Alo FC

From the lads at Alo FC, we'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Wherever you are this year, we hope you have the absolute best time, love and cherish your close ones, always work together as a team, remember the good moments this year and forgive the bad ones, turn that Christmas music up loud, pour another glass of your favourite, scran one more from your selection box

Why not? It's Christmas after all 🎄

Up the Christmas and Up the Alos ⚫⚪

⚫ Alo FC P v P Alo FC ⚪

A final report that has been waiting a bit too long to be published, a few thankyous and special mentions, some memories and hopefully not a forever goodbye, but a see you soon

Let's get in to it

TEAM

David Clarke 🧤
Simon Douglas 🧤
Mark Morley 🧤
Jordan Hobbins
Liam Neve
George Nobbs
Danny Carter ⚽
Joshua Dyas
Jamie Fletcher
Stuart Parnell
Lewis Lacey
Brad Walker
Harry Hollins
Reece Neve
Dom Beal
Antony Parnell
Aiden Cook

So where did we leave you

Title celebrations, a move to Clee Fields, a tumultuous start to the season, all began the pathway to what unfortunately spelled the beginning of the end for our Thursday nights under the lights

Following our 2 all draw vs rivals The Wednesday, we celebrated victory and lifted a title we'd never have imagined coming close to when this journey began

Our next week out saw us concede a last minute equaliser to draw 1-1 with Breakaways FC, heads were down, we had yet to record a win since that fateful night back in August that won us the league previous

With many of the core members unavailable, we came up short against Champagne Super Rovers the week following, 3 all but this time it was us regaining the point from 3-1 down

Things were not looking very Gucci fresh in the Alos changing room, that was until we had one final moment of glory vs Works United, a 5-3 victory that saw Jordan score in both goals, an attacking masterclass all round, we felt great, we just also felt the sunset on a team that once roared at victory, we simply shook hands and collected our bags at the final whistle

And that's the story, a final defeat vs league leaders David De Dawes would become the last time Alos would take the field, unbeknownst to those playing or unavailable that night

It has been a difficult 8 months, a team that began as Millennial Mariners, reinvented in honour of our late best friend, an idea that we would be able to reconnect with each other once a week on a Thursday night if only for half an hour, to check in with one another, that not one of us would be alone in a time of grieving and loss

The football often fell secondary to the time spent together, the joy found in celebrating with each other as we went from strength to strength, week to week, our hectic lives paused for an evening to be together

So we'd like to thank first and foremost Jordan Hobbins, for without you, our founder, none of this would have been possible, you became our marathon man, giving more time than any one of us to keeping Alos going until the end, cheers

A thankyou to our standout players, Liam Neve who never stopped battling and to Danny Carter our top goal scorer that sealed a title win, your efforts will forever be immortalised in to the history books that were Alo FC

A thankyou to all of the squad who played even a single minute of any fixture for Alos, from the core members to the cameo kings, your efforts for the badge will always be greatly appreciated

And a thankyou to you at home, reading this right now, we hope that we brought you some entertainment at times, maybe a few laughs, a heartwarming story of victory in the name of Alex, and a Grimsby Telegraph cut in your scrap books for the rest of time

So here's to the memories, of sin bins for arguing with the referee, the time Simon played out of goal, ran the length of the pitch and banged a worldy in like it was just another day at the office, the rivalries and heated exchanges, incorrectly reporting that Liam scored with his arse, the car share rides in, the availability polls that featured a lot more than just yes and no (in Malawi), from the Grimsby Institute to Clee Fields, it's been a blast from start to finish

But where the 6 aside journey has come to a close, this doesn't have to be the end!

We would love to keep this page open and share events of the future by our Alos alum, to keep the spirit behind Alo FC alive that we connect together, that not one of us will ever truly be alone so long as we believe in the friendships forged, to honour the life of a man not a single one of us will ever, ever forget, we love you Alex🖤

Until next time, see you soon

⚫⚪

🥅 Alo FC 2 v 2 The Wednesday 🥅

Old rivalries resurface in a new setting, debuts, sin bins and some extraordinary football, let's get in to it

TEAM

Simon Douglas 🧤
Jordan Hobbins
Liam Neve
Dom Beal
Joshua Dyas ⚽
Jamie Fletcher ⚽
Harry Hollins
Danny Carter

