5 million, announcing that the club would resign from the Football League if a buyer was not found. Motor racing driver John Batchelor took over the club in March 2002, allegedly diverted almost all of a £400,000 sponsorship deal from Persimmon to his racing team, and by December York City FC was in administration. 

The newly formed Supporters' Trust bought the club in March 2003 after their initial offer of £100,000 as payment for £160,000 owed in tax was accepted by HMRC. But after failing to win any of their final 20 league fixtures in 2003-04 York finished bottom of the Third Division, and was relegated to the Football Conference after 75 years of Football League membership.

Flirting with the extremes of further relegation and the play offs, City reached the FA Trophy Final in 2009, losing 2-0 to Stevenage Borough at Wembley. But Trophy success followed three years later, beating Newport County 2-0, and, a week after, the Minstermen earned promotion back to the Football League and League Two, beating Luton Town 2-1 in the 2012 Conference Premier play off final, again at Wembley, after an eight-year absence.

They made the League Two play-offs the following season, beaten by Fleetwood Town. However City was relegated to the National League four years after returning to the Football League, with a bottom place finish in League Two in 2015-2016. The Minstermen were further demoted to National League North for the first time ever in 2016-17, but they ended the season with a 3–2 win over Macclesfield Town at Wembley in the 2017 Trophy Final.

The club was promoted back to the National League at the end of the 2021-22 season via the play-offs, with a 2–0 victory over Boston United in the final. The Supporters' Trust purchased JM Packaging's 75% share of the club in July 2022 to regain its 100% shareholding, before transferring 51% of those shares to businessman Glen Henderson, who took over as club chairman. 19th last time, the Minstermen have reached the FA Cup Second Round, facing Wigan Athletic next Friday, and currently sit in the final relegation slot at 21st after Saturday's 'flat' 3-1 home defeat to Hartlepool.

Oxford City FC, the Hoops, based in Marsh Lane, Marston in Oxford played their first recorded match on 15 March 1884. Fixtures were irregular over the next decade, but the club was reorganised and reconstituted in 1897 and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1906, beating Bishop Auckland 3-0, before joining the Isthmian League the following year.

In the latter half of the 20th century, the club went into decline and soon fell behind Headington United (now Oxford United), who turned professional in 1949. Attempts were made to restore success when it became a limited company in 1979 and they later appointed Bobby Moore as manager, with Harry Redknapp as his assistant.

The Hoops reached their lowest point in 1988 when they were evicted from their White House Ground by landlords Brasenose College, who sold the land off for housing. Forced to resign from the Isthmian League, City did not reform and return to senior football until 1990 when, based at Cutteslowe Park, they joined the South Midlands League Division One, winning promotion in their first season. 

They returned to the Isthmian League in 1993 coinciding with a move to Marsh Lane. The club continued to climb through the divisions during the 1990s and reached the FA Vase Final in 1995, losing 2-1 to Arlesey Town.

Two seasons in the Isthmian League Premier Division prefaced an epic FA Cup run in 1999-2000, culminating in a three-game battle against Wycombe Wanderers in the First Round Proper. City were eventually edged out 1–0 at Oxford United's old home, the Manor Ground. The first replay had been abandoned because of a fire alarm just as the penalty shootout was about to start; this remains the only FA Cup tie to go to a second replay since the FA ruled all ties should be settled after a maximum of two games. This rule change meant that City's other FA Cup record – the six games needed before losing to Alvechurch in 1971-1972 in the qualifying rounds – is unlikely to ever be beaten.

In 2005 the club was relegated back to the Spartan South Midlands League, but achieved promotion at the first time of asking, this time to the Southern League Division One South and West. Further elevation was achieved in 2008, after a 1-0 win over Uxbridge, as the Hoops reached the Southern Premier Division.

In 2011–12 Oxford City finished as runners-up, narrowly missing out on the title, but they won the play-off final against AFC Totton to ascend to the Conference North for the first time in their history. After a successful first season, finishing in 10th place, the following year proved more of a struggle, with the club initially finishing in the relegation zone after a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player, but The Hoops were reprieved from relegation after Vauxhall Motors resigned from the Football Conference.

In 2015-16 City was laterally moved from Conference North to South, which was relabelled National League South. Two years on Oxford enjoyed a historic run in the FA Cup, knocking out league opposition for the first time with a 1-0 win at Colchester United, and narrowly defeated in the Second Round from an injury time goal by Notts County.

