Aldershot Town F.C.
File:Aldershot Crest.png
 Current season | |||
| Full name | Aldershot Town Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Shots | ||
| Founded | 1992 | ||
| Ground | EBB Stadium Aldershot | ||
| Capacity | TBC | ||
| Chairman |  John McGinty | ||
| Manager |  Gary Waddock | ||
| League | League Two | ||
| 2007–08 | Conference National, 1st (promoted as champions) | ||
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Aldershot Town Football Club, is an association football club based in Aldershot, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division Aldershot F.C., who had been founded in 1926 and had been League members since 1932.
They play at at the Recreation Ground in Aldershot, which for sponsorship reasons is now called 'The EBB Stadium at The Recreation Ground'. The team compete in [[Football League Two after winning promotion back to the Football League[1] on 15 April 2008 by winning the Conference National. Aldershot Town are also the current holders of the Conference League Cup.
History
Formation
On 25 March 1992, the town of Aldershot was without a football club after Aldershot F.C. became the first Football League team since Accrington Stanley in 1962 to fold during the football season. Aldershot Town was born later the same year, and began life competing in the Isthmian League Division Three. Despite Aldershot Town playing five divisions lower than the Football League, the attendance for their first competitive fixture was higher than the old team's last home tie (against Cardiff City in the Football League Fourth Division on 20 March 1992. Ten successive victories were recorded under the guidance of former player Steve Wignall and Town won the championship by an 18-point margin, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact that 12 months earlier the manager had just one player on his books. Their results are here.
A further promotion and an FA Vase Quarter Final placing was achieved in the 1993–94 season. When Steve Wignall departed to take charge of Colchester United mid-way through the 1994–95 season, former Nottingham Forest winger Steve Wigley took over. Despite steering the club to six successive victories at the end of the 1994–95 season only goal difference prevented a third successive promotion. After narrowly missing out during the next two seasons Wigley left in July 1997 to become Youth Development Officer at Nottingham Forest. He was replaced by George Borg. Attendances continued to rise during this period and the final fixture of the 1997–98 Isthmian League First Division championship-winning season, at home to Berkhamsted Town, attracted 4,289 people to the Recreation Ground. The success under Borg continued with a Ryman League Cup, two Hampshire Senior Cups and a runners-up spot in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
The Reserves returned in 2000–01 and entered the Suburban League. The FA Cup in 2000–01 saw Aldershot take on league opposition at The Recreation Ground for the first time since reforming, when Brighton & Hove Albion visited for a 1st Round tie in November and a record attendance of 7,500 were there to see the game covered by Match of the Day. However it was the league side who progressed to meet Scunthorpe United in round two.
2001–02 season
Borg signed a number of experienced Ryman League players in the summer of 2001 as the club aimed for promotion to the Conference encouraged by some excellent pre-season performances. In the FA Cup, Bristol Rovers were the next League opposition to visit The Recreation Ground, again in the 1st Round. In front of over 5,000 at The Rec, the Shots secured a replay, and only exited the competition when Vitalijs Astafjevs' 87th minute goal took the League side into the 2nd Round, with a 1–0 win in Bristol.
In November 2001 after Borg was critical of supporters whose patience was wearing thin, came a shock defeat at home to Boreham Wood. When Canvey Island overhauled a 1–0 Aldershot lead and won 3–1 just weeks later, the supporters put huge pressure on Borg and the club to end his tenure as manager. In little over a month, Borg, the most successful manager the club had yet seen, left Aldershot Town.
Arrival of Terry Brown
On 20 March 2002 - 10 years to the day since Aldershot F.C. played its last ever league fixture - Aldershot Town F.C. appointed Terry Brown as its fourth manager. He won his first game in charge beating Newport IOW 1–0 in the Hampshire Senior Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg. A 3–0 aggregate win saw them progress to the final at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium where a Stafford Browne hat-trick secured the Hampshire Senior Cup again with a 3–1 win over Havant & Waterlooville.
