The Shots travel up to Bradford this Weekend to take on Bradford City in the Emirates FA Cup First Round at the University of Bradford Stadium.
This is Bradford’s first game in the competition this season as League One and Two sides enter in the First Round, with the Shots getting past Bath City in the Fourth Qualifying Round with a 2-1 win thanks to Maxi Mullins’ last-minute winner despite being reduced to 10-men.
This is the third time in the past decade that Aldershot Town have been drawn to face Bradford City in the FA Cup First Round with both previous ties going to a reply at Bradford following a draw at the EBB Stadium.
Bradford have exited the FA Cup in the First Round in the last three seasons, though none of these have come against lower-league opposition.
RECENT FORM
Bradford City currently occupy the final playoff position in League Two, sitting in 7th with 22 points from their 14 games so far this season.
The Bantams have won six, drawn four and lost four and are just four points off of one of the three automatic promotion spots.
Three of those six wins have come in Bradford’s last five games and their home form in League Two this season has been strong, winning four of their seven games at the University of Bradford Stadium with just one loss.
- 26/10 – Bradford City 1-2 Doncaster Rovers
- 22/10 – Cheltenham Town 1-1 Bradford City
- 19/10 – Bradford City 2-1 Gillingham
- 12/10 – Tranmere Rovers 0-2 Bradford City
- 07/10 – Bradford City 3-1 Newport County
IN THE DUGOUT
Graham Alexander will be Tommy Widdrington’s opposite number in the dugouts this weekend.
The 53-year-old had a playing career that spanned 24 years with long spells at Scunthorpe United, Luton Town, Preston North End and Burnley whilst collecting 40 caps for Scotland.
Retiring at 40-years-old at Preston where he’d made over 350 appearances, his first spell in management was at Deepdale as a Joint-Caretaker Manager whilst still playing. Since then, he’s had spells in charge of Fleetwood Town, Scunthorpe United, Salford City, Motherwell and MK Dons.
Alexander took charge of Bradford City in November 2023 and has won just under half of his 52 games in charge so far. He led the Bantams to a ninth-placed finish last season, turning their fortunes around after a difficult start to the 23/24 season.
LAST TIME OUT
The Shots met Bradford City regularly in League Two during Aldershot’s time in the Football League but the most recent meetings have occurred in two FA Cup First Round ties in the last nine years.
As mentioned previously, both ties went to replays at Bradford after draws at the EBB Stadium: In 2015, a 0-0 draw saw Bradford win 2-0 a week later on home soil but three years later it was a much tighter affair.
George Fowler gave the Shots an early lead at the EBB Stadium, but a second-half equaliser saw a replay needed at Valley Parade. Goalless after 90 minutes, Fowler scored again, though this time in his own net, but Luke Howell equalised to send the tie to penalties.
Bradford scored all four of their penalties and the Shots missed twice as the Bantams eliminated the Shots for the second time in three years.
TICKET INFO
Tickets for our Emirates FA Cup trip to the University of Bradford Stadium to take on Bradford City are now on sale and can be bought online via Bradford’s E-ticketing system by clicking HERE
Prices for the game are as follows:
- Adults (24-64): £15*
- Senior (65+): £10*
- Young Person (17-23): £10*
- Youth (12-16): £5*
- Junior (-11): £2*
- Armed Forces: £8* (valid ID for HM Armed Forces Veterans or Defence Discount Service required)
*An online booking fee of £1.50 will accompany all transactions.
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.
