 | ||||
| Full name | Aldershot Town Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Shots | |||
| Founded | 1992; 33 years ago (1992) | |||
| Ground | Recreation Ground | |||
| Capacity | 7,100 (2,000 seated) | |||
| Chairman | Shahid Azeem | |||
| Manager | John Coleman | |||
| League | National League | |||
| 2024–25 | National League, 16th of 24 | |||
| Website | www | |||
 Current season | ||||
Aldershot Town Football Club is a professionalassociation football club based inAldershot, Hampshire, England. The team competes in theNational League, the fifth level of theEnglish football league system.
The club was founded in the spring of 1992 after the closure of debt-riddenFourth Division clubAldershot. Aldershot Town play at theRecreation Ground, which had also been the home ground of the previous club. Initially placed in theIsthmian League Third Division, Aldershot Town won the league in their debut 1992–93 season and won promotion out of the Second Division the following season. They won the First Division title in 1997–98 and the Premier Division in 2002–03 to gain a place in theConference. They spent five seasons in the Conference, losing twice in the play-offs, before winning promotion into theFootball League as Conference National andConference League Cup champions underGary Waddock's stewardship in 2007–08. They spent five seasons inLeague Two, reaching the play-offs in 2010, though were relegated back into non-League football and enteredadministration in May 2013.[1] They reached the National League play-offs in 2017 and 2018 while losing 4-1 to their biggest rivals Woking fc and won theFA Trophy in 2025.
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 sinceAccrington Stanley in 1962. The original Aldershot club had been in the Football League since 1932 and competed in the Third and Fourth Divisions. Promotion had been achieved as recently as 1987, but relegation followed two years later and debts well into six figures had almost brought about the club's demise in the summer of 1990. Despite a rescue package allowing the original winding-up order to be rescinded, the club's debts remained high and the club became insolvent just over 18 months later.
Aldershot Town was born later the same year, and began life competing in theIsthmian 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, with attendances that season averaging around 2,000 at a level where attendances normally averaged around 100.[citation needed]
Ten successive victories were recorded under the guidance of former playerSteve Wignall and Aldershot won the championship by an 18-point margin.
A further promotion and anFA Vase quarter-final placing was achieved in the1993–94 season. When Steve Wignall departed to take charge ofColchester United midway through the1994–95 season, formerNottingham Forest wingerSteve Wigley took over. The club finished the 1994–95 season with a run of six successive victories, but missed out on promotion bygoal 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, another former Aldershot FC player.
Attendances continued to rise during this period and the final fixture of the1997–98 Isthmian League First Division championship-winning season, at home toBerkhamsted Town, attracted 4,289 fans to the Recreation Ground – a league record.[citation needed]
The success under Borg continued with anIsthmian League Cup, twoHampshire Senior Cups and a runners-up spot in theIsthmian League Premier Division.
The club's reserves were reinstated in2000–01 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, whenBrighton & 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 Aldershot heldBristol Rovers to a home draw in the First Round, but again missed out on the Second Round after losing the replay in Bristol.[citation needed]
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 beatingNewport IOW 1–0 in the Hampshire Senior Cup Semi-final Second Leg, taking The Shots on to win the final againstHavant & 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 theFootball Conference. After just 11 years, four promotions had now been achieved and just one more promotion was required for league football to return to Aldershot.
The club also retained the Hampshire Senior Cup with a 2–1 win overBashley.
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 toColchester United atLayer Road. The club reached their firstFA Trophy semi-final, losing to eventual winnersHednesford Town and the average attendance for league matches at The Rec ended on a record high of 3,303.
A 1–1 draw againstTamworth 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 favouritesHereford United, drawing 1–1 at The Rec and 0–0 atEdgar Street. Extra time finished without any further score and the tie was concluded on penalties with the Shots winning 4–2. The 2004 Conference play-off Final againstShrewsbury 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. In2004–05 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 toHartlepool United. After a slow start in the league, Aldershot improved their form and reached the play-offs after beatingScarborough in the last game of the season. The Shots won the first leg againstCarlisle United 1–0 at home, but lost the away leg 2–1, giving a 2–2 aggregate score. Extra time could not separate the sides and the tie went to penalties, with Carlisle winning the shootout.
