Aldershot Town FC

Aldershot Town 1 Royston Town 0 - Isthmian League, Division Three

Aldershot is a town in Hampshire, located on heath land about 37 miles south-west of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council and is known for its connection with the British Army. This led to rapid growth from a small village to a Victorian town. Today, Aldershot is known as the "Home of the British Army and is twinned with Sulechów in Poland, Meudon in France and Oberursel in Germany. On 22 February 1972 Aldershot experienced one of the worst mainland IRA attacks. Seven people, all civilian support staff, including cooks, cleaners and a Catholic priest were killed in a car bomb attack on the 16th Parachute Brigade headquarters mess at Aldershot. This blast was later claimed by the Official IRA as revenge for the shootings in Derry that came to be known as Bloody Sunday. Until then the military town had been open-plan, but the attack led to immediate action to secure military property by erecting security fences topped with barbed wire.

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 since Accrington Stanley in 1962. Aldershot Town was born later the same year, and began life competing in the Isthmian 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. Ten successive victories were recorded under the guidance of former player Steve Wignall and Aldershot won the championship by an 18-point margin.

In May 2007 Gary Waddock was appointed the new manager. The Shots finished top of the Conference National with a record 101 points, and were promoted to the Football League, for the first time since the club was reformed ending the season on an 18-match undefeated run. This Pieman was able to visit the Recreation Ground for a midweek fixture with Royston Town FC. The visitors put up a great fight against their high-flying hosts narrowly losing by the only goal of the match. This was the inaugural season for the phoenix club. The rest as they say is history!

Attendance: 2164
Programme: £1.00