During the summer of 2002, Brown set about transforming Aldershot Town. Eleven first team players were moved on, and 11 replacements brought in, many former Football League or Conference players. After a few setbacks and injuries to key players, he steered Aldershot to the top of the table in mid November. The Shots never relinquished that position despite Canvey Island trying to close the gap. In April 2003 over 2400 Shots fans made the journey to Canvey Island for what was billed as the title decider. A Roscoe D'Sane penalty secured a 1–0 win.
Six days later, after a 5–1 win over St Albans City, the Shots travelled to Sutton United needing just one point for the championship. Another D'Sane goal secured a 1–1 draw and the Shots won promotion to the Conference at the fifth time of asking. The last game of the season saw 3000 Shots fans head once again to St Mary's as they retained the Hampshire Senior Cup with a 2–1 win over Bashley.
Life in the Conference
A crowd of 3,680 saw Aldershot's first game in the Conference, a 2–1 win over Accrington Stanley. But it was just as taste of things to come as the still part-time side constructed by Terry Brown went on to stay in the play-off positions in the league table for all but 3 days of the season, surrounded by full-time professional former football league sides. The Shots equalled their best ever run in the FA Cup, reaching the 2nd Round and losing 1–0 to Colchester United at Layer Road in a hard fought encounter. And there were more club records tumbling as the side also reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy, losing to eventual winners Hednesford Town and the average attendance for league matches at The Rec ended on a record high of 3,303.
A 1–1 draw against Tamworth on the last day of the season carried the Shots into the play-offs for a place in the Football League. Over two legs the Shots held their own against favourites Hereford United, drawing 1–1 at The Rec and 0–0 at Edgar Street. Extra time finished without any further score and the tie was concluded on penalties with the Shots winning 4-2. The Conference Playoff Final against Shrewsbury Town finished 1–1 after extra time. Shrewsbury returned to the league with a 3–0 win in the penalty shoot-out.
Professional status achieved
A meeting on 24 May 2004 saw the club officers take the historic decision to convert Aldershot Town to full-time professional status from 1 July 2004. For the first time since March 1992 the town of Aldershot had a professional football team.
In 2004–05 the Shots once again equalled their best ever run in the FA Cup as they reached the 2nd Round proper, where they lost 5–1 to Hartlepool United. After a slow start in the league, Aldershot showed some fine form in the run-in. In their final game of the season they needed to beat Scarborough to reach the play-offs. In front of nearly 4,500 Tim Sills was the hero as his brace ensured Exeter City and Morecambe with their superior goal differences could not qualify.
The Shots faced Carlisle United but there was no repeat of the 5–0 home Conference humiliation at the hands of the Cumbrians, as Nick Crittenden's goal saw Aldershot take a 1–0 first leg advantage to Brunton Park. Before half time Carlisle had overturned Aldershot's lead to hold the advantage 2–1 on aggregate, before loanee Jamie Slabber levelled in stoppage time. Extra time could not separate the sides and the tie went to penalties. At one point the Shots were 3–1 up, but the shoot-out went to sudden death. Jon Challinor missed his effort and Danny Livesey sent Carlisle into the final.
2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons
The next two seasons were disappointing ones for the Shots. 2005–06 saw Aldershot's team ravaged by injuries, and they struggled to 13th in the table, with a goal difference of -13, 13 years after the end of the new club's first season. The team made it to the 2nd round of the FA Cup, losing 1–0 at home to Scunthorpe United. The next season was equally disappointing, with the side never really getting close enough to the aim of finishing in the playoff positions. The club eventually made it to 9th in the reformed 24 club Conference National, finishing 13 points off the playoffs. Terry Brown resigned, citing the poor health of his wife as the primary reason, although his position may have been untenable with regards to the season's performance. Martin Kuhl took over as caretaker manager. They made it to the 3rd round of the FA Cup for the first time, though, losing 4–2 at Bloomfield Road to Blackpool
On 17 May 2007, Gary Waddock was appointed the new manager by the board of directors, with Martin Kuhl reverting to his coaching position. He appointed Rhys Day as club captain. The summer period saw the new manager bring in several new players to the Recreation Ground. These included: Lewis Chalmers, Scott Davies (on loan from Reading), Rob Elvins, Ben Harding, Anthony Charles, Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz and Anthony Straker. Reserve team player Jason Milleti also signed a profressional contract.
