Altrincham FA Cup giant-killers — Altrincham, the FA Cup giant-killers whose history includes 17 victories over Football League clubs, will attempt to add Notts County to that list when the two sides meet in the first round on Saturday. The National League club, currently seventh in the table, hosts League One opposition at Moss Lane in a match being shown live on BBC Two and iPlayer.
No other club that has spent its entire existence in non-league football has defeated as many Football League opponents in the competition. That record was built largely during a golden era in the 1970s and 1980s, when Altrincham reached the third round in four consecutive seasons between 1978 and 1982 despite being part-time.
A legacy forged in the 1970s and 1980s
Graham Heathcote, a midfielder who made more than 500 appearances for Altrincham and scored 100 goals, was central to that period. Now in his 70s and still living in the town, he believes the current squad can draw confidence from the club’s past.
Heathcote points to draws at Everton in 1975 and Tottenham in 1979, and a penalty he scored at Anfield against Liverpool in 1981. He argues that Altrincham’s cup record in that era surpassed that of sides in the old third and fourth divisions, and that the achievement was all the more notable because top-flight clubs did not field weakened teams in the competition as they sometimes do now.
Asked about the secret of those cup runs, Heathcote cites a collective determination that made Altrincham feared on one-off occasions. He suggests that players can raise their level above their usual standard in a single match, even if they cannot do so every week, and that the key is getting the mindset right on the day.
The club’s motivation may also have been sharpened by a sense of injustice. Altrincham twice won what was then the Alliance Premier League but were denied progression to the Football League by a ballot system, missing out by a single vote in 1980 before automatic promotion was introduced a few years later.
Gibson eyes a first-round upset
Neil Gibson, who joined Altrincham last year to help the club avoid relegation, has overseen an impressive start to the current National League campaign, with the team looking like play-off contenders. The Welshman is clear that a first ever promotion to the EFL is the priority, but he is equally eager to build on the club’s cup tradition against Notts County.
Gibson describes the tie as a real opportunity and says the spirit and essence of the club are tied to such occasions. He notes that Notts County are a very good team, but believes Altrincham can go and create their own memories, just as supporters remember the cup moments of the past.
He also has personal experience of a cup upset against Saturday’s opponents. Twenty-four years ago, he played for Conference club Southport when they beat Notts County in the FA Cup. He has won the Welsh Cup three times, twice as a manager, and says cups have always been special to him. He stresses that the day will only be remembered if Altrincham come out on the right side of the result.
Altrincham turned professional only four years ago and, situated a few miles from Old Trafford in an area of Greater Manchester dominated by fans of United and City, has to work hard to maintain its supporter base. Gibson sees the tie as a chance for his players to showcase themselves against a club that was in the same league as Altrincham three years ago. Five members of his squad have previously appeared for Notts County.
The Heathcote family connection
Heathcote also managed Altrincham between 2002 and 2009 but did not replicate his playing cup glories in the dugout. His special connection with the competition has been carried on by his son, Sam, who followed him by playing for Altrincham and helped them beat League One Barnsley in 2015, the club’s most recent cup upset.
Sam Heathcote, a teacher in Altrincham, then joined local rivals Macclesfield and this year was part of the National League North side’s defence when they stunned holders Crystal Palace, producing the greatest shock in FA Cup history with 117 places between the sides.
Graham Heathcote says his son’s achievement far exceeded anything he did, noting that he never won in the third round himself. He will be at Mansfield on Saturday hoping to watch Sam pull off another upset for Macclesfield, but he will also follow events at Moss Lane closely.
He wants to see Altrincham reach the third round so the current generation of supporters can experience what the competition means to the club. He recalls that people still talk about his own appearance at Everton 51 years ago and urges the present players to seize the chance to create a similar legacy. The challenge for Altrincham is to make Notts County the 18th Football League scalp on their list and breathe new life into their reputation as one of English football’s ultimate cup fighters.
