The academy has seen considerable change and growth in the previous two years. No aspiring programme that is dedicated to youth development can ever stay stationary. The changes that we have sought to implement are designed to progress the academy forwards, seeking to place Aldershot Town as a standout academy within the National League, as well as being ready for EPPP status upon our First Team achieving promotion.
The challenge and honour of becoming an Aldershot Town player, who may go on to play the game professionally, places demands and expectations across all ages. Whilst it is our objective to ensure that the experience is a beneficial and enjoyable one, we will make no excuses in expecting that all parties whether they be players, parents/guardians, staff and officials are committed to the programme.
Girls Programme
In addition to this this we have sought to build and grow our female football provisions over the past few seasons. The girl’s programme has grown year on year since its creation in 2022. An under 15s side was added to our under 16s side in 2023, followed by the addition of an under 18s side in 2024. From the start of the 2025/2026 season an under 13s side has been added to pathway, as well as a senior women’s team that allows us to provide a pathway through to senior football for all aspiring young female footballers.
The highlight of the programme so far has undoubtedly been the under 18s reaching the 2025 Hampshire County Cup final at the end of their first season.
Debuts
Since the 2022/2023 season we have seen ten academy players, or academy graduates make their debuts for our first team in a competitive fixture. We have had academy players in three of the last four under 18 England schoolboys squads, England independent schoolboy representation, as well as senior level National Team training camps call-ups. For the 2024/2025 season, the first team squad contained no fewer than five players who have progressed through our academy system. With the introduction of the ‘B Team’ from the 2024/2025 season, we have seen nine players from the academy structure feature for the First Team in the Hampshire Senior Cup, one of whom scored his first senior goal, and three players featuring in the National League Cup competition.
| Academy Roll Call | ||
| Academy Debuts
(since the start of the 2022/2023 season) |
International Recognition | Named First Team Squad Players for start of the 2024/2025 season |
| Alex McAllister
(Away vs. Wrexham, National League, 19th November 2022) |
Zion Nditi
Tanzania 2024 AFCON Training Squad |
Maxwell Mullins |
| Ben de Lacy Turner
(Home vs. Welling United, FA Trophy, 20th December 2022) |
Toby Nelson
England Schoolboys, Centenary Shield 2024 |
Keane Anderson |
| Mason Obeng
(Home vs. Leiston, FA Trophy, 14th January 2023) |
Jasper Sheik
England Schoolboys, Centenary Shield 2023 |
Ashley Akpan |
| Maxwell Mullins
(Home vs. Oxford City, National League, 5th August 2023) |
Harvey Keogh
England Schoolboys, Centenary Shield 2022 |
George Milner-Smith |
| Keane Anderson
(Home vs. Lewes, FA Cup, 14th October 2023) |
Cameron Shields
England Independent Schoolboys, 2022-2024 |
Oliver Turner |
| Jasper Sheik
(Away vs. Kidderminster Harriers, National League, 20th January 2024) |
||
| Ashley Akpan
(Home vs. Oldham Athletic, National League, 24th August, 2024) |
||
| Billy Walsh
(Home vs. Derby County U21, National League-Premier League U21 Cup, 15th October 2024) |
||
| Zion Nditi
(Home vs. Leeds United U21, National League-Premier League u21 Cup Quarter Final, 11th March 2025) |
||
| Joe Lewis-Evans
(Home vs. Leeds United U21, National League-Premier League u21 Cup Quarter Final, 11th March 2025) |
Achievements
We have begun to establish ourselves as a highly competitive academy, progressing in terms of our football approach, our playing style, our player development, but also our reputation for high level football. Within this period, we have seen our under 21s finish league and cup runners up, reach the semi-final of the Hampshire County FA Senior Cup, and become league champions of the Suburban League for the first time, following this up by also winning the Champions Trophy in 2024.
At under 17 and 18s boys age groups we have progressed to achieve Academy best league finishes in both the under 18 Isthmian League and under 19 National League, alongside reaching the semi final of the under 19 National League Cup, reaching the first and second rounds of the FA Youth Cup in two of the past three seasons, and reaching back-to-back Hampshire County FA Youth Cup finals, culminating in winning the competition for the first time in eight years in 2024.
