Lee back in the old routine

HIT-MAN . . . Lee Hughes celebrates against Cheltenham.

STRIKER Lee Hughes clocked up the eighth hat-trick of his league career against Cheltenham on Saturday.

Hughes also achieved the feat for Athletic at Millwall last season in addition to one treble for Coventry and five for West Brom.

He said: “I’ve managed to get a few hat-tricks down the years, but I was pleased that my three goals were all different.

“The first was a volley, the next went in the corner and the third was a header, so it was a nice hat-trick to score – you’ve got to be in there to get them.

“I’m enjoying playing with Lewis Alessandra and he deserves credit because he’s a young lad with great feet.

“He’s a very intelligent player for his age, and if he watches me inside the box he will score plenty of goals.

“The team as a whole is playing well. We’ve got a great spirit and you can see everybody is working hard for each other.

“As I’ve said before, I think we can go for promotion, or definitely the play-offs, because we have enough strength in depth in our squad.”




SEASON-TICKET holders aged 16 or under can gain free admission to Athletic’s match at Tranmere a week on Saturday.

The clubs have made a reciprocal agreement which means the same will apply to young Tranmere fans visiting Boundary Park later this season.

Under-16s who are eligible for the offer must be accompanied by a full-paying adult.

The adult and free-junior tickets are now available from Athletic – the offer will not apply at the turnstile.

In a bid to encourage away support, Athletic are also subsidising coach travel to Prenton Park.

Places cost £7.50 per person and fans are reminded they must be part of the Latics Travel Club, for which membership is free. Contact 0871 226 2235 for more details.




Athletic keeping down costs

ATHLETIC are not opening the Detect All Chaddy End for next Tuesday’s game with Morecambe in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

To reduce costs, only the Leesfield Developments Rochdale Road End and Pentagon Vauxhall main stand will be in use.

However, prices have been slashed to £10 (adults) and £5 (senior citizens) for the first-round tie.

And all under-16s can gain free admission.




AWAY fans be warned – you must reserve a car parking space in advance for the trip to Colchester’s new stadium on Saturday . . . and it will cost £10.

Bookings can be made by calling 0871 226 2161 or, alternatively, park and ride schemes operate from Colchester train station and town centre.

Athletic are taking coach bookings, priced at £24 per person.