Welcome to Stone Old Alleynians
Mon 23rd July 2018 | Stone Old Alleynians | By Ian Templeman
Stone Old Alleynians are one of two clubs, Ellesmere Rangers being the other, who have moved laterally into our league from the neighbouring Step 6 League, the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division.
With our league having had a representation of Staffordshire clubs for many years, the move is a logical one for the "Old Boys", whose full name is derived from its formation in 1962 by Dave Bonnet, a teacher at and former pupil of Alleynes Grammar School, Stone.
The Club received a donation from the Old Alleynians Society to purchase shirts and pay League Fees, and having adopted their name, entered the Stafford Amateur League, progressing through the North Staffs Alliance League to the Staffordshire County League, before entering Division Two of the West Midland League in 2007.
At the end of the 2009/10 season, they were promoted to the West Midland League Division One and then in 2014/15, a runners up- place sealed promotion to the Premier Division.
Two successive mid-table finishes saw the club consolidate their place in the West Midlands Premier Division, but at the beginning of last season, Director of Football, Bob Askey took the opportunity to become manager of Evo-Stik League side Newcastle Town, taking a number of players with him.
However, another mid-table finish was secured, and by the end of the season, Bob Askey returned to the club to take over as chairman in place of the long serving Dave Mardling, who is now the club’s Life President.
Dave has been with the club since 1963, the year after it was formed, and has fulfilled every possible role and position over the years.
Like a number of people associated with the club, Dave is an ex-pupil of Alleynes Grammar School, which he says is an important feature of the club's make up.
"The team was formed over 50 years ago by ex-pupils from the school and today, there is still that connection as the majority of our players are not only local to Stone but they are ex-pupils of Alleynes School", said Dave.
"This means that our lads are always playing with that extra bit of pride because not only are they at Stone’s premier football team, most of the players live there as well".
As far as the upcoming season is concerned, Dave is optimistic that the club has the necessary attributes to make an impact.
"Ex-manager, former Director of Football and now Chairman of the club, Bob Askey is a vital member of the club", said Dave.
"As a former semi-professional footballer with Macclesfield Town, Worcester City and managerial experience with quite a few local teams, Bob’s experience and know-how will give us the edge over our opponents.
"His knowledge of football, along with his contacts in the game, brings a credibility to our team and motivates players who want to come and play at this level.
"Our manager, Matt Smith has a proven record of being able to motivate his players and I’m hoping that he’ll use that ability to ensure that Old Alleynians finish well up the league table.
"Everyone at Stone Old Alleynians is really looking forward to competing in the newly formed Division One South.
"For a start, there should be quite a lot less travelling and it is going to give us the opportunity to play some really local games against Stone Dominoes and Eccleshall.
"We are looking forward to local derbies for the first time in many years, which is bound to increase local interest, and we’re looking forward to having some bumper crowds at these games.
"In the past we have had a reserve team who played in the Staffs County Senior League and we have also had youth teams who have operated under our umbrella. But at this moment in time, we are just concentrating on running the one team successfully, and then who knows, we may start to expand with other sides to support the team in the Hallmark Security League.
"The first priority is to keep away from the bottom of the table, and consolidate our place in the league".
Welcome to Stone Old Alleynians
Mon 23rd July 2018 | Stone Old Alleynians
By Ian Templeman
Stone Old Alleynians are one of two clubs, Ellesmere Rangers being the other, who have moved laterally into our league from the neighbouring Step 6 League, the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division.
With our league having had a representation of Staffordshire clubs for many years, the move is a logical one for the "Old Boys", whose full name is derived from its formation in 1962 by Dave Bonnet, a teacher at and former pupil of Alleynes Grammar School, Stone.
The Club received a donation from the Old Alleynians Society to purchase shirts and pay League Fees, and having adopted their name, entered the Stafford Amateur League, progressing through the North Staffs Alliance League to the Staffordshire County League, before entering Division Two of the West Midland League in 2007.
At the end of the 2009/10 season, they were promoted to the West Midland League Division One and then in 2014/15, a runners up- place sealed promotion to the Premier Division.
Two successive mid-table finishes saw the club consolidate their place in the West Midlands Premier Division, but at the beginning of last season, Director of Football, Bob Askey took the opportunity to become manager of Evo-Stik League side Newcastle Town, taking a number of players with him.
However, another mid-table finish was secured, and by the end of the season, Bob Askey returned to the club to take over as chairman in place of the long serving Dave Mardling, who is now the club’s Life President.
Dave has been with the club since 1963, the year after it was formed, and has fulfilled every possible role and position over the years.
Like a number of people associated with the club, Dave is an ex-pupil of Alleynes Grammar School, which he says is an important feature of the club's make up.
"The team was formed over 50 years ago by ex-pupils from the school and today, there is still that connection as the majority of our players are not only local to Stone but they are ex-pupils of Alleynes School", said Dave.
"This means that our lads are always playing with that extra bit of pride because not only are they at Stone’s premier football team, most of the players live there as well".
As far as the upcoming season is concerned, Dave is optimistic that the club has the necessary attributes to make an impact.
"Ex-manager, former Director of Football and now Chairman of the club, Bob Askey is a vital member of the club", said Dave.
"As a former semi-professional footballer with Macclesfield Town, Worcester City and managerial experience with quite a few local teams, Bob’s experience and know-how will give us the edge over our opponents.
"His knowledge of football, along with his contacts in the game, brings a credibility to our team and motivates players who want to come and play at this level.
"Our manager, Matt Smith has a proven record of being able to motivate his players and I’m hoping that he’ll use that ability to ensure that Old Alleynians finish well up the league table.
"Everyone at Stone Old Alleynians is really looking forward to competing in the newly formed Division One South.
"For a start, there should be quite a lot less travelling and it is going to give us the opportunity to play some really local games against Stone Dominoes and Eccleshall.
"We are looking forward to local derbies for the first time in many years, which is bound to increase local interest, and we’re looking forward to having some bumper crowds at these games.
"In the past we have had a reserve team who played in the Staffs County Senior League and we have also had youth teams who have operated under our umbrella. But at this moment in time, we are just concentrating on running the one team successfully, and then who knows, we may start to expand with other sides to support the team in the Hallmark Security League.
"The first priority is to keep away from the bottom of the table, and consolidate our place in the league".
