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Altrincham were formed as early as 1891
as Broadheath FC and, in 1893, they were founder members
of the Manchester League. However, their first season
left a lot to be desired as the club finished bottom with
only two wins in 20 games, which amounted to only seven
points.
The
club changed its name to Altrincham FC in 1903 and, in
1919, now playing at their present Moss Lane ground, they
became founder members of the Cheshire County League,
where they enjoyed a period of success in the 1930s when
the club won the Cheshire League Cup, the Cheshire Senior
Cup and finished runners-up in the league twice.
The
club fell on hard times during the late 50s and early
60s to the point of the club almost becoming extinct,
until local businessmen Peter Swales and Noel White bought
the club. Both went on to become well known names in football,
Swales with Manchester City and White with Liverpool.
The duo turned the club around and by 1964 had started
to win things again, in the form of the Cheshire League
Cup. The Cheshire County League was won in 1966 and the
League and Cup double was achieved in 1967.
The
club won the FA Trophy in 1978 with a 3-1 win against
Leatherhead and, the following year, became founder members
of the Alliance Premier League (now the Conference). In
the club's first two seasons two championships were captured.
However, with no automatic promotion to the Football League,
the club missed out on election by one vote.
1978
saw the start of a four year run in which the club reached
the Third round of the FA Cup. During which time they
captured the scalps of Crewe Alexandra, Rotherham United,
Sheffield United, Scunthorpe United and York City, with
replays achieved against Spurs and Leyton Orient. The
club even had a trip to Anfield where they were beaten
4-1 by a Liverpool side in the middle of their hey day.
In 1986 the club won another FA Trophy final, this time
against Runcorn, and reached the Fourth Round of the FA
Cup where they knocked out Premiership (then First Division)
side Birmingham City en route. To date this remains the
last time a non-league side has knocked out a top division
outfit on their home ground.
The
90s were to see hard times fall on the club and in 1994
they just avoided relegation. However, the club were in
the hunt the following season, scoring over 100 goals,
and also reaching the FA Cup third round again where they
were beaten by Tottenham. This encouraging season was
not built upon, and the following season Altrincham went
down for the first time in their history.
1998
saw Altrincham promoted back to the Conference after a
nail biting finish to the season. After a terrible start,
the club went on a three month unbeaten run and clinched
the title on the last day of the season with a 1-0 win
over Emley at Moss Lane. However, the joy was short lived.
In the 1999/00 season the club were relegated back to
the Unibond League after finishing 21st in the Conference,
one point behind Welling United and Forest Green Rovers.
The club then achieved mid table positions in the following
four seasons, finishing seventh in 2001, ninth in 2002,
14th in 2003 and twelfth in 2004. |
