Clocking in at 322 miles, Aldershot Town make their lengthiest journey of the 2025/26 Enterprise National League season this weekend, travelling to Carlisle United’s Brunton Park to conclude a trio of successive away day extremities.
The only club in this season’s fifth-tier to have previously contested in England’s top-flight, ‘the Cumbrians’ are undoubtedly among the most historically esteemed clubs at step-one this term. Finishing the 2024/25 League Two season in 23rd place, Mark Hughes’ men are competing in only their second non-league campaign in 98 years, and will be desperate to return to the Football League at the first time of asking, just as they did in 2004/05.
With Aldershot Town currently boasting the greatest amount of away goals in the division, and Carlisle having scored the most at home (both 12), the tie is seemingly destined to be a high-scoring affair. But, of course, it doesn’t always quite work like that.
RECENT FORM
With 17 points from 8 matches thus far, the side currently sit 3rd in the National League table, making some good on their early predictions as title contenders.
- 06/09/25 – Carlisle United 3-0 Truro City (Armstrong 2, Linney)
- 03/09/25 – Brackley Town 0-1 Carlisle United (Linney)
- 30/08/25 – Sutton United 2-1 Carlisle United (Kelly)
- 25/08/25 – Carlisle United 5-0 Braintree Town (Linney 3, Own Goal, Ellis)
- 23/08/25 – Wealdstone 0-1 Carlisle United (Armstrong)
Aside from an upset in South London at the end of the month – their first loss of the season – it has been a tremendous last five for the Blues, who have recorded four wins to nil in their last five. However, extremely narrow victories against part-time-pair Wealdstone and Brackley Town may have easily gone differently, which considering the disparity in resources, suggests the side are yet to realise their utmost potential at this level.
Scoring 23 goals for Altrincham last campaign, Regan Linney’s summer move was quickly earmarked as among the most significant non-league signings of the summer, and rightfully so, as the 28-year-old forward finds himself joint-top of the National League goalscoring charts with seven goals from eight matches, six of which coming at Brunton Park.
While this weekend’s clash will undoubtedly present one of the toughest tests of the term for Tommy Widdrington and co., prior home draws against Solihull Moors and Boreham Wood in August suggest that a positive result is far from an impossibility.
IN THE DUGOUT
Tasked with ensuring the club bounce back at the first time of asking is perhaps the most noteworthy member of personnel in the entire division, two-time PFA Players’ Player of the year, Mark Hughes.
The 61-year-old Welshman joined the club in February, and while he was unable to stave off relegation in this short time, having occupied the dugout in a whopping 467 Premier League matches – the seventh-highest total of any manager – he is undoubtedly the most storied head-coach in non-league at present.
As a player, Hughes forged a reputation as one of the most technically gifted forwards of his generation. Starting his senior career at Manchester United, he would go on to make 467 appearances for the Red Devils across two spells sandwiching stints at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Accruing 163 goals in that time, he is the club’s ninth-highest goalscorer in all competitions, eclipsing the likes of Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo.
His transition into management began with the Welsh national team, where he came agonisingly close to securing qualification for Euro 2004, narrowly missing out in a play-off against Russia. A move to club football followed with an impressive stint at Blackburn Rovers where he guided the Lancashire outfit to three successive top-half finishes and European qualification on a comparatively modest budget to their Premier League peers.
His most significant appointment saw him handed the reins at Manchester City ahead of the 2008/09 campaign in the early days of their post-takeover era. Although his time there was ultimately short-lived, he would continue being an ever-present occupant of top-flight technical areas across the 2010s, with stints at Fulham, QPR, Stoke City and Southampton.
Hughes has completed just one full season in management since 2018, guiding Bradford City to the League Two play-offs in 2022/23, where he was ironically beaten in the semi-final stage by eventual winners, Carlisle United. While reputation has waned across the preceding decade, there is no mistaking that the Cumbrians’ retention of the 72-time Wales international ahead of the Enterprise National League season must be seen as one of the greater managerial coups in recent non-league memory.
