FC Halifax Town will start the Vanarama National League season with a home game against Barnet at the Shay tomorrow, 3pm kick-off.
The Shaymen have three home games in a row with Aldershot Town and Gateshead to follow.Town boss Chris Millington will be hoping his side can improve on last season’s play-off defeat at Solihull Moors having finished 7th in the table during the regular season.
There has been a few changes to the squad over the summer with Tylor Golden, Luke Summerfield, Jamie Stott, Jack Hunter, Rob Harker, Jordan Keane, Tom Wilson and Tom Scott all departing the Club.
Harvey Sutcliffe, Will Smith, Zak Emmerson, Tom Pugh and Adam Alimi-Adetoro have been brought into squad over the summer.Town have played all their pre-season games away winning to two games 1-0 at Mossley and 3-1 against a Barnsley U23 side
A no-nonsense, uncompromising midfielder – he was described by some former team mates as the hardest player they ever played with – Little was born in Horden in May 1955 and had gained Durham County honours when he followed brother Brian to Aston Villa, signing apprentice forms before turning professional in January 1973.
The two brothers both appeared for Villa when the side defeated Liverpool to win the FA Youth Cup in 1972, but while Brian, two years his senior, went on to have an illustrious career at Villa and win two England caps, Alan mustered just three League appearances with the club.
After making 91 League appearances (fourteen goals) for the club, Little moved to Doncaster Rovers for a then club record £25,000 and in 1980-81 featured in their Fourth Division promotion success under Billy Bremner.In 1981-82, Little was named Rovers’ Player of the Year award before moving to Torquay United in October 1982 in a deal which saw Clive Wigginton move in the opposite direction and was made captain.
He made 68 League appearances and scored six goals, but nevertheless, he gave his all to the cause, once famously taking over in goal from injured Paddy Roche in a match at Darlington in March 1985, where Town lost 2-0 and ended with eight players on the field, though Little himself kept a clean sheet.
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