The next two seasons were less successful for Aldershot.2005–06 saw the 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 toScunthorpe United. In the 2006–07 season the club finished 9th in the reformed 24 clubConference Premier. Terry Brown resigned, citing the poor health of his wife as the primary reason.[citation needed]Martin Kuhl took over as caretaker manager. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 4–2 atBloomfield Road toBlackpool
In May 2007Gary 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 theConference Premier 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.
Aldershot also made it to theConference League Cup Final after a 4–3 penalty shoot out victory over near neighboursWoking in the semi-final. The final, played at the Recreation Ground on 3 April, was againstRushden & Diamonds. With the scores 1–1 at full-time, then 3–3 after extra time, Aldershot won 4–3 on penalties.[4]
Sixteen years after the demise of Aldershot F.C., the town of Aldershot had a Football League team again. The club retained much of the2007–08 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 toCrewe 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 everEFL Cup game, againstCoventry City at theRicoh 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 the2009–10 season, manager Gary Waddock and assistantMartin Kuhl accepted offers to joinWycombe Wanderers.Kevin Dillon, the former first-team coach ofReading, was appointed as Waddock's permanent successor in November 2009.[8] Under the new management team Aldershot finished the season in sixth place,[9] qualifying them for the play-offs,[10] where they lost 3–0 on aggregate toRotherham United.[11]
In January 2011 Kevin Dillon left the club by mutual agreement, with the club lying 20th in League Two, after winning just 6 out of 22 league games.[12] Dillon was replaced byNewport County managerDean Holdsworth.[13] 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]Aldershot finished 11th in the2011–12. A good run in the League Cup saw Aldershot take onManchester United at home, which ended in a 3–0 victory for the Red Devils. Holdsworth was sacked by Aldershot on 20 February 2013 with the team in 20th place in League Two.[14]
In the summer 2012, a major shareholder suffered a majorstroke, debilitating him and creating a financial insecurity that would prove dangerous come the following year. In May 2013, Aldershot Town announced that they were in financial difficulties,[15] with players' wages going unpaid.[16] The Chief Executive, Andrew Mills, announced his resignation saying that there was no evidence that the major shareholder Kris Machala had the ability to fund the club.[17] Director Tony Knights admitted that the club has been "haemorrhaging money".[16] On 2 May 2013, just five days after their relegation from the Football League, Aldershot Town officially entered administration.[1] The club fell with debts of over £1 million.[18]
On 1 August 2013, Aldershot Town confirmed the takeover of the club by a consortium led by former chairman Shahid Azeem. In conjunction, the club announced the agreement of a lucrative deal withChelsea to host a significant number of matches played by theChelsea Academy and Reserves over the next two years.[19]
Aldershot Town were relegated from theNational League in 2019 after finishing 21st. However, they were reprieved from relegation afterGateshead were administratively relegated.[20] The2019–20 National League was suspended in March 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic with the Shots finishing in 18th place based onpoints per game.[21][22] Aldershot Town finished 15th in the2020–21 season finishing with 52 points.[23] In the2021–22 season they finished 20th[24] and in the2022–23 season they finished 18th.[25]
In 2024–25, Aldershot reached thefinal of theFA Trophy for the first time in their history, after defeating local rivalsWoking 2–1 in the semi-finals.[26] En route to the final, Aldershot also beatSittingbourne,Boreham Wood,Wealdstone, as well as an 8–0 away win atChertsey Town.[27] In the final, Aldershot defeatedSpennymoor Town 3–0 in their first visit toWembley Stadium.[28]
Statistics for the previous decade.[29] For a full history see;List of Aldershot Town F.C. seasons
