2013–14 Alfreton Town F.C. season

The 2013–14 season was Alfreton Town's third consecutive season in the Conference Premier following their promotion from the Conference North in 2011. The team reached the first round of the FA Cup before being knocked out by Wrexham, the team they beat in the same round last year. Alfreton also took part in the FA Trophy and Derbyshire Senior Cup but were eliminated from both competitions in the opening games.

Season review

Pre-season

Upon the conclusion of the 2012–13 season, Alfreton reverted to semi-professional status having gone full-time after their promotion to the Conference Premier two years earlier. Of the 13 players who were out of contract, four signed new deals. Paul Clayton signed for two more years whilst Connor Franklin, Josh Law and Alastair Taylor all penned new one-year contracts. Dan Bradley also signed a one-year extension, keeping him with the club until the end of the 2014–15 season. The other nine departed the club; Phil Barnes joined former club Gainsborough Trinity, Anton Brown, Leigh Franks and Ashley Worsfold signed for Harrogate Town, Theo Streete moved to Nuneaton Town, Adam Quinn joined Bradford Park Avenue, Nathan Arnold signed for Cambridge United while Ben Gathercole and Gavan Holohan were released. Ben Tomlinson also left, joining Lincoln City in July for an undisclosed four-figure fee.

Alfreton brought in nine players before the season began. Bradley Wood joined from Grimsby Town on 29 May. Michael Wylde and Kristian Ramsey-Dickson, who turned down the offer of a professional contract at Chesterfield, both joined in June, followed in July by Tom Shaw and Chris Westwood. In August Nick Fenton and John McGrath both signed having trialled with the club during the pre-season matches. Hayes & Yeading United striker Daniel Wishart joined for an undisclosed fee while Ross Atkins arrived on a season-long loan from Derby County. Each player penned a one-year contract except for Shaw who signed for two years.

Alfreton arranged seven pre-season games, all but two of which were against teams from higher divisions, beginning with a 2–1 defeat to Birmingham City on 6 July. Two draws and three defeats followed before they rounded off their warm-up matches against Worksop Parramore, losing 3–2. Of the seven matches played, Alfreton failed to win any.

August

Alfreton began the season with a 1–0 defeat away to Dartford but recovered to win 3–1 against Kidderminster Harriers in their first home fixture with Dan Bradley scoring twice. In between the games the club brought in striker John Akinde on a free transfer. A 3–2 victory over Salisbury City followed, courtesy of an Akinde hat-trick before a 3–1 defeat away to Grimsby Town, Nick Fenton scoring a late consolation. Alfreton then beat Hereford United 2–1 to record their third straight home league victory thanks to a late Josh Law header. The final game in August saw Alfreton lose 3–1 away to Forest Green Rovers. Already 3–0 down by half-time, Dan Bradley scored late in the game for his third goal of the season. Jack Andrews and Jay McFadzean, brother of former Alfreton player Kyle, joined Alfreton at the end of the month having trialled with the club over the summer. Alfreton also began discussions for a possible takeover by an Asian-based consortium.

September

In September Lathaniel Rowe-Turner joined on loan until January from Luton Town. He went straight into the side for the first game of the month as Alfreton maintained a 100% home record with a 3–1 win over Woking, Tom Shaw scoring twice. Two weeks after joining the club, Jay McFadzean signed for Frickley Athletic on a one month loan. Alfreton earned their first away points and clean sheet of the season after beating Macclesfield Town 1–0 thanks to Daniel Meadows second goal in two games. Three days later they drew 1–1 with league-leaders Cambridge United. Paul Clayton's first goal of the season gave Alfreton the lead in the first half though their 100% home record ended after a second half equaliser from the visitors. Clayton then scored twice to give Alfreton a 3–1 win over Barnet; John McGrath had earlier opened the scoring with his first goal for the club. The following week Kristian Ramsay-Dickson, having made only one appearance as a substitute since joining, left the club by mutual consent. Moving in the opposite direction, Samuel Akinde, the younger brother of John, joined on non-contract terms. He was named on the bench for the away game at Southport but did not make an appearance as the team suffered their first defeat in four games, losing 2–1. Alfreton ended the month with back-to-back away defeats after succumbing 3–1 to Braintree Town. At 3–0 Bradley Wood scored late on with his first goal for the club.