With the expectation of the fixture felt almost immediately, it was important for Alos to get the ball on the floor and play, so that's what they did, great passing plays kept The Wednesday guessing early doors, introducing our debutant for tonight Dom in to the mix, Alos were in control to begin

It seemed like it was all going to go our way in what has always been a boisterous match up with a lot of back and forth, it was all Alos winning a corner that unfortunately came to naught, and then, disaster struck

Against the run of play The Wednesday broke in numbers, Si could only parry the stiff shot he faced back out in to open play for a Wednesday attacker to gobble up like a midnight snack when you're on a diet, 1-0

Heads up Alos is the call from the sidelines, we've been in this position before

The relentless pursuit of a goal continued, the JD and Jam link up forced the issue, after many great hold ups by our striker Jimmy, one fell keenly to JD who made absolutely no mistake to rocket it home, 1-1

Back on the attack now, Wednesday ran in to the brick wall that is Liam and Hobbo tonight, the defensive acumen of both men forced our opponents into retreat more than once while snatching any loose balls not looked after, the unit remained fortified

A late chance in the first saw Jordan breakthrough the middle, this reporter wishes he'd tan it like he used to but he opted for the more considered approach to run it in, a shot coming off late that just skims the corner, it's all to play for still

Whistle blown, first half over and there's still an air of tension, a feeling we should be a few goals up by now that hasn't quite come off as it should

Changes are made to bring on Harry and Danny for JD and Jimbo for a well deserved rest to start the second

And we were off to the races again almost immediately, a great turnover from Jordan at the back put Harry Hollins through to meet the post with a difficult shot from close range, Alos extremely unlucky now not to be ahead and in cruise control

It's everything but the kitchen sink now, Dom and Danny both have chances but the best of the lot goes to Harry who hit one that just narrowly kissed the crossbar, we've been doing this a while together now, if Alos are on all out attack mode, can anyone guess what happens next?

It's an unfortunate evil in the sport, but an extended attack leads to a shattered defence, The Wednesday broke in numbers once more and a shot placed firmly under Si gave the visitors a lead that stuck in the claw of our black and whites tonight, it didn't feel deserved, 2-1

Changes were made once more, JD rejoined the fray for Dom and Jam comes back on for Danny, can our dynamic duo find a way to force another equaliser together?

With every shirt battling hard on both sides, it was the consistent peppering of an in form Wednesday keeper that saw the breakthrough, corner after corner tested the shaky Wednesday defence, the last of the efforts finding the mark as JD returned the favour for Jam in the set up to be clarted home with not long to go, visceral celebrations from Jam as the ball crossed the line, 2-2

It's handbags now as The Wednesday weren't too happy, a few crossed words between players is par for the course, but two hands in the back shove with no ball in play, sorry son, yellow card for a Wednesday player who couldn't keep his cool, they're now down to 5 for the remainder

Liam makes way for Danny for the final substitution of the match, it's the classic attacking overload to see if we can force the win, and there were chances, chances that were matched with an impressive stand out display from our opposition keeper, a share of the spoils to a rivalry continued

Respectful handshakes between a few at the end spell out the meaning of the match to many, not everyone was happy with that result but it gives Alos our first point on the board this season, a bedtime fixture at 9pm next week vs Breakaways looks like a good opportunity to keep an undefeated streak alive

We didn't have a players poll for man of the match due to our title celebrations that followed, this reporter will edit and update you on what the team thought, however, a massive well done to all who played tonight, as always, it's an honour and a pleasure

Finally we invite you to stay tuned this Sunday for an exciting day at the Cleethorpes 10k/Half Marathon that many of our Alos faithful are taking part in, we'll make sure to share the moments with you post run as once more, we run for Alo 🖤

⚫⚪

🥅 Alo FC 3 v 4 David de Dawes 🥅

Our second outing in the Premier League division, and against the top bananas no less, we had thrills, spills, a hand of God, but Jimmy had a smile on his face like a dog that had just been given a sack of tennis balls to play with, let's get in to it

TEAM

Simon Douglas 🧤
George Nobbs
Liam Neve
Danny Carter ⚽
Joshua Dyas
Jamie Fletcher ⚽
Brad Walker

