Altrincham Co-Chairman Bill Waterson writes:

Alty’s 3-1 win at Bracknell Town on Saturday saw us reach the quarter-finals of the Isuzu FA Trophy for the first time since 1995, and we are now only two wins away from returning to Wembley Stadium for the first time since John King led us to victory there in 1986.

We've played York City twice in the Trophy, both ties won by the away side. Alty lost 3-1 at The J.Davidson Stadium in 2007, with Colin Little scoring for the Robins, but won 1-0 a few seasons ago at Bootham Crescent with York nemesis Tom Peers scoring the goal. 

Alty have a strong tradition in this competition, with only one club still in existence winning the FA Trophy more than we have.  We won the competition twice, in 1978 and 1986, with a third Wembley visit in 1982 when Enfield pipped us 1-0.  And now we are writing a new chapter in that story.

To celebrate our progression to the quarter-finals, we will be showing off some impressive club memorabilia from our history in this competition, including a winner’s medal from our first appearance at Wembley against Leatherhead.

In April 2022, a collection of football memorabilia was put up for sale by Mullocks Auctions in Shropshire. Item number 816 was a 9-carat gold FA Trophy winner's medal from 1978, although we do not know specifically to which player or staff member the medal belonged. 

A short, sharp bidding process saw Bill Waterson secure the medal with the invaluable assistance of Brian Birtles, who had spotted the lot in the first place, and it has now been donated to the club. 

As well as the winner's medal, we will also put on show two items presented to the club at Wembley by the Football Association - a replica FA Trophy from 1978 and the pennant from the 1986 Trophy victory at Wembley. It is hoped all three will be available for fans to see inside the stadium soon. 

The FA Trophy run is helping fuel the feel-good sensation around the club and in the town – not far off the National League play-offs and only two wins from Wembley.

We proudly remember our past as we honour the legend that is John King.  And now the next chapter is being written in front of our very eyes. Get behind the club in the three consecutive home games we have coming up – Bromley on Valentine's Day, Tuesday February 14th, Woking Saturday the 18th and Solihull Moors the following Saturday, February 25th.

Alty fans outnumbered the home contingent at Bracknell Town and sung us into the quarter-finals – let's do the same over the coming weeks.

Come on Alty!