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Aldershot Town F.C.

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 77.99.212.29 (talk) at 19:45, 25 October 2011 (→‎Formation and The Isthmian Years: confusion between teams named similarly... wrong accrington stanley linked. the 'new' accrington was formed in 1968.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Aldershot Town
File:Aldershot Crest.png
Full nameAldershot Town Football Club
Nickname(s)The Shots
Founded1992
GroundRecreation Ground
Capacity7,100 (4,000 seated)
ChairmanKris Machala
ManagerDean Holdsworth
LeagueLeague Two
2010–11League Two, 14th
Current season

Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot F.C.. The latter, founded in 1926, had been a League member since 1932 and was a founder member of Division Four.

Aldershot Town play at the Recreation Ground in Aldershot and compete in Football League Two after winning promotion back to the Football League on 15 April 2008 by winning the Conference National.[1]

History

See also: List of Aldershot Town F.C. seasons

Formation and The Isthmian Years

In March 1992, the town of Aldershot was without a football club after Aldershot F.C. became the first Football League team to fold during the football season since Accrington Stanley in 1962. 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. Ten successive victories were recorded under the guidance of former player Steve Wignall and Aldershot won the championship by an 18-point margin.

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. The club finished the 1994–95 season with a run of six successive victories, but missed out on promotion by goal difference. 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 – a league record. The success under Borg continued with an Isthmian League Cup, two Hampshire Senior Cups and a runners-up spot in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

The club's reserves were reinstated 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 saw the league team win. In the following season's FA Cup the Shots held Bristol Rovers to a home draw in the First Round, but again missed out on the Second Round after losing the replay in Bristol.

George Borg resigned as manager in November 2001 after pressure from supporters and was replaced by Terry Brown. He won his first game in charge beating Newport IOW 1–0 in the Hampshire Senior Cup Semi Final Second Leg, taking The Shots on to win the final against Havant & Waterlooville. In Brown's first full season in charge he overhauled the squad, and by mid-November the Shots were top of the table, a position they did not relinquish for the remainder of the season, winning promotion to the Football Conference. The club also retained the Hampshire Senior Cup with a 2–1 win over Bashley.

Conference years

A crowd of 3,680 saw Aldershot's first game in the Conference, a 2–1 win over Accrington Stanley. The club went on to stay in the play-off positions in the league table for all but 3 days of the season. 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. The club reached their first FA Trophy semi-final, 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.

In May 2004 the club officers made the decision to convert Aldershot Town to full-time professional status from the following July. 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 improved their form and reached the play-offs after beating Scarborough in the last game of the season. The Shots won the first leg against Carlisle United 1–0 at home, but lost the away leg 2–1, giving a 2– aggregate score. Extra time could not separate the sides and the tie went to penalties , with Carlsle winning the shootout.

The next two seasons were less successful for the Shots. 2005–06 saw Aldershot's team suffer numerous injuries, and they struggled to 13th in the table. 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.[citation needed] Martin Kuhl took over as caretaker manager. They made it to the Third round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 4–2 at Bloomfield Road to Blackpool

Promotion to the Football League

In May 2007 Gary Waddock was appointed the new manager, with Martin Kuhl reverting to his coaching position. The Shots started the season strongly, losing few games before the turn of the year. Jonny Dixon was sold to Brighton and Hove Albion in the January Transfer window for a then club record of £56,000.[2] The Shots finished top of the Conference National with a record 101 points, and were promoted to the Football League, for the first time since the club was reformed[3] ending the season on an 18-match undefeated run.

The Shots also made it to the Conference League Cup Final after a 4–3 penalty shoot out victory over near neighbours Woking in the semi-final. The final, played at the Recreation Ground on 3 April, was against Rushden & Diamonds. With the scores 1–1 at full time, then 3–3 after extra time, Aldershot won 4–3 on penalties.[4]

Football League

Sixteen years after the demise of Aldershot F.C., the town of Aldershot had a Football League team again. The club retained many of the 2007–08 promotion winning team, and added several signings, both permanent and on loan. Gary Waddock and Martin Kuhl also committed their futures to the club by signing new three-year contracts.[5] Joel Grant was sold to Crewe Alexandra for £130,000, a club record.[6] On the opening day of the 2008–09 season, Aldershot Town won their first league game on their return to the Football League at Accrington Stanley 1–0.[7] This was followed four days later by the club's first ever Football League Cup game, against Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena, which the Shots lost 3–1. The Shots finished fifteenth in League Two in their first season in the Football League.