Aldershot Town's fifth consecutive season in the Conference started with an 2–1 away win over Kidderminster Harriers. A run of 8 games undefeated began in September, before finally losing 3–1 away to Stevenage Borough on 6 October 2007. Following another loss to Burton Albion Aldershot went on a winning run of seven league games, which finally ended on 29 December 2007 with a 2–1 defeat at Grays Athletic. Next came two consequetive wins, which meant that the Shots had won 9 out of the last 10 league games.
Aldershot sold Jonny Dixon to Brighton and Hove Albion in the January Transfer window for £56,000[2], which was then a club record.
After 42 league games, the Shots sat top of the Conference National on 97 points, giving them a 17 point advantage over Torquay United, and needing just one point to gain promotion as Champions. Aldershot were promoted to the Football League, for the first time since the club was reformed, on 15 April 2008, after securing the point they needed in a 1–1 draw away to Exeter City[3]. The Shots finished the season with a draw at Rushden and Diamonds, which meant that they were undefeated in the final 18 league games.
The Shots also made it to the Conference League Cup Final after a 4–3 penalty shoot out victory over near neighbours Woking. The final was played at the Recreation Ground on Thursday 3 April against Rushden & Diamonds. With the scores 1–1 at full time, then 3–3 after extra time, Aldershot won 4–3 on penalties.[4]. It was Gary Waddock's first piece of silverware since taking over as manager.
Aldershot Town finished the season with 101 points from 46 games - a Conference National record.
Football League
After 16 years the town of Aldershot had a Football League team again. Retaining many of the 2007/2008 promtion winning team, additional signings of Dean Howell from Rushden and Diamonds, Chris Blackburn from Swindon Town and Marvin Morgan from Woking were made. Gary Waddock and Martin Kuhl also committed their futures to the club by signing new three-year contracts,[5] and Joel Grant was sold to Crewe Alexandra for £130,000, a club record..[6]
In June a three year kit supply deal with Carbrini, the in-house brand of JD Sports was agreed and in July, Aldershot Town chairman John McGinty announced that the main club sponsor for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons would be EBB (Elliott Baxter & Co Limited)...[7].
Stadium
Aldershot Town play their home games at The EBB Stadium at the Recreation Ground, which has a capacity of approx 7,500.[8]
Kit Supplier
In June 2008, Aldershot Town signed a three year kit deal with Carbrini.
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
Managers
| Name | Nat | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Wignall |
|
23 May 1992 | 12 January 1995 |
| Steve Wigley |
|
26 January 1995 | 30 July 1997 |
| George Borg |
|
18 September 1997 | 31 January 2002 |
| Terry Brown |
|
20 March 2002 | 27 March 2007 |
| Gary Waddock |
|
17 May 2007 | Present |
Records
Appearances and goals
Jason Chewins holds the record for the most number of appearances for the club, playing 489 times between August 1994 and May 2004. This led to the left-back being the first and, to date, only player to receive a testimonial which was played against Portsmouth in July 2004.
Before Chewins, the record was held by Mark Butler, who joined the club at its inception in 1992. Butler played 303 times between August 1992 and May 1998, also holding the all-time goal scoring record by netting 155 times, a record he still currently holds. Three other have played more than 200 times for the club, Stuart Udal, whose brother Shaun was an England international cricketer, played 236 times for the club. Goalkeeper Nikki Bull and winger Jimmy Sugrue have also passed the land mark.
Gary Abbott is, apart from Butler, the only Shots player to have ever scored over 100 goals for the club. Over the course of three seasons, between August 1998 and May 2001, he scored 120 goals.
