Finally, the date is almost upon us. On Sunday, May 11th, Aldershot Town will step out at Wembley Stadium for the very first time to contest in the final of the 2024/25 Isuzu FA Trophy.
Standing in their way is County Durham-based side Spennymoor Town. Like the Shots, Spennymoor exist as a phoenix club, forming in 2005 following the resignation of Spennymoor United the same year. Starting again in the tenth-tier, the club have gone from strength to strength across the past two decades, and came agonisingly close to Vanarama National League football in 2019, losing on penalties to Chorley in the NLN play-off final.
Despite having never contested higher than the sixth-tier of English football, ‘the Moors’ do not share the narrative of making their maiden voyage under the arches, having won the FA Vase in 2013, a 2-1 victory versus Tunbridge Wells.
Were Spennymoor to emerge victorious this weekend, they would become just the second team in history to boast both the FA Vase and the FA Trophy in their list of honours, after AFC Fylde.
RECENT FORM & FA TROPHY RUN
While May poses excitement for the Moors, April was a month of true heartbreak, as their once promising National League North promotion push saw them finish just one off the play-offs, despite having superior goal difference to eventual seventh place finishers Buxton.
- 26/04/25 – Spennymoor Town 1-0 Oxford City
- 21/04/25 – South Shields 0-2 Spennymoor Town
- 18/04/25 – Spennymoor Town 1-1 Scarborough Athletic
- 12/04/25 – Scunthorpe United 2-0 Spennymoor Town
- 08/04/25 – Curzon Ashton 0-3 Spennymoor Town
Their impressive route to the final stretches back to November, with the side winning six ties of incrementally increasing difficulty.
- 16/11/24 – Spennymoor Town 2-1 South Shields (6)
- 07/12/24 – Alfreton Town (6) 0-1 Spennymoor Town
- 04/01/25 – Hampton & Richmond Borough (6) 0-2 Spennymoor Town
- 01/02/25 – Spennymoor Town 2*-2 Boston United (5)
- 01/03/25 – Sutton United (5) 0-2 Spennymoor Town
- 05/04/25 – Rochdale (5) 2-2* Spennymoor Town
While Aldershot will come into the tie as favourites, it is clear that Spennymoor are to be underestimated at ones peril. The semi-professional side have already claimed three National League scalps, largely thanks to the goalscoring form of striker and local legend Glen Taylor, who boasts five goals in the competition, among the most important of his 210 goals for the club thus far.
IN THE DUGOUT
Graeme Lee was appointed First Team Manager of Spennymoor Town in January 2024 after leaving Marske United. Born in Middlesbrough, Lee enjoyed a distinguished playing career with over 500 senior appearances.
He began at Hartlepool United, debuting at 17 against Arsenal in the League Cup. Unfazed by top-tier opposition, he became a mainstay in defence, helping Hartlepool reach the League Two play-offs three seasons in a row and achieving promotion in 2002/03 after recovering from a serious knee injury.
Lee followed manager Chris Turner to Sheffield Wednesday, earning Player of the Year in his debut season. Although injured for the 2004/05 Play-Off Final, he was part of the promotion-winning squad. He later joined Doncaster Rovers, captaining them to EFL Trophy success in 2007, scoring the winner in the final.
Further spells followed at Hartlepool, Shrewsbury, Bradford City, Notts County—where he won promotion again—and Darlington before retiring in 2012.
Lee transitioned into coaching at Middlesbrough’s Academy, eventually becoming Under-23s Lead Coach. In 2021, he returned to Hartlepool United as manager, leading the team to the EFL Trophy semi-finals and the FA Cup Fourth Round, where they faced Crystal Palace. He left after less than six months but remained determined to succeed.
At Marske United, he battled financial constraints but inspired a festive turnaround with key wins that lifted the club from the drop zone.
Lee’s move to Spennymoor Town sees him follow in the footsteps of his father and namesake Tony, who managed Spennymoor United in the early 2000s, continuing the family legacy in North East football.
LAST TIME OUT
Due to both Spennymoor’s North Eastern locality and their history of competing exclusively in step two or lower, this will be the first time the two towns’ teams, of any iteration, will meet.
FORMER SHOTS
Brad James – The 25-year-old Goalkeeper has been a near-ever-present in Graeme Lee’s side this season. While he missed the semi-final, with three penalty saves against Boston in the RO16, it is safe to say the Moors wouldn’t have got where they are without him.
On loan from Middlesbrough at the time, James played 12 times for the Shots during the 2020/21 season, with highlights including clean sheets against Notts County, Chesterfield and most notably, Woking.
TICKET INFO
Tickets for The Shots’ trip to Wembley to take on Spennymoor Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy Final on Sunday, 11th May, are on sale now.
All tickets are being sold by Wembley Stadium and can be bought online by clicking HERE
Ticket prices are as follows:
- ADULT – £30
- CONCESSIONS – £10
*Concession price includes OAPs (65+), students and children U16
Kick-off for our game has now been confirmed at 16:15, with the Isuzu FA Vase final kicking off at 12:15pm. Your ticket will grant you access to both finals as part of Non-League Finals Day.
Shots supporters have been allocated the North-West corner of Wembley Stadium and have been given an initial allocation of 7000 in Level 1 (lower tier) that can be increased into Level 2 and Level 5 (upper tier) should demand require.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT
The final will be broadcast live exclusively on TNT Sports 4 and Discovery+.
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.
There will be live commentary of the game provided by BBC Radio Surrey – listen online HERE
