Aldershot Travel – Saturday

Aldershot Town v Hereford United

Skrill Premier

Saturday 26^th April 2014  KO 5.30 pm.

The Electrical Services Stadium

Recreation Ground

High Street

Aldershot

GU11 1TW

Phone 01252 320211

There has been football at “The Rec” since 1927 when the then newly formed Aldershot FC played their first game in The Southern League against Grays Athletic.  In 1932, they won the Southern League title and successfully applied to join the Football League replacing Thames FC who declined to apply for re-election.  Apart from a brief spell between 1973 and 1976, they spent their entire life in the bottom division before succumbing to the years of financial difficulties and going out of business in March 1992.

In response to the bankruptcy, a group of supporters set up a new club, Aldershot Town, and entered the Isthmian League Division Three – five levels below their previous level.  The attendance for their first Isthmian League game was higher than that of their final home game as a League Club.  Just sixteen years later, in April 2008 they won promotion back to The Football League but fell back to The Conference at the end of 2012/13.  They are currently managed by Andy Scott

Visiting fans are accommodated on part of the covered East Bank Terrace with around 200 seats also available in the South Stand.

Admission – Terrace, Adults £17, Conc. £13 (Over 60’s, Students Over 18 with NUS card) and U16’s £5 with U6’s going free.  Seating, Adults £19, Conc. £15, and U16’s £8 with U6’s free.   Visiting disabled spectators are situated in front of the South Stand.

By Car – travel via Gloucester, Cirencester and Swindon to join the M4 (sign London).  Leave the M4 at J10 and join the A329 (M) (sign Wokingham, Bracknell).  Continue onto the A329 (sign Bracknell, Ascot) then at the Twin Bridges roundabout, join the A322 (sign Bagshot).  Continue on the A322 following signs for the M3.  Join the M3 South (sign Southampton).  Leave the M3 at J4 and join the A331 towards Aldershot.  Exit at Aldershot South and turn right at the roundabout towards Town Centre.  Go straight on at the lights and passed Manor Park (on your left).  Continue under the railway bridge and “The Rec” is just passed the bridge on the right.  Do not park on the grass verges or pavement on Ordnance Road, you almost certain to get a ticket.  There is limited parking available in the Parsons Barracks car park (next to the ground) priced at £1 for the whole day but this is usually full by 1.45 pm on match days.  Alternatively, there are secure and equally cheap pay and display parks just a few minutes walk away in the town.  Distance is about 130 miles and you should allow three hours fifteen minutes.  Postcode GU11 1TW

HUISA – departs from Radford’s at 12.00 noon with a fare of £18 (£20 non-members).  Spaces can be booked through the Club office (01432 375630)

FUNBUS – A full coach will depart at the earlier time of 10.30am with a sentimental Pub stop on route.

Alehouses – There is a dedicated visitors bar under the South Stand otherwise, the town centre is just a five-minute walk from the main entrance to the ground.  The Beehive and the Crimea are the closest to the ground.  The Golden Lion on High Street is smallish but serves a good pint of Pride along with reasonable bar food.  For those looking for a choice of ale, you might try The Garden Gate on Church Lane East (ten-minute walk).  At the top of Redlan Road by the roundabout is “La Fontaine” which is just across the road from pathway to the visitors turnstiles  I’ve found no trace of a ‘Spoons.  Given the recent problems at The Shots, my advice is to stay in areas patrolled by the local Police with La Fontaine being probably the best.

The nearest chip shop appears to be “Tony’s Fish Shop” which is on the High Street a ten-minute walk away towards the town centre.

They don’t come much bigger than this one.

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