2020-21 saw another FA Cup scalp beating EFL Northampton Town 2-1. But 14 May 2023 was the historic date that Oxford City was promoted to the National League - after finishing third, play off semi final victory against Worthing (2-0) and a 4-0 drubbing of St Albans City in the final saw The Hoops rise to the fifth tier for the first time ever. They currently lie one place above the Minstermen with 20 points from 20 games, after Saturday's 4-0 away win at Ebbsfleet - their first away victory this season.

En route numberplates LE60 MAD, YSV 365 - a discount shop - and TII DUN feature along with vans advertising Slates and Ladders and Stagefreight. I reach mist enshrouded skyscrapers aka Manchester city centre, Franco Manca, Fundamentum bar and the Blind Veterans statue at Piccadilly. Onwards to Staly Vegas, the river a torrent at Marsden and then The Head of Steam at Huddersfield.

Thereafter the old Machell Bros building, a Shoddy and Mungo manufacturer in Dewsbury, and Mount Pleasant at Batley. Afterwards LoveofLeeds, Neville Hill train depot, severely flooded fields at Ulleskelf and into York.

I'm up at Monks Cross so the trip back into York takes in Heworth, Herosmans Cottage, Brigadier Gerard and a wall mural stating 'Nightly Bile Beans Keep You Healthy, Bright Eyed and Slim'. Onto Monkgate, Little Green Rascals then the Minster and its Constantine The Great statue, bypassing The Three Legged Mare and The Fat Badger.

York City Walls are in three separate parts - I join at Lendal Tower taking in the Roman fortress gateway, the Star Inn (I also encounter Ye Olde Starre Inn on my travels) and to Bootham Bar Postern Tower and back. Then the War Monument 'Their Name Liveth For Evermore' and the Cholera Burial Ground, Old Baile, Baile Hill, Cliffords Tower and the National Railway Museum - featuring a Deltic, Rocket, George Stephenson bust, Mallard, HST and Shinkansen  - the Japanese Bullet Train.

Then the final part by the Castle, joining at Fishergate Tower through the Gatehouse to the Red Tower. I also take in the Shambles Markets, Jorvik Centre, York Dungeon, Guy Fawkes Inn and The Perky Peacock - plus the controversial anti-terror barriers....

The 8,500 capacity ground, with a mix of coloured seating, forms part of the Monks Cross Shopping Park - the all seater stadium supports York City FC, York City Knights RLFC and a Sports Leisure Complex. The LNER Azuma Main East Stand bestrides the Retail Park, the South Stand sits in front of a cinema, the West Stand is flanked by undeveloped fields, and the North (unused tonight) sees an industrial estate behind including a big Kia outlet.

York are in red and blue, whilst Oxford play in their famous blue and white hoops. It's £22 for the main stand (and everywhere else) with a crowd of 3,678 - 58 away supporters.

After Saturday's chastening defeat York start on the front foot and should have taken the lead on 96 seconds after good work from captain Ryan Fallowfield tees up Scott Burgess in acres of spaces but he shoots wildly over. No matter as on 6 minutes Tyler Cordner strides forward and hits a screamer in off the post from 30 yards - not bad for a centre back ! - and the Minstermen lead. 

The advantage is doubled on 18 minutes; more good work from Fallowfield and Maz Kouhyar on the right sees the ball crossed for Will Davies to prod past Jack Bycroft. Further chances for Burgess, closer this time, and Dipo Akinyemi come to naught, whilst the Hoops only create one opportunity from Zac McEachran approaching half time.

A comfortable second period is only enlivened when the frustrating Akinyemi, who has two clear openings but elects not to shoot, is injured and substituted. His replacement is the dropped Lenell John-Lewis - 'His Name Is A Shop' - and he proceeds to conjure an overhead effort just wide. Then a near post flick is smothered away by Bycroft and a third shot across goal fails to hit the target.

The Hoops have plenty of possession but little imagination or penetration and it is in the 94th, and final, minute that substitute Claudio Ofosu forces a meaningful George Sykes-Kenworthy save. 

So the Minstermen ease to a 2-0 victory, moving to 19th, whilst the Hoops sink into the relegation zone.

Behind Closed Doors Part 2: Cock Robins, Linnets Off Song....

And so to an Avian derby which looked unlikely to fly - the Robins of Altrincham against the Linnets of King's Lynn in the National League, a game already postponed once because of Covid protocols.

