Altrincham FC
The Robins of Moss Lane - one of non-league football's most storied names, with an FA Trophy history and a fanbase that has stuck through every division.
Altrincham FC, the Robins, are one of the great names of English non-league football. Founded in 1891 and based at Moss Lane (officially the J.Davidson Stadium) in the well-heeled south Manchester town of Altrincham, they were giants of the old Conference, winning the league and the FA Trophy more than once across the 1970s and 1980s. They built a national reputation as FA Cup giant-killers, repeatedly knocking Football League clubs out of the competition.
The modern club competes in the National League, the fifth tier and the top of non-league, after a strong run of promotions. The ground is a classic non-league venue: terracing, close quarters, a clubhouse, and a crowd that takes its football seriously without the corporate layer of the professional game. Altrincham have also been one of the more progressive non-league clubs off the pitch, with notable community and inclusion work.
Altrincham sits at the end of the Metrolink line and is one of the easiest non-league away days from central Manchester. Combine it with the town’s excellent market and a strong food-and-drink scene for a full day out.