Unofficial WHAT’S NEXT IN THE ALDERSHOT TOWN CHAPTER? Penned by “The Aldershot Writer”, featuring special guest and co-Club Founder of Aldershot Town, Graham Brookland; the End of Season edition also features player statistics courtesy of Club Statistician Pete Stanford and with the finest images from Club Photographer Ian Morsman. Delivering player, staff and boardroom member profiles to extras including written interviews, and more! Stay tuned to see what’s next in the Aldershot Town FC chapter, by visiting www.thealdershotwriter.tumblr.com. Official Major Shirt Sponsors Aldershot Town FC 2013-2014 End of Season Annual 1 | Page The whole new 21st century experience brought to you by “The Aldershot Writer”, delivers news; rumours; match previews and reviews; player, staff and director profiles and a new-look and improving Fans section; and much more. To stay tuned, visit www.thealdershotwriter.tumblr.com. Stadium Sponsors Aldershot Town FC 2013-2014 End of Season Annual 2 | Page ABOUT THE AUTHOR Last time, I was delighted to release my 2013/2014 Aldershot Town Annual (unofficial), back in December (2013), before the forthcoming Christmas. It’s always exciting to write, most of all about the Shots – I have improved greatly since last time out. Being encouraged by several personnel and supporters alike, that was the first step to an improvement in my writing and overall, how I approach different projects. I must therefore thank (not least using the Role of Thanks on the following page), but here and for most in advance; here. I have been supporting the Shots for roughly nine years now – I know it’s a short time but I cannot describe my passion and love for Aldershot Town Football Club. My last annual featured a special message from Aldershot Town Chairman, Shahid Azeem, as well as an article or two from The Shots Trust’s Media & Communications Director, Tommy Anderson. GRAHAM BROOKLAND Graham served in a variety of roles at both; the football club and the Supporters’ Club, since the birth of the football club back in 1992, right up until the debt ridden summer of 2013 – serving in the following roles: Head of Media, Website Editor, Shotsline, Secretary and also, a club Director. Thanks again to Graham for contributing and his encouragement to/with this project. Aldershot Town FC 2013-2014 End of Season Annual 3 | Page ROLE OF THANKS This list could be endless, comprehensive and very, very detailed! But, I’ll keep it short and snappy and maybe a little straight to the point. So here goes…. Tommy Anderson – Wrote an article or two for my last annual, which was released just before Christmas (2013). His enthusiasm and interest and tips and advice have really helped me, and a thanks must go to him, plus Ian Goodwright, Chairman of the Shots Trust for our interview a little while back. Graham (thanks also for the article) & Oliver Brookland – Graham, a co-Club Founder of the “original” football club; the pair have really driven me on and I wouldn’t be here today with my website without Graham; who introduced me to a few members of the Club’s Media Team in 2012/2013. Not least the encouragement and being driven to believe in my writing and to know it will pay off. Shahid Azeem – Interviewed this very friendly character in the latter of the season (in April, 2014), and very friendly and very helpful too. Ian Morsman – Would always come high on this list, as describe in my previous annual – an overall great round chap, providing me with the ever so professional and the thinkable top art quality photographs for my blog (website) and annuals like this one. Andy Scott – The first team boss - who invited me back in August (2013) for some breakfast with the players. It was a fantastic and memorable day. Pete Stanford – A thanks for providing the statistical information (found on individual page) for this and my last annual. Furthermore, I must list and thank here: my mum, my dad, and further family, including my brother(s), who has been a great help to my unofficial Aldershot Town FC podcast, called ‘Shots Cast’, and I also must list and thank Richard Petty, Tony Knights, the ShotsWeb.co.uk Forum Team and Head of Media Steve Gibbs, and anyone else who I haven’t included on the above list. Aldershot Town FC 2013-2014 End of Season Annual 4 | Page M CLUB HISTORY Aldershot Town Football Club was born in With 1992, by co-Club Founders, Terry Owens and Graham Brookland, after the fold of the debt “The Aldershot Writer” ridden Aldershot FC that March. And within the first season, they were marked champions of the Isthmian League Division Three and a year later, followed by a promotion from the Isthmian League Division Two as well as reaching the quarter-final stages in the FA