J Davidson Stadium – Altrincham

On one side of the ground is the Carole Nash Insurance Main Stand. This is a small single tiered all seated stand that sits astride the half way line. An old classic looking stand, it has glass windshields on either side, plus a number of supporting pillars, one of which is centrally located at the front of the stand. Views of the pitch may be further impaired by two small floodlight pylons that are located at the two front edges of the stand. On one side of this stand is a smaller separate structure, the Goodwin Family Stand. This is a very small covered all seated stand. On the other side of the Main Stand is also a small open terrace that is a couple of large steps high. Behind this is a relatively new club house with the usual facilities inside, including some good toilets. It’s called the Altrincham FC Community Sports Hall.

Opposite the Main Stand is the Popular Side. This is a covered terrace that runs the full length of the pitch, made unusual by having a section in the middle that has a higher roof compared to either side. At the Golf Road End is a small covered terrace, whilst opposite, at the Hale End, there is a 16-step open terrace with large crush barriers to lean on. If segregation is in force, then this open terrace is allocated to away fans, as well as a portion of the covered popular side and some seats may also be provided in the Main Stand.

Moss Lane is completed with a set eight floodlight pylons, which run down each side of the ground (four on each side). A rather large (and ugly looking) telecommunications mast overlooks the ground, but at least your mobile phone reception should be good here!

The ground is still known to many fans by its original name of Moss Lane. It was renamed the J Davidson Stadium in 2013 as part of a corporate sponsorship deal.

Away fans are mostly housed in the open Hale End Terrace at one end of the ground. Away fans can also sit in the Carole Nash Main Stand, however the leg room there is a little on the tight side. Inside the ground there is a Club shop (on the Main Stand side towards the Golf Road End) and catering is provided by a couple of burger vans. Rob Urwin a visiting Southport fans adds; ‘A great ground to visit, it wasn’t segregated on the day we  went which meant we had access to both ends. The Altrincham fans were in good voice which meant there was a decent atmosphere. It was easy to find and the catering was acceptable. The toilets weren’t the best, a little bit in the open air! There were very few stewards in attendance which was a bit of a concern considering it was a “high profile“ game but they weren’t needed so it was a good call. It is a neat ground,  more than adequate for the Conference, and a visit I look forward to’.

Adjacent to the ground is the Community Sports Hall, which has a bar inside. It also serves food (pies, chips etc..), has Sky Sports showing and welcomes away fans. Otherwise, a few minutes walk along Moss Lane is the King George pub, which is a JW Lees outlet. This pub also has Sky Sports and serves food. With the Main Stand behind you, turn left along Moss Lane and the pub is down on the left just past the garage. If you have more time on your hands then Altrincham town centre is around a 15 minute walk away along Moss Lane (with the ground behind you turn right) where there are plenty of pubs to be found. Alan Chadwick informs me; ‘Altrincham town centre has a number of interesting pubs and bars the best being Life of Pi by the market (excellent pies and Tatton real ale) or Costellos at Goose Green (close to Tesco) which is a freehouse for the local Dunham Massey brewery’. There is also the Cheshire Tap on Railway Street, which like Costellos and the Life of Pi, is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Plus there is a Wetherspoons outlet called the Unicorn on Ashley Road. Across the road from the Moss Lane Ground is the handy ‘Good Catch’ Fish and Chip Shop which is open until 2pm on Saturday afternoons and from 4.30pm on weekdays.

As Altrincham fixtures tend to coincide with the home fixtures of nearby Manchester United, then you may well be best advised to allow extra time for your journey as traffic will be heavy in the area.

From The South
Leave the M6 at Junction 19, and take the A556 towards Manchester Airport. At the large roundabout junction with the M56, turn right onto the M56, still heading towards Manchester Airport. Leave the M56 at Junction 6 and take the A538 towards Hale Barns/Altrincham. After two miles (in which you will have passed through Hale Barns) you will go through the traffic lights that is the junction with the A5144 (Delahays Road). After these traffic lights take the third right into Westminster Road. Carry straight on down Westminster Road, which becomes Bancroft Road and then Moss Lane. The ground is down on the right.

From The North
Leave the M6 at Junction 20A and take the M56 towards Manchester Airport. Leave the M56 at Junction 6 and take the A538 towards Hale Barns/Altrincham. Then as South.

Car Parking

There is very little parking at the ground itself. Further along Moss Lane is a business unit called Aecom (WA15 8FH) which offers matchday parking on Tuesdays and Saturdays, free of charge. Otherwise street parking.

The Moss Lane ground is around a 10-15 minute walk from Altrincham Railway Station and Interchange. The trams occupy two platforms on the western side of the station and ‘heavy rail’ trains use the two platforms on the eastern side. Altrincham Railway Station is served by trains from Manchester Piccadilly and normally takes around 28 minutes. Alternatively, you can also get the Metrolink tram from both Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria mainline stations.

To walk to the ground you have two options; Exit the Interchange via the main entrance, (there is a clock tower in front of the main entrance), and take the first left into Moss Lane. Then just keep going straight down Moss Lane and you will eventually come to the ground on your left. Alternatively, exit the station from the most easterly platform, where trains depart for Chester. Once you have gone down a small flight of steps, turn immediately hard right and make your way through a rather uneven car park. Head for the traffic lights, not too far from a big Tesco. Turn left at the traffic lights and you are in Moss Lane. Incidentally, the huge telecoms mast beside the ground is an excellent landmark to head for, visible from outside the eastern side of the station.

There is also a frequent bus service to Altrincham and the journey time is around 45 minutes. The Arriva Sapphire 263 Service departs Piccadilly Gardens (Stop K) for Altrincham Interchange. See the Arriva website for more details and timetables.

Thanks to Brian Scott for providing the walking directions above.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:

Remember if travelling by train then you can normally save on the cost of fares by booking in advance.

Visit the the trainline website to see how much you can save on the price of train tickets.

Click on the trainline logo below:

Adults £14
Over 65’s £11
Under 17’s £5
Under 12’s £1

Official Programme: £2

Altrincham FC fixture list (takes you to the Altrincham FC Website)

Macclesfield Town

For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the
Level Playing Field website.

Record Attendance

10,275 Altrincham Youth v Sunderland Youth
February 28th 1925.

Average Attendance
2018-2019: 1,245 (National League North)
2017-2018: 802 (National League North)
2016-2017: 1,230 (National League North)

If you require hotel accommodation in Altrincham or Manchester then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes, this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going.

Official Web Site: www.altrinchamfc.com

Unofficial Web Sites:
Alty Fans Forum
www.altrinchamfc.co.uk

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.