As part of our celebrations to commemorate the Club’s 25th anniversary this summer, we are inviting fans to select their all-time Shots XI from 1992-2017.
The team will be announced on Tuesday 1 August, exactly 25 years to the day since The Shots played their first ever game, in the Simpsonair Trophy tournament at Camberley Town’s Krooner Park.
We, of course, start with the number ones, and an array of goalkeepers who have graced the team over a quarter of a century. Please choose your favourite of these four stellar candidates – or make a nomination of your own – and email their name to steve.gibbs@theshots.co.uk with SHOTS XI in the subject line. Alternatively, send a tweet to @OfficialShots using #ShotsXI.
Nikki Bull (2002-09, 313 apps, 1 goal): Second in The Shots’ all-time appearance list and the goalkeeper who helped take Aldershot Town from Ryman Premier Division to League Two. Named The Shots’ Player of the Year three times, in 2003, 2006 and 2008 – as well as Blue Square Player of the Year as The Shots won promotion to the Football League in 2008 – Bull even scored a penalty in front of the East Bank on the day the Ryman Premier title was secured.
Gary Phillips: (1997-99, 78 apps): A larger-than-life character and superb goalkeeper who had made 290 Football League appearances – mainly for Barnet – prior to joining The Shots at the age of 36. Sumo was part of the team which won the Ryman League Division One championship in 1998, and both the Isthmian League Cup and Hampshire Senior Cup in the space of three days in May 1999.
Ross Worner (2011-2013, 26 apps): Injury and misfortune may have restricted Ross to just 26 games for The Shots but his impact was undoubted. Thrown in for his debut in the Carling Cup second round tie against Carlisle United, he went on to face Rochdale and Manchester United but a back injury kept him out for nine months and he made just one appearance in 2012-13. Ross has since impressed with AFC Wimbledon and Sutton United.
Jamie Young (2010-13, 140 apps): An Australian former England Under 20 international, Jamie was named both Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Year in 2013. Jamie saved two penalties in the first three minutes of his Shots career – spread across two matches – and was a key player in our run towards the League Two Play-Offs. He was then ever-present in 2010-11, and was part of the team which beat West Ham United at Upton Park and then reached the FA Cup fourth round.
