Club History Part 1 Seasons 1992-1997

The original Aldershot FC were formed in 1926 and accepted into the Football League in 1932. Although the final seasons were painful for supporters there were some notable high periods over the years. The club secured its first ever promotion from Division Four in a memorable Friday night at Stockport County in 1973; over 2000 Shots supporters made the journey to witness a piece of history. The following year (1973/4) the club finished in its highest ever position (8th in Division 3).
In 1979 the club were only seconds away from reaching the FA Cup quarter finals before an injury time equaliser saw Shrewsbury Town draw 2-2 at the Rec in front of 12,000 spectators at the Rec and win the subsequent replay. A further promotion was achieved in 1986/87 when Len Walker, captain of the inaugural promotion side, managed his team through the play offs with victories secured against Bolton Wanderers and Wolverhampton Wanderers; the latter in front of 20,000 spectators at Molineux.Despite falling attendances towards the latter years Aldershot were always a decent supported side in the Football League years, despite often being the smallest town in the competition, and regularly averaged 4000 plus in the 60's and 70's with the record attendance at the Recreation Ground being recorded in January 1970 when Carlisle United were the visitors for an FA Cup fourth round replay attracting 19,138.

The following season Shots, managed by Jimmy Melia, attracted 18,509 to the Rec for a League tie at home to Manchester United whilst they also travelled to Anfield to play Liverpool in the FA Cup in front of 45,500 fans. Despite superaltive efforts from the supporters and playing staff the final fate of Aldershot FC was sealed in the early part of 1992.The players, superbly marshalled by Player/Manager Ian McDonald, were unpaid but the fans rallied round desperate to attempt to save the club. However on March 20 1992 Shots travelled to Cardiff City and, in front of over 6000 people, played their final Football League match. Despite notable gestures for ground sharing from Cardiff and Swindon Town the club were wound up in the High Court just five days later. Aldershot FC was no more.

Aldershot Town Football Club was born on Wednesday April 22 1992 at the Royal Aldershot Officers Club at a public meeting attended by over 600 faithful Shots supporters still coming to terms with the loss of Football League status. In the current day and age it seems incredulous that the club were actually wound up for a sum less than £100,000 although the overall debt was higher. The meeting was arranged by Terry Owens, a former Chairman of the Save Our Shots campaign.
It was organised in conjunction with Graham Brookland, who was Chairman of the Supporters Club, Peter Bridgeman, Honorary Secretary, David Brookland, Honorary Accountant and Nick Fryer, Secretary of the Supporters Club. The packed floor were informed that the club had made enquiries to various football leagues after seeking senior status from the Hampshire FA and Aldershot FA. It was also informed that a limited company had been formed as Aldershot Town Football Club (1992) Ltd with, initially two shares, belonging to Terry Owens and Graham Brookland.

At a second public meeting on June 16th 1992 another packed audience were given the news they were all waiting for. Aldershot Town had been accepted into the Diadora Isthmian League Division 3. It was all systems go despite the fact that Chris Tomlinson, son of Head Groundsman Dave, was the only player on the books ! A Board of Directors was formed with only Peter Bloomfield still remaining to this day.

On Saturday August 22 1992 the club played its first ever match and, despite going two goals down early on, came back to defeat Clapton 4-2 at the Rec with Mark Butler and Steve Stairs scoring a brace apiece. The attendance of 1493 was the lowest of the season and higher than the final crowd in the Football League days.
In an outstanding season they won the championship by 18 points remaining unbeaten at home throughout and winning the first ten matches.
A Hampshire Senior Cup tie at home to Conference neighbours Farnborough Town attracted just under 6000 fans to the Rec and the passion from the supporters was unflappable despite the fact that the standard of play was five divisions below the Football League.

A further promotion and an FA Vase Quarter Final placing was achieved in the 1993/94 season and it was only a matter of time before manager Steve Wignall, a former defender with the football league side, was snapped up by a club of higher standing. That club was Colchester United, for whom Steve played for, and a testament to the progress made in such a short space of time.
Steve went on to achieve considerable success at Layer Road too afte joining midway through the 1994/95 season. He built a firm foundation at Aldershot from juniors through to the senior ranks and should take great credit for his input into the future success at the club.

After a caretaker role with the popular Paul Shrubb in charge former Portsmouth and Birmingham City player Steve Wigley took over in charge in February 1995; his first post as a manager. In a tremendous finale to the season Steve steered his side to six successive victories and only a win for Chertsey Town versus Basingstoke Town on the final day of the season denied Aldershot a third successive promotion.

Ironically Chertsey's winner was scored by Stuart Cash who would go on to make his own positive contribution to Aldershot's history in future years. After narrowly missing out during the next two seasons Wigley left to become Youth Development Officer at Nottingham Forest in July 1997. Subsequently he went on to become an England Under 21 coach, Director of Youth and first team manager at Southampton before being appointed First Team Coach at Manchester City in the summer of 2006. He became the coach responsbile for England U17-21's in 2007 appointed by the FA. He combines the role as Head Coach at Premiership Bolton Wanderers.