FORMER SHOTS
Archie Davies – The Sussex-born right-back joined the Shots from Crawley Town in the summer of 2022, making 28 appearances across a solitary season with the club.
Joining the Blues in 2024 via a similarly short stint with Irish giants Dundalk, an injury plagued first Cumbrian campaign saw him largely exonerated of relegation blame. Having played every minute of the side’s last six outings, expect the full-back to line-up against his former side this Saturday.
MATCH HISTORY AND LAST TIME OUT
While Aldershot Town and Carlisle technically first met in 2004, the Cumbrians’ travels to North Hampshire date back as far as the opening day of the 1958-59 season, where the Blues emerged 1-0 victors over Aldershot FC. Before reformation in 1992, the sides met a further 17 times, all but two of which occurring in Football League play.
Exclusively referring to the phoenix club, Aldershot Town have met Carlisle five times, with four of those coming in the 2004/05 as the two met in a dramatic play-off semi-final.
With Nicholas Crittenden scoring the only goal in the first leg, the Shots took a 1-0 lead up north, though the return fixture started in disastrous fashion, the Blues taking a 2-0 lead into half-time.
In what was almost the final action of normal time, 20-year-old Jamie Slabber’s header equalised the tie in the 95th minute in front of over 10,000 supporters at Brunton Park. With the game heading to penalties, five successful spot-kicks was enough to see hosts through. Carlisle would go on to secure promotion, while the Shots would have to wait until 2008 for retribution.
Games played: 5
Aldershot wins: 2
Carlisle wins: 3
Draws: 0
Aggregate score: 5-9
Record Shots victory: 2-0 (2011)
Record Carlisle victory: 5-0 (2004)
Their most recent meeting came in 2011/12, where, both Football League sides at the time, the two met in the second round of the League Cup. The Shots emerged 2-0 home victors on their way to earning a glamour tie against Manchester United.
With over 13 years between fixtures, can the Shots retain bragging rights between the two?
TICKET INFO
Tickets for the Shots’ trip to Carlisle United this weekend are on sale and can be bought online by clicking HERE
Please note that the link above is the only way for away supporters to purchase tickets online.
Shots supporters will be housed in the uncovered Petterill Terrace and after clarification from Carlisle United, they will not be offering our supporters any seating. Seating will only be available for those with disabilities.
Prices are as follows and will increase on the day of the game to the prices in brackets:
- ADULT – £20 (£23)
- SENIOR 65+ – £17 (£20)
- YOUNG ADULT 18-22 – £14 (£17)
- JUNIOR 11-17 – £9 (£10)
- FAMILY JUNIOR 11-17* – £7 (£8)
- CHILD 7-10 – £6 (£7)
- CHILD UNDER 7 – FREE
- CARER – FREE
- WHEELCHAIR – £17 (£20)
*A Family Junior ticket can be purchased for up to two 11-17 year olds when bought with an adult ticket or for one 11-17 year old when bought with a senior.
Junior’s U14, Child U11 and Child U7 must be purchased/accompanied with an over 18.
Refreshments will be available in the Petterill Terrace, but no alcohol sales will be made and the away end is CARD ONLY. Away supporters will be welcome in the fan zone before the game.
Wheelchair tickets and Carer tickets will need to be purchased direct from Carlisle United. Please contact the ticket office on 0330 094 5930. All ambulant disabled supporters on an enhanced rate of care qualify for a carer’s ticket. A PIP or DWP letter will need to be provided.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT
Live updates will be available from our social media platforms X (@OfficialShots), Instagram (@aldershottownfcofficial), and Facebook. After the game, highlights will be available on our YouTube channel.
The game can be streamed to overseas viewers via DAZN’s National League TV coverage. Click HERE to purchase a match pass.
There will be live commentary of the game provided by BBC Radio Surrey – listen online HERE
