Countdown Time Arrives- A Day Full Of Emotion and Reflection

We look ahead to Saturday's historic visit to Accrington Stanley and an emotional return of the name of Aldershot to the Football League after 16 years. For the supporters travelling to Lancashire - enjoy the day and reflect on the massive contribution that you have played in this fascinating story through the Isthmian and Conference Leagues. Without you this story would never have been realised. Please savour the occasion and continue with your wonderful support. Kick off at the Fraser Eagle Stadium is 3pm

16 years ago this weekend excitement was abounding at Aldershot Town Football Club.

After the utter despondency of seeing their side kicked out of the Football League in March 1992 the town was filled with dejection, apathy and, indeed, anger as to how it was allowed to happen.

The first club since Accrington Stanley in 1962 not able to fulfil their fixtures within the playing season in the Football League; the Lancashire side resigned their position in the competition.

However the much documented rise of the phoenix weeks later enabled a breath of fresh air around the town.

Indeed the strong bond of passion showed that it really was worth fighting for.

Packed public meetings, emotional speeches, memories of Howarth, Jopling, Dungworth, McGregor and Brodie fresh in the fans minds. Football had to remain in Aldershot but how?

Through the sheer enthusiasm shown by a small band of people the task was set and Aldershot Town was formed for the supporters, by the supporters.

The club was eventually admitted into the Isthmian League Division Three; five divisions below the Football League.

The Recreation Ground, home of football in the town since 1926, was provided by Rushmoor Borough Council but the club had to start from scratch.

No assets, no materials, one player and nothing else.

The work undertaken during that summer period was fascinating. A firm structure put into place and every section of the club managed and 'ready to go' when the football started.

It really was a family club with ambition but, above all else at the time, relief that football was back in the town..

The work was immense, time-consuming and hard, the excitement intense and the feel of a pure bond of the Shots supporters so apparent.

Everybody worked as one to ensure that they had a new club to support.

On 8 August 1992, the hottest day of the year, Aldershot Town FC played their first match at the Recreation Ground. A pre-season friendly against Romford was the experiment to see if the club was able to cope with the new requirements. They came through it with flying colours.

On the pitch since that period they have rarely looked back.

Each manager- Steve Wignall, Steve Wigley, George Borg, Terry Brown and now Gary Waddock has brought something different to the club and played their part in the rising of the phoenix.

Five promotions later and only one season in 16 years where the club have finished lower than 9th in a league table the dream of returning to the Football League is finally realised when boss Waddock's side enter the Fraser Eagle Stadium at Accrington on Saturday afternoon.

There is no doubt for the hundreds of Shots fans travelling on Saturday it will be a day of emotion and reflection on the achievements of their club in such a short space of time.

They will reflect on days gone by, the togetherness of travelling to matches all over the south of England in the Isthmian League where they influenced normal attendances of less than a hundred helping to spiral them to, sometimes, over 2000 achieving record attendances at most grounds that they visited.

They created a buzz and vibrancy and instilled a passion in the way that they supported their club that remains so to this day.

The reason being? They lost their club once and are going to make sure that they never have to go through that process and experience again.

There have been many accreditations over the past few months as to the story of the rise of the phoenix and rightly so but make no mistake it is the supporters of Aldershot Town Football Club who deserve the highest accolade for the way they have stuck by their club in adversity and stuck with it through the Isthmian League and Conference leagues.

Saturday is their chance to enjoy the occasion. Aldershot Town are in the Football League and it must be an occasion to be enjoyed.

Whatever the future holds for Aldershot Town FC the supporters will know the massive part they have played in this historic story.

The fact that Accrington Stanley are the opponents is ironic.

The Lancashire club have had a similar rise back into the Football League. Reforming in 1968 they achieved their ultimate goal in 2006 under the leadership of John Coleman.

Indeed as Shots were starting their rise up the football pyramid in 1992 Stanley were embarking on a season in the Northern Premier League.

Gary Waddock is the man who steered the club into the Football League and he is looking forward to pitting his wits in the competition.

He told 'The Shots', "Of course there is excitement building up to Saturday and understandably so. It is going to be a special day for so many people who have played their part in the story and it is the day so many people connected with Aldershot Town have waited 16 years for.