October

With his first-team opportunities limited at Alfreton, Alastair Taylor joined Gainsborough Trinity on a one-month loan in early October. Alfreton recovered from consecutive defeats with a 3–2 win over Forest Green Rovers at North Street. A goal from Tom Shaw and two from Daniel Wishart, his first for the club, secured the win though they had to play the last 20 minutes with ten men after Nick Fenton was sent off. The team suffered their first home defeat of the season in the following game against Chester, losing 1–0. The result was compounded by injuries to Daniel Wishart and Michael Wylde which added to a growing list of absentees and left Alfreton with only 13 available players for the next league game. The club brought in Mansfield Town striker Jake Speight on a one-month loan as cover before the game against Gateshead but could still name just two substitutes in the match squad and lost the game 3–0, their fourth defeat in five games. Speight was among the scorers in Alfreton's following game as they saw off Aldershot Town 3–2 for their second away win of the season. The club extended his loan until the new year and also received permission for him to play in the three cup competitions while Jack Andrews joined Northern Premier League side Grantham Town for one month. Alfreton ended the month by beating North Ferriby United 3–1 to progress to the first round proper of the FA Cup.

November

Alfreton began November with a 3–0 win over FC Halifax Town, their biggest win of the season, with Jake Speight continuing his goalscoring form, netting twice. After his previous loan was cut short by injury, the fit-again Jay McFadzean joined Stocksbridge Park Steels for one month. Despite winning the corresponding fixture against Wrexham 4–2 last season, Alfreton were eliminated from the FA Cup at the first round, losing 3–1. The team returned to league action three days later against Tamworth and lost 1–0, consigning them to their seventh defeat in nine away games. Speight was recalled by Mansfield prior to the home game against Braintree Town, forcing Daniel Meadows to fill in as a makeshift striker. Despite defender Nick Fenton also missing out through injury, Alfreton recorded a 3–1 win with goals from John Akinde, Tom Shaw and Josh Law. A 2–1 away win over bottom club Hyde followed before a heavy 3–0 defeat to Nuneaton Town which saw them replaced in the play-off places by their opponents. Prior to the FA Trophy game against their most recent league opponents Nuneaton, Alfreton brought in Northampton Town striker Jonathan Hooper on a one-month loan. He started the game but could not change the outcome as Nuneaton triumphed again 1–0.

December

December began with the extension Jack Andrews' loan at Grantham Town for a second month. The side faced Luton Town at home in the first game of the month and lost 5–0 prompting manager Nicky Law to comment after the match that "they're the best that we've seen this year and the best we've come up against by a long, long way". Days later Alfreton played their opening match of the Derbyshire Senior Cup but suffered a fourth straight loss in all competitions with a 1–0 defeat to Heanor Town of the Northern Counties East League, a division four tiers below the Conference Premier. An injury sustained in the game to the on-loan Ross Atkins forced Alfreton into the emergency signing of F.C. United of Manchester goalkeeper Jon Worsnop for the game against Kidderminster Harriers. Alfreton won the match 3–1 through two Michael Wylde goals, his first for the club, and a late John Akinde penalty. Prior to the match against Dartford Worsnop signed a deal to move permanently from FC United and again started in goal as Alfreton won 2–1 with Paul Clayton scoring twice. The side finished the year with two victories, away to Wrexham and at home to Southport, winning 3–2 and 2–1 respectively. Michael Wylde continued his scoring form, netting in both games to take his tally to four goals in his last four games, whilst John Akinde's strike against Wrexham took him into double figures for the season. On the last day of the year Alastair Taylor rejoined Gainsborough Trinity on a one-month loan.

