Altrincham recruit experienced cover as Evans faces lengthy lay‑off
Altrincham have moved swiftly to reinforce the goalkeeping ranks by signing Harry Isted, the 29‑year‑old who made 30 National League appearances for Forest Green Rovers last season. The club confirmed the acquisition on Tuesday as they prepare for a trip to Gateshead.
First‑choice goalkeeper Owen Evans was forced off in the 76th minute of Altrincham's 5‑1 defeat by Woking on 12 September and will be sidelined "for the next few months", the club said. In his absence, player‑coach Andy Firth has been deputising, featuring in the last three matches.
"Everyone has been really welcoming in the short time I've been here," Isted told the club website.
Manager Neil Gibson explained the rationale for bringing in Isted. He praised Firth's recent performances but signalled that relying on a player who also carries coaching responsibilities is unsustainable over an extended period. The addition of Isted is intended to protect the squad while keeping the club's momentum intact.
- Incoming: Harry Isted, 29, ex‑Forest Green Rovers, 30 National League appearances last season.
- Injured: Owen Evans, out for the "next few months" after the Woking game.
- Deputy: Andy Firth has covered the last three matches but remains primarily the club's goalkeeper coach.
The signing comes as Altrincham sit in a healthy vein of form, having claimed six wins in their past seven games. Gibson will be hoping the new arrival helps maintain that run while Evans recovers.
What Isted brings and what this means locally
Isted's season at Forest Green — 30 National League appearances and a play‑off push — gives Altrincham an experienced option between the sticks. He will be available immediately for Tuesday's fixture at bottom side Gateshead, offering a clear short‑term solution.
For local supporters, the move addresses two pressing concerns: keeping a strong run of results going and ensuring coaching duties at the club are not compromised. Firth has been described by Gibson as "a very good goalie at this level" but the manager was candid about the limits of asking a coaching staff member to play week in, week out for an extended spell.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| New signing | Harry Isted (29), 30 National League appearances last season |
| Injury | Owen Evans — out for the next few months (injured 12 September) |
| Interim cover | Andy Firth — played last three games, primary role goalkeeper coach |
| Club form | Six wins in seven games prior to Gateshead trip |
Altrincham's pragmatic recruitment underscores the pressures faced by clubs operating at National League level. Squad depth is often thin and dual roles — player‑coach combinations — are a necessity for many teams. Bringing in a specialist like Isted removes some of that compromise and allows Firth to concentrate on coaching duties that feed into long‑term standards at the club.
For fans who travelled to Woking, the defeat was painful, not least because it highlighted the immediate vulnerability caused by Evans' injury. The club now faces the task of protecting its recent positive trajectory on the road at Gateshead and beyond. Isted's arrival will be measured firstly by his ability to step straight into match action and secondly by how quickly he settles into a squad that has built strong recent momentum.
Gateshead, bottom of the division, represent a test often fraught with unexpected difficulties for teams under pressure. Altrincham will hope the new goalkeeper addition keeps confidence high and that Evans' rehabilitation proceeds on schedule. In the meantime, supporters can take heart that the club moved quickly to secure an experienced professional rather than relying solely on stopgap internal solutions.
Expectations will be simple and local: keep the winning run going, protect the coaching structure, and get Evans back fit. The coming weeks will tell whether Harry Isted is the steadying presence Altrincham need.