Own Goal ⚽

A turbulent time for Alos had our 7 lads tonight rallied together for a match up that could have been a disaster waiting to happen, yet we felt ready for anything, a sense of positivity that we would walk away smiling no matter what happens

We started well, good passing play saw an inside chance go close, top of the league? You're having a la... Wait they're already back on the attack, shi-

A hotly contested first 10 saw a few key blocks from George and some incredibly well timed tackles from Liam to keep the Dawes closed out the match for now (there's a few more of those puns knocking about), Si rallied hard to keep the score level

Our front three linked up to keep the ball moving forward, JD and DC both had synchronisity with Jam up front who was raring to chase every opportunity down to keep the Dawes open or at least, ajar

Talent will out however and the first goal went to the visitors, a keen passing play caught a few Alos out of position and a chance buried through the letterbox, 1-0

Backs against the wall now, little to no respite came as Dawes smelt pine in the woodwork, a cute run inside from their main man and a clarter that couldn't be saved buried in the new Clee Fields netting, 2-0

Heads down but not out, a switch came as George made way for Brad and we had the ball at our feet and the gob on the sidelines barking orders again, Danny picked the ball up from deep and played a cute 1 2 to receive it again high up the pitch, our top goal scorer does what he daydreams off when he's in the bath, tans it home, back in the game, 2-1

Half time and we're still smiles, a rallying team talk from Josh let us know we had legs left to get a result, what are we waiting for then, let's get back to it

It was end to end now with neither team wanting to concede another, Alos played the pitch a lot better however and won a corner, one that Jimmy claimed with a skip in his step

As the corner flew in to the grasp of the keeper, this reporter suspects there was a bit of magic involved, as he fumbled it hard and across the line, 2-2 with shouts from Jam "I'm having that one"

We heard you Jimbo, you're on the scoresheet ⚽

George came back on for Brad, and honestly it was total football from the lads on the right side, Liam and JD had that psychic energy that always weirds us out to watch, they built through and we were back in it

Those early blocks however proved fatal for the man with the mouth as George took a screamer to the face that reminded him of his old UWCB days, take a seat son, Brad's back in the game

Alos battled hard and long but the Dawes were flung open one more time to see a third clarter fly in that Si could do nothing about, 3-2

Not long left and it's at this point where we ask the Alos community, has anyone got the number for You've Been Framed?

A back pass under pressure from a Dawes defender back to keeper, it was Paul Robinson all over again, the ball seemingly trickled in and it's 3-3

Two minutes remain on the clock and while the Dawes were shut out for now, we misplaced the key, defence unlocked, this metaphors gone awry, bang, 4-3

Seconds to go now and Jam makes way for George one more time with whimpers of "a cannae see", we went all out attack to see if we could force a result

In steps Danny Carter, a hail mary pass from deep, can he get his head to it, no, but he can get his hand, a slam dunk LeBron would be proud, no goal but definitely a few laughs between the lads

And that's all she wrote! 4-3 against great respectful opposition, all smiles at the end as we knew we put in one hundred percent throughout

We don't do Man of the Match on losses, but we do have special mentions, and tonight the lads would like to say well done to Jamie who played out his skin for the shirt tonight and kept the energy up, also to JD for being our captain elect on the pitch, Liam for his incredible work rate and tackling, Si for some unreal saves with his feet, well done to all 7 who came tonight to play with pride for a club so close to our hearts

That's all from me tonight, we'll see you next week, same Alos time, same Alos channel 🦇

⚫⚪

🥅 Alo FC 2-4 Works United 🥅

Now then geezers and geezettes. A lot has changed in the past two weeks here at Alos Enterprises, I'll keep it short and sweet with this rapid lowdown, using Hobbo's technique of foregoing any and all punctuation to speed up the process;

Okay so we sat in 2nd then the league told us they were moving from grimsby institute to clee fields and said they might scrap the league table and start again but we kept winning and in the last game the team above us somehow lost and we ended up in 1st then they told us they were scrapping the league and starting again which we were fuming about but then they said the table will resolve so we actually won the league and got promoted into the prem and then george retired from coaching and media and told dave he's doing it all now and some other stuff happened but most importantly we won the league I repeat,

WE WON THE F*CKING LEAGUE!!!!!!!!

