Altrincham FC: The Story So Far

Altrincham Football Club are looking to make it back-it-back promotions this season by earning promotion from the National League North to the National League Premier.

The Moss Lane outfit - who are managed by Phil Parkinson - currently sit seventh in non-league's second tier. Last season's Northern Premier League champions are on course to reach the playoff's this time around, but with just four points separating the club from 11th placed Boston United as things stand, performance levels can't afford to drop.

After starting the season inconsistently by winning only two of their first nine league games, Altrincham were rampant throughout the back end of 2018, winning all but one of their nine matches between the beginning of October and the end of December.

This hugely impressive run, which saw the club go unbeaten in the league for just over two months, propelled the Manchester-based club from the bottom half of the division to the playoffs.

However, with just two wins from their last eight matches, things at Moss Lane aren't quite going as smoothly as they once were. A loss to league strugglers FC United of Manchester this coming weekend could see Altrincham leapfrogged by Boston United (should they manage to beat Nuneaton Borough) and the winner of Saturday's crunch game between Chester & Kidderminster Harriers.

Although Alty are enjoying a successful campaign in the league, the cup's haven't been too kind to Phil Parkinson's men. Fellow National North League club Stockport County have put an end to their involvement in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy this time out, with Congleton Town of the North West Counties league knocking them out of the Cheshire Senior Cup in November.

Star striker Jordan Hulme - who famously appeared on BBC Documentary Class of '92: Out of their League - joined Altrincham from Salford City in the summer of 2017.

Since his arrival to the club, Hulme has become an integral part of Altrincham's squad; not only is the 28-year-old a fan favourite at Moss Road, but he's undoubtedly their most influential player and currently sits eighth in the National League North scoring charts with 11 goals to his name. Can the charismatic striker fire the club back to the National League Premier for the first time since 2014-15?

Altrincham will be making history later this month when they replace their red & white striped shirt with a rainbow coloured jersey in support of LGBT rights.

The club will don this specially made shirt in support of football's fight against homophobia for their league fixture at home to Bradford Park Avenue on February 16th.

Club chairman Bill Waterson told the club's website:

“We believe it will be the first time anywhere in the world that a senior football club has worn a kit solely modelled on the LGBT Pride Flag and Altrincham will, therefore, be creating a small moment of football history.”

“Football is our national sport and therefore it is part of our national identity, and attendance at football matches should at least reflect the nation as a whole,” Waterson added.

“It would be good to have other role models and ones which can reach a bigger audience than we can.“The more noise we make about this issue the less of an issue it will become.”

If you would like to support Altrincham in their forthcoming charge for the playoffs, their next game is away to FC United of Manchester on the 9th February.