I started go to Alty again after being a fairly irregular watcher in the 70s/80s for the 94/95 season and got hooked. Handy for home, not expensive to get in, lots of local away games, lots midweek too, relaxed atmosphere, stand where you want, i could go on. That's all gone now. I doubt I'll go to an away game this season and at £19 I don't think I'll go to every home game, especially if the team go on a losing run. I want entertainment, and if I ain't getting entertained I'm not paying for torture. I barely went in the recent relegation seasons, but I went to a lot in the Evostik and following NLN seasons. Why? Because it was fun, entertaining, relaxed (stand where you want (pretty much)), bring your own sandwiches, lots of away games not too far away, and not too much to get in.
So in a nutshell I miss the non-league experience you got following Alty up to quite recently. That's definitely gone now - segregation, stewards every six feet, no leaning on the fence, security scans outside the ground.
I stopped going to the speedway at Belle Vue when getting in , parking and buying a programme started costing over twenty quid, and i wasn't the only one judging by the paltry attendances they get. I don't buy a programme at Alty or use the catering, but it doesn't seem that many years ago that paying £20 at Luton seemed a helluva a lot of money to watch a football match. £19 at Alty now seems a lot, especially when you look at the state of the place you're paying to go in to.
Excellent post. It’s how I feel too.
I’ve been watching since the mid-1950s and have always felt welcomed and needed.
Not now.
I’m only needed if I open my wallet and contribute to the many new revenue streams that have been dreamt up by the board. And I certainly don’t like being phoned to see why I’ve not bought a season ticket this year. The Altrincham and Moss Lane experiences are alien to me now.
I’ve lived in Bury since 1979 and have seen no more than 2 EFL matches since then. I’ve always supported my “home” team instead - Alty. But I think it could be an exciting time to watch football blossom at Gigg Lane once again and I may be tempted to become a regular for the first time in 43 years - the ground is superb, and I can walk to it.
I’m grateful to have lived through the White and Swales years and what has been, and is likely to ever be, the best years of Altrincham FC.
Unfortunately we have to roll with the times and our target is to get into the Football League. We have gone full time which means we have to charge more for games, so we can match those who are full time.
The Stewarding was reviewed after the council saga. We 100% needed improvement on that side, not only to look professional but safety. There have been some terrible firms tried , but on Saturday they seemed friendly enough to me.
The club need incentives to generate funds to keep us alive at this level. Football is a business so they have to be proactive.
I have been going for approx 35 years and yes it is more controlled but it is the same at all grounds from National League above. Same at gigs and why not be searched and wanded??
We unfortunately live in a world where people walk into crowds and blow people up. Alty would be an easy target without security measures.
We have the best management team that I have probably seen and some really talented players. More younger fans come and the atmosphere is decent.
Yes, they need to sort out the service in CSH.
Yes, the Fanzone is a joke and it should be made priority to sort out.
Yes, the ground needs a lot of work but this board were unlucky to have been left with this by years and years of neglect. They are improving it and not sat on their arses.
I am mega excited watching this Alty team.