Bid to join reserve league

ATHLETIC have made an application to rejoin the reserve-team totesport.com League in 2009/10.

The club withdrew from the league after being hit by a crippling injury list last season.

Playing resources were stretched to the limit, Athletic were forced to blood many youth-team players and the club struggled to complete the campaign.

But, with a large playing squad now in place, managing director Simon Corney believes the reintroduction of a reserve team will be beneficial.

The reserves have been restricted to competing in three cup competitions as well as a number of friendlies this season.

There is also the intriguing prospect of players from Hungarian club MTK Budapest – with whom Athletic are forging links – arriving at Boundary Park, where they would initially turn out for the reserves.

OF the 138 texts Joe Royle received following his appointment as Athletic manager, one came from Ron Atkinson, who managed Aston Villa during Athletic’s Premier League days.

Atkinson wanted to know when Royle was bringing back the plastic pitch!

COACH travel is still available for Saturday’s important league game at Leyton Orient.

The cost is £24 and the coach leaves Boundary Park at 8.30am.

It is pay on the day at the turnstiles - adults £20, over-65s £13, students and under-16s £13.