January

Alfreton started the new year with a fifth straight win after beating Wrexham 1–0, John Akinde the sole goalscorer. Soon after goalkeeper Ross Atkins was recalled from his loan early by Derby County having failed to regain his place from Jon Worsnop after returning from injury. Moving in the opposite direction was Godfrey Poku who signed from Mansfield Town on loan for the remainder of the season, whilst Lathaniel Rowe-Turner's spell was extended for a further month. Poku went straight into the starting XI for the game against Barnet though Alfreton lost 1–0 to a 25-yard Dani López shot. The side then suffered their heaviest away defeat of the season, losing 4–1 to Lincoln City. Nick Fenton scored Alfreton's only goal in what was their sixth game in 18 days. After the fixture congestion Alfreton went over two weeks without a game when their home tie against Tamworth was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. During the break the club brought in striker Shaun Harrad until the end of the season following his release from Bury, but also learned that midfielder John McGrath, who was injured during the Boxing Day game, would be out for the rest of the campaign due to a knee problem. Two players also left the club on loan for a month; Jack Andrews to Stocksbridge Park Steels, and, having struggled to earn a regular starting place, Daniel Wishart to his former club Hayes & Yeading United. New signing Harrad scored on his debut with a penalty to give the side a 2–1 win over Welling United, though they suffered further frustration when the home game against Hyde was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

February

The month began with a trip to Salisbury City with the team recording a rare draw and clean sheet as the match finished 0–0. In the days after the match assistant manager Russ O'Neill confirmed that Luton Town had refused to allow Lathaniel Rowe-Turner's loan to be extended, speculating that they now saw Alfreton as a threat. Having returned from his loan at Gainsborough Trinity, Alastair Taylor left again to join Buxton for a month, while Samuel Akinde was released after starting only one game since joining in September. A 1–0 away win at the side above them, Cambridge United, followed with Bradley Wood scoring the only goal, though their next fixture against Aldershot Town was postponed, making it more than six weeks since Alfreton's last home game. Daniel Wishart returned from loan at his former club and was immediately sent out again, this time to Isthmian League Premier Division side Margate. On the day of Alfreton's home game against Gateshead, their first for over seven weeks, defender Andrai Jones arrived on a one-month loan from Barnsley and went straight into the starting lineup. The match finished 1–1 with Tom Shaw scoring his first goal since November, while debutant Jones picked up the Man of the Match award.

March

The team took on Luton Town in the first game of March but were again on the wrong end of a heavy defeat, losing 3–0. A home game against Lincoln City followed and despite holding a 1–0 lead until the 90th minute through Shaun Harrad, the match ended in a draw after Sean Newton's injury time equaliser. Two more goals from Harrad, and one from John Akinde gave Alfreton a comfortable 3–0 win over bottom club Hyde at North Street, consigning the visitors to relegation with nine games remaining. The win also took the club to 61 points which surpassed their previous best total in the Conference Premier of 60, achieved in the 2012–13 season. An away trip to Chester followed and although Alfreton departed with a 1–0 win through another Harrad goal, the victory was marred by an injury to Michael Wylde who suffered a double leg break. Within hours of the game the club received another setback after learning they would be deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player, Jon Worsnop, in December's win over Kidderminster Harriers. Chairman Wayne Bradley apologised to the fans and criticised the decision, accusing the Football Conference of "going out of their way to make life difficult" for the club. On the day of the game against Tamworth, left-back Michael Hoganson joined on loan from Derby County until the end of the season. He started in defence as Alfreton ran out 4–2 winners with goals from Harrad, Akinde, Tom Shaw and Paul Clayton. Prior to the trip to FC Halifax Town two more players arrived on loan; Lathaniel Rowe-Turner returned from Luton and Elliott Whitehouse arrived from Sheffield United, both until the end of the season. In the game itself, which was televised on BT Sport, Alfreton were beaten 2–0 thanks to a brace from Lee Gregory. The defeat was compounded by a three match ban handed to Paul Clayton following the game when he accepted an FA charge after kicking out at an opponent off-the-ball. With the loan window due to close at the end of the month, the club extended Andrai Jones' deal and brought in Sheffield Wednesday's Joe Wildsmith as goalkeeping cover, both until the end of the season. Though Daniel Wishart's spell at Margate was initially also extended for the rest of the season, days later it was cancelled and he instead joined Eastleigh until the end of their campaign. The final game of the month was the visit of fellow play-off chasers Nuneaton Town which ended in a 1–1 draw; John Akinde scored Alfreton's goal.

