Alfreton Town’s players have vowed to make up for last Saturday’s horror display in a 3-0 defeat at Redditch United.
The supporters who travelled to Worcestershire to back the Reds will have their entry monies refunded by the players who have admitted their collective performance was not an acceptable one.
The refunds will be a one-off situation but are certainly not a gimmick.
They are as a gesture of the players’ appreciation for the fans’ support both at home, but especially away, and the players open recognise the cost of travelling away to support the club.
Chairman Wayne Bradley explained: “There were all kinds of reasons for the display on the day, although we aren’t using them as excuses. It was a collective off day.
“We had a horrendous journey down having been detoured by over an hour onto some awful, bumpy roads, and didn’t arrive at the ground until around 2.30pm.
“Three of the players were actually being sick as the bus finally pulled up.
“On top of that, the side were without three players through injury and suspension, Paul Clayton dropping out after being injured in training in midweek.
“The team was ripped apart and we had to make all sorts of tactical changes to accommodate the central defence and it obviously just didn’t work for us on the day.
“I have been chairman of the club for a decade and this has never happened before.
“It would be easier for the club to make this gesture, but it is one the players have come up with and it shows how in tune they are with the support base and how they feel about wanting to repay the fans’ faith in them.”
Alfreton’s official Supporters’ Association have been asked to supply the club with a list of people who were at Redditch.
Supporters who went to Redditch should contact supporters’ association member Mark Thorpe on 01773 836251 to acknowledge their attendance.
The club will arrange with the players to make that finance available for them to collect at the next home game against AFC Telford United on Saturday, September 12th.
Bradley went on: “Before the season began I spoke to the players and warned them that the burden of carrying the title favourites tag would be a big one and one which would take some accepting.
“We told the players to play with a smile on their face, to put the burden of favourites to one side. The reality of the Redditch game was that due to the circumstances, they were unable to do that and the players themselves know the performance was not up to scratch.
“Our points target for August has fallen shorter than what we wanted, but it is however, up on last year’s points count at the same stage and look what we went on to do from there.
“At no point last season did the team lose two league games in a row and we are looking for that mental approach again.
“There are a lot more contenders for promotion this season, including Farsley and Northwich who began on minus ten points, and no-one is going to stand aside just because we are one of the favourites.
“We can still make a big impression this season but it has to be a collective effort from every department at the club, officials, management, players and particularly the fans.
“The management have had to and will continue to have some big decisions to make but they are going to need to hear the fans lifting them and the players as well.
“We need the supporters to really get behind the team and help lift them, especially when things aren’t going right. We are all in this together and can achieve things by being together.”
Following the 3-0 defeat at Redditch on the Saturday, Alfreton put in a performance full of character on August Bank Holiday Monday to beat Corby Town, who arrived at the Impact Arena as joint league leaders, 1-0.
Mattie Burke smashed home his first goal for the club on 50 minutes with a superb 22-yarder to swing the points Alfreton’s way.
