However, it would be wrong to say that a return to the conference is the only aim of the football club. Like every other in the country, continuing development and commercial success also feature high on the list.

All of these go hand in hand, however, and it is a full-time job for many club officials to make sure these aims are worked towards and eventually achieved.

It is felt that supporters could also play their part to a bigger extent. Many times before, the phrase "Supporting a team means a lot more than just watching them play" has been uttered.

Chairman of SAFE Alan Brotherton takes up the story.

"At the request of the Football Club Chairman . . . we would like to issue a joint appeal from both the club and the official supporters' Association to rally round and help the club in their push to return to Conference Football.

"Under the new management team there has already been plenty happening which has already caused a big buzz around the place, with everyone looking forward to what we hope will be a successful season for the team."

To this end, SAM sport has received this open letter to all association members and Robins supporters:

THE Football Club Chairman Mr Gerry Berman asked me to meet him recently to discuss new ideas on methods of fund raising.

He explained to me that the club view the forthcoming season as a make or break one for the club and that several new players have been brought in with the hope of having a strong enough squad to get us back into the Conference.

Like many other football clubs Altrincham find it a day to day struggle to operate and have to rely heavily on various money raising activities.

A main lifeline for the football club is the Saturday Yankee. Many of you of course will already be in the Yankee and some of you are agents but our Chairman has asked me to appeal to you all.

If you would consider trying to sell just ten Yankee Codes each which would from our membership alone bring in a clear £2000 a week.

Surely it is not difficult to achieve this with family and work mates, remembering that by becoming an agent you get your own free Code and also a percentage of pay out on winners.

It is my belief that anyone who has an interest in Altrincham Football Club should really be contributing to the Yankee because as I stated earlier it is so vital to the club. So if you are not involved why don't you do something about it right now.

It is just three years ago that Altrincham Football Club nearly folded and at that time the supporters turned up in their numbers to rally round in raising funds for the club.

Through the Supporters Association and other methods these fund raising activities have continued to happen but in recent times there has been a dwindling interest from our members and supporters in getting involved.

It is with this in mind that our club Chairman obviously thought he needed to have a chat with me to see if the club can get some more backing from our supporters other than on the terraces.

As the Chairman of the Supporters Association I see it as a main part of my job to rally the troops but if they do not respond to the call then it causes great concern.

An example of this is that over the past few weeks I have appealed to our members for some help on a tidy up of the ground and on each Saturday the same six to eight people have turned up which I think is a pretty poor situation.

As a Supporters Association we will continue to organise fund raising events but we cannot do it without your help.

So while the club are strengthening on the pitch it is up to us The Supporters to give some help off it.

Alan Brotherton, Chairman Supporters Association

Gerry Berman Altrincham AFC Chairman