Alton Town Football Club - Chairman's Blog

Season's Greetings

2010-12-23T17:53:00.001Z

Hearty seasonal good wishes to everyone connected with our club. Players, team officials, committee members, helpers and supporters.

Alas, because of the weather, we haven't had the opportunity to be together in recent times so fingers crossed that Monday's game against Alresford will take place.

If it does then perhaps you could plan to 'linger for a while' in the clubhouse after the game to sort of make up for having to cancel our Christmas party last Saturday.

Don't forget that our regular New Year's Eve family disco get together is on again from 8.00pm to a small hour. This really is one for all ages with children, teens and family groups most welcome. Adults £5 just to cover the cost of the disco with under 18's free. This has become a really fun and enjoyable event particularly for those who are unable or unwilling or just 'past it' to go on the razz down town!

Well done to all players and managers of all three teams as we continue to make progress on the pitch. My thanks also to those individuals who are supporting the club financially - even if simply through the 100 club.

We have set out this year to try and be more reasonable and responsible in covering players' travel expenses and introducing a very modest first team win bonus. To fund this requires 'new' money (ie other than that we raise to run the club as always). Four club members have contributed in a very generous way to cover these costs up to Christmas. We now need to widen that net to keep these new funds coming in - so don't be embarrassed to contact me! Ten new people offering just £1 a day would be a start and make a difference.

So, on that thoughtful note.....CHEERS

Mr Chairman

Season Under Way

2010-08-24T11:25:00.000+01:00

And so the new season is well under way - and with it have already come the rich mixture of emotions that being involved in Alton Town brings...

We've been saddened by the news of the passing of Trevor Hill and repeat our condolences to Dan, his mother and brothers.

We've welcomed back John (Robbo) Robson as first team manager with Clive Ventham stepping aside into an assistant manager role. This gives me the opportunity of thanking Clive for his long-term past successes, commitment and devotion to the club and we look forward to him continuing his love affair with us.

We've enjoyed the highs of an FA Cup win and the lows of a couple of poor displays, but hope lives eternal.

We're now on the lookout for a reserve team manager (while Dave Hawtin and Nigel Rhodes temporarily fill in to support Glenn Murphy in this role.) Shaun Flanighan decided not to continue as reserve team manager during the close season. Shaun enjoyed a successful season with the reserves and introduced some younger players from the south of the county who continue to make progress at the club. We are grateful to Shaun for that and for his enthusiasm both on and off the field.

Yes, a mixture of emotions as always but it doesn't stop us looking forward with hope. Hope on its own probably won't work - that's why determination, a willingness to work and a positive outlook towards all those who contribute towards our great club are essential ingredients.

Much cheer

Jim
Chairman

NEW MANAGER

2010-05-07T12:33:00.001+01:00

A quick note to let you know that we have appointed John Robson (Robbo) as first team manager following Clive's decision to step down after successfully maintaining our premier league status for the past 5 or 6 seasons - no mean feat and for which we are most grateful.

Robbo is an experienced ex-pro with a variety of clubs including Aston Villa and has had successful management spells at a higher non league leave with the likes of Worthing and Salisbury as well as with Wessex sides Winchester City and Gosport Borough.

Robbo previously managed Alton Town and won us the Hampshire league twice - the second of which gained us the step up to the Wessex Premier in 2001 - so it is a welcome homecoming!

Cheers

Mr Chairman

Best Wishes to Luke

2010-02-22T14:36:00.003Z

On behalf of all associated with the club I send best wishes to Luke Theakston for a full recovery from the broken leg that he suffered in Saturday's win against Blackfield & Langley - and may that recovery be as speedy as possible.

The three points gained were tarnished by Luke's injury in a closely fought game. Luke had come on as a substitute when keeper Dan Hill suffered a muscle strain on the half hour and had been busy keeping the visitors’ attacks at bay.

From a through ball, 15 minutes from the end, Luke won the chase with the onrushing striker who continued his challenge, breaking the fibula in Luke's right leg. The subsequent medical evidence shows that the first point of boot contact was above the knee but of a force sufficient to break the fibula below the knee. Further hospital examination this morning shows that further ligament damage has fortunately been avoided.

The game ended with Simba Mlambo becoming our third keeper of the afternoon and he ensured that the good work and bravery of his predecessor wasn't to go unrewarded.

Here's to a speedy and full recovery.

Mr Chairman

ARE WE ON THE MOVE?

