Non-league's greatest giant-killers eye another scalp

What the report says

Altrincham are preparing for an FA Cup first-round tie against League One side Notts County, with the club hoping to add a 18th Football League scalp to its long record of cup upsets. BBC Sport says the match is due to be played at Moss Lane on Saturday, 7 November, and will be shown live on BBC Two and iPlayer. Altrincham currently sit seventh in the National League and are being described as potential play-off contenders.

The BBC report revisits why Altrincham are often linked with giant-killing in the FA Cup. Former player and manager Graham Heathcote, who made more than 500 appearances for the club, says the side’s history should give the current squad belief. He points to a period in the 1970s and 1980s when Altrincham reached the third round in four straight seasons and produced notable results against higher-division opponents, including Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. The club also famously beat Birmingham City in 1986.

Current manager Neil Gibson says the tie offers a chance to build on Altrincham’s progress and to create new memories for supporters. He told BBC Sport that the club’s cup tradition is part of its identity and that the team will try to use the occasion to showcase itself against a stronger side.

The article also notes a family link to the club’s cup history: Heathcote’s son, Sam, was involved in Macclesfield’s recent FA Cup shock over Crystal Palace, while Graham continues to follow both clubs’ fortunes. The broader significance, as BBC Sport presents it, is that Altrincham are trying to renew a reputation built on rare but memorable cup runs.