Post by JamesB on Feb 18, 2013 17:40:04 GMT
Preamble
Another week without Ling, another week without a replacement. The Gullmobile trundles on to Hampshire with no driver. The second of two winnable games, you'd have to say things will be looking bleak if we can't rise to win this one. Aldershot's form has been poor all year, with a few sparks of life - we may not be the only one on the manager hunt soon. Whatever happens here, someone may be getting sacked in the morning...
History
Aldershot is known primarily for its association with the Army. A base was established here for the Crimean War in 1854 and its population grew rapidly. 41 years ago, it was in the headlines for one of the worst IRA bombings in England in which 7 people were killed - it was a response to the Bloody Sunday shootings in Derry which had occurrred just weeks before.
Aldershot FC was a relatively late formation in 1926. A rapid rise through the Southern League saw them join the Football League in 1932 in place of Thames AFC of East London. They were founder members of the Fourth Division in 1958-59, but were promoted at the end of 1972-73, lasting three seasons before relegation again. They were promoted for a second time in 1986-87, where they defeated Wolves over two legs in the first Fourth Division play-off final. But relegation two seasons later came amongst increasing financial issues that would lead to the club's demise in March 1992.
Aldershot Town FC was formed shortly after and quickly surged through the non-league pyramid, winning the Isthmian League and promotion to the Conference in 2002-03. At the end of their first season in the division, they went full-time, and went on to narrowly miss out on promotion the following year by losing to Carlisle on penalties in the play-off final. It wasn't until 2008 that the Hampshire town would have a Football League club again, as the Shots won promotion under Gary Waddock, finishing 15 points clear of Cambridge and our good selves.
Since then, the club has stabilised as a solid mid-table League Two club, the club's best season coming in 2009-10 when they finished 6th under Waddock's replacement Kevin Dillon, who would leave mid-way through the following season, to be replaced by current manager Dean Holdsworth.
The club's ground since formation has been the Recreation Ground. Its capacity is 7,100, with a record attendance of 19,138 against Carlisle during the 1970 FA Cup. The ground's highest profile match, though, was more recent - a League Cup tie in 2011 against Manchester United, which the visitors won 3-0 with goals from Berbatov, Owen and Valencia. It was the two clubs' first meeting since a tie in the same competition in 1970
The opposition
- After a mini-revival a few weeks ago, the Shots' form has dropped off once again, dropping them back into the relegation mix. Their last win came on January 12th against fellow strugglers Accrington. Since the start of February, they have picked up 2 draws (at high-flying Exeter and Cheltenham) but suffered 2 key defeats against Plymouth and Morecambe, which has led them dropping back into the relegation zone
- The club's most recent signing has been former Cheltenham striker Jeff Goulding, who was released by mutual consent by the Robins on Deadline Day. In January, they signed former Oxford midfielder Asa Hall on loan from Shrewsbury, Namibian international midfielder Oliver Risser on a free from Swindon, experienced centre-back Terrell Forbes and winger Lionel Ainsworth on loan from Rotherham. This has also coincided with a few players leaving - Reading loanee Michael Hector chose not to extend his loan deal, instead moving to Cheltenham, while the likes of the two Guys, Branston and Madjo, have both departed, along with striker Michael Rankine who has been loaned out to York
- Team vs Cheltenham: Young; Herd, Tonkin (s/o), Brown, Bradley; Vincenti, Risser, Ainsworth, Rose; Hylton, Goulding. Subs: G Morris, A Morris, Forbes, McNamee, Mekki, Hall, Cadogan
Head-to-head
- The combined record with the old and new Aldershot clubs gives Torquay a 40-34 lead, with 16 draws. 3 of Aldershot's wins came in the 3 FA Cup ties between the two sides
- In matches between Torquay and Aldershot Town (since 2007), Torquay again lead 5-3, with just 1 draw in September 2009
- The last meeting between the two sides in October will go down as one of the greatest games Plainmoor has ever seen. Craig Reid's 47-minute hat-trick was followed by goals from Bodin, Jarvis, Yeoman and Howe to give the Gulls a 4-3 win. Back then it was seen as a sign that we were doing OK as a side - different perspective now?
- Last year we did the double over Aldershot with 2 1-0 wins, the first coming at the Rec in August. It was very much in the smash-and-grab mould - a Mansell goal gave us the lead, and we clung on for the rest of the match. Sounds familiar...
- Our record against Aldershot Town at the Rec has been very good. Our first trip there this century gave us a 3-0 win, followed by a 2-0 win in 2010. Our only recent defeat there was in March 2011 when former Gull Luke Guttridge scored the only goal of the game. Before then, you have to go back to 1985 for our previous defeat at the ground. A good omen?
