Saving Alton Town FC – Fans Day Saturday 2nd March

I suppose a good place to start on this story would be, why should anyone care? For me it started back in August and the extra-Preliminary round of this season’s FA Cup. A sunny afternoon, and a glass of ale from the local brewery, Triple FFF. A proper little community club, with no pretensions of glamour. From the supporter with the Sylvester the Cat mascot, to the couple who are normally next door playing bowls. It was an excellent afternoon, a good match, and a new affinity was born.

With so much coverage going to the Premier League, that its is easy to forget that there is real grassroots football going on. The Alton Towns, the Bradford Towns, the Winchester Citys, the South Parks. All part of the football pyramid and contributing their own part to the beautiful game. Without these clubs then the big clubs wouldn’t have the support. An outlet for players who were once good, or were never quite good enough. All who can find enjoyment and entertainment on a Saturday afternoon.

So why do Alton Town need saving? The owners Molson Coors Brewery have given the footballclub notice to quit. The Town is a brewing town. Courage and Bass have had breweries here. The famous Courage Directors was brewed here. The ground that Alton Town play on, Anstey Road Sports Ground, has had football played on it since 1928. Alton Town have played here for 30 years.

There is a covenant relating to this ground, though Coors said originally they would find a ground elsewhere and deal with the covenant that way but that is no longer on the cards. There is a petition, and I ask all Exeter City supporters to sign it, you can find it here.

They’re also having a fans day on 2nd March. They are at home Hayling in a Wessex League game. The previous record attendance of 500 (against Aldershot) is expected to be broken. Kick off at 3pm, and the admission prices have been reduced to:  Adults £3,  Seniors and Teens £1.50 , Under fives: FREE . The ground can be found with the Sat Nav code of  GU34 2RL. Its is a short walk from Alton railway station (on the Waterloo line). Exeter are at home to Northampton Town so this would be an ideal Saturday for Exiles to pay a visit.

It may not be of direct interest to Exeter City fans, but I’m sure that as football fans that you’ll want to be interested. There is a Save Alton Town website, and that can be found here. The Twitter account for the football club is https://twitter.com/altontownfc and their home site is athttp://www.altontownfc.com/