Transfers
Record Purchase
- Grant Payne from Woking for £20,000 November 1999.
Record Sale
- Joel Grant to Crewe Alexandra for £130,000 June 2008.[9]
Club records
Best League positions
- Best Isthmian League Third Division position: 1st in 1992-93. Promoted to Isthmian League Second Division.
- Best Isthmian League Second Division position: 3rd in 1993-94. Promoted to Isthmian League First Division.
- Best Isthmian League First Division position: 1st in 1997-98. Promoted to Isthmian League Premier Division.
- Best Isthmian League Premier Division position: 1st in 2002-03. Promoted to Conference National.
- Best Conference National League position: 1st in 2007-08. Promoted to League Two.
Best cup results
- Best FA Cup performance: 3rd round, 2006-2007, 2nd round, 1999-2000, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06
- Best FA Trophy performance: Semi-Final, 2003-04, 2007-08
- Best FA Vase performance: Quarter Final, 1993-94
- Best Conference League Cup performance: Winners, 2007-08
- Best Hampshire Senior Cup performance: Winners, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2006-07
Rivals
Aldershot Town's main rivals in the Conference National league were Woking. During the 1990s Aldershot Town's rivals were mainly Farnborough Town. The former club Aldershot FC were rivals with Reading. However due to Reading currently being several divisions above Aldershot Town FC the rivalry with Reading has yet to be recreated.
Season-by-season record
| Season | Division | Position | Significant Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldershot Town formed and placed into Isthmian League Third Division | |||
| 1992-93 | Isthmian League Third Division | 1 | Promoted as Champions |
| 1993-94 | Isthmian League Second Division | 3 | Promoted, FA Vase Quarter-Final |
| 1994-95 | Isthmian League First Division | 4 | FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round |
| 1995-96 | Isthmian League First Division | 5 | FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round |
| 1996-97 | Isthmian League First Division | 7 | FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round, FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round |
| 1997-98 | Isthmian League First Division | 1 | Promoted as Champions, FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round |
| 1998-99 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 7 | FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, FA Trophy 4th Round, Hampshire Senior Cup Winners |
| 1999-00 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 2 | FA Cup 2nd Round, FA Trophy 4th Round, Hampshire Senior Cup Winners |
| 2000-01 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 4 | FA Cup 1st Round, FA Trophy 3rd Round |
| 2001-02 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 3 | FA Cup 1st Round, FA Trophy 3rd Round, Hampshire Senior Cup Winners |
| 2002-03 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 1 | Promoted as Champions, FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, Hampshire Senior Cup Winners |
| 2003-04 | Football Conference | 5 | FA Cup 2nd Round, FA Trophy Semi-Final, Conference Play Off Final |
| 2004-05 | Conference National | 4 | FA Cup 2nd Round, Conference Play Off Semi-Final |
| 2005-06 | Conference National | 13 | FA Cup 2nd Round |
| 2006-07 | Conference National | 9 | FA Cup 3rd Round, Hampshire Senior Cup Winners |
| 2007-08 | Conference National | 1 | Promoted as Champions, FA Cup 1st Round, FA Trophy Semi-Final, Conference League Cup Winners |
Famous Fans
- Arthur English (president of Aldershot F.C. at time of bankruptcy; one of the original Aldershot Town F.C. investors and designer of the new club's phoenix logo)
- Jack Rollin
- Shaun Udal
- William Beck
References
- ^ "Rise of the Phoenix". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Brighton complete deal for Dixon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Exeter 1-1 Aldershot". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Aldershot Town win Setanta Shield". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Waddock signs new Aldershot deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Crewe sign Aldershot winger Grant". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "We are pleased to welcome EBB as new club sponsors of Aldershot Town FC". www.theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "EBB secure naming rights to ground". teamtalk.com. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Crewe sign Aldershot winger Grant". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help)
Source
- Aldershot Town at the Football Club History Database
External links
- Official club web site
- Official Facebook Group
- Red Blue Army Supporters Group
- Shotsweb Unnoficial Club Web Site