Focus on youth sees Aldershot Town enjoy European success

ACADEMY director Waleed Khan on Aldershot Town’s European champions...

I START with great news for our U13s and U15s who have had an incredible tour to Belgium.

Playing in the Beernem International Youth Cup, some 48 teams from Belgium, France, Holland and the UK took part, and both Aldershot groups came out top. The U13s won their group, then went into this champions group where they drew and lost one game and then won the final play-off game.

The U15s won the tournament with an unbeaten record of played six, won six, beating Jong Lede (Young Lads/Boys) of Belgium 2-1 in the final.

This again showed the standard of coaching and development we pride ourselves in working with our boys. You could say we are European champions! Many congratulations to the staff, parents and, of course, our boys.

We have continued with our recruitment for our girls’ football programme and last week had further trials where 44 trialists attended.

Our Academy tournament has been finalised and full details can be obtained by contacting us at academy@theshots.co.uk

The ATFC Academy tournament, sponsored by Net World Sports, will consist of the following age groups and team formats:

Tuesday May 10, 6pm-10pm – U9 & U10 (seven-aside);

Thursday May 12, 6pm-10pm – U11 & U12 (seven-aside);

Sunday May 15, 6pm-10pm –

U16 (11-aside);

Monday May 23, 6pm-10pm –

U13 & U14 (seven-aside)

Tuesday May 24, 6pm-10pm –

U15 (11-aside).

Any team interested in taking part should contact Adam Maltby at adam.maltby@theshots.co.uk for further details.

Our U23s progressed to the final of the Michael Bidmead/Suburban League Cup and will play Jersey Bulls with a date to be confirmed in May.

Our U23s’ top of the table clash away to Chippenham Town in the Suburban League saw us come away with 1-1 draw.

This was our first draw since January, having won all our games prior to this. It will be down to the wire who comes out on top between four teams – ATFC, Bromley, Chippenham or Slough.

Continuing with the cup theme, our U18s play in the Rayner Challenge Cup semi-final on Friday (April 22) against Walton Casuals at the Excel Hub, in Walton, for an 8pm kick-off.

Over the Easter break we ran holiday camps for boys and girls aged seven to 14 at Gordon’s School. We also continued with our ID talent recruitment days all over the Easter break for U13s, and shall be welcoming U15 and U16 trialists this week.