Alty's history was covered in my previous match report, and since the Woking home victory the Robins have, frustratingly, drawn at home with the ten-man Monkey Hangers of Hartlepool United (team bus registration 14 HU - for those that are interested), been shot down 2-1 at Aldershot, and played the reverse fixture at Woking, earning a point with an injury-time penalty. A home clash against Dagenham & Redbridge last Saturday proved underwhelming, the only piece of quality being Will Wright's exquisite free-kick with ten to go as the Daggers nicked all three points 1-0.

King's Lynn Football Club was officially founded on 30 August 1881 as Lynn Town, although there is mention of an earlier team existing in 1868, and the club badge refers to 1879. After winning the Norfolk Senior Cup in 1883, and with three more successes in the next seven years, Lynn was a founder member of the Norfolk & Suffolk League in 1897, crowned as champions four times before World War One, and then winning four consecutive titles between 1922 and 1925.

After a brief spell in the East Anglian League, Lynn became a founder member of the Eastern Counties League in 1935.  Thereafter they spent two seasons in the United Counties League after WWII, before reverting to the ECL where a 1953/54 League and Cup double, coinciding with the adoption of the name King's Lynn FC, saw them step up to the Midland League. Four years later the club joined the Southern League, and achieved promotion to the Premier Division for the 1959/60 season.

FA Cup exploits in 1961/62 saw King's Lynn reach the third round, beating Chelmsford City and Coventry City both by two goals to one, before losing 4-0 to Everton.

In 1980 the club transferred to the Northern Premier League but in 1983 they returned to the Southern League. After a yo-yo existence Lynn were promoted to the Conference North as champions in 2008, but demoted a year later due to their ground failing to meet Conference North standards - King's Lynn have played at the Walks for their entire existence, with the stadium name deriving from the area of parkland located next to the stadium.

Whilst the remedial work was completed by the start of the following season, Lynn's first season back in the Northern Premier League saw the club wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000, going out of business in December after a failed appeal. A reformed club was established in January 2010 as Lynn FC and later renamed King's Lynn Town FC.

The Linnets were admitted to the Premier Division of the United Counties League and finished runners-up in their debut campaign, also reaching the semi-finals of the FA Vase, losing 6–2 on aggregate to Coalville Town. After finishing as runners-up again in 2011/12 the club was promoted to Division One South of the Northern Premier League. They won Division One South at their first attempt, earning promotion to the Premier Division.

In 2015 the Linnets were transferred to the Premier Division of the Southern League. After a play off defeat in 2018 Lynn finished as Premier Division Central runners up in the 2018/19 season, going on to beat Stratford Town and Alvechurch, and then being promoted to the National League North following a 3–2 win at Warrington Town in the super play-off final.

The 2019/20 season was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic with the club second in the league, two points behind leaders York City with two games in hand. The National League later decided the final league table would be based on points-per-game, resulting in King's Lynn being declared champions, and promotion to the National League.

In 2020/21 the new club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time after Notts County were forced to forfeit the fourth qualifying round tie due to a Covid outbreak in their squad. In the first round, King's Lynn defeated League Two club Port Vale 1–0 at Vale Park - then losing 6–1 in the second round at Portsmouth.

In the league a bright start has lately been overshadowed by ongoing rows concerning loans/ grants regarding fulfilling the season's fixtures, resulting in a threat to 'draw down the shutters' at the end of February, a week's emergency funding, furloughing six first team players, and 'Gun to the Head to Carry On'. Little wonder that the previous 12 games have accumulated 6 points and left the Linnets deep in the mire - if relegation comes to pass this season, which seems increasingly unlikely....

So a different, circuitous route, circumventing Altrincham town centre and its £12,000 vanity project, complete with spelling mistake, and the equally unusual Eudaemonium. A repeat performance from B16LET (Wren Properties) plus L4WNS and a second sighting of M3CRY (A dyslexic cry for help ???) feature as today's numberplates. Instead straight onto Park Road, and past the Wok Inn, Barberian and Marvel Guitars before I turn right at Moss Park Community Gardens.

Then Beauty at Peaches & Cream, Hair Icon, Pickering Lodge Park and beyond Rose & Lily Spa Bar, turning onto Thorley Lane and Cheshire Dog Spa. The Timperley Wedge and, in the distance, Field Walk, scene of an attempted murder late last year. Fittingly the next landmark, after turning right, on Grove Lane is Kenneth Dewey Funeral Directors.....

