January 23, 2023
Strong, aggressive and an athlete - welcome to Alty, Miles Welch-Hayes!
Report by John Edwards
Picture courtesy of Harrogate Town FC
Altrincham have bolstered their defensive options by signing experienced Harrogate Town right-back Miles Welch-Hayes on loan for the rest of the season, subject to FA and National League approval.
With Ross Barrows recovering from a broken ankle and young Aidan Roxburgh continuing to develop and progress out on loan, Alty have been short of cover on the right of defence.
Manager Phil Parkinson has utilised centre-half Toby Mullarkey at right-back in recent weeks, and, as might be expected, Alty's vice-captain has risen to the challenge and turned in a string of impressive performances in the number two position.
But the Robins boss now has an extra string to his bow after landing 26-year old Welch-Hayes from League Two Harrogate for the remainder of the campaign.
The 6ft 1in defender, who is available for Tuesday night's Vanarama National League game at Chesterfield, signed his first professional contract with his home club Oxford United at the age of 19, and though he dropped into non-League football with Bath City after being released by the Yellows following one League One appearance, he continued to make his mark as a reliable, tough-tackling full-back.
In 2017-18, his consistency was such that he earned a place in the Conference South team of the year after Bath narrowly missed out on qualifying for the play-offs.
That summer, in 2018, he returned to League football with newly-promoted Macclesfield Town, where he made 47 appearances before leaving in the January 2020 transfer window, one of three departures from Moss Rose as the Silkmen's finances took a turn for the worse.
There was no shortage of takers as Colchester United snapped him up and awarded him a contract until the summer of 2022.
He clocked up over 50 games for the League Two club before weighing up an offer from Burton Albion last June and, instead, opting for a move to Harrogate.
On arrival at the EnviroVent Stadium, he described himself as "a strong, aggressive defender and a goods athlete", and the Robins are delighted to be handing him the opportunity to show those qualities in Alty colours.
Welcome to The J.Davidson Stadium, Miles, and all the best for a happy and successful time at Altrincham FC.
Picture courtesy of Harrogate Town FC
Altrincham have bolstered their defensive options by signing experienced Harrogate Town right-back Miles Welch-Hayes on loan for the rest of the season, subject to FA and National League approval.
With Ross Barrows recovering from a broken ankle and young Aidan Roxburgh continuing to develop and progress out on loan, Alty have been short of cover on the right of defence.
Manager Phil Parkinson has utilised centre-half Toby Mullarkey at right-back in recent weeks, and, as might be expected, Alty's vice-captain has risen to the challenge and turned in a string of impressive performances in the number two position.
But the Robins boss now has an extra string to his bow after landing 26-year old Welch-Hayes from League Two Harrogate for the remainder of the campaign.
The 6ft 1in defender, who is available for Tuesday night's Vanarama National League game at Chesterfield, signed his first professional contract with his home club Oxford United at the age of 19, and though he dropped into non-League football with Bath City after being released by the Yellows following one League One appearance, he continued to make his mark as a reliable, tough-tackling full-back.
In 2017-18, his consistency was such that he earned a place in the Conference South team of the year after Bath narrowly missed out on qualifying for the play-offs.
That summer, in 2018, he returned to League football with newly-promoted Macclesfield Town, where he made 47 appearances before leaving in the January 2020 transfer window, one of three departures from Moss Rose as the Silkmen's finances took a turn for the worse.
There was no shortage of takers as Colchester United snapped him up and awarded him a contract until the summer of 2022.
He clocked up over 50 games for the League Two club before weighing up an offer from Burton Albion last June and, instead, opting for a move to Harrogate.
On arrival at the EnviroVent Stadium, he described himself as "a strong, aggressive defender and a goods athlete", and the Robins are delighted to be handing him the opportunity to show those qualities in Alty colours.
Welcome to The J.Davidson Stadium, Miles, and all the best for a happy and successful time at Altrincham FC.
*In the picture, Miles is flanked by two Harrogate team-mates, including Kyle Ferguson, as he celebrates his only goal for the club, a stoppage-time winner in a Papa Johns Trophy tie with Morecambe earlier this season.