| Year | League | Level | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Position | FA Cup | League Cup | FA Trophy | Average attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | League Two | 4 | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 42 | 60 | −18 | 48 | 24th of 24 Relegated | R4 | R1 | - | 2,272 |
| 2013–14 | Football Conference | 5 | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 69 | 62 | +7 | 51 | 19th of 24[a] | QR4 | - | R4 | 1,946 |
| 2014–15 | Football Conference | 5 | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 51 | 61 | −10 | 53 | 18th of 24 | R2 | - | R1 | 1,758 |
| 2015–16 | National League | 5 | 46 | 16 | 8 | 22 | 54 | 72 | −18 | 56 | 15th of 24 | R1 | - | R1 | 1,509 |
| 2016–17 | National League | 5 | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 66 | 37 | +29 | 82 | 5th of 24 Lost in play-off semi-finals | QR4 | - | R1 | 2,338 |
| 2017–18 | National League | 5 | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 64 | 52 | +12 | 75 | 5th of 24 Lost in play-off quarter-finals | R1 | - | R1 | 2,429 |
| 2018–19 | National League | 5 | 46 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 38 | 67 | −29 | 44 | 21st of 24 | R1 | - | R1 | 1,744 |
| 2019–20 | National League | 5 | 39 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 43 | 55 | −12 | 46 | 18th of 24[b] | QR4 | - | R1 | 1,786 |
| 2020–21 | National League | 5 | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 59 | 66 | −7 | 52 | 15th of 22[c] | QR4 | - | QF | N/A[d] |
| 2021–22 | National League | 5 | 44 | 11 | 10 | 23 | 46 | 73 | −27 | 43 | 20th of 23 | QR4 | - | R4 | 1,824[36] |
| 2022–23 | National League | 5 | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 64 | 76 | −12 | 53 | 18th of 24 | QR4 | - | QF | 2,031[37] |
| 2023–24 | National League | 5 | 46 | 20 | 9 | 15 | 74 | 83 | -9 | 69 | 8th of 24 | R3 | - | R4 | 2,669[38] |
Aldershot Town play their home games atThe Recreation Ground, which has a capacity of 7,100. The stadium was previously the home of Aldershot F.C. The stadium's current sponsor is EBB Paper, therefore the ground is advertly known as The EBB Stadium at The Recreation Ground, however is affectionately known as 'The Rec'.
In March 2018, Aldershot Town presented proposals for the redevelopment of the EBB Stadium toRushmoor Borough Council which would see the potential development of a new stadium, containing both seating and standing areas, that will give the club a 'long-term home from which to build our ambitions on the pitch'.[39]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
For all Aldershot Town F.C. players with a Wikipedia article seeCategory:Aldershot Town F.C. players.
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| 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 |
| 1999–2000 | Ollie Adedeji |
| 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 |
| 2011–12 | Darren Jones |
| 2012–13 | Jamie Young |
| 2013–14 | Chris Barker |
| 2014–15 | Chris Barker |
| 2015–16 | Omar Beckles |
| 2016–17 | Jake Cole |
| 2017–18 | Emmanuel Oyeleke |
| 2018–19 | Adam McDonnell |
| 2020–21 | Josh Rees |
| 2021–22 | Mohamed Sylla |
| 2022–23 | Tyler Cordner[41] |
| 2023–24 | Ollie Harfield |
| 2024–25 | Josh Barrett |
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Name | Nat | From | To | Games Managed | Games won | Games Drawn | Games lost | Win percentage | Points average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Wignall |  | 23 May 1992 | 12 Jan 1995 | 146 | 97 | 24 | 25 | 66.43% | 2.16 |
| Paul Shrubb(c) | | 13 Jan 1995 | 25 Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 3.00 |
| Steve Wigley | | 26 Jan 1995 | 30 Jul 1997 | 135 | 72 | 25 | 38 | 53.33% | 1.79 |
| Andy Meyer(c), Mark Butler(c) & Joe Roach(c) | | 1 Aug 1997 | 17 Sep 1997 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 37.50% | 1.38 |
| George Borg | | 18 Sep 1997 | 31 Jan 2002 | 261 | 147 | 50 | 64 | 56.32% | 1.88 |
| Stuart Cash(c) | | 1 Feb 2002 | 19 Mar 2002 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 58.33% | 1.92 |
| Terry Brown | | 20 Mar 2002 | 27 Mar 2007 | 284 | 145 | 52 | 87 | 51.05% | 1.71 |
| Martin Kuhl(c) | | 28 Mar 2007 | 16 May 2007 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 45.45% | 1.64 |
