The history of Aldershot Town is relatively short, with the club being formed only in 1992, out of the ashes of Aldershot FC. That March, the club had become the first Football League club to go out of business during a season since Accrington Stanley 30 years before. Its record expunged, a phoenix club was formed taking the name Aldershot Town, reviving the suffix that had been dropped in 1932. The new club, which inherited the characterful Recreation Ground from its predecessor, was placed five divisions lower in Isthmian League Division Three. Two successive promotions followed, and in 2002/03 they were finally promoted to the Conference – where their first game was against none other than the revived Accrington Stanley.

Eventually, in 2008, the club was promoted to the Football League. Their second season there was the most successful, reaching the semi-finals of the League Two promotion play-offs, only to be knocked out by Rotherham Utd. However, in 2013, after five seasons in the fourth tier, they were relegated back to the fifth tier, where they have been ever since. Despite featuring unsuccessfully in the National League play-offs in 2016/17 and 2017/18, in subsequent seasons they have mostly bumped around the lower reaches of the league, with the one exception being an eighth-place finish in 2023/24. One recent high point, though, was winning the FA Trophy in 2024/25. Following a semi-final defeat of local rivals Woking, Aldershot Town triumphed in the final at Wembley, beating Spennymoor Town 3-0.

Shots’ manager John Coleman.

John Coleman is almost certainly the only current National League team manager to have had a bar named after him – “Coleys“, attached to the stadium of Accrington Stanley. Given that the man spent the best part of a quarter-of-a-century managing that team (23 years, with a two-year gap in the middle), during which time he led them for 1,098 games, bringing the team up from the Northern Premier League First Division up to the giddy heights of League One, one might think this type of reward, or memorial, is a fitting one.

As a player, Coleman, who hails from Kirkby (the second ‘k’ is silent) on Merseyside, played for at least 11 non-league teams, all of them scattered around the north-west of England, and including Southport, the now defunct Runcorn and Macclesfield Town, Morecambe and Ashton Utd (where he was a player-manager). He gained a reputation for being a prolific goal-scorer.

His appointment as manager at Accrington Stanley in 1999 proved the start of a long relationship with the club. His departure to Rochdale in 2012 was controversial, but his stay there only lasted a year. Following his dismissal from the Dale, Coleman expressed an interest in coming to FGR to succeed Dave Hockaday but this did not come to be. After a couple of months in Ireland with Sligo Rovers, Coleman returned to Lancashare to again take charge of Accy Stanley, this time getting them up into League One.  As the club struggled in the 2023/24 season, having been relegated to League Two the previous year, Coleman was sacked. He then had a short but unsuccessful spell in charge of Gillingham, before returning to Ireland to manage Waterford, again without much success.

He was appointed as manager of Aldershot Town on 24 October 2025.

Much better than they were doing. The replacement of Tommy Widdrington as manager by John Coleman in October didn’t lead to an immediate upturn in performance, after the Shots lingered in or near the relegation zone for much of the first half of the season. But then the legendary “new manager bounce” set in, with the team going unbeaten throughout January and February until the final day of February, when Rochdale did what you’d expect Rochdale to do. One particularly impressive result from this golden spell was the 3-1 defeat of Scunthorpe. Even when they were near the foot of the league, the Shots were scoring a lot of goals – as seen in their 5-1 and 4-0 victories over Solihull Moors and Morecambe, respectively.  Indeed as things stand, they’ve scored the same number of goals in league games (60) as Rovers, despite being eight places below them in the table, while only the top four teams in the league have scored more than the Shots (York may be in a league of their own on this measure). Aldershot have also conceded a fair number of goals, with a small negative goal difference, although a 5-1 walloping by York City is possibly the most outstanding example of this happening in one game. A recent change of ownership has buoyed the hopes of many Shots fans about the direction of the club, but it’s still hard to predict whether they will face relegation or will cling on in the fifth tier.

This season’s fixture for Rovers at the Recreation Ground, played in November 2025, was entertaining, if nail-biting towards the end. Having got to being three points ahead, and Aldershot offering apparently nothing of note, Rovers fans chants of “Can we play you every week?” were silenced by two Shots goals in rapid succession. Thankfully no more followed, and the scoreline ended up at 3-2, Rovers’ goals comprising a Kyle McAllister brace and one from Jayden Clarke.

The Shots’ most recent visit to Nailsworth was in December 2024, when a Charlie McCann goal extended Rovers’ unbeaten run in the league to 11 matches as the game finished 1-1.

Forest Green Rovers F.C. – The New Lawn, Another Way, Nailsworth, Stroud, GL6 0FG

Parking is available in the adjacent school car park, just a short walk from the stadium. Spaces cost £15 per car and must be booked in advance by calling 0333 123 1889 (Monday, Thursday and Friday at 11am to 2pm) or by emailing reception@fgr.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can use the Park and Ride service from Renishaw (Bath Road, Nailsworth, Stroud, GL5 5EY). It opens at 12:30pm on matchday and costs £5 per car (card only).

If parking on surrounding streets, please be considerate of local residents.

Rovers Raffle – organised by the Supporters Club to subsidise away travel, ground improvements, Women’s, Academy teams etc. Tickets cost £1 each (cash or card accepted) with winners announced at half time or check winning numbers here – Raffle Results – Forest Green Rovers Supporters Club

The Green Man  – Normally home fans only,  serves food and drink. Opens 12:00pm.

Gym Bar – Open again in the East Stand, and open to other home supporters after the match.

Club Shop – Opens 12:00pm. TNL is a cashless stadium. To find out about hospitality and events, please email hospitality@fgr.co.uk.