Words Ben Edwards | Picture Maisy Green

Amelie Heathcote made the progression from Altrincham FC Women Elite U18 team to the first team recently, featuring as a substitute in the memorable 4-2 victory over Nantwich Town. She becomes the third generation of the Heathcote family to feature for the Robins.

Graham Heathcote, grandfather of Amelie, is a true and undoubted legend of Altrincham Football Club from both his playing and managerial career and has the honour of being a Freeman of the Borough of Altrincham for his services to the town.

Graham made over 500 appearances for Alty, scoring 147 goals, which is remarkable for a midfield player. His playing career spanned Altrincham’s most successful period in the history of the club.

• 1975 Reached FA Cup 3rd Round, drawing at Everton, before losing the replay 2-0 at Old Trafford
• 1978 FA Trophy Winners beating Leatherhead 3-1 at Wembley
• Between 1979-82 Altrincham reached the FA Cup 3rd Round in 4 consecutive seasons, a record for a non-league club that will almost certainly never be matched or broken, including drawing at Tottenham Hotspur and playing at Anfield, where Graham scored a penalty in front of The Kop

When the Alliance Premier League was formed in 1979, Graham was at his peak, playing a vital role in the club winning what is now The National League in its first two seasons.

Having retired at 31, Graham went into coaching & management, being assistant manager to John King in two successful spells for the club & playing a pivotal coaching role under Bernard Taylor in the 1998/9 Northern Premier League Championship winning season.

He managed Altrincham for eight seasons from 2002-2010, leading the club back to The National League in 2004/5 via the play-offs and no one has been as intrinsically linked to Altrincham FC for such a sustained period, covering five decades.

Charles Heathcote, father of Amelie and son of Graham, said: “I was a little young to remember my dad playing, although I have seen plenty of pictures and footage.

“He made his debut for Altrincham aged 16, as did Amelie last year and she scored in the first minute of her debut. She only played one game last season as she was with Sale United. This year she has been with the U18s and is starting with the first team.”

Amelie began playing football at the age of five for Meadowside, before moving on to Sale United and then, this season, to Altrincham.

“Both my dad and Amelie play midfield. The biggest similarity is they both have good vision and an eye for a killer pass,” said Charles.

He added: “I’m very proud of what Amelie is doing but she has a long way to go and the main thing for me is to see her playing with a smile on her face.

“The set up is first class at Altrincham FC Women and they have created a fantastic environment.”

For almost six decades, the Heathcote name has been linked with the town’s football club.

• Graham’s brother, Alan, played for the Robins in the mid-1970s
• Charles and his brother Danny were club kit men during the early 2000s
• Amelie’s uncle, Sam Heathcote, had two spells with Altrincham, making a combined 46 appearances, and like Amelie, scored on his debut, in a National League game against Cheltenham Town and played against Colchester United in the FA Cup second round tie in 2015, which Alty lost 3-2 in Essex