What happened: Altrincham have confirmed that defender Sam Barnes has signed a new one-year contract extension with the club. The 25-year-old former Blackburn Rovers center-back committed to the National League side following a season where he made 21 appearances in all competitions.
Why it matters: Barnes has worked to rebuild his career after a devastating ACL injury at Blackburn restricted his progress between 2022 and 2024. His retention provides defensive stability for Altrincham, who finished 14th in the National League standings this past season.
By the numbers: Barnes logged 21 appearances and roughly 970 minutes during the 2025-26 campaign. After managing just five total appearances between 2022 and 2025 due to knee issues, the defender helped anchor a backline that secured a mid-table finish for the Robins.
What to watch: Barnes will report for preseason training in July as Altrincham look to climb the National League table under manager Neil Gibson.