Before that the mosque that is the AMA (Altrincham Muslim Association) Centre, itself the site of a stabbing in 2017 - but attempted murder was downgraded to wounding with intent at the the subsequent trial. Then we're here at Moss Lane, Honeybear Nursery and those allotments, apparently missing a coat....

Piped on to the pitch by the iconic Emerson, Lake & Palmer's 'Fanfare For The Common Man', Alty are in red and white with black shorts, Lynn in blue with a yellow and black diagonal stripe (sash?). The home custodian, Tony Thompson, is in all pink, the away stopper, Theo Richardson, in all yellow. Lynn are able to announce a full bench for the first time in several games, including assistant manager and non league legend, 50 year old Paul Bastock, as goalkeeper cover.

A minute's silence for the coronavirus anniversary, and my view at the J Davidson is now obstructed by an overflowing skip, resulting in five eighths vision and more timepiece shuffling between both gates. The Robins create the first chance, James Hardy showing impressive footwork to shimmy round two defenders before lifting his shot over the bar.

Shortly after a sliced Alty shot lands in a garden on The Chequers, and the steward tries once, twice, three times (a gatey??) to open the gates and retrieve the ball - unsuccessfully. Whilst this jammed gates farce is playing out, the ball sits up nicely for Lynn's Simeon Jackson on 14 minutes and his volley smacks the bar before going over - Thompson motionless.

Within a minute the Robins lead as Ryan Colclough's corner is nodded in by an unchallenged Josh Hancock at the near post. Colclough brings a save out of Richardson soon after.

Jordan Richards forces a splendid fingertip save from Thompson ten minutes before the break, and Sonny Carey drives just wide with a minute left. So it's 1-0 at the interval in an entertaining half that also saw three goals correctly disallowed - two for Lynn, one for Alty. Half time also prompts a conversation with the steward, he of jammed gates, who informs me of a better vantage point involving a missing breeze block on the opposite side - to be investigated....

Five minutes into the second period it's deja vu as Jackson belts another screamer that hits the bar and bounces out, Thompson again motionless. Seven minutes afterwards Hancock's excellent, but slightly deflected, free kick doubles Altrincham's advantage.

Two minutes later and it's game over with the goal of the game; Hardy again showing nifty close control, slaloming down the wing and eventually scoring through Richardson's legs. Richardson prevents a fourth Alty goal, superbly fingertipping aside a Joe Piggott effort.

Thereafter the Robins are content to let Lynn push forward, but the Linnets' only meaningful chance is a disappointing Jordan Davies header, as the match finishes 3-0 to Altrincham.

'Behind Closed Doors' - From The Other Side: Cardinals' Sin - Man up, Goal Down....

And so, seemingly deprived later this month of an Avian derby as the Linnets of King's Lynn 'draw down the shutters' (a decision temporarily reversed), it's off to a National League game at the J Davidson Stadium between the Robins of Altrincham and Woking FC.

Altrincham FC was established by a Sunday School around 1891 as Rigby Memorial Club. They soon merged with another local team, Grapplers, forming Broadheath Football Club, and becoming a founder member of the Manchester League, where they finished bottom of the table in their inaugural campaign.

After playing at various grounds in Broadheath, Timperley and Altrincham, the club moved to Pollitt's Field in 1903, at which point they changed their name to Altrincham FC. Success winning the Cheshire Amateur Cup in their first season under their new name was followed with both the Manchester League and the Cheshire Senior Cup the following term. They won the Manchester League again in 1907, and moved to the current Moss Lane ground in 1910.

In 1911 the club joined Division Two of the Lancashire Combination, finishing as runners-up in their first season and earning promotion to Division One, where they remained until World War I. When football resumed in 1919, the club was a founder member of the Cheshire County League, staying there until the outbreak of World War II.

After missing out on the 1945/46 season, the Robins rejoined the Cheshire County League in 1946, but achieved little success until the 1960s, when Altrincham director Noel White hired Freddie Pye as manager. A key turning point was the signing of Jackie Swindells in 1965, who in his first full season scored 82 goals, helping Altrincham to the first of back-to-back Cheshire County League titles. After finishing as runners-up in 1968, Altrincham became a founder member of the Northern Premier League in 1968.

The Robins got to the semi-finals of the FA Trophy in 1977 but the following season went one better, reaching the final at Wembley, where they beat Leatherhead 3-1. After a series of failed applications for election to the Football League, Altrincham FC became a founder member of the Alliance Premier League (which became the Conference and is now the National League) - and the league's debut season saw them crowned as champions.

