After a few days back home I have now returned to my computer and would like to give one or two opinions on what has happened to ATFC . On the pitch we more than matched the league leaders and were unlucky to lose. I then see we drew with our local rivals Winsford and beat Silsden last night. What a shame there isn't more support off the field.
The handful of locals who still go seem to think the club will fold in the summer or at least not be in this league next year due to no finance coming into the club and the few people who were doing jobs earlier in the season and raising finance have left for whatever reason . The players and Neil Gill deserve better and will surely be snapped up by other clubs .

Is it really that bad?

I quite like Alsager, despite you giving New Mills a good stuffing early in the season.

I saw the Fylde match last week and thought you were worth at least a draw, especially after the penalty was awarded when in my opinion, a free kick should have been awarded To Alsager for what I thought was a deliberate hand ball by the Fylde number eight (I think).

Afraid so . Unfortunately I could be as guilty as some as I don't go very often due to moving away but can only pass on what I hear and what I saw last week . Perhaps Chris Ansell needs to be asked back !!!

I wonder if it could be three away wins in a row, as we've got New Mills again in our next match on Monday.

The home game to which you refer was one of our best this season, and a couple of the goals from that game feature on the club calender for 2009.

Just read on the Alsager website our 1st team is moving to Leigh . Does anyone know if there is any truth in this worrying rumour. Also the reserves are going to Stone .

All you Alsager fans should come down Grove, great ground, great fans, great team, great football.

_________________
KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC F.C

Taken off Alsager website


Neil Gill would like to invite all interested parties to an open meeting at a venue to be confirmed on 15th May at 7.00 pm to discuss plans for next season and what can be done to attract more fans to the club . If you have any thoughts please tell him at the meeting , if you don't think enough local lads are in the team tell at the meeting if you have any other thoughts on why the support stopped coming please come down and let him know .
He has done a fantastic job this year when you think back this time last year there wasn't a club !!!!

I think that the news about Neil Gill's meeting next week should scotch rumours about Neil moving.

Let's hope there's a good turnout next Friday.

Hopefully this article will get some positive support for the club

May 13 2009 by Peter Morse, Crewe Chronicle

DISILLUSIONED Alsager Town chiefs have called a meeting on Friday to determine the future of the club.

Manager Neil Gill and chairman Peter Clegg have urged anyone who cares for the club to be at the meeting at the Bank Corner pub, Lawton Road, from 7pm.

They want to gauge whether the town wishes to support a football club. Whether the Bullets stay in existence could hinge on the outcome.

Gill explained: “I want to look people in the eye and ask them whether they want a football club in this town.

“On the field we have been getting it right but the insecurity comes from off the field.

“We exceeded all expectations by finishing comfortably in the top eight of the Premier Division.

“But I suspect even if we had won it the attendances would still have been dire. I just want to ask why.

“The meeting is vital. It’s about the future of this football club. There is a lot of potential here but are people interested?”

The Bullets got in to trouble when businessman Chris Ansell and ex-player Richard Mitchell took over and fell out with committee members, who resigned en-bloc.

The supporter base crumbled and in 2007-08 they were relegated from the UniBond League for failing to meet ground regulations.

Ansell and Mitchell eventually left and former chairman Clegg returned to the role to pick up the pieces. But the committee, and most fans, have stayed away.

Alsager played in front of between 30-80 at most home matches.

That is despite the success of Gill and his young squad. The former Witton Reserves boss joined last summer and built a squad from scratch.

Billed as relegation fodder early on, their haul of 59 points was a magnificent achievement.

But the turmoil has continued off the field. The club had three groundsmen and as many secretaries last season. Only Gill, Clegg, bar staff and a turnstile operator remained throughout the campaign.

Gill added: “I had to dedicate at least 50% of my efforts to off-field activities just to help things keep going.

“That’s sad because you never know how much more we could have achieved had I been able to 100% focus on the football.

“But that is the past and we have to look forward. We are interested to know who can he3lp us.”

A good article. Thanks for reproducing it, Toppo69.

Let's hope we get a good turnout on Friday.

And don't forget it's at the new Bank Corner pub, in the centre of Alsager, and not as was once announced, at the ground.

Good luck. Was really impressed with your side this year, and always enjoy visiting your ground as - a warm welcome is guaranteed no matter who the secretary is for the day!

You have a bright manager, and really hope it goes well for you.

Glad to hear what you say, Haggis. You're right, the team has played well this year. Let's hope we can get the support needed to have a successful season next year. For the latter part of the season just finished we've been sharing the sec job around a number of people; indeed it was my turn on the day you visited us.