ALTY HEADLINES
26 Jul 2026: ALTRINCHAM 2-5 MACCLESFIELD FC...More
26 Jul 2026: POST-MATCH VIEW OF NEIL GIBSON...More
26 Jul 2026: NEXT: MANCHESTER UNITED U21...More
OTHER HEADLINES
26 Jul 2026: CARLISLE'S SIXTH SIGNING... More
26 July 2026
ALTRINCHAM 2-5 MACCLESFIELD FC
Right: A new-look Lucas Weaver was on the mark for Altrincham against Macclesfield FC on Saturday.
It was an embarrassing afternoon for Altrincham as they were heavily beaten by their historical Cheshire rivals at the J. Davidson Stadium.
Match report here.
POST-MATCH VIEW OF NEIL GIBSON
Tom Jolley's post-match interview with manager Neil Gibson after the 2-5 defeat by Macclesfield Town is on the Altrincham FC website.
He felt that whereas Macclesfield rightly treated the game as a competitive match, his own players were seemingly in a less intense "friendly" mode.
He admitted that players were short of game time given the disruptions to the pre-season fixture schedule.
Training next week will concentrate on rectifying the "passive" performance against the Silkmen and on "out of possession" aspects of the game. Neil was also upset that two more goals were conceded on Saturday from dead ball situations just as they were at Colwyn Bay.
Neil also clarified a couple of issues not previously explained; next Tuesday's friendly behind closed doors will be against a Tranmere Rovers team and the reason for cancelling the pre-season match at Vauxhall Motors was due to the injuries picked up in the preceding abandoned game at Wythenshawe Town.
NEXT: MANCHESTER UNITED U21
Although Altrincham are playing a "behind closed doors" friendly on Tuesday, 28 July, their only remaining public fixture is on Friday, 31 July at home to Manchester United's under-21 side. Kick-off is at 7pm.
That will mean that, this summer, Altrincham will have completed just five pre-season matches of 90 minutes in front of their home or travelling supporters, the lowest such total in the current millennium. A planned sixth friendly, away at Wythenshawe Town was abandoned before half-time.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Phil Jordan reports...
Scottish League Cup : Having been booked in the first half, KIAN TAYLOR was withdrawn by Airdrie in the 80th minute, by which time they'd been comfortably beaten 0-3 by visitors Ross County.
Kilmarnock had to settle for a goalless draw at Peterhead. JOE HUGILL converted the first penalty in the shootout, but Roshaun Mathurin missed the last and they lost 5-4.
It was a similar tale of woe for Livingston at Stenhousemuir. They'd already missed a penalty in normal time - and missed another 3 in the shootout. TYRESE SINCLAIR played the full match, but didn't take a spot kick.
South Korea K League 2 : MARCUS DACKERS (right) only came off the Daegu bench in the 85th minute. They were 0-2 down to visitors Suwon FC, but reduced the arrears with a penalty in added time. The result allowed Suwon to leapfrog Daegu into 3rd spot.
Friendlies : CRAIG MAHON'S AFC Fylde entertained Wigan Athletic, and CHRIS MERRIE played the first 77 minutes against the club where he started his career. Unfortunately, a serious injury to a Wigan player led to the match being abandoned shortly afterwards with the Coasters 0-3 down.
ALI SMITH was left on the AFC Wimbledon bench as they beat visitors Charlton Athletic 2-0.
Barrow won 2-0 at home against Blackpool. OLLIE CRANKSHAW was withdrawn after 57 minutes, and ISAAC MARRIOTT (left) after 80. KENNEDY DIGIE was a 72nd minute substitute.
JOSH LUNDSTRAM was again not involved, as Eastleigh lost by the only goal to visitors Crawley Town. One wonders if he's picked up an injury. DANNY CASHMAN played the second half for Crawley.
Forest Green Rovers found themselves 5 goals down by the 36th minute to visitors Cardiff City, but they "won" the second half, reducing the final score to 1-5. That ETHAN ROSS wasn't involved again suggests that he's still not fully recovered from his injury.
JUSTIN AMALUZOR struck twice as Grimsby Town eased home 0-3 at Hartlepool United.
Although KEVIN BERKOE put in a full shift, Shrewsbury Town went down 1-4 at home to West Bromwich Albion.
CARL PIERGIANNI played the first half as Stevenage beat visitors Millwall 1-0.
ENTERPRISE NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Carlisle United "announce the signing of Leo Duru on a one-year deal with an option of another year.
Duru, 21, joins following a successful trial period with the club...
The Manchester-born right-sided defender started off with Manchester United before joining Blackburn Rovers at the age of ten. He made his senior debut for Rovers in August 2024, featuring in a 6-1 EFL Cup victory over Stockport County.
A move to Barrow was next for Duru as he gained crucial experience playing eight times for the Bluebirds...
Loan spells in the United States with MLS side San Diego FC and USL Championship club Birmingham Legion followed... Duru has also represented the United States' under-20 team through his Philadelphia-born mother on three occasions.
Rob Elliot, Head Coach, said 'He has high energy, a good one-on-one defender and also creates a real attacking threat'...
Marc Tierney, Sporting Director, added... 'He is a player we have tracked since last season, and he has excelled throughout pre-season, showcasing his pace, athleticism and commitment'".
25 July 2026
ALTRINCHAM 2-5 MACCLESFIELD FC
It was an embarrassing afternoon for Altrincham as they were heavily beaten by their historical Cheshire rivals at the J. Davidson Stadium. Alty fielded their starting eleven for the first 72 minutes at which point ten substiutes were introduced with the score already 2-5.
Right: Summer signing Sam Taylor (left) with centre-back Charlie Olson, who signed late last season.