We'll go into detail in a separate post later on about our incredible achievement and everything it means to not just the team, but to everyone around us, including Alex's family. It's a journey full of some blood, a bucket of sweat and plenty of salty tears, and there's plenty we can't wait to share with you all in the near future. But for now, the football goes on. Our season starts as quickly as the last one ended, in a brand spanking new venue, new opponents and new feuds, but as always the same old passion in the same old black and white stripes.

TEAM

Simon Douglas 🧤
Mark Morley
Liam Neve
Jordan Hobbins
Danny Carter ⚽⚽
Jamie Fletcher
Stuart Parnell

So here we go, first game on the sparkling pitches of Clee Fields, surrounded by dizzying facilities such as an actual toilet, meaning Jam and Marko no longer have to wizz down the alley before games. This is it boys, we've hit the big leagues, let's stay calm and collected and not succumb to the occasion. This is the Premier League and we are Alos. Both teams line up, it's Hobbo to start us off, the whistle goes. Kick off goes AWOL, throw in to United. The tone is set.

It's not the greatest start from Alos, a little lethargic and a little disjointed, frustratingly not an uncommon start for us. Good defensive work by Liam on the right cuts out not one, but two potential attacks and we start to find our feet. Jordan starts as he means to go on, taking the absolute mick out of the top division by nutmegging his man. Suddenly it's a back and forth affair, but first blood goes to the away team. A shot from distance takes a slight deflection, it slips past Si, 1-0 United.

Plenty of time to go, dust off and go again. Right? Absolutely no headloss 5 minutes into the new season... right?

Mark and Jord have a lovers tiff at the back arguing about the goal, Si distributes the ball slightly too early and United have an instant attack. With the defenders nowhere to be seen, Si takes matters into his own hands. 10 yards out his goal he charges the striker down like a man possessed, hitting him with a crunching slide tackle, which is a big no-no in this leagues. The ref blows with a stern telling off, but the attack was nullified thanks to the keepers chaotic heroics. Okay, steam blown, let's actually go again.

Alos grow back into the game, keeping possession better, playing some nice simple football. We get back to basics and eventually make our mark. Good work by Hobbo wins a freekick, it's knocked into the mixer, falling to Danny on the left who does what he does best, finishing with aplomb. It's 1-1 and we've arrived in the Prem.

Now it's all Alos, the football at times is sublime. Jam and DC link up for a slick one two which sees the latter through but the shot just skims the post. A corner shortly sits up nicely for Jam but he's just inches away from connecting. Another goal seems inevitable. As the attacks are chained there's a slight lack of concentration at the back, a wonderful through ball meets a United attacker who finds himself one on one but Si does brilliantly to save with his feet.

Both teams have shown plenty of capability in attack and plenty of weaknesses to exploit. New manager Dave shouts for Jamie to drop deeper from attack and exploit the acres of space in the middle of the pitch. As if by magic, Jam picks up the ball in the middle and holds up well, laying it off to Li who hits a long pass even Trent would be proud of, inch perfect bend and accuracy to find DC on the left flank. I don't even need to tell you the rest. It's 2-1 Alos and Dave sheds a tear as his vision of total 6 aside football comes to life before his eyes.

We've got them on the ropes now, we literally can't stop attack, Danny finds himself open again but this time smashes the post, and then again straight after. This game should be put to bed but the ref blows slightly early and we bring it in for half time. Not much to say in the break, more of the same lads. Marko makes way for Stu and we go again.

Jord starts the half very inspired, putting his body on the line to win the ball twice, looking to lead by example. Another attack through last season's top goalscorer DC sees him force a save with a cheeky shot from the left before Jam gets his go on goal, a sexy turn and snapshot heading for the top corner just about tipped away. Surely another Alos goal is inevitable.

Just like the first half, we find ourselves lacking at the back with too much focus on attack. United come forward and try again from distance and once again, slight deflection, Si wrong footed. Somehow it's 2-2 and heads well and truly fly off. Hobbo can't quite fathom what's going on and sees so much red he completely forgets a game is still going on. United take advantage of a team well out of position and start an onslaught. Simon tips one past the post, anticipates another to catch. It's all gone a bit Pete Tong.

Mark comes back in for Jam, Stu goes upfront and wrestles some control by winning a freekick high up the pitch. Keeper saves, but it should be enough. United however have their tails well and truly up and confidence is oozing. They pick up the ball in midfield and try an ambitious shot but it's struck as sweet as you like, the net bustles, 3-2 United. What was once an Alos onslaught is now a Works United one, we hang on for dear life.

