J Davidson Stadium: Altrincham FC
From Altrincham FC
Though it appears as though the venue where Altrincham play their matches is named after the racist comedian Jim Davidson, it is actually named the J Davidson Stadium owing to sponsorship by a scrap metal processing company. There is a joke in there somewhere about Jim Davidson being made into scrap metal that would be funnier than anything the man himself has ever said. To most people, the ground will always be known as Moss Lane, which is what it was called when it first opened its doors back in 1910. The stadium has enough room to welcome just shy of 8,000 people and is a multi-purpose venue.
As for Altrincham Football Club, the team was formed in 1891 by a Sunday school looking for something for its pupils to do. They merged with another local team not long after called the Grapplers, with the Sunday school side itself having been called Rigby Memorial Club. The new team was re-named as Broadheath Football Club and became founding members of the Manchester League in 1893. They have been called Altrincham FC since 1903, enjoying numerous ups and downs in the years since then. Some of the club’s biggest and best days have come in the FA Cup, where they have been involved in numerous ‘giant killings’.
Stats
| J Davidson Stadium Stats | |
|---|---|
| Year Opened | 1904 |
| Capacity | 7873 |
| Average Attendance | 2638 |
| Record Attendance | 10274 (Altrincham Boys vs Sunderland Boys (28th February 1925)) |
| Pitch Size | 100 x 66 (6600) |
| Former Name | Moss Lane |
| Owner | Trafford Borough Council |
| Sponsor | J Davidson Scrap |
| Clubs Hosted | Altrincham FC, Manchester United Under 18s |
| Altrincham FC Stats | |
|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1891 |
| Nickname | The Robins, Alty |
| Club Mascot | Rocky Robin |
| Rivals | Macclesfield FC, Northwich Victoria, Stalybridge Celtic, Droylsden |
| Previous Stadiums | Pollitt's Field |
| Kit | Red and White Striped (Home) / Dark Blue with Yellow Slash (Away) |
| Shirt Sponsor | J Davidson Scrap metal |
| Team Owner | Bill Waterson, Lawrence Looney |
| Record Goalscorer | Jackie Swindells (265) |
| Record Appearances | Stuart Coburn (685) |
J Davidson Stadium Photos
J Davidson Stadium Seating Plan and Where to Sit
In some ways, Moss Lane is a relatively simplistic ground, with stands on each side. When you look a bit closer, though, you’ll notice that it is a little bit more complicated than that. The Popular Side Terrace runs along the side of the pitch, opposite the Main Stand. That might sound easy enough, but the Main Stand is actually quite small and is flanked by the Community Hall/bar on one side and the Family Stand on the other. At one end of the pitch is the Golf Road Terrace for home supporters, whilst opposite it and being the other goal is the Hale End Terrace for away fans.
Altrincham FC Ticket Prices
When it comes to ticket costs for Altrincham matches, they are relatively easy to understand and are based on your age, rather than where you want to be located within the ground. To give you a sense of what to expect, the following were the prices for the 2023-2024 season:
- Adult: £20
- Concession: £15
- Junior Supporter: £9
- Child Supporter: £4
- Infant: £1
How To Get Altrincham FC Tickets
It is entirely fair to say that, in comparison to a number of rival clubs in the National League, Altrincham’s website is best described as ‘functional’. If you want to get tickets for their games, therefore, you’re best off doing so in person.
Where to Buy
Getting To J Davidson Stadium
Train – Altrincham Interchange is the terminus in Altrincham for buses, trains and Metrolink trams, so if you want to take a tram or get on a train then that is where you’re going to end up.
Bus – You can get buses from Manchester Piccadilly Bus Station to Altrincham Interchange, such as the 263 and the X41. The ground is then about ten minutes away on foot.
Car – For those coming by car from the south, you’ll need to leave the M6 at junction 19 and get onto the A556, following signs for the M56 but not taking it. Instead, get onto the B5161 and follow the signs. If you’re coming from the north then it is junction 20 of the M6, which is for the M56. You leave that at junction 7 and then take the A56 for Altrincham, following the signs from there.
By Air – Manchester Airport is obviously the closest to Altrincham if you’re looking to fly into the city, but Liverpool John Lennon Airport isn’t that far away and means that you don’t have to go through the seventh circle of hell that is Manchester Airport.
Taxi – If you’re needing to get a taxi from Altrincham town centre out to the stadium then you shouldn’t need to pay more than about £10.
Parking Near J Davidson Stadium
There is no parking at the ground itself, but you can park in the car park of Aecom over the road. You can also park on nearby roads, but obviously it is a residential area so do keep your eye out for traffic restrictions.
Useful Resources
- Parking - Just Park
Pubs and Bars Near J Davidson Stadium
The Community Sports Hall
King George Pub
Pi Bar
About Altrincham FC
Rigby Memorial Club was formed at around 1891, merging with Grapplers not long after in order to form Broadheath Football Club. That remained the name of the burgeoning side until 1903, at which point they began playing their games on Pollitt’s Field in Altrincham and decided to rename themselves after their new location. In their first season with their new title the club won the Cheshire Amateur Cup, going on to win both the Cheshire Senior Cup and the Manchester League. There have been numerous ups and downs over the years, including the fact that they were a founding member of the Northern Premier League in 1968.
When they finished as runners-up in that division in 1979, the club applied to join the Football League but were turned down. As a result, they moved to form the Alliance Premier League, the winner of which would be the only non-league side allowed to apply to join the Football League. Despite winning it twice in a row, their Football League application was turned down both times. It is in the FA Cup that the club has really shined, defeating Tranmere Rovers in 1921 in order to gain the reputation of being ‘giant killers’. Some of the big names that Altrincham have knocked out of the competition are Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic.
J Davidson Stadium History
Altrincham decided that they needed a new place to play football matches in 1910 when Pollitt’s Field was deemed to be no longer suitable, with Moss Lane being selected as the ground that would welcome them. It was a modest new venue, with the first match being a 3-1 win over local rivals Macclesfield. More stands and areas to watch the football from were opened in the years that followed, with numerous modernisations taking place as the Football League’s rules and regulations dictated. In the August of 2020, for example, the Co-Chairman of the club, Bill Waterson, revealed that 7,873 people would be allowed in.
That was because of the ground licensing arrangements and was a 29% increase thanks to the building of the Community Sports Hall. The previous capacity had been 6,085 and the increase was seen as surprising considering the fact that the Community Sports Hall was built in place of what had previously been a spectator area. Where supporters are asked to locate themselves in the ground depends entirely on whether or not segregation is in force. When it is, the home supporters are asked to take up the Golf Road Terrace and the away fans go into the Hale End Terrace. If segregation is not in place, both sets of fans will be welcome into the Community Sports Hall.