ALTRINCHAM FC (H) PREVIEW by Steve Harris

TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve Harris previews the game at Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED VS ALTRINCHAM FC – NATIONAL LEAGUE

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: 22th October 2022

Kick-off: 5.20pm

CURRENT FORM

Torquay: L, D, L, L, D, W

Altrincham: W, L, W, W, D, L

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Will Goodwin (3)

Altrincham: Aaron Bennett, Marcus Dinanga, Ryan Colclough, Toby Mullarkey (3 each)

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 5

Draw: 4

Altrincham: 3

ALTRINCHAM FC FACTFILE

Year founded: 1891

Nickname: The Robins or Alty

Last season’s league finish: 14th in the National League

Notable honours:

National League (Alliance Premier League) champions: 1979-80, 1980-81

Northern Premier League champions: 1998-99, 2017-18

MANAGER: PHIL PARKINSON

Since he was appointed as Altrincham boss on April 28, 2017, Phil Parkinson has overseen two promotions in the space of three seasons, which has seen Alty return to the National League for the first time since 2016. In the 2017-18 season, Altrincham won the Northern Premier League title, and they followed up this achievement by winning promotion from the National League North through the play-offs in the 2019-20 campaign. They have since consolidated their place in the National League with 17th and 14th place finishes in the past two season and have gone full-time for the 2022-23 campaign.

After starting out as a player with Crewe Alexandra and Reading, Parkinson spent a year with Port Vale before making his name at Nantwich Town, who he captained to FA Vase glory in 2006, which was followed by promotions from the North West Counties League and the Unibond Northern League Division One.

He later took over as manager of Nantwich in 2015 and led them to the semi-finals of the FA Trophy in the 2015-16 season. He led them to the Northern Premier League play-offs in the 2016-17 campaign, where they were beaten by Spennymoor United.

PLAYER TO WATCH: TOBY MULLARKEY

A product of the Crewe Alexandra youth system, Toby signed for Alty from Nantwich Town in May, 2019 and has established himself as a fans’ favourite.

A tall, commanding and composed centre-back, Toby’s outstanding form in the 2021-22 season attracted widespread interest from Football League clubs, but, in a major boost for the Robins, he agreed to remain with Altrincham and is an integral part of the new professional era as vice-captain.

MULLARKEY STATS:

Position: Centre Back

Date of Birth: 4th November 1995 – 26 Years Old

Birthplace: Warrington

Height: 1.93m

Former Clubs: Crewe, Leek, Nantwich

NLS Stats 22-23: Played 13, Goals Scored 3, Yellow/Red 0/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Altrincham: Ben Pringle

PREVIOUS HEAD TO HEAD

ALTRINCHAM FC 1-2 TORQUAY UNITED

22/01/2022

Torquay made it three games unbeaten in the National League thanks to goals from Stephen Wearne and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans in a 2-1 victory at Altrincham.

The visitors hit the front in the sixth minute when Lemonheigh-Evans rounded the goalkeeper and tucked the ball into the back of the net.

Altrincham equalised through a stunning Toby Mullarkey effort after he decided to let fly from 25 yards out.

With honours even at half-time, Torquay regained the lead four minutes into the second half when Wearne took advantage of a defensive error and struck a low driven effort into the bottom left-hand corner.

The Gulls came close to doubling their advantage, but Stephen Duke-McKenna could not convert after a brilliant solo effort.