In the subsequent elections to the Football League, the club missed out by a single vote, receiving 25 to Rochdale's 26; particularly galling as the club had been promised the votes of Grimsby Town and Luton Town, but the Grimsby representative was prevented from voting by 'being in the wrong part of the meeting room', whilst the Luton representative arrived too late after a mix-up over the start time. Never again would they come so close....

Altrincham retained the APL title the following year, but again failed in the Football League elections. Another FA Trophy final appearance featured in 1982, this time losing 1–0 to Enfield. All the while the Robins were gaining a history of giant-killing in the FA Cup, reaching the third round of the FA Cup in four consecutive seasons between 1978–79 and 1981–82, holding a better record in the competition than any club playing in the Third or Fourth divisions during this period. To date the club has recorded seventeen victories against Football League clubs - the highlight a 2-1 victory against top flight Birmingham City at St Andrews in 1986. 

A second Trophy success - 1-0 against Runcorn - was also delivered in 1985. The halcyon days of my youth, with Jeff Johnson, John Rogers, Mal Bailey, Johnny King, Stan Allan, John Owens and Peter Eales, under the tutelage of Tony Sanders still bring back fond memories....

Mid table mediocrity prevailed thereafter until bottom place in 1997 saw relegation to the Northern Premier League in 1997; two seasons later promotion as champions heralded a single season return to the Conference..

A twelfth-place finish in 2003/04 allowed the Robins to qualify for the newly formed Conference North, and, finishing fifth, won promotion via the North/South final against Eastbourne Borough at the Britannia Stadium. Three consecutive reprieves from 2006 followed - bottom after an 18 point deduction for playing an ineligible player but saved by Canvey Island's resignation and Scarborough's expulsion, then spared by Boston United's demotion and, finally in 2008 the liquidation of Halifax preserved Alty's top flight status.

Ricky Ponting became a shareholder in the club in 2009 as the Robins were relegated to the Conference North at the end of the 2010/11 season. This was reversed in 2014 with a 2-1 play off final victory, in extra time, against Guiseley in front of a crowd of 4,632.

Sadly, in 2015/16 Alty were relegated to the renamed National League North, and in the subsequent season finished bottom, leading to a second successive relegation to the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League. But the 2017/18 term saw the club win the Northern Premier League title, and after one failed play off sortie, earned promotion via the play offs back to the National League last summer.

 After a bright start, five straight league defeats has prompted three loan signings - Montel Gibson, Yoann Zouma and Reagan Ogle, who all start tonight, with the Robins now placed eleventh.

The visitors, Woking FC, from Kingfield aka the Laithwaite Community Stadium, were formed in 1887 (not 1889 as was recently discovered - a new badge will reflect the correct date of inception), and joined the West Surrey League in 1895.

In 1911 the Cardinals (almost always shortened to The Cards) entered the Isthmian League and stayed in the top division for 72 years. 1958 saw the club win the last ever televised FA Amateur Cup against Ilford 3-0 in front of 71,000.

But by 1983 the Cards were falling, and relegations that year and in 1985 saw the club drop to the Isthmian Division Two South. Cue the Geoff Chapple managerial era as fortunes improved...

Promotions in the 1986/87 and 1989/90 seasons took Woking back to the Isthmian's top tier. In 1991 Woking reached the 4th round of the FA Cup, famously beating West Bromwich Albion 4-2 at The Hawthorns, courtesy of a Tim Buzaglo hat trick, before narrowly exiting 1-0 at Goodison Park to Everton.

The following season Woking played their Cards right, earning promotion to the Conference as Isthmian League champions. Thereafter the team won the FA Trophy three times in four years - 1994 (Runcorn 2-1), 1995 (Kidderminster Harriers 2-1) and 1997 (Dagenham & Redbridge 1-0), with Chapple leaving for Kingstonian after the third triumph.

2006 saw another FA Trophy final appearance, but defeat this time against Grays Athletic, and in 2009 Woking were relegated to the Blue Square South. In January 2011 Garry Hill was appointed as manager and steered the Cards to top of the pack, champions, promoted to the Conference the following year.

In May 2017 Hill left the club amidst much acrimony and the Cards dealt down; relegated on the final day of the season amongst managerial turmoil. A return to the National League followed in 2019, beating Welling 1-0 in the Southern play off final.

