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Shots win Inspire Business Award

Aldershot Town’s community work has been rewarded with victory in the Business and the Community category at the 2014 Inspire Business Awards.

The ceremony, at Hook’s Highfield Park Hotel, saw The Shots beat two Basingstoke businesses, The Tea Bar and FHC For Hair, to the accolade, which recognises the impact made by businesses in their own community.

Rebecca Kennelly, Chief Executive of Basingstoke Voluntary Action and one of the panel of judges, said: “Aldershot Town Football Club really go above and beyond the norm to ensure their Club supports their local community. I was inspired to see their creativity in thinking up new ways to support local communities and residents, they are a real inspiration to companies aspiring to develop better business/community involvement.”

“We are extremely proud to receive this award,” said Shots Chairman, Shahid Azeem. “It is a real honour to win, and a great credit to the whole town of Aldershot. Whilst the Club always strives for success on the pitch, this award is as good as winning any match. We can’t control what happens on the pitch but we can, and do, make a difference in the community.

“We are the Club for our community, and want to be known as one of the most diverse and welcoming clubs in the country. There is a long way to go but this is a good start. It is fantastic just to be acknowledged, especially as we had some tough competition.”

The Award follows successful initiatives including Seats For Soldiers, which donates free tickets to members of the Armed Forces, The Shots Community Partnership’s work with The Source young people’s charity, the formalising of links with Rushmoor’s Nepalese community and the Sahara UK charity, and the continuation of the Club’s Football in the Community programme.