I have some wonderful memories of the Manor ground - but it was time to move on.
In the fifties, as a non-league club playing Bolton and Blackburn in the cup, the atmosphere was “magic”.
Also, in the Jim Smith era, in the top division, beating Man Utd, etc.
But, at the other end of the scale, I also remember the very early eighties, standing on the Beech Road terracing in the rain watching us play dire, losing football with a crowd of only 2,500 – 3,000 and no atmosphere except for the “gallows humour”.
I've also enjoyed a great atmosphere at Grenoble Road against Newcastle and Swansea in the cup.
The rules don't really change whatever the ground (four sides helps):
winning team + quality football + big name opposition = big crowd + “magic” atmosphere
Losing team + dire football + nondescript opposition = small crowd + poor atmosphere
Appleton developed the quality football and, much of the time, a winning team, he couldn't choose the opposition but we did have some local derbies so the crowd and atmosphere were decent.
Good pre-match facilities (drinking, eating, etc) and good transport service also help even further but are not the most important.
This is my view, for what it's worth.