"From our point of view we are really looking forward to it. The players are keen and ready to play competitively but I can honestly say that there will be no change in our build-up to the match. We will be taking one game at a time, as we did last season and our focus and preparation remains the same as it did last season too."

There are many people who would have liked to have been in Gary's position on Saturday as the manager leading the club into the Football League. A point that the boss is aware of.

"I keep saying that it is not about me. It is about everybody who has played their part. It is nice that I am the manager along with Martin Kuhl because it has been a partnership and he deserves a lot of credit.

"We are able to be the people in charge of this game but it is a great day for everybody.

" This is the fans day. They have been fantastic since I have been here and I am aware that they have been enthusiastic and passionate for 16 years. This is for them. They deserve to have their Football League club back and I am sure that they will enjoy it."

Whilst there will be emotion as the Shots enter the field of play at the Fraser Eagle Stadium the boss is keen to separate that from the task ahead for his players.

He continued, "We are there to do a job. The most important thing is to win the game and pick up three points. You only do that by being concentrated and professional in your approach.

"We had a marvellous season last time around but that is history now. Expecation cannot be too high though. We are stepping up a level. We will be playing everything down. It will be difficult for us but let's see where we are. I don't know what a good season will be.

"I know our fans will want something special again but we must remember many of these clubs have been playing at this level for many years. It is all about being realistic."

Only Dave Winfield is missing from the squad on Saturday as he is due in for an operation. Nikki Bull is expected to feature after missing out in the final pre-season friendly against a Charlton Athletic XI due to a slight injury. Rob Elvins and captain Rhys Day have been in training this week.

As the supporters reflect on a truly memorable 16 years the first ever manager Steve Wignall paid his tribute to the squad that he assembled during the summer of 1992, where this story commenced.

He told 'The Shots', "I was proud to be invited back to the Weymouth game by the club when the Blue Square Premier Championship was presented along with the players of the first season. It was a wonderful gesture.

"It was great to see those players so warmly received by the supporters when they were introduced at half-time. It was real Roy of the Rovers stuff to them. They were mainly local boys playing for next to nothing and they really did set the club forward. They played above themselves to set a firm footing for the club.

"It is obviously a club going places and it is great to see.

"There were a lot of youngsters present on the night and they probably aren't aware of the history but I am so pleased to see the name of Aldershot back in the Football League where it belongs.

"For those that watched the final season in the Football League to see Aldershot back in the Football League after the experiences that they went through and the Cardiff City match it must seem surreal to them. I am so genuinely pleased that they have made it and all the hard work put in by so many people has been worthwhile."

Perhaps the final word in preparation for Saturday should be left to the man that scored the first ever competitive goal for Aldershot Town in August 1992, Mark Butler, now a successful manager at Isthmian League Premier division side Ashford Town (Middlesex).

A local lad who still lives in the town and played for the team that he supported from the terraces in the Football League he epitomised what Aldershot Town was all about.

Carrying his bag over his shoulder walking down Victoria Road every home match the achievement means so much to Mark too.

He also became the club record goal scorer with 155 goals.

He told 'The Shots', "It felt right to be at the Weymouth match in April along with all those players from 1992. The night was fantastic and I will always be grateful to the club for it.

"To see the club complete the final leg of the journey was great. For me it is the end of a chapter but the book is not closed. We go into a new chapter now and it is an exciting one too.

"Aldershot Town will always be a part of my life. I still live in the flat that I did when I played for the club and my family still come along and watch matches. Those years for me were so special and I will never forget them.

"The way I was treated at Aldershot was fantastic and it means so much to still be so well received so many years later. That is what Aldershot supporters are all about though. They are special.

"It is onwards and upwards now. Aldershot is my club but my other team I followed when I was a youngster was Leeds United and to think that we are now just one division below Leeds is incredible.

"I truly wish everybody at the club a wonderful day at Accrington on Saturday. It is Roy of the Rovers stuff really and it is important that all the supporters make sure they enjoy the day and, of course, the season as the name of Aldershot is back in the Football League."

There will be full comprehensive coverage of Saturday's match on www.theshots.co.uk on Saturday. Full match reaction and reflection will be available over the weekend. Gary Waddock, Martin Kuhl and players will be giving their verdict on The Shots Online