As the clock ticked over into just the third minute after kick-off, Macc took the lead when they were allowed to advance to the left bye-line before the resulting lay-off was converted from close range by Duffy. Barely a minute later Alty levelled when Jimmy Knowles chased a seemingly lost cause but managed to get past a defender on the right bye-line and feed Barlow for a straightforward drive into the net.
Then a slick move up the middle, starting with keeper Evans, culminated in Weaver putting Altrincham ahead in just the seventh minute.
The Silkmen levelled in the 26th minute from a deft header by Elliot Osborne from a freekick taken near to the right corner flag, following a foul by Olson.
Another ex-Alty man, George Wilson then put Macc ahead, netting with a firm shot after his initial effort had rebounded to him.
Macc made it 4-2 on 55 minutes when Evans could only palm away a shot to an opponent, who netted.
The visitors went 2-5 up when a penalty was awarded against either Kosylo or Olson for a foul and George netted from the spot comfortably (62 mins).
Macc then took their foot off the gas and whilst Alty's mass substitutions meant that the hosts enjoyed more forward momentum, they were unable to narrow the margin of defeat, though Breckin did graze the crossbar with a shot from left of goal.
So Alty remain winless over the pre-season period ahead of a closed-door fixture in midweek and a Friday night date with the Manchester United under-21s on Friday evening.
Match report here.
TODAY: MACCLESFIELD FC
Altrincham entertain Cheshire neighbours Macclesfield FC today (Saturday, 3pm) in the Robins' first home friendly of the summer.
Macclesfield FC confirm that "Segregation will be in place for our trip to the J.Davidson Stadium, so it is important that Silkmen supporters purchase the correct class of tickets, as [otherwise] they will be refused entry to the stadium.
There will now be a pay on the turnstile option for away supporters, with ticket prices remaining the same on match day".
Ticket prices are as follows:
18 and Over – £10
17 and Under – £5
All under 14s must be accompanied by a paying adult".
Altrincham FC has reminded its supporters that "season tickets are not valid for pre-season friendlies at The J.Davidson Stadium".
The Silkmen's manager John Rooney has a pre-match interview on the Macclesfield YouTube account.
OWEN EVANS INTERVIEW
Altrincham FC reports that "New goalie Owen Evans [pictured, right] sits down with Alty TV's Tom Jolley to discuss his move to The J.Davidson Stadium and how pre-season's been going so far".
In his video interview, Alty's keeper said that he has "really enjoyed" his time at the club so far. As for pre-season, although he stated that the Altrincham keepers have been spared some of the running challenges demanded of the outfield players in pre-season, Owen has, nevertheless, been working hard doing work which has included "tough circuits in the gym".
He said that when he was approached to sign for Altrincham, manager Neil Gibson revealed that he had been following Owen's career since the keeper's early days of his career when he was playing for Rhyl and that such long-term interest had been a factor in his joining Alty.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Phil Jordan reports firstly on Welsh Football which kicks off next Friday. One can imagine that Bala Town will be a little miffed at being relegated to Cymru North when the Premier Division has been extended from 12 clubs to 16. The newcomers are Airbus, Ammanford, Cambrian United (from Clydach Vale in the Rhondda Valley), Holywell, Llandudno, and Trefelin.
Bala's squad still includes JOEL TORRANCE, and is surprisingly cosmopolitan for a club at such a low level. Defender Nelson Digbeu is French, the midfield includes Taner Dogan (USA), Ola Ibrahim (Ireland), and Lassana Mendes (Guinea-Bissau), while up front they can boast a Scot in Cameron Ferguson and an Australian in Jacob Tarasenko. Joel is one of 10 Englishmen - one more than the number of Welsh players.
On the other side of the world a league which is very much in progress is Australia's NPL Victoria, in which Oakleigh Cannons' 16 match unbeaten run was ended when they lost 1-2 at home to South Melbourne.
However, with nearest challengers Hume City also losing, CONNOR HAMPSON and his colleagues remain 7 points clear with 4 games remaining.
Friendly: Manchester United continued their Scandinavian pre-season tour with a visit to Trondheim to face Norwegian mid-table side Rosenborg.
They went into a 4-goal lead in the 72nd minute, at which point DERMOT MEE (above, left) was given a rare opportunity between the sticks. However, such was United's dominance in winning 0-5 that he had only one routine save to make.
York City have been enjoying a training break in Spain, and they held Saudi Arabian mid-table side Al-Ettifaq to a 2-2 draw. The details are sketchy, but JEFF KING wasn't involved, while ALEX NEWBY started on the bench.
Hyde United started with captain WILL HALL (right), and DONTAI GABIDON as they entertained PHIL PARKINSON'S Chester. Will was withdrawn at the break with the Tigers a goal down (it proved to be the only goal of the game), and Dontai also came off after 72 minutes.
There were no Old Boys in Chester's opening lineup, but TOM PEERS came on for the second half.
LUKE BURGESS and REGAN GRIFFITHS started for Southport, and it was Luke who scored to round off a 2-0 victory over visitors FC United, for whom GEZ SITHOLE was a 67th minute substitute.
Irish Premier Division : Trailing at half time to visitors Dundalk, St.Patrick's equalised in the 57th minute and immediately made a double substitution with BARRY BAGGLEY one of the withdrawals. The game ended 1-1. St.Patricks remain 2nd in the table, 7 points behind Shamrock Rovers with 11 matches remaining.
ENTERPRISE NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Following yesterday's surprise news from Woking, the BBC reports that "Former England striker Jermain Defoe has described his first managerial job as an "eye-opening experience" following his exit from National League side Woking after just four months...