This article is part of the ‘League Preview’ series, in which every day we take a detailed look at one of Aldershot Town’s 23 prospective opponents for the upcoming National League season.
In the spotlight today is the second of two London clubs in this year’s Enterprise National League, and one of just three sides to win both the FA Trophy and fifth-tier title in the same season, Wealdstone FC.
Crowned National League South champions following the curtailed 2019/20 season, ‘the Stones’ are now entering their sixth successive season at step-one, equalling their previous tenure at the summit of non-league in the 1980s that saw them win the Athenian League in 1985. Despite their previous successes, the club are yet to boast Football League status, and currently operate as one of the vast minority in the division who do not claim total full-time status.
Tasked with continuing a period of stability, and maybe more, is former Stones midfielder, Sam Cox. Working previously with the academy of Tottenham Hotspur, as well as a brief stint with Oxford City, at 34-years-old, the London-born gaffer is the youngest in the division by some distance, and will hope to earn his wings between the dugout this upcoming campaign.
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Where is Wealdstone?
Wealdstone play their home fixtures in Ruislip, a suburb in the northern reaches of the borough of Hillingdon, West London. The town of Wealdstone itself is based in neighbouring Harrow, though following the closure of the Stones’ long-time ground, Lower Mead, in 1991, the club have played away from their original home since, despite keeping the name. Approximately 37 miles from the EBB Stadium, this 1h 9m journey will mark Aldershot’s third-closest away trip of the upcoming league season.
Following the promotion of nearby Barnet, the Stones are one of just two London clubs in this year’s Enterprise National League, alongside Sutton United. However, Hertfordshire based Boreham Wood may prove a welcome replacement, just 12 miles away. Outside of the capital, Wealdstone currently serves as the closest place to see fifth-tier football or higher in much of neighboring Berkshire, including the towns of Datchet (~6,000 pop), Windsor (35,000), and most notably, Slough (200,000).
After temporary spells in Watford, Yeading and Edgeware, Wealdstone currently play their home matches at Grosvenor Vale, where they have been situated since 2008. The ground opened in 1947, and was the home of Ruislip Manor FC until their relocation exactly 60 years later. Since 2022, the club have been sharing the ground with Watford FC Women. With a capacity of 4,085, it is the third-smallest ground in this year’s National League, ahead of incoming sixth-tier champions Truro and Brackley.
Wealdstone finished the 2024/25 season with an average league attendance of 1,599, besting six clubs currently competing in the division.
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Recent history and club highlights
Following the nerviest of waits, Wealdstone were crowned National League South champions for the prematurely concluded 2019/20 season on a points-per-game basis. Since then, the club have thus far managed the impressive task of achieving stability in the division despite being in the vast-minority regarding their professional status, currently enacting a hybrid model.
While the club have publicly stated their plans to eventually go full-time, at present, they may technically boast the title of being the country’s most impressive semi-pro side.
2024/25 – National League (20th)
2023/24 – National League (16th)
2022/23 – National League (13th)
2021/22 – National League (16th)
2020/21 – National League (19th)
2019/20 – National League South (1st, Promoted)
2018/19 – National League South (7th)
2017/18 – National League South (11th)
2016/17 – National League South (8th)
2015/16 – National League South (13th)
Their promotion to step-one would have represented uncharted territory for a significant portion of the fanbase, however, Stones supporters of a certain age would remember a period of sustained success in the mid-1980s, which culminated in them being crowned both FA Trophy and Alliance Premier League (fifth-tier) champions in 1984/85. Unfortunately, this most successful of seasons arrived just two years prior to the introduction of automatic Football League promotion, and with stadium requirements unmet, elected membership was declined.
The club have reached the third round of the FA Cup on one occasion, beating Hereford United and Reading on their way to a tie at Loftus Road to face then-top-tier Queen’s Park Rangers in 1977/78. Their most recent Football League scalp, however, came courtesy of League Two’s Grimsby Town last campaign, Alex Reid’s 90th-minute winner proved the only goal in a first-round tie at home to Wycombe Wanderers, kicking off an the highly unusual time of 11:30am, the Stones lost 2-0 in front of ITV cameras.
