Just two days after an emphatic victory on the road, Aldershot Town return to the EBB Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday to host National League newcomers Morecambe, who will arrive in equally good spirits, fresh off the back of winning their long-awaited first game of the campaign.
Founded in 1920, ‘The Shrimps’ existed solely as a non-league club throughout the 20th century, rising into the Football League in 2007, starting a significant tenure that only ended four months ago, and saw them rise as high as League One. Staggeringly, the club’s demotion from League One in 2023 was the first in 102 years of existence. Until then, they were the oldest professional club in the country to have never suffered relegation.
Beating Altrincham 2-1 on Saturday – their first fixture of the season – Morecambe will travel to North Hampshire as the only team in this season’s Enterprise National League with a 100% record, a statistic that Tommy Widdrington’s side will endeavour to end come the afternoon’s conclusion.
RECENT FORM
Having only begun their 2025/26 campaign at the start of the weekend, Morecambe returned to action with a dramatic home victory at the death against Altrincham.
- 23/08/25 – Morecambe 2-1 Altrincham (Ben Tollit, Daniel Ogwuru)
The circumstances surrounding this Saturday lunchtime fixture would command attention and intrigue from the wider football-watching population. With six new signings in the starting XI, an emotionally charged tie unfolded perfectly for the 3208 Shrimps supporters in attendance to witness the start of a new era.
A sixth minute home opener sent the Mazuma Satdium into raptures, though Alty would have the rup of the green largely thereafter, equalising before half-time, and dominating chances for much of the second.
However, in a moment that would have provided a rye smileto near-everyone outside of Altrincham partizanship, Daniel Ogwuru’s 98th minute winner became an instant early contender for moment of the season, gifting Morecambe supporters a much needed day in the sun.
IN THE DUGOUT
Entrusted with ensuring a new era at Morecambe is a successful one is an exciting young manager with an already star-studded CV, Ashvir Singh Joval. The former Wigan assistant arrives as not only the first manager in British professional football of Sikh heritage, but, having only enjoyed his 30th birthday in March, currently boasts being the youngest head-coach in England’s top-five leagues.
Unlike the vast majority of coaches in the division, Johal never played the game at a professional level, instead taking to coaching at an incredibly young age. Following the receipt of his UEFA B licence in 2015, aged just 20, he spent eight years working with various development sides at hometown club Leicester City, experiencing the club’s iconic Premier League title victory as a staff member.
It was during his final years with the Foxes where he would work with Kolo Toure, who, upon being appointed as manager of Wigan Athletic in November 2022, would bring Johal with him as his assistant. Unfortunately, a disastrous nine game spell for the former Arsenal invincible bore zero wins in nine, prompting both to be relieved after less than two months in post. His next role as number two would see him work under a similarly high-profile name, joining Cesc Fàbregas at the U19’s of current Serie A side, Como 1907.
The 2024/25 season was spent managing Notts County’s B team in concurrence with acquiring his UEFA Pro Licence, the highest qualification in football coaching and management. Upon completion, he received this honour at a ceremony held at Wembley Stadium in June, alongside the likes of Gareth Ainsworth, Darius Vassell and Jack Wilshere.
Johal was announced as Shrimps boss on the morning of Tuesday, 19th August, just 13 hours after the surprising dismissal of Derek Adams. Having completed the studious side of coaching in near-record time, supporters will be praying this managerial prodigy can put his theories into practice in a crucial period for the club.
FORMER SHOTS
Harry Panayiotou –With over a century of appearances for the Shots across two spells between 2019 and 2023, the forward’s abilities will be fresh in the memory of most in the stands on the day. Pnayiotou was announced as a Morecambe player on August 20th, the second of a succession of signings following Morecambe’s timely takeover.
Boasting 12 goals in 39 appearances for Saint Kitts and Nevis, Panayioutou returns to the league with the best national team record of anyone in the division, once scoring a hattrick in World Cup qualifying.
MATCH HISTORY AND LAST TIME OUT
While this fixture will mark the first meeting between the sides in over 12 years, the two are by no means unacquainted, sharing divisions in nine out of ten campaigns in the decade preceding 2013.
The Shrimps first travelled to North Hampshire in November 2003, where a goal from Garry Thompson in the dying seconds rescued a point for the visitors after Lee Charles and Roscoe D’Sane put the Shots into a 2-0 lead. The draw would prove pivotal come the end of the season, however, as the Shots squeezed into the final play-off spot, three points ahead of their Lancashire rivals.
With Morecambe earning promotion in 2007, and the Shots following soon after, the tie was contested as a League Two affair for five straight terms. The rivalry was perhaps at its most significant in 2009/10, where both sides found themselves in serious contention for third-tier promotion. A convincing 4-1 home win in October set the Rec into raptures, before a dramatically timed reverse fixture saw Kevin Dillon’s side travel to the North West on the final day of the season, both needing a result to mathematically ensure a play-off place. If the occasion wasn’t already enticing enough, this was to be the final ever game at Christie Park, the Shrimps’ home of 89-years.
With a decade-high crowd of 5,268 behind them, Morecambe would win the match 1-0 thanks to a late winner from midfielder Garry Hunter. While the Shrimps did manage to leapfrog their visitors on the day, fortunately, results elsewhere meant that both sides had something to celebrate upon the full-time whistle.
The pair last met in February 2013, during the club’s most recent Football League campaign. The travelling Shots kept the encounter goalless until the 72nd minute, before a quickfire double gave the hosts a two-goal lead. Danny Hylton’s 93rd minute strike proved too little too late as the Shrimps emerged 2-1 victors on the day.
TICKET INFO
Tickets are available HERE, and are priced as follows, please note prices will increase at 3pm on the day of the match, these are noted in brackets:
- ADULTS – £23 (£25)
- MILITARY PERSONNEL – £21 (£23)
- SENIOR (Over 66) – £21 (£23)
- DISABLED – £21 (£23)
- YOUNG PERSON (18-20) – £21 (£23)
- 15 AND UNDER – £8 (£10)
- UNDER 11 – FREE
- FAMILY TICKET (Two Adults, Three 15 and Under) – £48 (£52)
We strongly encourage buying tickets in advance or online to save queues in the Ticket Office before the game.
The Club Shop/Ticket Office is open for all supporters with cash and card accepted.
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 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
