WHO ARE THE SHOTS PLAYING?
Aldershot kick off the 2022/23 Vanarama National League season at The EBB Stadium against Solihull Moors. Nicknamed “The Moors”, Solihull are going into their seventh consecutive season in the division, following their promotion to the league in 15/16.
Solihull Moors were founded in 2007 with the merger of Moor Green and Solihull Borough and currently play their games at the 5,500 capacity Damson Park.
HOW DID THEY DO LAST SEASON?
Solihull Moors got painfully close to League Two last season. After finishing third with 87 points, The Moors reached the National League Play-Off Final; taking the lead before eventually losing 2-1 after extra-time to Grimsby Town.
Their biggest victories last season came against Dover Athletic and Altrincham: Winning both games 5-0 and their biggest loss came to Dagenham and Redbridge: Losing 5-1.
HOW DID WE DO AGAINST THEM LAST SEASON?
The Shots lost both games 2-1. The first of which saw Aldershot concede an 88th minute winner as Joe Sbarra nicked the three points for Solihull in the dying minutes at The EBB Stadium.
The return fixture in Birmingham also saw a last minute goal, however Lewis Kinsella’s 89th minute effort for The Shots proved to only be a consolation as Solihull again won 2-1.
WHO IS THEIR GAFFER?
The current Solihull manager is 49-year-old Neal Ardley. During his playing career, Ardley played as a right midfielder, making over 400 appearances in a career which saw him play for Wimbledon, Watford, Cardiff and Millwall.
He’s spent most of his career with Wimbledon, spending 11 years playing at the club, making over 200 appearances, before a six year managerial spell. During his tenure, Ardley guided AFC Wimbledon to their first ever victory over MK Dons in 2014 and got his side promoted to League One for the first time in the phoenix club’s history in 2015-16, beating Plymouth Argyle 2-0 in the League Two Play-off Final.
Ardley took the Notts County job in November 2018, but could not prevent them from relegation out of the Football league in 2018-19. His County side looked impressive in their bid to regain Football League status in 19/20, however, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the table being decided on a points-per-game basis, resulting in the side suffering defeat to Harrogate Town in the Play-Off Final.
Ardley left Notts County in March 2021 and took over at Solihull a few months later in June. The 49-year-old guided the Moors to the Play-off final in his first season.
SOLIHULL MOORS SQUAD UPDATE:
The most notable loss for Solihull Moors is National League Play-off Final scorer Kyle Hudlin, who departed the club to join Huddersfield Town. Jordan Cranston, Jordan Piggott and Ben Usher-Shipway have all departed to join National League North sides next season and 31-year-old Danny Newton who scored 5 goals for the Moors last season has departed for Boreham Wood.
‘Keeper Louie Moulden, defender Fiacre Kelleher and striker Alex Reid have all re-joined Solihull Moors on loan, having spend last season on loan with the Moors, and Joey Jones, Callum Whelan and Josh Kelly have joined from Dagenham & Redbridge, Oldham Athletic and Maidenhead United respectively.
ANY EX-SHOTS?
None of the current Solihull Moors squad has played for Aldershot, and looking in the other direction, none of the current Shots squad has ever played for Solihull Moors.
HOW TO GET TICKETS:
Tickets are available to buy online HERE, and they will be available from the club shop on the day of the game. Please note, there will be NO tickets available on the turnstiles, with the club asking that all tickets are purchased in the club shop before kick-off.
Away fans will be able to purchase tickets from our website. Only away seating is available, select the yellow away section under ‘seating’ if buying online.
Tickets will also be available over the phone by calling 01252 320211.
Ticket prices are:
- Adults – £20
- Concessions (Disabled, Military Personnel, Senior – Over 65) – £16
- Junior (17 and under) – £7
WHERE TO FOLLOW THE MATCH:
As usual, you can follow our Twitter (@OfficialShots) for live updates from the ground. If you cannot make the game, BT Sport Score will be live from 2:45pm, and will update viewers when any goals are scored in the National League, including the Aldershot game. BBC Radio Surrey and BBC Radio Birmingham will be bringing sport updates from 2pm.
After the game, supporters can tune into the Aldershot YouTube channel HERE to catch highlights of the game.
