The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town 3-0 Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Happy Wembley day. Hoping today will be our best day watching the Shots. Buzzing
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supershots
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Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Just hand her your credit card
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Sean Chambers
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Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Still can’t quite believe it,that we are all going to see Aldershot Town play at Wembley.
If any fanbase deserves it then it’s most definitely ours.
All the heartache and tears over the years,well today the Pride of North Hampshire descends on North London where we finally have our day in the sun.
It’s been absolutely brilliant the way the town and the whole community has come together in their support of the club.
I have been to Wembley loads of times but today will be totally different as little old Aldershot Town are going to Wembley.
To walk down Wembley Way knowing that my home town club will be playing there will be emotional and special.
Thinking as well of all those special Shots fans that will be looking down on us all today and cheering us on.
Take it all in and enjoy the day.
If any fanbase deserves it then it’s most definitely ours.
All the heartache and tears over the years,well today the Pride of North Hampshire descends on North London where we finally have our day in the sun.
It’s been absolutely brilliant the way the town and the whole community has come together in their support of the club.
I have been to Wembley loads of times but today will be totally different as little old Aldershot Town are going to Wembley.
To walk down Wembley Way knowing that my home town club will be playing there will be emotional and special.
Thinking as well of all those special Shots fans that will be looking down on us all today and cheering us on.
Take it all in and enjoy the day.
“All religion is a foolish answer to a foolish question.” – Thomas Shelby
Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... e207pg782o
Spennymoor Town are used to punching above their weight in non-league football. But on Sunday, they aim to land the biggest blow in their history.
The National League North side are heading to Wembley for the FA Trophy final against Aldershot Town from the league above.
County Durham club Spennymoor have already knocked out three National League sides to get here, and now a fourth one stands between them and the trophy.
And if Spennymoor are victorious at the national stadium, they will become only the second club to have won both the FA Trophy and the FA Vase.
Before their big day in London, BBC Sport has spoken to two people entwined in the club's fabric.
By day, he is 'Sir'. But on Saturday afternoons and Tuesday evenings, Glen Taylor turns into one of the most prolific strikers in non-league football.
Taylor has been with Spennymoor since 2017, which he has combined with family life and teaching at a school in Houghton-le-Spring.
He has plundered 210 goals in 394 appearances, during which time the Moors have been ever-present in the sixth tier of English football against teams with bigger attendances and greater resources.
There were chances to join the paid ranks, but the striker, who turns 35 on Sunday, explains why he has stayed loyal to the club.
"I could have left when I was 27, 28," he said. "But we had just had our first child and I had a good career.
"It could have meant leaving my job and leaving the area on a one or two-year deal for less money. That never made any sense.
"People say, 'you've got no ambition', but it's about making sensible decisions. If you asked someone to go and work for a better company but on significantly less money, they wouldn't do it.
"I couldn't be happier. I have a really good job and I'm at the best non-league club in the north east."
Taylor works at World Alternative Education, a school for boys who have been excluded from mainstream education.
He believes his footballing exploits have allowed him to establish a positive rapport with his pupils.
"All the boys are into football and it helps that one of the other teachers is an EFL assistant referee," he added. "I think I've gained a bit of respect from them because of it.
"The usual questions I get asked are 'how much do you get paid?' or 'how did you get on?'
"Occasionally I'll come in on a Monday and they'll say 'That was a good goal,' as they will have found it on YouTube.
"But it helps the relationship. We play football on Wednesday so they've seen me play.
"I try to stay at the back and keep clear of trouble. You won't catch me trying to take the ball on the half-turn on the halfway line against them."
Spennymoor are aiming to become only the second club after AFC Fylde to win both the Vase and the Trophy.
The Trophy is the most prestigious cup for non-league teams - it is played for by teams who compete in levels five to eight in the English football pyramid (the Premier League and English football League make up levels one to four), with clubs from levels nine to 11 entering the Vase.
The Moors finished ninth in National League North this season competing against fully professional sides while still operating on a part-time basis, with the squad training on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Their run to Wembley has seen them knock out National League sides Boston United, Sutton United and Rochdale, the latter in the semi-finals.
And it has created lots of special memories for head of football Jason Ainsley.
He is 'Mr Spennymoor', having first signed for them as a player and then worked as assistant manager, coach, 13 years as manager and now in his current role.
He was in charge in May 2013 when they defeated Tunbridge Wells to lift the FA Vase.
"We get crowds of 1,200-1,300 from a population of 22,000 so the football team is a big part of what the community is all about," Ainsley said.
"For a club the size of ours to get to Wembley twice in 12 years, it's phenomenal really.
"In the Vase, we were the big pull at that time because we had a really strong team, the elite of north east players. North east clubs had a monopoly on the Vase and Spennymoor were expected to do really well.
"Now, it was important to have a good run but we've beaten some really strong sides.
"At Rochdale [in the last four], I got a car park space at the ground and we had flyers on our car doors about transport to Wembley.
"I think they just expected to turn up and win but we equalised with the last kick of the game and then stood up under pressure and scored all five penalties.
"That game just summed up Spennymoor."
The Moors have become used to battling against the odds, operating as a part-time club against former EFL regulars like Scunthorpe United and Chester City.
In the past few years, they have had to compete against Stockport County, Salford City and Harrogate Town, who have gone on to survive and thrive at higher levels.
But Spennymoor have found a way of succeeding by drawing on their unique spirit and togetherness.
"There are probably a lot of teams punching far less above their weight than we are," Ainsley added.
"Teams don't like coming to play us. Our pitch has a little bit of a slope on it and we have players who never give up and have that north east fighting spirit.
