WREXHAM’S promotion in May bestowed a dubious honour on Aldershot Town. They are now the longest-serving club in the National League.
“The supporters don’t want that record,” says manager Tommy Widdrington. “I don’t want that record. Nobody wants that record.
“That’s not me saying we’re a big club or a sleeping giant or anything like that. What I’m saying is that when I was a kid growing up in Newcastle, I knew Aldershot Town were a club in the Football League.
“That might not be the objective right now but it has to be the ultimate aspiration of any club in this division. Otherwise what’s the point in being here?”
Aldershot nearly did lose their unwanted title last season, but it wasn’t the sort of triumphant exit that Widdrington aspires to.
When the former Southampton midfielder was controversially lured from King’s Lynn to replace Ross McNeilly in April, the Shots had won once in ten attempts and sat just five points above the relegation zone. A week later, the gap was down to two.
Ultimately, successive victories against Scunthorpe and Wealdstone proved enough to hold off Gary Johnson’s resurgent Torquay, but it was a close-run thing.
“Too close,” admits Widdrington. “Which is why the first objective has to be making sure we’re not looking over our shoulders again in April.
“When I got here there was nothing wrong with the fitness and the organisation. But the team didn’t have a definitive identity on the pitch.
Denne historien er fra July 09, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 09, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WRAGGY WILL BE SORELY MISSED
MACCLESFIELD FC have led the tributes to “colossal” former manager Peter Wragg, who has passed away.
BURY & RAMMY HIT BIG STAGE!
BRYANLY’S late penalty kept Bury top of the tree in front of another record-breaking crowd at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day.
BRAVE BERKO ARE ON TRACK
Ducks demolition maintains title tilt
OWLS THAT! CLEE GLEE ON TOP OF THE TREE
CLEETHORPES Town maintained their four-point lead at the top of NPL East with a hard-fought 2-1 derby win over North Ferriby at the Myenergi Stadium.
HAWKS SWOOP IN FOR DERBY GLORY
REUBEN AUSTIN hailed Havant & Waterlooville teammate Leon Maloney’s wonder goal as ‘a hell of a strike’ as the Hawks continued their promotion push with a 3-1 local derby success over Gosport Borough.
JULIUS DICTATES - BUT FANS MIST IT
JULUS Ndene handed Leek Town a famous victory in the mist – not that any of the fans got to see it!
GOLDEN BROWN BACK AT THE TOP
PHIL Brown gave his Kidderminster Harriers players Christmas off – and was rewarded with a climb to the top of the tree.
BRENNAN'S BOYS SALVAGED IN 'KAMIKAZE' YEAR END
STRAIGHT talking Dean Brennan lamented ‘kamikaze’ defending despite seeing his Barnet nick a dramatic late point to end 2024 at the National League summit.
FIVE-STAR PIRATES PUMMEL ROVERS
IN the final game of the year at the Ledger Stadium, second-placed Real Bedford faced off against fourth-placed Barton Rovers, who arrived as the league’s in-form side.
MOORE'S LATE GOAL SEALS BIG REDS WIN
GEORGE Moore was the hero grabbing a stoppage-time winner to sink Kingstonian and take Uxbridge to third in the table in what is becoming a fascinating promotion race in the Pitching-In Isthmian South Central.
