Thank You, Phil and Neil
When Phil Parkinson walked through the doors at Moss Lane in April 2017, Altrincham Football Club was at one of its lowest points in decades. Relegated to the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the mood around the club was flat, and the rebuild ahead looked huge. But for Phil, and for his long-time assistant Neil Sorvel, it was the start of something special.
Phil joined Altrincham just three days after his Nantwich Town side had fallen short in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs. In his two years there, he had transformed The Dabbers from relegation candidates into promotion contenders. Neil, his trusted assistant, had been by his side for that journey, bringing both experience and calm to the touchline. Together, they arrived at Alty ready to take on a challenge.
Their task was simple in theory but daunting in practice: to restore pride and put the club back on the right track. It didn’t take long.
The Timeline: Season by Season
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2016–17April 28, 2017: Phil Parkinson appointed Altrincham Manager; Neil Sorvel joins as Assistant. Club finishes the season relegated to the Northern Premier League.
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2017–18Northern Premier League, Premier Division Champions Promotion back to National League North at the first attempt.
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2018–19National League North Play-offs A strong campaign ends with defeat in the play-offs, but momentum builds.
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2019–20Promoted to the National League Victory over Boston United in the play-off final, played behind closed doors due to the pandemic. FA Cup 2nd Round: stoppage-time defeat away at Portsmouth after a memorable performance.
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2020–22National League consolidation Creation of the Altrincham FC Academy in 2020 under Neil Sorvel’s leadership. May 2022: Club goes full-time.
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2022–23First full-time campaign FA Trophy Semi-Finalists.
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2023–244th place finish in the National League Reached the play-offs before a semi-final defeat at Bromley.
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2024–259th place finish in the National League FA Trophy Quarter-Finalists.
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2025–26October: After more than eight years in charge, Phil Parkinson and Neil Sorvel depart Altrincham FC.
Neil’s influence extended beyond the first team too. In 2020, he quit his job in education to become Manager of the club's new Elite Academy, launching the pathway alongside then co-chair Lawrence Looney and Director John Coyne. Holding this position until the first team became full-time professionals, Neil helped shape the club’s youth structure, another legacy that will continue to serve Altrincham well in the years to come.
When the club took the decision to go full-time in 2022, it represented a defining moment, one that Phil and Neil had worked towards for years. The 2022–23 season that followed brought some unforgettable moments, none more so than the FA Trophy semi-final, where Altrincham were just seconds away from Wembley before a heartbreaking late equaliser ended the dream. The following year saw another step forward, with the team finishing fourth in the National League and reaching the play-off semi-finals, a modern-day peak in the club’s long history.
Their final campaign together may not have delivered the results everyone hoped for, but their contribution to Altrincham FC is clear and lasting. From that first season bounce-back to the heights of the National League play-offs, they have left the club in a far stronger position than the one they inherited in 2017.
Eight years. Two promotions. Countless memories.
Thank you, Phil and Neil, for everything.
