View source for Altrincham F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in Greater Manchester, England}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Altrincham
| image = Altrincham FC crest.svg
| upright = 0.75
| alt = Altrincham crest
| fullname = Altrincham Football Club
| nickname = The Robins
| ground = [[Moss Lane]], [[Altrincham]]
| capacity = 7,873 (1,323 seated)<ref>{{cite web|title=Altrincham FC Stadium / Prices|url=http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/ground.htm|website=Alty Files|access-date=9 May 2021}}</ref>
| founded = 1891
| chrtitle = Co-chairs
| chairman = {{nowrap|Bill Waterson, Lawrence Looney}}
| manager = Phil Parkinson
| league = {{English football updater|Altrinch}}
| season = {{English football updater|Altrinch2}}
| position = {{English football updater|Altrinch3}}
| current = 2024–25 National League
| website = {{URL|altrinchamfc.com}}
| pattern_b1 = _altrincham2425h
| pattern_la1 = _altrincham2425h
| pattern_ra1 = _altrincham2425h
| pattern_sh1 = _altrincham2425h
| pattern_so1 = _altrincham2425hl
| leftarm1 = FF0000
| body1 = FF0000
| rightarm1 = FF0000
| shorts1 = 000000
| socks1 = FFFFFF
| pattern_la2 = _altrincham2425a
| pattern_b2 = _altrincham2425a
| pattern_ra2 = _altrincham2425a
| pattern_sh2 = _altrincham2425a
| pattern_so2 = 
| leftarm2 = 80BFFF
| body2 = 80BFFF
| rightarm2 = 80BFFF
| shorts2 = FFFFFF
| socks2 = 80BFFF
}}[[File:Exeter City match.JPG|right|thumb|[[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] vs Altrincham in a [[National League (division)|Conference National]] fixture played on 19 August 2006]]

'''Altrincham Football Club''' is a professional<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/news.htm#220503full | title=Alty Files }}</ref> [[association football|football]] club based in [[Altrincham]], [[Greater Manchester]], England. Founded in 1891 and nicknamed "the Robins", they are currently members of {{English football updater 2|{{English football updater|Altrinch}}}} and play at [[Moss Lane]].

==History==
{{see also|List of Altrincham F.C. seasons}}
Altrincham was established by a [[Sunday school]] around 1891 as Rigby Memorial Club.<ref name=H1>{{cite web|url=http://www.lusaweb.co.uk/history.htm|title=Altrincham F.C., a Brief History|website=Altrincham F.C.}}</ref> They soon merged with another local team, Grapplers, to form Broadheath Football Club,<ref name=H1/> and were founder members of the [[Manchester Football League|Manchester League]] in 1893.<ref name=FCHD>{{fchd|id=ALTRINCH|name=Altrincham}}</ref> Their first match in the league on 16 September 1893 saw them lose 7–0 to Hulme, and they went on to lose 14 of the remaining league matches as they finished bottom of the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/altyhtol.htm|title=A to Z of Altrincham Football Club|website=Altrincham F.C.}}</ref>

After playing at various grounds in [[Broadheath, Greater Manchester|Broadheath]], [[Timperley]] and Altrincham, the club moved to Pollitt's Field in 1903, at which point they changed their name to Altrincham.<ref name=H1/> They won the Cheshire Amateur Cup in their first season under the new name, and went on to win both the Manchester League and the [[Cheshire Senior Cup]] the following season.<ref name=H1/> They won the Manchester League again in [[1906–07 in English football|1906–07]], and moved to their current [[Moss Lane]] ground in 1910.<ref name=H1/>

In 1911 the club joined Division Two of the [[Lancashire Combination]].<ref name=FCHD/> They finished as runners-up in their first season in the division, only missing out on the title on [[Goal difference|goal average]] and earning promotion to Division One.<ref name=FCHD/> They remained in Division One until [[World War I]]. When football resumed in 1919, the club were founder members of the [[Cheshire County League]], where they remained until [[World War II]], the highlights being finishing as runners-up in [[1934–35 in English football|1934–35]] and [[1935–36 in English football|1935–36]] and a League Cup win in [[1932–33 in English football|1932–33]].<ref name=H1/><ref name=FCHD/> In [[1934–35 FA Cup|1934–35]] they reached the first round of the [[FA Cup]] for the first time, losing the subsequent game 1–0 to [[Gainsborough Trinity F.C.|Gainsborough Trinity]].<ref name=FCHD/>