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Pre-season, incoming transfers and other news
At time of writing, Wealdstone have made 7 first team signings.
| Player | Pos. | Age | Arriving from… | Highest level played |
| Junior Tiensia | LB | 24 | Barrow AFC | League Two (Barrow) |
| Connor McAvoy | CB | 23 | Fulham U21 | Sc. Championship (Partick) |
| Nathan Tshikuna | CM | 26 | Eastleigh | National League (Eastleigh) |
| Sakariya Hassan | RW | 24 | Hashtag United | Isthmian League (Hashtag) |
| Omar Moussa | CDM | 24 | Torquay United | League One (Walsall) |
| Dylan Kadji | CDM | 21 | Weston-super-mare | Championship (Bristol City) |
Offloading a host of experienced personnel, including 38-year-old former Premier League defender Adrian Mariappa, the Stones have lowered the average age of their squad considerably with a sextet of arrivals all aged 26-and-under, with a diverse range of professional backgrounds.
Among the most notable of these is the addition of Somalia international and former Tottenham academy prospect Sak Hassan, who despite having shared a pitch with Riyad Mahrez and Serhou Guirassy on his home continent, is yet to play higher than seventh-tier football at club level. The creative winger claimed 7 goals and 17 assists for Hashtag United in last season’s Isthmian league, form that he will undoubtedly strive to replicate for the Stones this term.
Wealdstone’s pre-season campaign, which included a convincing victory against League Two MK Dons, went as follows:
Northwood 1-4 Wealdstone (12/07)
Wealdstone 2-0 MK Dons (19/07)
Charlton Athletic 0-3 Wealdstone (23/07)
St. Albans City 1-0 Wealdstone (26/07)
Wealdstone 6-2 QPR U21 (29/07)
Wealdstone 2-1 Slough Town (02/08)
With promising preparations concluding with a home victory versus Slough Town, Wealdstone will begin their Enterprise National League campaign with a piece of history, hosting Truro City’s maiden fifth-tier fixture on Saturday, 9th August.
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When will Aldershot and Wealdstone play each other?
Following the release of the National League fixture list, the Shots host Wealdstone on their final fixture of 2025, on Tuesday, 30th December, while Tommy Widdrington’s men will make a bank holiday journey to Ruislip on Monday, 6th April, their penultimate away fixture of the campaign.
Aldershot first hosted the Stones in 1975, with the away side attempting to reach the second round of the FA Cup for the very first time. A crowd of over 5,000 witnessed a seven-goal thriller that fell marginally in the hosts favour, as a Shots configuration – which featured a 27-year-old Neil Warnock on the wing – won 4-3 on the day.
They would meet again some 46 years later, this time in the 2020/21 National League. Ironically, the score would remain the same, as goals from Joel Nouble, Jermaine Anderson, Chike Kandi and Josh Rees secured all three points at the EBB Stadium, despite the visitors’ best efforts.
The side have since met on a further ten occasions, including a December bout that ignited the Shots’ run to becoming 2024/25 FA Trophy champions…
Games played: 11
Aldershot wins: 6
Wealdstone wins: 3
Draws: 2
Aggregate score: 23-18
Record Shots victory: 3-1 (2025)
Record Wealdstone victory: 3-1 (2022)
The sides last met in March, where a visiting Aldershot Town came from behind to win 3-1 at Grosvenor Vale. With Dom Hutchinson’s early opener taking the Stones into a half-time lead, it would take an inspired appearance from the bench to turn fortunes around. Coming on in the 62nd minute, a returning James Henry found himself with a brace within five minutes of stepping on the pitch, the second of which being an unstoppable quarter-volley from the edge of the area. Josh Barrett found the top-right corner to double the lead, with the Shots leaving London as 3-1 victors.