Two months into the 2009–10 season, manager Gary Waddock and assistant Martin Kuhl accepted offers to join Wycombe Wanderers. Jason Dodd was appointed as Caretaker Manager, assisted by Paul Williams[8] before Kevin Dillon, the former first-team coach of Reading F.C., was appointed as Waddock's permanent successor in November 2009.[9] Two days later Dillon appointed Gary Owers as his assistant manager.[10] Under the new management team Aldershot finished the season in sixth place,[11] qualifying them for the play-offs,[12] where they lost 3–0 on aggregate to Rotherham United.[13]

In January 2011 Kevin Dillon and assistant Gary Owers had left the club by mutual agreement, with the club to 20th in League Two, after winning just 6 out of 22 league games.[14] Dillon was replaced by Newport County manager Dean Holdsworth.[15] Holdsworth succeeded in removing the threat of relegation, eventually guiding the club to 14th position in a run which included only 4 defeats in the second half of the season.[citation needed]

Stadium

Main article: Recreation Ground (Aldershot)

Aldershot Town play their home games at The Recreation Ground, which has a capacity of 7,100. The stadium was previously the home of Aldershot F.C.

Players

As of 30 August 2011.[16]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK England ENG Jamie Young
2 DF England ENG Ben Herd
3 DF Grenada GRN Anthony Straker
4 MF England ENG Luke Guttridge
5 DF Wales WAL Darren Jones
6 DF England ENG Aaron Brown
7 MF England ENG Jermaine McGlashan
8 MF England ENG Jamie Collins
9 FW England ENG Michael Rankine
10 FW England ENG Danny Hylton
No. Pos. Nation Player
11 MF England ENG Alex Rodman
12 FW Grenada GRN Bradley Bubb
14 MF Wales WAL Anthony Pulis
15 DF Wales WAL Aaron Morris
21 GK England ENG Ross Worner
23 MF England ENG Peter Vincenti
24 DF England ENG Jordan Brown (on loan from West Ham United)
26 MF England ENG Adam Smith (on loan from Mansfield Town)
30 MF Scotland SCO Manny Panther

Out on Loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF England ENG Graeme Montgomery (on loan to Eastleigh)
17 MF England ENG Adam Mekki (on loan to Dorchester Town)
18 DF Sweden SWE Douglas Bergqvist (on loan to Farnborough)
19 FW England ENG Reece Connolly (on loan to Farnborough)
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 DF Norway NOR Henrik Breimyr (on loan to Eastleigh)
29 MF England ENG Max Worsfold (on loan to Maidenhead United)
31 GK England ENG Jordan Clement (on loan to Maidenhead United)

Notable players

For all Aldershot Town F.C. players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Aldershot Town F.C. players.

Players of the season

Season Player
1992–93 Mark Butler
1993–94 Keith Baker and Steve Harris
1994–95 Stuart Udal
1995–96 Danny Holmes
1996–97 Jimmy Sugrue
1997–98 Otis Hutchings
1998–99 Jason Chewins
1999-00 Ollie Adedji
2000–01 Mark Bentley
2001–02 Jason Chewins
2002–03 Nikki Bull
2003–04 Ray Warburton
2004–05 Steve Watson
2005–06 Nikki Bull
2006–07 John Grant
2007–08 Nikki Bull
2008–09 Anthony Charles
2009–10 Ben Herd
2010–11 Luke Guttridge