After missing out the [[1945–46 in English football|1945–46]] season, they rejoined the Cheshire County League in 1946, achieving little success until the 1960s, when Altrincham director Noel White hired Freddie Pye as manager. A key turning point in the history of the club is often cited as the signing of [[Jackie Swindells]] in 1965, who in his first full season (1965–66) scored 82 goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/legend21.htm|title=Altrincham Football Club Legends Section Eighteen Profiles 52–54|website=Altrincham F.C.}}</ref> helping Altrincham to the first of back-to-back Cheshire County League titles, scoring over 120 goals in the league in both seasons. After finishing as runners-up in [[1967–68 in English football|1967–68]], they were founder members of the [[Northern Premier League]] in 1968.<ref name=FCHD/>

[[File:Altrincham_v_Leatherhead_1978.jpg|thumb|right|Altrincham vs [[Leatherhead F.C.|Leatherhead]], [[FA Trophy]] final at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], April 1978<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.lusaweb.co.uk/players78.htm |title= F. A. Trophy Final, 29 April 1978 |date= 27 May 2013 |website= The Alty Files |access-date= 16 November 2021 }}</ref>]]
They reached the semi-finals of the [[FA Trophy]] in [[1976–77 in English football|1976–77]], losing 2–1 to [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]] in a second replay;<ref name=FCHD/> the season also saw them apply for election to the [[English Football League|Football League]] for the first time, but they received only 12 votes compared to the 27 received by the elected [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]].<ref name=NLM/> The following season they went one better in the FA Trophy, reaching the [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] final, where they beat [[Leatherhead F.C.|Leatherhead]] 3–1. In [[1978–79 Northern Premier League|1978–79]] they finished as runners-up in the Northern Premier League and applied for election to the Football League again. Although they finished as the top [[Non-League football|non-League]] club in the ballot, they received only 13 votes to the 37 received by [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]], the lowest-placed Football League club.<ref name=NLM>{{cite web|url=http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=3506;|title=A history of admission to the Football League|website=Non-League Matters}}</ref> Instead, Altrincham became founder members of the [[National League (English football)|Alliance Premier League]], the top level of non-League football, the winner of which would be the sole non-League nomination for future Football League election ballots.

The league's [[1979–80 Alliance Premier League|inaugural season]] saw Altrincham crowned champions.<ref name=FCHD/> In the subsequent elections to the Football League, the club missing out by a single vote, receiving 25 to [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]]'s 26; this was considered especially unfortunate as the club had been promised the votes of [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]] and [[Luton Town F.C.|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.<ref>Dave Twydell (2001) ''Denied F.C.: The Football League election struggles'', Yore Publications, p27</ref>

Altrincham retained the APL title the [[1980–81 Alliance Premier League|following season]], but again failed in the Football League elections, this time only receiving 15 votes to the 41 received by Halifax, who were again the lowest ranked Football League club.<ref name=NLM/> The next two seasons saw the club finish in mid-table, together with another FA Trophy final appearance in [[1981–82 FA Cup|1981–82]], this time losing 1–0 to [[Enfield F.C.|Enfield]]. This was followed by four consecutive top-five finishes between 1984 and 1987 and a second FA Trophy win in 1985, beating [[Runcorn F.C. Halton|Runcorn]] 1–0 in the final. The [[1985–86 FA Cup|1985–86 season]] saw them record one of the biggest FA Cup giant-killings of all time when they defeated top division [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] 2–1 at Birmingham's [[St Andrew's (stadium)|St Andrew's]].<ref>{{cite news |title=FA Cup: John Motson's 10 FA Cup third-round shocks |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30466552 |website=[[BBC Sport]] |date=2 January 2015 |access-date=4 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50139021 |title=FA Cup first round: Guide to the 31 non-league teams taking part |website=BBC Sport |access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref>

The club then returned to mid-table with occasional successful seasons, finishing third in [[1990–91 Football Conference|1990–91]] (by which time the league had become the Football Conference) and fourth in [[1994–95 Football Conference|1994–95]].<ref name=FCHD/> After finishing bottom of the Conference in [[1996–97 Football Conference|1996–97]] the club were relegated to the Premier Division of the [[Northern Premier League]]. An eighth-place finish in [[1997–98 Northern Premier League|1997–98]] saw them return to the Conference two seasons later as [[1998–99 Northern Premier League|Premier Division champions]].<ref name=FCHD/> However, they lasted only a [[1999–2000 Football Conference|single season]] in the Conference as they finished second-from-bottom and were relegated back to the Northern Premier League.