2010-02-11T17:37:00.001Z

Alton Town Council took the first step in paving the way for us to move back to our old home in Anstey Park last night (10th February) when they agreed in principal to allow Coors to fund an upgrade of the Anstey Park Enclosure to Wessex League standards. This would include re-laying a new, flat pitch, installing floodlights, extending the clubhouse and close boarding the boundary. We are still examining the suitability of the changing rooms and would be pressing for demolition and a rebuild.

The plans, as they stand, would mean us losing our enclosed floodlit training space although we will continue to address this shortfall.

Our old home would be made available after Alton United Youth, current users of the Enclosure, move further into Anstey Park to a new facility which would include an enclosed stadium and further smaller pitches for their younger teams.

All of the above is subject to obtaining planning permission and, of course, is also subject to Coors being successful in getting planning permission to build on our current site. They are presently applying for planning permission for a supermarket.

There are many more steps to be taken in this process and nothing is guaranteed but at least a start has been made.

Festive Greetings

2009-12-18T19:19:00.002Z

Hearty festive greetings to everyone associated with our club - and that means everyone.... from supporters through to helpers, players and managers and those who log on to this site from time to time.

Do come and join us at our Christmas and New Year's Eve parties at the clubhouse if you possibly can. Experience from last year tells us that another good time is in store!

I trust that the weather won't starve us of too much football in the days ahead. Our senior squad has recently been strengthened for the second half of the season and is ably assisted by powerful performances from the reserves, while our youth team sits proudly at the top of the league and has reached the quarter finals of the Hants Cup. So we're 'good to go'!

Wishing you & your family all that is good for you,

Mr Chairman

GOOD BEHAVIOUR

2009-11-13T16:55:00.003Z

The Club was recently called in by the Hants FA to answer a charge of 'An Alton Town Supporter abusing a match referee'.

The alleged incident was that such a supporter verbally abused the referee when he was leaving the pitch at the end of a match.

I attended the hearing, gave evidence, questioned the match officials and the verdict was 'not proven'. Our argument being that such a person could have been a supporter of the opposition or, indeed, a neutral who had not been impressed by the referee's performance.

The experience does, however, serve as a reminder that the Club is responsible for the behaviour of its supporters both at home and away. Indeed we enjoy normal banter at a match and no harm in that - but we should be careful not to overstep the mark in the heat of the moment.

I also wondered how it is that some clubs aren't reported for this sort of offence every week? Those clubs who have a group of supporters who always gather behind the visitor's goal and who certainly don't exclude the match officials from their exuberant repertoire!

Cheers

Mr. Chairman

Steve Lynch

2009-10-15T22:42:00.002+01:00

Steve Lynch has today stepped down from his position of First Team Manager by mutual agreement.

We are grateful for Steve's energy, enthusiasm and efforts - which have been considerable - and wish him well in his future footballing ventures.

Clive Ventham resumes as First Team Manager with Kevin Smith as Assistant Manager and Club Coach while Shaun Flanigan continues his excellent work with the Reserves.

In addition we are fortunate to have recently been able to add Vic Harry to our Youth Team set-up. Vic is an experienced and well qualified coach, his
full-time profession, and joins Dave Hawtin and Mark Corbett in bringing on our talented younger members.

Cheers

Mr Chairman

Confidence

2009-09-27T23:39:00.002+01:00

The pundits say 'Football's all about confidence'. Clearly, that's not strictly true - as it's about all sorts of things like skill, ability, mental & physical strength, tactics etc. But we know what they mean in that a confident player and a confident team gain a belief in their collective ability to overcome the opposition.

On Saturday at Moneyfields the first team got the reward of 3 points that they have been unlucky not to achieve on another couple of occasions this season. Those performances have been mixed with one or two rather strange ones - so the aim is to build on the confidence that the midweek cup win and Saturday's league victory has brought.

The Firsts management team of Steve, Clive and Kevin have had to juggle with their resources in the light of injuries and unavailability. It is a credit to the organisation and development of the Reserves that switching both up and down between the sides has been taken on board by the players involved. Inevitably both teams are having to make late adjustments to their sides while they would prefer more consistency. It is a measure of the progress the club is making if we can all cope with such situations.

The Reserves are putting on some fine displays and picking up points along the learning curve. They are a young squad with great spirit and while there has to be movement of players between the two sides we are looking to hold together the nucleus of the Reserves to give them time to grow as a group - in preparation for the Wessex Premier!

Much cheer

Mr Chairman

John McGinty

2009-08-24T17:34:00.002+01:00

Both myself and those associated with the club were sorry to hear the sad news of John's passing at the weekend and were able to pay our respects almost immediately with a minute's silence before our game against New Milton Town on Saturday.

