Words Brian Flynn

Everyone at Altrincham Football Club is very sad to learn of the passing of Brian Newhall at the age of 88.

One of the club's best known & most recognisable faces, Brian started watching the club in the 1950s and was therefore one of the club's longest standing fans.

Brian supported the Robins through thick & thin, experiencing the halcyon Cheshire League days of the 1960s as Noel White, Peter Swales & Freddie Pye transformed Alty's fortunes, all of Alty's FA Cup and FA Trophy heroics and the incredible achievement of winning the inaugural Alliance Premier League (National League) in 1980, then repeating the feat 12 months later under the regime led by Tony Sanders, John King and Noel White.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Brian travelled throughout the country without fail, as the club entered national football for the first time and remarkably saw all FOUR of the infamous FA Trophy 3rd Round games against Fisher Athletic in1988.

Following a 1-1 draw at Moss Lane, it was scoreless after extra-time in the replay. Fisher won the toss for the venue of the 2nd replay and Brian travelled down, to The Surrey Docks Stadium, again, to witness another draw, this time 1-1 after extra-time.

The third replay took place at Moss Lane and Alty triumphed 1-0 to conclude one of the club's most epic cup ties!!!!!!

Brian was still attending games this season and we offer our very sincere condolences to Jamie & Sean on the loss of their father and also to Brian's daughter-in-law, Yu.