A twelfth-place finish in [[2003–04 Northern Premier League|2003–04]] saw them qualify for the newly formed [[National League North|Conference North]]. They finished fifth in the new division in its [[2004–05 Football Conference|first season]], qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After defeating [[Nuneaton Town F.C.|Nuneaton Borough]] 4–2 on penalties following a 1–1 draw and then [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]] 3–2, they were promoted to the Conference National division with a 2–1 win over [[Eastbourne Borough F.C.|Eastbourne Borough]] in the north–south final played at the [[Bet365 Stadium|Britannia Stadium]].<ref name=FCHD/>

In [[2005–06 Football Conference|2005–06]] Altrincham finished bottom of the Conference National after receiving an 18-point deduction when they were found to have fielded an ineligible player, [[James Robinson (footballer, born 1982)|James Robinson]], for 15 matches, during which he scored six goals and Altrincham won 18 points. However, they were reprieved from relegation after [[Canvey Island F.C.|Canvey Island]] resigned from the league and Scarborough were demoted.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scarborough relegation confirmed |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/5044276.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=3 June 2006 |access-date=4 July 2017}}</ref> The [[2006–07 Football Conference|following season]] they again finished in the relegation zone, but were reprieved after [[Boston United F.C.|Boston United]] were demoted.<ref>{{cite news |title=Heathcote joy at Robins reprieve |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/altrincham/6740873.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=11 June 2007 |access-date=4 July 2017}}</ref> A third successive relegation reprieve occurred in [[2007–08 Football Conference|2007–08]] when Halifax were [[Liquidation|liquidated]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Leagues agreed for 2008/09 season |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7402814.stm |website=BBC Sport |access-date=4 July 2017}}</ref>

After mid-table finishes in [[2008–09 Football Conference|2008–09]] and [[2009–10 Football Conference|2009–10]] and [[Ricky Ponting]] becoming a shareholder of the club in 2009,<ref>{{cite news |title=Ponting handed Altrincham shares |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/altrincham/8181662.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=3 August 2009 |access-date=4 July 2017}}</ref> Altrincham were relegated to the Conference North at the end of the [[2010–11 Football Conference|2010–11 season]]. In [[2012–13 Football Conference|2012–13]] a fourth-place finish saw them qualify for the promotion play-offs, in which they lost 4–2 on aggregate to [[Brackley Town F.C.|Brackley Town]]. However, after finishing fourth the [[2013–14 Football Conference|following season]], they beat [[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town]] 4–3 on aggregate in the semi-finals and then defeated [[Guiseley A.F.C.|Guiseley]] 2–1 in the final to earn promotion back to the Conference National.<ref name=FCHD/> In [[2015–16 National League|2015–16]] the club finished in the relegation zone and were relegated to the renamed National League North.<ref name=FCHD/> The [[2016–17 National League|following season]] they finished bottom of the National League North, leading to a second successive relegation to the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League. However, the [[2017–18 Northern Premier League|2017–18 season]] saw the club win the Northern Premier League title, earning promotion back to the National League North.

In [[2018–19 National League#National League North|2018–19]] Altrincham finished fifth in the National League North, earning a place in the play-offs; in the quarter finals, they drew 2–2 with [[Blyth Spartans A.F.C.|Blyth Spartans]] before winning 7–6 in a penalty shootout, setting up a semi-final tie with [[Chorley F.C.|Chorley]], which they lost 3–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. The [[2019–20 National League#National League North|following season]] ended with a sixth-place finish, resulting in another play-off campaign. After defeating [[Chester F.C.|Chester]] 3–2 and [[York City F.C.|York City]] 2–0, the club beat [[Boston United F.C.|Boston United]] 1–0 in the final, earning promotion to the National League. In May 2022 the club announced they would transition to full-time professional status for the first time in their history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://altydirect.com/pages/alty-all-the-way|title=Alty all the way|website=Altrincham F.C.|date=3 May 2022}}</ref> In [[2023–24 National League|2023–24]] they finished fourth in the National League, before losing 3–1 to [[Bromley F.C.|Bromley]] in the play-off semi-finals.

