WHO ARE THE SHOTS PLAYING?
‘Tis the season for some rivalry football, look no further than Aldershot and Woking as the Shots and the Cards go head to head, back to back on Boxing Day and New Years Day. Just 12 miles seperates the EBB Stadium and Kingfield, but 10 points seperate the Shots in 9th and the Cards in 17th.
The first game of the two will come at the EBB Stadium on Boxing day in a final home game of 2023 for Aldershot, and the second will be at Kingfield on New Years Day in a first away game of 2024 for Aldershot.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Woking got the better of the Shots in both games last season, winning 2-1 at the EBB Stadium before winning 4-1 in a rampant display at Kingfield which saw them complete the festive double over Ross McNeilly’s Shots.
Last season’s victories were the first time Woking had beaten the Shots in National League action since 2016, with the Shots winning 8 of the last 9 National League meetings; Woking and the Shots drawing the other encounter. The Cards also picking up an FA Cup qualifying victory over the Shots in 2020 during that time.
A 0-0 draw at The EBB Stadium on Boxing Day saw Tommy Widdrington come out of the first of the two meetings with a point and a clean sheet.
LAST SEASON:
The Cards had a fantastic season last year, finishing the National League season in 4th place, at time threatening to oust Chesterfield from 3rd to send themselves automatically into the semi final of the National League playoffs. As it was, they ended up in 4th, and their playoff campaign ended at the first hurdle. Bromley were the side who ended their season, beating Woking 2-1 at Kingfield to send Woking into another season in the National League.
The FA Cup saw them make it to the first round proper after beating Southend in the fourth qualifying round, however they were beaten by Oxford United in the first round. The FA Trophy was a little less successful for Woking, losing to Eastleigh in the third round and going out at the first hurdle.
23/24 SO FAR:
This time around it has been a little less fortunate for the Cards. A solid start to the season saw them win three of their opening six games, however the form would take a massive dip following a 1-1 draw with Ebbsfleet on 19th September. The run saw them win just two National League games between 23rd of September and 25th of November, going crashing out of the FA Cup at the hands of Ramsgate and the FA Trophy at the hands of Weston Super Mare.
The run had its casualties, one of whom being Darren Sarll. The former Yeovil manager was given his marching orders on 13th November and replaced by Michael Doyle.
IN THE DUGOUT:
Michael Doyle has been in charge of the Cards for just two games, and already has a mighty job on his hands to turn around the form, but in replacing a manager like Darren Sarll, who guided Woking so close to the football league for the first time in their history, has an even bigger task. Doyle was appointed Cards boss just before their trip to Maidenhead last Saturday, and will be looking to round out 2023 with a win. During his playing days Doyle was a leader, captaining his sides to either the playoffs or promotion in eight of his last ten seasons as a player, and turned out for the likes of Coventry, Leeds, Sheffield United, Portsmouth and Notts County, the latter he almost guided to the football league as assistant manager in 2021/22. Doyle will no doubt be aware that a festive double win will go a long way to getting Woking fans on your side.
PLAYED FOR BOTH:
Former Shots at the Cards
Rhys Browne
Browne has a habit of showing the Shots what they let go recently, scoring five times in three games against the Shots for both Wealdstone and Woking last season. The Norwich academy graduate played for the Shots in 15/16, scoring 6 goals and providing 8 assists in 37 games.
Jermaine Anderson
Anderson spent much of the early days of his career at Peterborough, before moving on to Doncaster and Bradford, joining the Shots in 2020/21, playing 31 times, before making the switch to Woking in 2021/22, being sent off at Kingfield in this meeting last season.
Jim Kellermann
Jim Kellermann spent two seasons with the Shots in 2016/17 and 17/18, scoring 8 goals and 4 assists across two seasons in which the Shots challenged for promotion back into League Two, but fell at the playoffs. Kellermann went on to play for St Mirren, Fylde, Kidderminster and Chesterfield before joining the Cards.
Alfie Pavey
Pavey played 15 times for the Shots in 2015/16, scoring twice. He since has played for Bromley, Milwall, Dartford, Havant & Waterlooville, Dover, Barnet, Maidstone, Braintree and Farnborough before recently joining the Cards this season, with no goals in 9 games.
Josh Casey
Josh Casey was an academy graduate from the Shots, joining Sailsbury and following Alan Dowson around before they both arrived at Woking. The former has since left, but Casey remains at Woking, where he is now club captain.
Manny Oyeleke
Oyeleke is in his second spell with the Cards, originally joining straight from the Shots in 2014/15. His early career was spent at Brentford and Northampton, and following his original depature from Woking played for Exeter, and then rejoined the Shots for two season in 2016/17, before playing for Dartford and Chesterfield before re-signing with Woking last summer.
AWAY SOLD OUT:
Away tickets for Aldershot’s trip to Kingfield on New Years Day are already sold out, so we ask that Shots fans do not travel to Kingfield without a ticket.
FAN BEHAVIOUR
We’d also like to remind supporters attending both of our fixtures against Woking on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day of the consequences of anti-social behaviour.
Anybody caught in the possession of pyrotechnics of any kind will be immediately ejected from the game and will face internal and police investigations which will result in a banning order and potential criminal charges.
With CCTV cameras positioned around the stadium and stewards and police in presence, you will be identified.
Your passionate support is what makes these games so special so please channel your support in the loudest and safest way possible.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE EITHER GAME:
Live updates will be available from our social media platforms Twitter (@OfficialShots), Instagram (@aldershottownfcofficial), and Facebook. After the game, highlights will be available on our YouTube channel.