| Gary Waddock |  | 17 May 2007 | 13 Oct 2009 | 128 | 64 | 27 | 37 | 50.00% | 1.71 |
| Jason Dodd(c) | | 14 Oct 2009 | 8 Nov 2009 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 25.00% | 1.00 |
| Kevin Dillon | | 9 Nov 2009 | 10 Jan 2011 | 63 | 22 | 17 | 24 | 34.92% | 1.32 |
| Dean Holdsworth | | 11 Jan 2011 | 20 Feb 2013 | 118 | 42 | 35 | 42 | 35.59% | 1.36 |
| Andy Scott | | 22 Feb 2013 | 21 Jan 2015 | 103 | 33 | 28 | 42 | 32.04% | 1.23 |
| Chris Barker(c) | | 22 Jan 2015 | 26 Apr 2015 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 33.33% | 1.33 |
| Barry Smith |  | 27 Apr 2015 | 30 Apr 2016 | 50 | 17 | 9 | 24 | 34.00% | 1.20 |
| Gary Waddock | | 5 May 2016 | 2 May 2019 | 121 | 52 | 33 | 36 | 42.98% | 1.56 |
| Danny Searle | | 20 May 2019 | 20 Sep 2021 | 88 | 28 | 18 | 42 | 31.8% | 1.16 |
| Mark Molesley | | 20 Sep 2021 | 15 Oct 2022 | 55 | 14 | 11 | 30 | 25.5% | 0.963 |
| Ross McNeilly | | 17 Oct 2022 | 2 Apr 2023 | 26 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 34.61% | 1.20 |
| Tommy Widdrington | | 2 Apr 2023 | Present | 58 | 24 | 15 | 19 | 41.38% | 1.52 |
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(July 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
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 atestimonial match, which was played againstPortsmouth 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 goalkeeperNikki Bull made his 300th appearance for the Shots in November 2008 and eventually made 313 appearances before moving toBrentford in July 2009. Five others have played more than 200 times for the club, including Stuart Udal, whose cousinShaun was anEngland international cricketer. Winger Jimmy Sugrue has also reached the landmark. More recently, three members of the 2007–08 title winning squad, namelyAnthony Charles,Anthony Straker andDanny Hylton reached the landmark.
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.
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(July 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
As of 6 May 2017
|
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(July 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
|
Record Purchase
Record Sale
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. The club's chosen colours of red and blue reflect the garrison town's association with the British Army.
Errea were the kit supplier for the 2011–12 season.Adidas was the kit supplier from the 2013–14 season to the 2019–20 season.Errea has been the kit supplier from the 2020–21 season.
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1992–1993 | Ribero | Pam's Florist |
| 1993–1997 | Fiva | Datrontech |
| 1997–1998 | ICIS | |
| 1998–2002 | Charters Peugeot | |
| 2002–2004 | Hi-Speed | |
| 2004–2006 | Errea | Charters Peugeot |
| 2006–2007 | EBB Paper | |
| 2007–2008 | ezylet.co.uk | |
| 2008–2010 | Carbrini Sportswear[42] | EBB Paper[43] |
| 2010–2011 | Xfor Security[44] | |
| 2011–2013 | Errea | EBB Paper[45] |
| 2013–2020 | Adidas | Bridges Estate Agents |
| 2020– | Errea | Bridges Estate Agents |
Further details and images of previous kits can be found at the Historical Football Kit website.[46]
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Aldershot Town's local rivals areRushmoor neighboursFarnborough andSurrey sideWoking. Fixtures against these sides attract larger than average crowds, including 5,961 for a Hampshire Senior Cup semi-final, a league record 5,518 in an Isthmian League Premier Division match against Farnborough and 6,870 for anFA Cup first round match against Woking. TheHampshire Chronicle has reported on Aldershot Town's rivalry with Woking as the "feistiest derby in English football".[47]
The original Aldershot were rivals withReading until their demise in 1992 but are still considered the main rival of the club by supporters. The only meeting between the two clubs since the rebirth of Aldershot was a friendly in 2001 which resulted in an outbreak of violence between the two sets of fans and multiple arrests.
Aldershot also has a friendly relationship and close ties with "sister club"Badshot Lea. The two annually hold pre-season fixtures against each other.
League
Cup
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