April

The first game in April was a home tie against Welling United with Nick Fenton and Bradley Wood twice equalising for Alfreton to earn a 2–2 draw. A third game without a win saw the team drop out of the play-off places for the first time since December. Two further defeats followed, firstly to Aldershot Town and then, despite holding the lead until the 80th minute, Woking. John Akinde scored a goal in both games but could not prevent Alfreton losing 4–1 and 2–1 respectively. The kick-off for the home game with Grimsby Town was delayed for over an hour after the visitors were delayed due to traffic. Alfreton went behind three times but recovered to earn a 3–3 draw thanks to goals from Josh Law, Akinde and Paul Clayton. Despite the comeback the draw left the team six points off the play-offs with only two games left and an inferior goal difference. Any mathematical chances of reaching the top five were finally ended days later after a 3–2 away defeat to Hereford United. John Akinde's end-of-season scoring form continued as he gave Alfreton the lead, though three goals from the home side condemned the team to defeat despite Shaun Harrad's late strike. The season concluded on a disappointing note with a 1–0 home defeat to Macclesfield Town which left Alfreton in 11th position on 67 points. In their last eight games the team picked up only three points from twenty-four and fell eight places in the league table.

Post-season

At the end of April chairman Wayne Bradley put the club up for sale, stating that he felt he had taken the side as far as he could and that further investment was required. Despite making Alfreton available for sale, Bradley also confirmed that he would be prepared to stay in another capacity if any potential new owners wanted him to. Manager Nicky Law signed a new one-year rolling contract which will see him potentially become the club's longest serving manager. Connor Franklin was the first player to leave following the conclusion of the season, rejoining former club Nuneaton Town upon the expiry of his contract. He was followed a week later by Dan Bradley who, despite extending his contract at the start of the season, joined Barnet on a free transfer. After seven seasons with the club Josh Law moved to Motherwell whilst top scorer John Akinde joined Dan Bradley at Barnet on a two-year contract.

Transfers

In

The table contains players who joined the club from 21 April 2013 onwards, the day after the last fixture of the 2012–13 season.

Out

The table contains players who left the club from 1 July 2013 onwards. Those who departed before this date are considered to have left at the end of the 2012–13 season and are not included.

Loans in

Loans out

Competitions

Pre-season friendlies

At the end of April, Alfreton announced pre-season fixtures with Birmingham City and Port Vale to take place at North Street in July. A fortnight later, a further two home fixtures were confirmed against Burton Albion and Walsall. Three additional ties against Matlock Town, Sheffield United and Worksop Parramore were arranged in July. Alfreton's score is given first in the "Result" column.

Conference Premier

Fixtures

The 2013–14 Conference fixtures were released on 3 July. Alfreton began the season with a trip to Dartford on 10 August and will finish with a home tie against Macclesfield Town on 26 April. League position is sourced to Statto, the remaining information is sourced individually in the "Ref" column. Alfreton's score is given first in the "Result" column.

League table (partial)

As of the end of the season.

Key: Pos = League position; Pld = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn;
L = Games lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points.

Alfreton deducted three points.

FA Cup

As a member of the Conference Premier, Alfreton enter the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round. The draw took place in October with the team handed an away game against Conference North side North Ferriby United. After winning their first game they were drawn against Wrexham who Alfreton beat 4–2 in the first round last season. Alfreton's score is given first in the "Result" column.

FA Trophy

Alfreton enter the competition at the first round stage and, in November, were drawn against Nuneaton Town.

Derbyshire Senior Cup

In November Alfreton were drawn against Heanor Town, of the Northern Counties East Football League, in the third round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup.

Squad statistics

Names and numbers are taken from Alfreton Town F.C. Numbers in parenthesis denote appearances as a substitute, players listed in italics are at the club on loan while those with their squad number struck through left the club during the season. Players listed who made no appearances are those who were named in the matchday squad but did not come off the bench. Statistics are accurate as of the end of the season.

For the Conference Premier, appearances and goals are sourced to Soccerbase, while disciplinary information is sourced to ESPN FC.

Appearances, goals and disciplinary information for the FA Cup fourth qualifying round are sourced to Alfreton Town F.C., and for the first round to ESPN FC.

Appearances, goals and disciplinary information for the FA Trophy and Derbyshire Senior Cup are sourced to Alfreton Town F.C.