Managers

Name Nat From To Games Managed Games Won Games Drawn Games Lost Win percentage Points average
Steve Wignall England 23/05/1992 12/01/1995 146 97 24 25 66.43% 2.16
Paul Shrubb(c) England 13/01/1995 25/01/1995 1 1 0 0 100.00% 3.00
Steve Wigley England 26/01/1995 30/07/1997 135 72 25 38 53.33% 1.79
Andy Meyer(c), Mark Butler(c) & Joe Roach(c) England 01/08/1997 17/09/1997 8 3 2 3 37.50% 1.38
George Borg England 18/09/1997 31/01/2002 261 147 50 64 56.32% 1.88
Stuart Cash(c) England 01/02/2002 19/03/2002 12 7 2 3 58.33% 1.92
Terry Brown England 20/03/2002 27/03/2007 284 145 52 87 51.05% 1.71
Martin Kuhl(c) England 28/03/2007 16/05/2007 11 5 3 3 45.45% 1.64
Gary Waddock Republic of Ireland 17/05/2007 13/10/2009 128 64 27 37 50.00% 1.71
Jason Dodd(c) England 14/10/2009 08/11/2009 4 1 1 2 25.00% 1.00
Kevin Dillon England 09/11/2009 10/01/2011 63 22 17 24 34.92% 1.32
Dean Holdsworth England 11/01/2011 40 15 14 11 37.50% 1.48

Honours

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 match, 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. Former goalkeeper Nikki Bull made his 300th appearance for the Shots in November 2008 and eventually made 313 appearances before moving to Brentford in July 2009. Three others 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. Winger Jimmy Sugrue has also reached the landmark. Most recently current captain Anthony Charles reached the landmark in October 2010.

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.

Most appearances

# Player Career Appearances
1 England Jason Chewins 1994–2004 489
2 England Nikki Bull 2002–2009 313
3 England Mark Butler 1992–1998 303
4 England Stuart Udal 1992–1997 236
5 England Anthony Charles 2002–2003 & 2006–2011 229
6 England Jimmy Sugrue 1994–1996, 1996–2000 & 2001–2002 200
7 England Danny Holmes 1993–1998 194
8 Grenada Anthony Straker 2007– 191
9 Republic of Ireland Owen Coll 1998–2002 190
10 England Ben Harding 2006–2011 186
  • Up to and including, Macclesfield Town (h), 8 October 2011

Most goals

# Player Career Goals
1 England Mark Butler 1992–1998 155
2 England Gary Abbott 1998–2001 120
3= England Steve Stairs 1992–1995 75
3= England Roy Young 1994–1999 75
5 England John Grant 2006–2010 57
6 England Stafford Browne 2000–2002 & 2002–2003 53
7 England Tim Sills 2003–2006 & 2010–2011 52
8 England Roscoe D'Sane 2002–2005 48
9 England Kirk Hudson 2005–2010 45
10 England Jimmy Sugrue 1994–1996, 1996–2000 & 2001–2002 44
  • Up to and including, Lincoln City (a), 7 May 2011

Transfers

Record Purchase

  • Marvin Morgan from Woking for an undisclosed fee (but a club record) in May 2008. The previous highest fee paid for a player was the £20,000 paid to Woking for Grant Payne in November 1999.

Record Sale

Best performances

Season-by-season record

See also: List of Aldershot Town F.C. seasons
Season Division Position Significant Events
Aldershot Town formed and accepted into Isthmian League Division Three
1992–93 Isthmian League Division Three 1 Promoted as Champions
1993–94 Isthmian League Division Two 3 Promoted, FA Vase Quarter-Final
1994–95 Isthmian League Division One 4 FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
1995–96 Isthmian League Division One 5 FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
1996–97 Isthmian League Division One 7 FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round, FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
1997–98 Isthmian League Division One 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, Football League Trophy 1st Round, Conference Play Off Semi-Final
2005–06 Conference National 13 FA Cup 2nd Round, Football League Trophy 1st 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
2008–09 Football League Two 15 FA Cup 2nd Round, League Cup 1st Round, Football League Trophy 1st Round,
2009–10 Football League Two 6 FA Cup 2nd Round, League Cup 1st Round, Football League Trophy 2nd Round, League Two Play Offs
2010–11 Football League Two 14 FA Cup 2nd Round, League Cup 1st Round, Football League Trophy 2nd Round

Football Kits

Aldershot Town's home kit is red with blue and white trim. The club have always played in a predominantly red kit with blue features, including stripes and quarters.