John, of course, had been a director of Aldershot Town for many years - more recently becoming Chairman. As soon as he became Chairman he immediately set up our annual pre-season friendly against them. He did this as a gesture of goodweill for the local community and for Alton Town FC, as a fundraiser. We are extremely grateful and will make every effort for this fixture to continue - in future with the inclusion of a suitable memorial trophy to John's memory.

On a personal level our families had become friends way back in the early Seventies at a time when both were recent Celtic imports to Alton. As John said in his programme notes for our friendly 'I consider myself to be an Altonian and that's why Aldershot at here today'. John's interest in football eventually took him to Aldershot while through sheer hard work, determination and no little humour he successfuly developed his transport & storage company.

We pass our sympathies to John's wife Mary and family while remembering John's special relationship with Alton Town FC

Jim McKell
Chairman

Thank you

2009-08-12T11:17:00.002+01:00

Just a quick note to say thanks for the information about Len Boyle as per previous post.

Special thanks go to Arthur Pink - still an Alton Town spectator today as he was at the opening match in 1946.

Cheers

Mr Chairman

Can you help?

2009-07-23T13:36:00.002+01:00

I reprint below an email just received.

Anyone out there who can remember / help out?

Do please make contact with me if you have any information

Cheers

Mr Chairman

Len Boyle is my Father. Sadly he passed away last weekend at the age of 84. He played for Alton Town from the age of 17 I believe which would have put his debut at around the1942/43 season.

I believe he may have been part of Alton Town's most successful team in the late 1940's, early 50's. He certainly spoke highly of his days there. He always told me he took the position of Jimmy Dickinson when Jimmy went off to play at Portsmouth - not sure if that is true or not.

Would you be able confirm to me when he was part of the Alton squad? If the information is available, I'd like to make reference to it in my funeral speech next Friday (31st). Additionally, if any photographs exist of the team during his time I love to buy some copies if its possible.

Thanks

Paul Boyle.

Thirty Something....

2009-07-21T17:57:00.002+01:00

With 30 or more regularly at senior training on a Tuesday & Thursday, the trend has been followed by our youth team of 15 to 17 year olds - with 33 training last night!

Obviously, we're all delighted to see such numbers - and such quality - at both senior & youth level. It is certainly giving our management & coaching staff a good workout!

Such regular interest and involvement from so many is a clear indication that our club is going from strength to strength - while we all look forward to the remaining friendly fixtures and, of course, the season's start. Can't wait!

Well done everyone - and please keep it up!

Cheers

Mr Chairman

Portsmouth Friendlies

2009-07-12T14:21:00.003+01:00

BIG DADDY

I know you've been desperate to know the answer to our poll on Big Daddy's weight! Indeed he has lost lots of weight and even shed a further 4 lbs following a two week holiday in Cornwall after indulging in much fish & chips and cream teas. A new diet perhaps?

FORUM

At the moment we're not running an instant interactive forum but you can comment on anything that takes your fancy by going to 'contacts' ...contact the club...and click on club email. We'll gladly air views and topics.

PROPER WEATHER HAS RETURNED

It was a shock to have the wind and rain return at our pre-season friendlies in Portsmouth on Saturday - back to normal football conditions!

It was a joy, however, to watch two games that showed much promise for the coming season. The first resulted in a 2 - 2 draw against the Royal Navy and the second ended up 3 - 2 in our favour against United Services.

There were long passages of play in both games where we kept the ball and passed well, we created chances and defended strongly in difficult playing conditions.

Fuller reports on both games follow - but the least said the better about Linesman Hawtin's involvement and Mr Chairman's first attempt at 'Punch Ball' in the pub!

Cheers

Jim (Mr Chairman)

Welcome!

2009-06-24T12:04:00.004+01:00

Welcome to the new website for Alton Town Football Club.
A terrific amount of work has gone into this by Carl Saunders, who is also the club treasurer, and he will be keeping it as up to date as possible - but he can only achieve this if those associated with the club keep him informed, so don't be shy!

Official attendance at the ALDERSHOT GAME was 569 with many kind comments received from visiting fans. It was another opportunity for the club, as a whole, to present itself to a wider audience and benefit from additional publicity - and we did it very well!

My sincere thanks to all those who contributed to a truly successful day. We had a staff of 33 volunteers working, on various duties, throughout the day - including 18 teenagers. With stunning background support like that it is a terrific base for the club to move forward on the pitch and I repeat my genuine thanks to each and every one of them.

I will be keeping you updated with proceedings at the club regularly on this blog. Please check back soon!

Jim (Mr Chairman)