Altrincham has a new shareholder in Ricky Ponting, the Australian cricket captain. He will visit the club to watch them face a Manchester United XI in a pre-season friendly.

What happened?

Ricky Ponting was gifted shares in Altrincham by Chairman Geoff Goodwin. This is in recognition of his interest in the club, which dates back to before Australia's previous Ashes tour to England in 2005.

Why it matters for Altrincham

Ponting's investment is a significant boost for the club. He has become good friends with Chairman Geoff Goodwin, who runs a coach company contracted by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Current context

As of 28 Jun 2026, Altrincham is 13th in the National League, with 57 points from 46 games. Their recent form has been strong, with 5 consecutive wins. | Category | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 13th | | Points | 57 | | Recent form | 5W-0D-0L | | Goals scored | 55 | | Goals conceded | 65 | | Goal difference | -10 | | Title race | 51 points behind leaders York | | Last result | Altrincham 3-1 Gateshead (2026-04-25) | Ponting and several members of the Australia squad, including Brett Lee, will watch Altrincham face Manchester United XI. Australian cricket memorabilia decorates the club, and Ponting regularly provides prizes for the club's fundraising activities. Geoff Goodwin will be proud to have Ponting alongside him in the directors' box for the United game. Ponting is the highest run scorer for Australia in Test cricket. He and his teammates enjoy being driven around by Geoff Goodwin, who likes a bit of banter. The club is looking forward to the pre-season friendly against Manchester United XI. And with Ponting's investment, the future is looking bright for Altrincham. So the club will be hoping to continue their strong form and make a push for the top of the league. But for now, they will focus on the upcoming match against Manchester United XI. The team is ready to take on the challenge and make their new shareholder proud.