Alos commit everyone forward trying to find an equaliser, nothing quite falls correctly. United see a chance to break and suddenly it's 3 against the keeper. Si rushes out without hesitation, tackling the first man before retreating back to goal, a shot hitting him in the back on the way. As crucial a double save as you're bound to see. Danny picks up the ball from deep and uses his feet superbly to take a couple on but shoots agonisingly wide. Looking like it's just not gonna happen for Alos tonight, a United player activates his New Star Soccer premium boots to turn into 2012 Messi, ghosting past pretty much our entire team and rounding the keeper to finish the tie off. 4-2.

Not the start to the season we wanted and a wake up call that we are in with the big boys now. Frustrations continued to be aired at full time, all in passion and desire to win in the stripes. We're back next week against David De Dawes, no doubt a tough test, but we come away knowing we played some good stuff and once we adapt to the standard in the Premier League, the wins will come. For now, we celebrate our league victory knowing we've already achieved an incredible thing in Alex's name, and we go forward continuing to try make the Ramsden family proud.

⚫⚪

🥅 Alo FC 2 v 1 Only Fools and Wanderers 🥅

Late drama in one of our last games at the Institute, it isn't over until it's over, the comeback kings strike again

TEAM

Simon Douglas 🧤
Joshua Dyas ⚽
Mark Morley
Jordan Hobbins
Jamie Fletcher
Danny Carter ⚽
Brad Walker

Before we get started, this match report is sponsored by Jordan Hobbins who has recorded and shared his own personal notes on the match as this reporter is currently 5000 miles across the Atlantic, so let's get started on deciphering just what Hobbo had to say about the match

Hang on, this is just doodles of Hob doing overhead kicks and shaking hands with David Beckham?

Ah well, looks like we're winging it

It was a tumultuous start to proceedings, Alos started with an early push which was met in kind but better, Only Fools attacking in numbers

Alos still pushing forward in the early goings proved to be their downfall, a three against one counter attack saw a shot saved away by Si, unfortunately parried in to the path of another Onlys attacker, slotted in, 1-0

That was all she wrote for the first half, not a lot of action to speak about, our black and white boys went in to the break heads down but not out

The hairdryer treatment from our Coach Elect Hobbo stirred up some fire in the boys, one change made, Brad enters the fray

Long balls began to go astray for goal kicks, one good chance came as our man of the hour Hobbo goes up for a header against the Onlys keeper, in his own words, "flattened him", ball goes out for a throw

Jamma who previously left the field comes back on, it's time to throw the kitchen sink in, Marko is left as a solo CB, Hob in front of him and a trio of Danny Jam and JD up top

Alos still built from the back, Marko played a cute ball through to Hobbo who beats a man to play the ball to Jam, he's one on one with the keeper, he can finally grab that goal he's been dreaming of, his name in lights, he can hear the distant chants, Jamie, Jamie, Jamie, Jamie, he takes a breath

..

And passes it to JD in open space for the equaliser, not long to go now, 1-1

Now we're fired up, now we're pressing, it's now or never for Alos as Hobbo once again switches it up tactically, it's now Marko as the last man and everyone else striker

Chances both ends now, saves forced from the Onlys keeper for corners to no avail, a squeaky bum moment the other end as Alos were predictably counter attacked, Simon showed grit to pull off a worldie save to keep us in the game

Seconds to go and we're still pressing up, every man in the box waiting to be the man to make it happen, enter stage left, our all time leading goalscorer and match winner extraordinare, Danny Carter

A ball played through by JD collected gratefully by our favourite Turkish import on the edge of the box, Hobbo made sure to position himself inside the opposition keeper, a clear shot at goal and making no mistake, Danny bins it bottom corner, it's 2-1, heads gone, we've done it again

Brads come back on now and we see the reverse formation, now every man is at the back with only 1 up front to receive any clearances as necessary

Every man gets his name to a clearance in the final moments, and that's all she wrote, a comeback victory with a never say done attitude once again from the boys and this reporter couldn't be any prouder of each and every man on the pitch tonight

A man of the match poll revealed Jamie Fletcher to be the star player tonight, deserved plaudits for a selfless act to get us back in to the game and on the way to victory, never stopped running, well done Jam!