===FA Cup giant-killers===
Altrincham have a history of [[Upset (competition)|giant-killing]] in the [[FA Cup]], holding the record of knocking out more Football League sides than any other club that has spent its entire history playing in [[Non-League football|non-League]].<ref>{{cite news |title=How to kill an FA Cup giant |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29945185 |website=BBC Sport |date=7 November 2017 |access-date=4 July 2017}}</ref> They reached the third round of the FA Cup in four consecutive seasons between 1978–79 and 1981–82,<ref name=FCHD/> holding a better record in the competition than any club playing in the Third or Fourth divisions during this period.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} To date the club has recorded seventeen victories against Football League clubs:
#1921–22: [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] defeated 4–2 in the fourth qualifying round<ref name=H1/>
#1965–66: [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]] defeated 3–1 in the second round<ref name=FCHD/>
#1973–74: [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool]] defeated 2–1 in the first round<ref name=FCHD/>
#1974–75: [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] defeated 3–1 in a first round replay<ref name=FCHD/>
#1979–80: [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] defeated 3–0 in the first round<ref name=FCHD/>
#1979–80: [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] defeated 2–0 in the second round<ref name=FCHD/>
#1980–81: [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] defeated 1–0 in a second round replay<ref name=FCHD/>
#1981–82: [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] defeated 3–0 in a first round replay<ref name=FCHD/>
#1981–82: [[York City F.C.|York City]] defeated 4–3 in a second round replay<ref name=FCHD/>
#1982–83: [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]] defeated 2–1 in the first round<ref name=FCHD/>
#1984–85: [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] defeated 1–0 in the first round<ref name=FCHD/>
#1985–86: [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] defeated 2–1 in the second round<ref name=FCHD/>
#1985–86: [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] defeated 2–1 in the third round<ref name=FCHD/>
#1988–89: [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]] defeated 3–2 in the first round<ref name=FCHD/>
#1992–93: [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]] defeated 2–0 in a second round replay<ref name=FCHD/>
#1994–95: [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] defeated 1–0 in the second round<ref name=FCHD/>
#2015–16: [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] defeated 1–0 in the first round<ref name=FCHD/>

==Current squad==
<!-- PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE UPDATING

If you change the squad list, please amend the update date below.

Do not add any players not listed in the first team page on the Altrincham website used to source this list.
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{{updated|10 June 2025}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.altrinchamfc.com/teams/first-team|title=Men's first team|website=Altrincham F.C.}}</ref>
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Ethan Ross (footballer, born 1997)|Ethan Ross]]}}
{{fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Lewis Banks}}
{{fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Lewis Baines]]}}
{{fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jake Cooper (footballer, born 2001)|Jake Cooper]]}}
{{fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Elliot Osborne]]}}
{{fs player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Ollie Crankshaw]]}}
{{fs player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Isaac Marriott}}
{{fs player|no=14|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Matty Kosylo}}
{{fs player|no=17|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Lucas Weaver}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Owen German}}
{{fs player|no=20|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Kharel Reddin}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Tom Crawford (English footballer)|Tom Crawford]]}}
{{fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Tylor Golden]]}}
{{fs player|no=25|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Joel Bailey}}
{{fs player|no=27|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Louie Fallon}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Remi Raymond}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=[[Billy Sass-Davies]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Keaton Ward]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Sam Reed (footballer)|Sam Reed]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[James Gale (footballer)|James Gale]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Lucas Edwards}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Jimmy Knowles (footballer)|Jimmy Knowles]]}}
{{fs end}}

==First team staff==
{| class=wikitable
!Role
!Name
|-
|Manager
|Phil Parkinson
|-
|Assistant Manager
|[[Neil Sorvel]]
|-
|Assistant Coach
|Ross Speight
|-
|Head Analyst
|Jack Farrell
|-
|Club Doctor
|Dr Robert Jackson
|-
|Head Physiotherapist
|Tommy Uda
|-
|Sport Therapist
|Thomas Cadman
|-
|Strength & Conditioning Coach
|Matthew Fox
|-
|Performance Analyst 
|Mark Bushall
|-
|Kit Manager
|Steven Foster
|-
|Kit Manager
|Dylan Barlow
|-
|Goalkeeper Coach
|Ben Williams
|}

==Records==
*Best [[FA Cup]] performance: Fourth round, 1985–86
*Record attendance: 10,275, Altrincham Boys vs [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland Boys]], 28 February 1925<ref name=R>{{cite web|url=http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/club.htm|title=Club Information|website=Altrincham F.C.}}</ref>
*Record transfer fee paid: £15,000 to [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] for [[Keith Russell (footballer)|Keith Russell]], 1998<ref name=R/>
*Record victory: 14–2 vs Sale Holmfield, Cheshire Amateur Cup, 5 December 1903<ref name=R/>
*Record defeat: 13–1 vs Stretford, 4 November 1893<ref name=R/>
*Most appearances: Stuart Coburn, 689 (1997–2002, 2003–2016)<ref>"Stuart Coburn", ''The Non-League Football Paper'', 25 June 2017</ref>
*Most goals: [[Jackie Swindells]], 252 (1965–1971)<ref name=NLCD>Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) ''Non-League Club Directory 2013'', p165 {{ISBN|978-1-869833-77-0}}</ref>

==See also==
*{{c|Altrincham F.C. players}}
*{{c|Altrincham F.C. managers}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website|www.altrinchamfc.com}}

{{National League (English football)}}
{{Football in Greater Manchester}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Altrincham F.C.| ]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1891]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Trafford]]
[[Category:Lancashire Combination]]
[[Category:Manchester Football League]]
[[Category:National League (English football) clubs]]
[[Category:Northern Premier League clubs]]
[[Category:Cheshire County League clubs]]