Aldershot Town FC

Back the Shots in league survival fight

By Amy Taylor
March 05, 2013

ALDERSHOT Town bosses are calling on the "strong, passionate support" of fans to back them during the crucial next few matches as they try to claw their way out of relegation trouble.

After a turbulent few weeks of reshuffles and replacements in the club’s top tier, only five home games remain for the Shots and the News & Mail is encouraging supporters to get behind their team.

From now until the final home fixture of the season on April 20, we will be bringing you additional coverage of every match at Aldershot's EBB Stadium. See if you can spot yourself in our new page of crowd photos, and read our interviews with the Shots’ biggest fans – if you think that’s you, get in touch!

Graham Brookland, one of the founding members of the club when it reformed as Aldershot Town FC in 1992, said it was a real chance for "everyone to be as one".

“It’s a really important period for the club,” he said. “We want the town to get behind us, it’s such a big part of the community. We just want everyone to be as one.”

He said it was important not to focus on the club’s shaky League Two status, and instead look ahead with confidence.

“It’s been tremendous to get to the Football League, and we are now an established team and we want that to continue. There are so many positives.”

The reaction to new boss Andy Scott and assistant Terry Bullivant had also been very positive, despite shock at Dean Holdsworth’s departure, though Brookland added: “It always helps when you win.”

“We want to get as many people through the turnstiles as possible,” he said.

“We want to see a sizeable difference in turnout – lots of people say they will come to the football, now we want them to follow through on that.

"The strong, passionate support of the fans makes such a difference.

"It’s because of what they have been through over the years, the experience and disappointment, that’s what makes them a little more vocal and a little more passionate.

“It’s a critical time now because the club’s been through so much. We’ve had some knocks but now there’s plenty to look forward to.”

Holdsworth paid the price for a poor run of results when he was sacked last month. Scott got his reign off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Fleetwood Town followed by a goalless draw against Chesterfield.

On March 2, the Shots managed a 1-1 draw against league leaders Gillingham. Shots are now five games unbeaten and sit three points above the drop zone.

For our special coverage, see this week's News & Mail, out on Thursday, March 7.

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