AT LAST, WE’RE LETTING OUR FOOTBALL DO THE TALKING
BEING an Aldershot Town fan comes with its own health warning.
Our supporters have experienced situations many fans will never have to endure. A proud Football League club for 60 years it ended in 1992 when Aldershot FC were liquidated. Sixteen years as the Phoenix (Aldershot Town), we started in the Isthmian League Division 3 and the name of Aldershot returned to the Football League in 2008.
It all evaporated five years later. A joint whammy of relegation and administration, they were desperate times. From our inaugural fixture against Clapton to facing Manchester United in the last 16 of the League Cup. We’ve seen it all. The last 10 years have been extremely tough. Regular National League relegation battles whilst that old fortress Rec had seen 50 defeats in five seasons prior to the start of the current campaign. That tough old Aldershot mentality I first discovered in 1974 as a seven-year-old seriously wilting, an easy touch. That was never the Aldershot way. The hometown club of the British Army – values, battle, pride, organisation, sheer grit, determination – all seemingly lost. Clubs used to hate coming to Aldershot because they knew they were in for a difficult match. We’d lost our identity.
A succession of good people tried to reverse the trend but despite glimpses it just wasn’t happening. Loyal fans were questioning whether it would change. The likely scenario an eventual exit back to regional football.
No Shots fan could have predicted the turnaround when Tommy Widdrington arrived in April. A manager who immediately instilled a mentality and belief throughout his staff and players. I have always vowed that the culture of a club comes from the manager who is the public face. Only leaders Chesterfield have taken maximum points at the EBB in the opening four months to push us into an unexpected play-off position. We’ve already recorded as many home points than for the whole of last season, scoring more goals at this stage for 14 years. Reversing two goal deficits to win matches for the first time since 2007 (home) and 2001 (away) alongside regular late winners. It has all been surreal.
The FA Cup has been a game changer. Records continuing to be broken. Seven goals at Swindon Town in Round 1 set the tone. Close to £120,000 prize money earned alongside live coverage on BBC2 for the second round replay at Stockport County and an additional £30,000. Serious money. The FA Cup has put the club back on the national stage. We hadn’t won an FA Cup tie since 2019. Now we travel to West Bromwich Albion in the third round. A football club is a horrible environment during struggling times. A club revolves around its first team. I spent 21 years in official capacities at Aldershot. In my day as a young Secretary in the 90’s it was Ansa phones (remember them?) on a Monday morning to listen to the discontent if we’d lost at the weekend. These days, social media ensures there is no place to hide. I am so pleased for those behind the scenes after years of doom and gloom. In my role as CEO of the Army Football Association, also based in the town, we have a proud, solid partnership with the club. The work from within is significant. A breath of fresh air to witness. The people involved deserve these times. For the fans, it is fantastic. When this club gets going it really does; the enthusiasm is infectious. You have to cherish periods such as this. To be there at Edgeley Park on Wednesday was special. To see the pure joy and elation. The camaraderie with the players and management alongside the fans. A special bond created from within. What have we won? Absolutely nothing at the moment. However, the smiles are back on the faces of the fans. It is absolutely wonderful to see. Our club has been rejuvenated. The football is doing the talking at Aldershot Town again and I love it.