Another week without Ling, another week without a replacement. The Gullmobile trundles on to Hampshire with no driver. The second of two winnable games, you'd have to say things will be looking bleak if we can't rise to win this one. Aldershot's form has been poor all year, with a few sparks of life - we may not be the only one on the manager hunt soon. Whatever happens here, someone may be getting sacked in the morning...
History
Aldershot is known primarily for its association with the Army. A base was established here for the Crimean War in 1854 and its population grew rapidly. 41 years ago, it was in the headlines for one of the worst IRA bombings in England in which 7 people were killed - it was a response to the Bloody Sunday shootings in Derry which had occurrred just weeks before.
Aldershot FC was a relatively late formation in 1926. A rapid rise through the Southern League saw them join the Football League in 1932 in place of Thames AFC of East London. They were founder members of the Fourth Division in 1958-59, but were promoted at the end of 1972-73, lasting three seasons before relegation again. They were promoted for a second time in 1986-87, where they defeated Wolves over two legs in the first Fourth Division play-off final. But relegation two seasons later came amongst increasing financial issues that would lead to the club's demise in March 1992.
Aldershot Town FC was formed shortly after and quickly surged through the non-league pyramid, winning the Isthmian League and promotion to the Conference in 2002-03. At the end of their first season in the division, they went full-time, and went on to narrowly miss out on promotion the following year by losing to Carlisle on penalties in the play-off final. It wasn't until 2008 that the Hampshire town would have a Football League club again, as the Shots won promotion under Gary Waddock, finishing 15 points clear of Cambridge and our good selves.
Since then, the club has stabilised as a solid mid-table League Two club, the club's best season coming in 2009-10 when they finished 6th under Waddock's replacement Kevin Dillon, who would leave mid-way through the following season, to be replaced by current manager Dean Holdsworth.
The club's ground since formation has been the Recreation Ground. Its capacity is 7,100, with a record attendance of 19,138 against Carlisle during the 1970 FA Cup. The ground's highest profile match, though, was more recent - a League Cup tie in 2011 against Manchester United, which the visitors won 3-0 with goals from Berbatov, Owen and Valencia. It was the two clubs' first meeting since a tie in the same competition in 1970
The opposition
- After a mini-revival a few weeks ago, the Shots' form has dropped off once again, dropping them back into the relegation mix. Their last win came on January 12th against fellow strugglers Accrington. Since the start of February, they have picked up 2 draws (at high-flying Exeter and Cheltenham) but suffered 2 key defeats against Plymouth and Morecambe, which has led them dropping back into the relegation zone
- The club's most recent signing has been former Cheltenham striker Jeff Goulding, who was released by mutual consent by the Robins on Deadline Day. In January, they signed former Oxford midfielder Asa Hall on loan from Shrewsbury, Namibian international midfielder Oliver Risser on a free from Swindon, experienced centre-back Terrell Forbes and winger Lionel Ainsworth on loan from Rotherham. This has also coincided with a few players leaving - Reading loanee Michael Hector chose not to extend his loan deal, instead moving to Cheltenham, while the likes of the two Guys, Branston and Madjo, have both departed, along with striker Michael Rankine who has been loaned out to York
- Team vs Cheltenham: Young; Herd, Tonkin (s/o), Brown, Bradley; Vincenti, Risser, Ainsworth, Rose; Hylton, Goulding. Subs: G Morris, A Morris, Forbes, McNamee, Mekki, Hall, Cadogan
Head-to-head
- The combined record with the old and new Aldershot clubs gives Torquay a 40-34 lead, with 16 draws. 3 of Aldershot's wins came in the 3 FA Cup ties between the two sides
- In matches between Torquay and Aldershot Town (since 2007), Torquay again lead 5-3, with just 1 draw in September 2009
- The last meeting between the two sides in October will go down as one of the greatest games Plainmoor has ever seen. Craig Reid's 47-minute hat-trick was followed by goals from Bodin, Jarvis, Yeoman and Howe to give the Gulls a 4-3 win. Back then it was seen as a sign that we were doing OK as a side - different perspective now?
- Last year we did the double over Aldershot with 2 1-0 wins, the first coming at the Rec in August. It was very much in the smash-and-grab mould - a Mansell goal gave us the lead, and we clung on for the rest of the match. Sounds familiar...
- Our record against Aldershot Town at the Rec has been very good. Our first trip there this century gave us a 3-0 win, followed by a 2-0 win in 2010. Our only recent defeat there was in March 2011 when former Gull Luke Guttridge scored the only goal of the game. Before then, you have to go back to 1985 for our previous defeat at the ground. A good omen?
