Words Brian Flynn

ALTRINCHAM Football Club is mourning the passing of its oldest season ticket holder, Stan Riley, at the age of 94.

Stan had a minor heart attack last week and was admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital, where he subsequently suffered a major heart attack, which sadly, he did not recover from.

Stan and his late wife, Isabel, were both huge Alty fans, travelling, for many years, the length and breadth of England and Wales to almost every away game on the supporters’ coach.

They moved from their Timperley home to Halecroft Grange Care Home, opposite St. Ambrose School in Hale Barns, several years ago, and Stan continued to live there, following Isabel’s passing in 2018.

In October 2022, Isaac Marriott and Matty Kosylo visited Halecroft Grange, a memorable occasion for Stan, who treasured his picture with two of Alty’s finest players.

https://altrinchamfc.com/blogs/news/thanks-alty-matty-and-isaac-made-our-day-say-sunrise

Their son, Malcolm is also a lifelong fan, travelling to home and away games from Nottingham for the last four decades.

Malcolm went to school with co-chair, Bill Waterson, who would often travel to away games with Stan, Isabel and Malcolm, in their family car, the first trip being the FA Trophy semi-final first leg at Scarborough in 1977, a tie that the Robins ultimately lost in a second replay at Doncaster Rovers’ Belle Vue ground.

Stan and Isabel would meet up with Malcolm at home and away games and with their daughter, Alison, who lives in London, at away games near the capital.

One of Stan’s last long away trips was our first away game as a full-time club, a scoreless draw at Bromley in August 2022. Stan sat with the two drivers in the front of the minibus on a round-trip of almost 500 miles, enjoying his day out, despite a very difficult journey to Greater London and searing temperatures that reached 38 degrees that afternoon.

Stan had been an Alty fan since the 1940s and he and Isabel were huge supporters of the club off the field, as well, attending numerous club events.

It was Stan who came up with the suggestion of the name TASC (The Altrincham Supporters’ Club) and Stan and Isabel purchased lifetime season tickets with a hugely generous donation to the football club.

Everyone at Altrincham Football Club offers sincere condolences to Alison, Malcolm and the extended Riley family at this sad time and details of Stan’s funeral will be posted, when known.