www.altyfans.co.uk

Ultimately, I'm just disappointed that the club appear to have shafted a business that flies the flag for us so well. I do hope the bridge hasn't been burned entirely.

As for the the fan zone, in whatever form it does finally take, it was created to drive footfall to the ground earlier, and generate more revenue from food and drink. I do not think it will achieve that aim if it is 'standard' bottled and canned options akin to the CSH. The fans who were interested in this project will likely to continue to drink in the town centre pre-game, probably at the bar that we could have had at the ground.

Very strongly agree with this sentiment.  I thought the Libero link-up was a big plus for the Club: good beer, local ind. company, likely to bring fans in earlier etc.  As a general point, I think the Club needs to exercise care moving forward into the professional era, and they will need to tread carefully the fine line that separates the core fan base from the (new) corporate backers who may stipulate unpopular demands in return for their sponsorship.  An interesting, local comparison might be to Sale FC who rebranded themselves as Sale Sharks in the run up to rugby going professional.  There, the board marketed the Club aggressively to attract a larger crowd that they hoped would ensure their survival.  While they have been successful in making the transition (propped up by RFU money?) I think the fan base has altered dramatically and would be unrecognisable from their time at Heywood Road.  As we move into this new pro-era, we must be prepared to embrace change, but not forget our roots, what it is we stand for, and the reason why we chose to support Alty in the first place.

I wonder if Jennings Quigley or Newby would be a ailable on loan?

Quote from: Leon on June 29, 2022, 01:12:12 PM

My concern at this stage with the squad so far is where are the goals going to come from? We've lost Mooney and Hancock and haven't replaced either yet. I can't see Hulme being prolific (hope I'm wrong), so that only leaves Colclough and to an extent Kosylo. I'm sure we will be bringing one or two more attacking players in but they need to be top quality, as you say.

Exactly my fear, at present.

Two of our top four goalscorers from last season have departed: Mooney (13 goals) and Hancock (9 goals).

As for the Notts County job, it’s extremely concerning and I’d genuinely  fear for us this year if he did go. You couldn’t begrudge him for it, though. They might be in our division but they’re streets ahead of us (and most of the rest of the national league) in nearly every other way.

Someone below mentioned it comes down to loyalty V ambition. Well, I don’t think we’d be where we are if Phil wasn’t highly ambitious. It’s just a question of whether we are the club where he can fulfil that or if he thinks Notts County offers the more appealing opportunity. I’m praying it’s the former.

Quote from: MadFrankie on June 08, 2022, 10:41:46 AM

PSF away at Alton Royale in the early 90s. Never heard of them before or after, and no idea why we played them. It was somewhere around Birmingham I recall.

Great call. We played them to open their new ground, because Jeff Wealands was friends with the Olton Royale Chairman from his days playing for Birmingham City & living in Solihull.
Mark Carter played in that game for us.
This was the first match of the 1991/2 pre-season & played about a month before John King & Graham Heathcote resigned a week before the start of the season.