On The Road
A DAY OF REFLECTION ON ARMISTICE DAY AT HOME OF THE BRITISH ARMY
POSTERS promised a future in the company of Perry Groves, once of Arsenal, comedian Gary Gobstopper and the Under 23 teams from Porto and Bayern Munich.
The thrills of the Vanarama National League’s newfangled play-off system may beckon, too, with Gary Waddock’s Aldershot Town lodged in a congested pack with eyes on promotion.
Will Evans settled the first ever game between the Shots and AFC Fylde with a header at the back post in the 86th minute, but this was a day of reflection and respect for the past.
Aldershot at home on Armistice Day, with poppies galore at the venue formerly known as the Recreation Ground and spines shivering to the evocative sound of a lone bugler’s Last Post.
Normandy veteran Lewis Trinder, resplendent in blazer and white beret, with a beard bristling in defiance of his 93 years and a chest full of medals, led a pre-match parade coordinated by the Royal British Legion.
‘It was nice to be at home on the 11th day of the 11th month,’ said Russ Clash, the club’s head of medical and sports science, who served in the Army for 23 years. ‘It is done properly here, and really quite poignant, and it’s nice to have a moment to remember my time in the military and friends who lost their lives in various situations.’
The military population in Aldershot has been reduced but this remains the home of the British Army and Shahid Azeem has made efforts to nourish the relationship since becoming club chairman in 2013.
Connections are also strong with the Gurkhas and the town’s large Nepalese community. The
ON HIS 18th birthday in 1942, Lewis Trinder volunteered to fight in the Second World War. After seven weeks’ training, he was deployed hunting U-boats in midwinter in the Atlantic. The D-Day hero received five of the nine campaign medals, as well as the Medal of Ushakov, given to 39 UK veterans of the Arctic convoys.
Buddhist Community Centre stands beside the main gates at the Rec and the Dalai Lama, who opened it two years ago, went home with his own Shots shirt.
He might like the phoenix badge, its symbolic victory of life over death and a club reborn from the remnants of Aldershot FC, who folded in mid- season and were expelled from the Football League 25 years ago. Waddock was the manager who reclaimed League status in 2008 and is back for a second spell, attempting to repeat the feat since relegation and more financial crisis followed his exit.
‘The relationship I’ve got with the supporters is wonderful,’ said Waddock, the former Queens Park Rangers and Republic of Ireland midfielder, who left the Shots to manage Wycombe and Oxford.
‘The Aldershot bug gets you. When I wasn’t here I missed it — it is a proper old ground, with the setting, the trees and the East Bank.’
This charming venue with its immaculate surface has changed little since the Manchester United of George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law came and won 3-1 in a League Cup tie in September 1970.
‘When this place is rocking the atmosphere is fantastic,’ said Waddock. ‘The fans are the club.
‘We’d like to push forward and get back to the Football League, but there have been hard times with struggles on and off the pitch, and we’ve got to make sure we put solid foundations down.’
Shamir Fenelon opened the scoring before Fylde equalised through prolific striker Danny Rowe, to the delight of the 37 travelling fans.
Both sides were reduced to 10 men. Jack Muldoon, of Fylde, was the first to go, dismissed for throwing an arm. Aldershot substitute Manny Oyeleke followed for a late tackle before centre half Evans grabbed the winner.
Now for the future. Bring on Groves, Gobstopper and Hartlepool away.