Vase. Four seasons in Division One flew by - lifting another trophy; that of the Isthmian League Division One and also winners of the Hampshire Senior Cup the season after. In 2003, they were granted promotion to the Football Conference and during this period, they were again winners of the Hampshire Senior Cup and then followed by the FA Trophy until the trophy cupboard remained rather dusty when they were crowned champions of the Blue Square Premier, receiving clearance into the Football League as it’s supporters relished the club’s new Football League status. Aldershot Town FC 2013-2014 End of Season Annual 5 | Page After the next five years, that status had been stripped from them as the Shots dropped out of the Football League, being relegated on the final day at the New York Stadium with a 2-0 defeat in the hands of Rotherham United, an emotional time for all but their woes didn’t end there. Being placed into administration by majority shareholder (at the time), Kris Machala, on behalf of the board of directors, major creditors the McGinty Trust, appointed administrators, Paul Anthony Goddard and Carl Stuart Jackson of Quantuma Restructuring with no fewer than thirteen others being made redundant in the summer of 2013. Supporters and former players and other well-known names, not necessarily connected to the club in anyway, donated some of their hard earned cash from an appeal by co-club founders Terry Owens and Graham Brookland. This was accompanied by a consortium, just three directors remained on board from last term with a hopefully positive future ahead as the club survived by the skin of it’s teeth. It hasn’t been an easy one over the years, full of ups and downs, and some life-living memories, but the important thing is THE PHOENIX LIVES ON! Aldershot Town FC 2013-2014 End of Season Annual 6 | Page M SOME WISE WORDS FROM GRAHAM BROOKLAND Some wise words from a co-Club Founder of Aldershot Town and recently appointed Club Ambassador, With Graham Brookland, who lives, speaks and writes Aldershot Town, who held a variety of roles at the Graham Brookland football club since it’s birth in 1992; right up until the CLUB AMBASSADOR dismal and emotional 2013 administration days. After a turbulent year it is hoped that the conclusion of the 2013/14 season will set the foundations for the football club as it looks to the future. It was never going to be easy and, indeed, not pretty too. The disruption of relegation from the Football League added to the woe of administration ensured that there would be obstacles, and plenty of them, to endure along the way before any kind of firm footing could be considered. There are no winners from such an experience because of the effect and negativity that surrounds it and that has to be accepted because if any football club should have learned its lessons from the past then it is Aldershot Town. The healing process takes longer for some individuals than others and the obvious anger, disappointment and finger pointing was always going to occur and that is understandable. However the target for phase one of post admin Aldershot Town was to Aldershot Town FC 2013-2014 End of Season Annual 7 | Page remain a member of the Conference Premier division. Defeats in March at Tamworth and Braintree Town led many Shots supporters to believe that they may be on the verge of witnessing a double demotion. My view is that such a confirmation would have had a catastrophic effect with regards to the supporter base of the club and its perception. Walking out of the stadium at Braintree there was plenty of discussions taking place. It was generally accepted that the supporters had done their bit with rallying cries and that the only people who could get us out of this sticky situation were the players and management. They should receive great credit for the turnaround of fortunes. Brett Williams' penalty in the sixth minute of injury time at Macclesfield Town paved the way. Everything that epitomizes the experiences of being a football supporter summed up in the kick of a ball. Had that penalty not been converted the consequences could have been severe. The lad showed calmness and composure of extortionate proportions as he slotted the ball home and supporters young and old hugged each other in delirium. The work was continued in nervy circumstances as Salisbury City were defeated 3-2 on Good Friday and then Woking. Uncle Tom Cobbley and all were at Kingfield on that Easter Monday lunchtime and it was an occasion that will be remembered for many a year. Mark Molesley's late winner meant that the party could begin in earnest whilst Williams' maturity in dealing with a pressurised situation shone through again minutes before and why not celebrate.