Kit supplier

Errea are the kit suppplier for the 2011-2012 season.

Kit manufacturers and sponsors

Years Manufacturers Sponsor
1992–93 Ribero Pam’s Florist
1993–94 Fiva Datrontech
1994–95
1995–96
1996–97
1997–98 ICIS
1998–99 Charters Peugeot
1999–00
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03 Hi-Speed
2003–04
2004–05 Errea Charters Peugeot
2005–06
2006–07 EBB Paper
2007–08 ezylet.co.uk
2008–09 Carbrini Sportswear.[17] EBB Paper[18]
2009–10
2010–11 Xfor Security[19]
2011–12 Errea EBB Paper[20]
2012–13

Previous kits

Ribero Home Kit 1992–93 Seasons
Fiva Home Kit 1993–95 Seasons
Fiva Home Kit 1995–97 Seasons
ICIS Home Kit 1998–2000 Seasons
ICIS Home Kit 2000–02 Seasons
ICIS Home Kit 2002–04 Seasons
Errea Home Kit 2004–06 Seasons
Errea Home Kit 2006–07 Season
Errea Home Kit 2007–08 Season
Carbrini Home Kit 2008–10 Season

Further details and images of previous kits can be found at the Historical Football Kit website.[21]

Rivals

Aldershot Town's rivals are Rushmoor neighbours Farnborough F.C. and Woking F.C.. Fixtures against these sides attract larger than average crowds, including 5,961 for a Hampshire Senior Cup semi final and a league record 5,518 in an Isthmian League Premier Division match against Farnborough and 6,870 for an FA Cup 1st round match against Woking.

The Original Aldershot were rivals with Reading F.C. until their demise in 1992. However since then no significant rivalry with the new club Aldershot Town has been created. The only meeting between the two clubs was in a friendly in 2001.

Other teams which may be considered rivals include Bournemouth, Brentford, Oxford United and Wycombe.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "Rise of the Phoenix". BBC Sport. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  2. ^ "Brighton complete deal for Dixon". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  3. ^ "Exeter 1–1 Aldershot". BBC Sport. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  4. ^ "Aldershot Town win Setanta Shield". BBC Sport. 4 April 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  5. ^ "Waddock signs new Aldershot deal". BBC Sport. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  6. ^ a b "Crewe sign Aldershot winger Grant". BBC Sport. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  7. ^ "Accrington Stanley 0–1 Aldershot Town". www.theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  8. ^ "Dodd named Shots caretaker boss". BBC Sport. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  9. ^ "Dillon named as Aldershot manager". BBC Sport. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  10. ^ "Assistant Manager Named". www.theshots.co.uk. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  11. ^ "League Tables". The Football League. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  12. ^ "Aldershot 3 – 1 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. 1 May 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  13. ^ "Rotherham 2 – 0 Aldershot (agg 3 – 0)". BBC Sport. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Manager Kevin Dillon departs from Aldershot Town". BBC Sport. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Dean Holdsworth appointed new Aldershot Town manager". BBC Sport. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  16. ^ "Squad Numbers Confirmed". Aldershot Town F.C. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  17. ^ "Kit Announcement". www.theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  18. ^ "Statement From Aldershot Town Football Club". www.theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  19. ^ "New Sponsors Confirmed". www.theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  20. ^ "It's EBB!". www.theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  21. ^ "Aldershot Town – Kit History". www.historicalkits.co.uk.
Preceded by Conference National Champions
2007–08 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Conference League Cup Winners
2007–08 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Isthmian League Premier Division Champions
2002–03 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Isthmian League Division One Champions
1997–98 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Isthmian League Division Three Champions
1992–93 		Succeeded by
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