Nepal to play international at stadium
ALDERSHOT Town Football Club will host a historic international fixture at the EBB Stadium as England C will be taking on Nepal on Bank Holiday Monday (May 6).
This historic and inaugural event has been made possible through a tri-party agreement signed by Aldershot Town Football Club, the FA and All Nepal Football Association.
Tickets for the fixture will be available to buy from Aldershot Town Football Club’s website and will cost £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s.
The Shots said in a statement: “We are very excited to be welcoming the Nepal national football team to Aldershot for the match in what will be the first full international fixture hosted at our home.
“The match is a fantastic opportunity for our club to engage with local stakeholders and our local community and to hopefully open the EBB Stadium to new people.
“Aldershot Town Football Club have been working closely with the large Nepalese community that live in our town over the last decade.
“The football club raised funds of over £30,000 to help build two schools in Nepal after the devastating earthquake in 2015. We have also seen an academy team travel to Nepal alongside club director John Leppard to take part in the Everest Cup.
“We’d like to thank Farnborough Airport, DXC and Himalaya Jet who have partnered with Aldershot Town Football Club, the English Football Association and the All Nepal Football Association.”
Aldershot Town chairman Shahid Azeem said: “We’re really excited to welcome international football to Aldershot and the EBB Stadium.
“It will be a historic and fantastic occasion for the club and the town as a whole, and I’d like to thank all of those who have helped to arrange the game.”
Shahid added: “The town is widely known as the home of the British Army and where the Gurkha Regiment has been stationed for over 100 years.
“With our work in the community, this is a tremendous opportunity for the club to galvanise our local community and allow Aldershot Town to continue to be seen as a fully inclusive club.”
Laurence Jones, head of National League System at the FA, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the All Nepal Football Association to England as part of our friendship visit in May.
“Football has the unique power to bring communities together and it will be fantastic to engage with the large Nepalese community that live in the area, as well as the Gurkha regiments based at the Aldershot Garrison.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to the community events and football matches, in what promises to be a great occasion for all.”
A statement from the All Nepal Football Association said: “This match marks a significant milestone for Nepali football, providing a platform for our players to show their talent on an international stage.
“Moreover, we believe this friendly match indeed will be a valuable opportunity for our players to gain invaluable experience to learn and grow.
“As this event is a milestone and a momentous occasion, we kindly request the Nepali community residing in the UK to join the match.
“Your presence will undoubtedly support and encourage our national team as they strive to deliver their best performance on foreign soil.”