Holdsworth and Brown will go head to head on Saturday
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Football: Bosses set for an old pals' act
By Jon CouchJanuary 26, 2012
AS old pals’ acts go, it doesn't come any more mutually amicable than this.
Dean Holdsworth returning to the club where he enjoyed legendary status in his playing heyday, against Terry Brown,
Brown, as a hugely popular ex-Shots boss, played a massive part in helping both clubs rise up from the ashes and regain their Football League status.
Few will forget Brown’s welcome home party at the EBB Stadium when a lastminute goal earned his side a 1-1 draw in September, but now it's the Dons’ turn to roll out the red carpet for a former hero and for old acquaintances to be renewed.
Holdsworth enjoyed a glittering career with the old Crazy Gang, making 169 appearances and scoring 58 goals over five years before leaving for Bolton Wanderers in October 1997 in a club record £3.5m deal.
“I have a great rapport with the majority of fans there,” the Shots boss recollects. “Playing for Wimbledon was a very special time in my career. I love it there and I’m looking forward to going back on Saturday.
“It’s a fantastic club and there are still some really lovely people at the club who I remember from my days playing. I was delighted when they got promoted to the Football League and I really hope the club progress further, but only after Saturday.”
That said, some Wombles fans are still angry with Holdsworth for joining franchise club MK Dons in the 2003-04 season and the Shots boss may be the subject of a few choice boos in the capacity Kingsmeadow crowd tomorrow.
“I hope I get a good reception there,” he added. “Some obviously think I was a bit of a Judas for joining MK Dons but most know with my situation as chairman of the PFA at the time, I didn’t have a great deal of choice as I couldn’t leave the youngsters behind.”
One man who certainly won’t be getting any boos from the opposing support is Dons boss Brown, who led the Shots to the Ryman League Championship and then two successive Conference play-off finals in a trophy-ladened five-year stint.
He will be in the dugout alongside two other familiar names in long-term assistant Stuart Cash, who briefly took over the reins at the Rec himself, and coaches Simon Bassey and Paul Priddy.
“One of the most exciting things about coming into the [Football] League last season was matching up with the Shots again,” said Brown, who took the Dons up through the Conference play-offs.
“I will always have huge affection for Aldershot. The club gave me my first big opportunity to be successful at a big club and I was fortunate enough to join the club when there was opportunity to win enough games to get the crowd on side and having the East Bank behind me gave us all a tremendous lift.
“Both clubs have similar ambitions and a similar support base and on the playing front I think there’s nothing whatsoever to chose between the squads so I’m expecting a really good game.
“It’s a local derby and I know the 700-800 strong East Bank fans won’t be outsung so it promises to be a fantastic atmosphere.”
One thing’s for sure, Brown’s charges will provide another tough test for the Shots on the back of three successive league victories, the last of which being a 2-1 home success to Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night.
The Dons have been boosted by the loan arrivals of Billy Knott and George Moncur from Sunderland and West Ham respectively and are now back on the ascendency after a horror run of six straight defeats.
Brown is also looking to have experienced striker Jason Euell back for only a second start after injuring ankle ligaments on his debut against Port Vale.
As for Holdsworth, he has no fresh injuries or suspensions to report so, bar any new additions between now and the Friday deadline, is expected to go with his same squad which drew at home to Accrington on Saturday.
The Shots haven’t scored away from home in the league since October 22, but with the Dons owning the second worst defensive record in the division, the boss will be hopeful of breaking that duck.
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