The club is now entering a brave new era, under fresh American investors John Katz and Drew Volpe, switching to full time status and aiming for promotion to the EFL. That has not been translated on to the pitch, with a poor run leaving the Cards face down in 18th, seven points behind the Robins but with five games in hand, albeit having reached the Trophy semi finals last weekend, beating league leaders Torquay United 1-0.

So a short journey, stepladders in the car just in case (!!), and then past Woodcote Wildlife Area and on to Manchester Road, where I'm greeted by the fire damaged, shuttered Railway pub and The Arches & Quay House business park - home of, amongst others, Twister Interiors, Healthy Mutts Dog Treats and Broadheath Central FC.

 

An eventful journey nonetheless with a DogsnDivas van, then a versatile builder offering 'Bricks & Mortar, Pipes & Water', then Fat Bob The Locksmith (yes, seriously !!), and featuring numberplates B16 LET (property rentals) and M155 YAK (conjuring up any number of images)....

 

Left by The Old Packet House and beyond the old canalside mill and boot polish works (Radium House) that hosts the Stubborn Mule Brewery, it's down to the roundabout at the end of Navigation Road. Crossing over the road at the Jehovah's Witnesses and its Kingdom Hall, familiar territory awaits in Woodlands Parkway. Then Oakfield Street, with Oakfield Chambers offering Psychological Services and via a muddy cut through by Timperley Brook which brings me to Moss Lane.

 

A bright day has turned to a very chilly night and behind closed doors my vantage point is the Chequers End, the former nightclub now redeveloped as townhouses. On the right the uncovered Carole and Fred Nash Terrace, and opposite a raised covered terraced stand featuring the Flaggers' flagstones, overshadowed by the gasometer. At the far end is the Golf Road terrace, evoking memories of 'Zigger Zagger, Zigger Zagger, Altrincham !!', and on my left is the new Community Sports Hall, the Footy Accumulators main grandstand and the sponsors' lounge.

 

Three points of vision - either side of the gateposts and hinge openings, and a wooden knothole in the gates themselves ('one I prepared earlier' (not!!)), providing seven eighths pitch coverage. Amidst a plethora of joggers and dogwalkers a handful stop to watch the action, but for a couple of minutes only, with one seemingly wearing a coat robbed from a nearby allotment. This aside from the final interloper who takes in the final four minutes (and four minutes stoppage time) - and who is astonished that I have lasted the duration from warm up to the death ('You need to get out a bit more' 'Don't we all ?'). As the minutes pass by I am conscious of resembling a timepiece figurine, shuffling between the three vantage points, dancing and disappearing as the clock strikes the (quarter) hour....or minute in my case ☺

Altrincham are in red and white with black shorts, Woking in yellow and black with a tannoy announcement that face masks are mandatory in the main stand but curiously nowhere else.... The match is preceded by a presentation for Robins' captain Jake Moult on the occasion of his 400th Alty appearance, but the Cards start sharper with Jamar Loza pirouetting on 12 minutes and just shooting wide.

 

Moult then has a goal disallowed on 21 for offside/ handball, before Ryan Colclough's well struck effort seven minutes after is expertly parried by Woking's keeper and captain Craig Ross. Then ten minutes before the break a sloppy back pass results in the Robins' Tom Hannigan bringing down Jayden Wareham, and, as last man, an inevitable red card means Altrincham go down to ten.

 

Surprisingly Alty are the more enterprising side in the second period despite their man disadvantage; Colclough has an effort deflected and it loops under the bar with Ross palming it over on 55. A shocking miss from Woking sub Jonte Smith, through on goal, ten minutes after proves pivotal....

 

On 69 minutes Robins' sub Tom Peers marauds down the right wing on a swift counterattack and squares for Matty Kosylo to finish sumptuously in the bottom left hand corner and Alty lead 1-0. A shame it's witnessed by a (non paying) audience of one...

 

Thereafter a magnificent rearguard action, with Moult immense, prevents Woking from creating anything other than hopeful long shots, despite the introduction of ex Premier League star Matt Jarvis. Indeed the Robins should have put the game to bed but Peers, fed by Joel Senior, finishes disappointingly.

 

Finally the Cards' 1-4-5 formation fashions a chance deep into stoppage time, but Tony Thompson produces a remarkable double reflex save to preserve Alty's three points.

 

So 1-0 to the home side at the finish, as the Cards' aces are trumped by the reliant Robins ☺ 'Zigger Zagger, Zigger Zagger, Moultrincham' anyone... ??