Our newly formed under 18 girls age group for the 2024/2025 season finished their season as runners-up in the Hampshire County Cup, to build on previous quarter final appearances of our under 15s girls in the Hampshire County Cup (2025) and JPL Trophy (2023).
Our under 16 boys have finished runners-up and winners of their under 18 Allied Counties League division in successive seasons, reaching the semi-finals of both the league cup and Champion of Champions Trophy. Whilst we have also seen our under 15 boys finish runners-up in the JPL Trophy (2023), and the under 13s reach the semi finals of the Hampshire Cup (2025)
In our Foundation Phase, the 2024/2025 season under 12s concluded their league season with a league runners-up spot, followed by success in the Hampshire County Cup to be crowned winners. The under 9s most recently won their JPL competitive season, taking them to the JPL finals for the first ever time.
Our hope is to become recognised as an academy that is seen to possess high potential talent, on that provides opportunities for young talent to progress and express themselves, and to be an exciting place for any young aspiring footballer to be, no matter how their journey brings them to Aldershot Town. So, this is just the start as we look to further grow our reputation.
Hampshire County Cup
Senior Cup (entering under 21s), Semi-Finalists 2023
Under 18 Midweek Floodlit Cup, Winners 2024, Runners Up 2023
Under 18 Girls Saturday Cup, Runners Up 2025
Under 13s Boys Saturday Cup, Semi Finalists, 2024
Under 12 Boys Saturday Cup, Winners 2025
Aldershot District Cup (B Team)
Semi Finalists, 2025
U19 National League
National League Cup Semi-Finalists, 2024
Isthmian League
West Division Runners Up, 2024
Junior Premier League
Under 9 Spring Champions, 2025
Under 15 JPL Trophy Runners Up, 2023
Suburban League
League Winners, 2023
League Runners Up, 2024
Champion of Champions Winners, 2024
League Cup Runners-Up, 2024
Allied Counties League
West Division Winners, 2023
West Division Runners Up, 2024
Surrey Youth League
Under 16 Premier Division Winners, 2023
Under 7s Spring Champions, 2023
Tactic League
Tactic League Cup Winners, 2022
Aims for the Academy
Our aims for the academy is encapsulated by the idea that we are striving to ‘empower dreams and create futures’ for all the players within our academy system. In doing so we seek to provide wide-ranging and positive football experience for every player, developing them so well they have the opportunity to play beyond Aldershot Town us, but treat them so well that they choose to stay at Aldershot Town.
How will this be achieved?
There are four pillars that contribute to us fulfilling our overall aim at the Academy. These pillars should be at the core of everything we are trying to achieve and should guide the work we undertake.
Unlocking Potential: Unleashing Talent: A commitment to discovering hidden talents and capabilities within individuals and providing opportunities for individuals to showcase their unique abilities, empowering them to make a positive impact.
Better People: Personal Growth: Develop young people with integrity, resilience, empathy, and character who are positive role models for the football club, and who take control of their own growth and development. We will provide the tools for them to chart their own path towards personal success.
Nurturing Development: A focus on growing and providing the opportunities, support, guidance and resources to foster continuous growth and development.
Pursuing Excellence: Striving for the highest of standards in quality, performance and continually pushing ourselves and each other to be better today than we were yesterday. To be comfortable in the uncomfortable.
What will our markers of success?
We will have five key tests to measure the success of the Academy as a whole. Achievement in these areas will guide the continued improvement of the Academy. The five tests are as follows:
People: Recruiting the right people who share our values. Developing the best possible coaches and support staff, whilst placing them with high potential and emerging talent.
Progression: Working to be Category 3 ready. Establishing a clear pathway for all through each phase towards senior level football. Providing fluidity between age groups for those requiring further challenge.
Development: Develop a framework that places more emphasis on being age-appropriate, stage relevant and moves at the pace of the players, whilst still remaining highly challenging, yet highly supportive.
Contact: Maximising the available resources to increase the contact time, increase exposure to higher-level opposition develop key external partnerships to improve the support provisions provided.
Support: Improve the coach: player ratio per age group, whilst adding in additional and specialised support staff. Improved match recording and analytical provisions across more age groups. Extend use of GPS and data use.