Next week Alos once again play Points Match FC who just can't stop losing unfortunately, a victory is in sight for the black and whites before our transfer across to the new pitches at Clee Fields, a welcomed improvement by all

It's the early afternoon across the pond and yet night time back home, so this reporter would like to say good night from me and I hope you all have a great weekend, see you all next time

⚫⚪

🥅 Alo FC 5 v 0 Points Match Friendly 🥅

With no team to play a league match against tonight, all we had to do was play 30 minutes of football to secure the points, and so...

🥅 Alo FC 1 v 1 Only Fools and Wanderers 🥅

A team we know all too well opted to take us up for the friendly, and with a full compliment of 9 tonight we had the chance to rotate and mix positions, so without further ado...

TEAM

Simon Douglas 🧤
George Nobbs
Brad Walker
Mark Morley
Jordan Hobbins ⚽?
David Clarke 🅰️?
Liam Neve
Jamie Fletcher
Danny Carter

With the knowledge of 2 points already won, we changed up a few positions tonight and played a different game than usual, one that proved effective early, getting the ball to feet well and building through

Chances came sparingly but all well taken, Alos put the Onlys keeper to work, unfortunately to no success

While this reporter always finds it jarring to talk positively about his own contribution, our man at the back George had a solid early showing, getting physical to keep the scoreline the same and the Onlys attacker's wanting

Substitutions happened thick and fast and while are usually tracked well, tonight was as roll on and roll off as it gets, but the three lads on the bench tonight were gradually introduced during the last 5 minutes of the first half to keep it fresh and footloose

In those last 5 there was the first goal of the evening, one that has been hotly debated and contested during and long after the game finished, a potential own goal bundled in off a keepers deflection from a Jordan Hobbins shot, the jury's out on this one, we'll let the fans decide whether to attribute the goal to Hobbo, he did the hard work tonight to get us in position, with special mention to David Clarke who never let up up front to draw the play, 1-0 to the black and whites was the scoreline going in to half time

Liam and Brad played extremely well together at the back to keep the scoreline tight, with big shout outs to Hobbo and Marko who both played out their skin every minute they were on the pitch

A surging run from Si out of his box had bums twitching all round, to which he himself threw his hands up and said "it's a friendly why not!"

Agreed sentiment we'll say, watching through fingers just in case🫣

A late equaliser came for Onlys as we were caught out at the back piling bodies up front, an overload attack put the ball in the back of the net of a disappointed Alos team

A relatively uneventful night at the office for our boys as the scoreline was secured long before kick off, a good showing for many with no real dramas to write home about, can't say fairer than that

Next week we face Only Fools in a league game with all to play for in the race for the title, and while this match reporter personally will be living the jetset lifestyle across the Atlantic, we have plenty enough lads now who are excited to pull on the shirt and put in a performance when and where they can, incredible strength in depth

Until then, keep love in your hearts for the things that matter and chase away the negatives of those that don't, be kind to yourselves and others, see you all very soon

⚫⚪

🥅 Alo FC 0 v 0 Good Vibes Only 🥅

It looked like football, it sounded like football, there was definitely a football, I saw it, but that wasn't quite, football

TEAM

Simon Douglas 🧤
George Nobbs
Liam Neve
Joshua Dyas
Jordan Hobbins
Danny Carter
Brad Walker

After the last two matches vs The Wednesday, the level had been kicked up a notch to a better standard, we were playing better, feeling better and we were in a position to build and move forward

Unfortunately, that didn't quite translate to the work on the pitch in the first 15, there were moments going forward, great work from JD to get a few shots off, nothing quite materialising to any success

The back line held well, a shout out to Simon in stick who always stayed calm, the situation always stayed within out control through his actions

George made way for Brad to kick some creative life in, we need to get the ball up well and make it count if possible

Whistle gone, trudging in, let's show some more life in the second

There were moments, nothing concrete, more akin to pinball wizard than tika taka, the match petered out to no more than a training session where noone learned a thing

Special mention goes to Si, his work in the sticks kept us level and secured the draw

Next week Alos have a friendly and a guaranteed win if the situation doesn't change, until then, as the football season is set to start again, believe in lower league/non league football, Alex always favoured that level of football over any other, it deserves our time and respect

Until next time

⚫⚪