Words Ben Edwards | Pictures Maisy Green & Manon Benavise

The first Altrincham FC league game since March 29 takes the Robins to Stockport Sports Village on Wednesday, August 19 against Stockport County Women Development (kick-off 7:30pm)

Having shifted laterally into Division One Central of the North West Women's Regional Football League, Daryll Abrahams' side will be looking to build on an impressive fifth-placed finish in Division One South.

It begins a big opening week for Alty Women, who kick off their Women's FA Cup campaign with a trip to Morecambe FC Women on Sunday.

Pre-season

It was a difficult start to pre-season preparations, as the Robins' squad was depleted due to players on holiday. They took on difficult opponents in Wythenshawe Town Women and Blackpool FC Ladies, falling to 4-0 and 5-0 defeats, respectively.

However, there was a much stronger squad available for the final friendly, where Alty defeated a very physical Oldham Athletic Women side 2-0 at Partington Sports Village, with goals from Brogan Walsh and Elise Jones.

New Signings

Abrahams has retained the majority of his squad, losing just five players in Francesca Boyle, Ireyimika Bamigboye, Olivia Kaleta, Sophie Hall and Kira Saycell.

A number of players, whilst available initially, will depart for university, such as Ash Gilmore, Elise Jones and Emily Rutter.

Six players have been brought in to strengthen the group, the first of which was the aforementioned Brogan Walsh. A club legend and part of the first ever Altrincham Women team, Walsh left the club in November but adds needed experience to the squad this campaign.

Other additions include central defenders Amy Tickner and Isla Paulley from Huddersfield Town Women and Chester FC Women, and midfielders Macy Price and Saffron Tilston from Ashton Town Ladies and Runcorn Linnets Ladies.

The marquee signing of the summer is goalkeeper Carmen Stephens, joining on a season-long loan from Liverpool FC Women.

Hear it from Daryll Abrahams

"I think we've recruited really well. We identified really early what we needed. The players that we've lost are really strong players, but we wanted to bring in players like-for-like or even better, or players that in the long-term will make us a better team."

The Hosts

The Hatters are also new to the league, having won promotion from the Cheshire Women & Youth Football League Premier division last campaign. They finished second, only a point behind Wirral United Women, with 14 wins from 16 games.

It was a difficult start to life at step six for Stockport Development, who lost 4-1 to Wigan Athletic Ladies on their opening day on Sunday.

Stockport Sports Village

It's a short trip over to Stockport Sports Village on Wednesday, with the game being played on pitch 10. There's plenty of car parking available on site, and if you're on public transport, the nearest train station is Woodley, a 15-minute walk away.

Can't make it to Woodley?

Head over to Radio Robins on RadioAlty for the very best live commentary from 7:25pm, brought to you by Sam Hodkin and Brian Flynn. Post-match reaction from Daryll Abrahams will be over on AltyTV

Come On You Robins!!!