Aldershot Town is delighted to announce it has secured an exciting partnership with Gordon’s School for use of a dedicated First-Team training facility for the 2021/22 season!
The Shots will train at the school in Surrey Heath four or five times a week through the season using the recently completed Sports Hub and 3G pitch as well as the extensive grass pitches.
Meanwhile as part of the partnership between the two organisations, a number of our first-team players will be supporting the students by coaching them, including the students who reached the semi-finals of the ESFA (English Schools Football Association) Cup on the last two occasions.
The two organisations have shared values – Aldershot Town FC is a family club with connections to the Army and Aldershot Garrison. Gordon’s has a proud history of links to the military with over half its residential boarders from service families. The two institutions also share the ethos of developing players holistically and not just their skills on the football pitch.
Aldershot Town are excited to partner with the school whose current teaching staff boasts an impressive number of successful sportspeople, including: Pakistan Olympian Muhammad Irfan, GB hockey player David Mathews, former Wales International and Chelsea player Gareth Hall, former Fiji 7s Skills and Analyst Coach Chris Davies, three times Olympian cox Alan Inns and Surrey Storm netballers Nicole Humphrys and Leah Middleton.
This opportunity is a well-received one given it means the first-team now have a committed training facility for them to prepare and recover from and is a massive boost for the club.
Chairman Shahid Azeem said:
“We are absolutely delighted with this partnership linking the football club with Gordon’s School.
“Aldershot Town being the Garrison Town and the home of British Army while Gordon’s School with it’s strong military connections, is the national memorial to General Gordon.
“The training facilities are first-class and the club has been made so welcome by all personnel who have gone the extra mile to accommodate us.
“We look forward to a very long, fruitful relationship between the two parties and to playing our part in helping to develop the star of the future at the school.”
Danny Searle, First-Team Manager said:
“One of things we’ve been talking about since I joined the club is trying to secure a permanent place to train. I believe we have found that place in Gordon’s.
“It’s just been a revelation for us. The lads are so pleased with it.
“The staff at Gordon’s have been more than hospitable and it’s nice to be somewhere that they want you to be there as much as you want to be there as well and I can’t thank the guys at Gordon’s School enough.”
Director of Sport at Gordon’s School, Jamie Harrison also said:
“We are delighted to announce the partnership between Aldershot Town FC and Gordon’s. This provides an exciting period for football here that will not only identify talented students in the game but train and develop them.
“The ethos of the school is to develop the whole child and our sporting infrastructure provides our students with the best coaching, facilities and experiences. The partnership will further enhance this.”