"They don't want to come here on a Tuesday night."
Ainsley will take his seat in the Royal Box at Wembley, confident his day will be less nerve-wracking than in 2013.
However, he will understand the emotions that manager Graeme Lee will be enduring on the touchline down below.
"Last time, I didn't even enjoy the night," he recalled. "I had a few pints and went to bed, I was just shattered.
"Now, it's a great occasion and I can take my seat and see the different level we're at from when I was manager. It will fill me with immense pride."
Spennymoor Town are used to punching above their weight in non-league football. But on Sunday, they aim to land the biggest blow in their history.
The National League North side are heading to Wembley for the FA Trophy final against Aldershot Town from the league above.
County Durham club Spennymoor have already knocked out three National League sides to get here, and now a fourth one stands between them and the trophy.
And if Spennymoor are victorious at the national stadium, they will become only the second club to have won both the FA Trophy and the FA Vase.
Before their big day in London, BBC Sport has spoken to two people entwined in the club's fabric.
By day, he is 'Sir'. But on Saturday afternoons and Tuesday evenings, Glen Taylor turns into one of the most prolific strikers in non-league football.
Taylor has been with Spennymoor since 2017, which he has combined with family life and teaching at a school in Houghton-le-Spring.
He has plundered 210 goals in 394 appearances, during which time the Moors have been ever-present in the sixth tier of English football against teams with bigger attendances and greater resources.
There were chances to join the paid ranks, but the striker, who turns 35 on Sunday, explains why he has stayed loyal to the club.
"I could have left when I was 27, 28," he said. "But we had just had our first child and I had a good career.
"It could have meant leaving my job and leaving the area on a one or two-year deal for less money. That never made any sense.
"People say, 'you've got no ambition', but it's about making sensible decisions. If you asked someone to go and work for a better company but on significantly less money, they wouldn't do it.
"I couldn't be happier. I have a really good job and I'm at the best non-league club in the north east."
Taylor works at World Alternative Education, a school for boys who have been excluded from mainstream education.
He believes his footballing exploits have allowed him to establish a positive rapport with his pupils.
"All the boys are into football and it helps that one of the other teachers is an EFL assistant referee," he added. "I think I've gained a bit of respect from them because of it.
"The usual questions I get asked are 'how much do you get paid?' or 'how did you get on?'
"Occasionally I'll come in on a Monday and they'll say 'That was a good goal,' as they will have found it on YouTube.
"But it helps the relationship. We play football on Wednesday so they've seen me play.
"I try to stay at the back and keep clear of trouble. You won't catch me trying to take the ball on the half-turn on the halfway line against them."
Spennymoor are aiming to become only the second club after AFC Fylde to win both the Vase and the Trophy.
The Trophy is the most prestigious cup for non-league teams - it is played for by teams who compete in levels five to eight in the English football pyramid (the Premier League and English football League make up levels one to four), with clubs from levels nine to 11 entering the Vase.
The Moors finished ninth in National League North this season competing against fully professional sides while still operating on a part-time basis, with the squad training on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Their run to Wembley has seen them knock out National League sides Boston United, Sutton United and Rochdale, the latter in the semi-finals.
And it has created lots of special memories for head of football Jason Ainsley.
He is 'Mr Spennymoor', having first signed for them as a player and then worked as assistant manager, coach, 13 years as manager and now in his current role.
He was in charge in May 2013 when they defeated Tunbridge Wells to lift the FA Vase.
"We get crowds of 1,200-1,300 from a population of 22,000 so the football team is a big part of what the community is all about," Ainsley said.
"For a club the size of ours to get to Wembley twice in 12 years, it's phenomenal really.
"In the Vase, we were the big pull at that time because we had a really strong team, the elite of north east players. North east clubs had a monopoly on the Vase and Spennymoor were expected to do really well.
"Now, it was important to have a good run but we've beaten some really strong sides.
"At Rochdale [in the last four], I got a car park space at the ground and we had flyers on our car doors about transport to Wembley.
"I think they just expected to turn up and win but we equalised with the last kick of the game and then stood up under pressure and scored all five penalties.
"That game just summed up Spennymoor."
The Moors have become used to battling against the odds, operating as a part-time club against former EFL regulars like Scunthorpe United and Chester City.
In the past few years, they have had to compete against Stockport County, Salford City and Harrogate Town, who have gone on to survive and thrive at higher levels.
But Spennymoor have found a way of succeeding by drawing on their unique spirit and togetherness.
"There are probably a lot of teams punching far less above their weight than we are," Ainsley added.
"Teams don't like coming to play us. Our pitch has a little bit of a slope on it and we have players who never give up and have that north east fighting spirit.
"They don't want to come here on a Tuesday night."
Ainsley will take his seat in the Royal Box at Wembley, confident his day will be less nerve-wracking than in 2013.
However, he will understand the emotions that manager Graeme Lee will be enduring on the touchline down below.
"Last time, I didn't even enjoy the night," he recalled. "I had a few pints and went to bed, I was just shattered.
"Now, it's a great occasion and I can take my seat and see the different level we're at from when I was manager. It will fill me with immense pride."
Last edited by Aldershot on Mon May 12, 2025 10:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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stevieshot
- Co-owner
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- Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 1:02 pm
- Location: Guildford
Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
I'm all set, TNT added for later on. Beers in the fridge. Snacks ready. NOT THAT I'M EXCITED
Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/s ... ue-finals/
Aldershot Town and Whyteleafe FC, will make their mark on football history as they take to Wembley Stadium for the Isuzu FA Trophy and Isuzu FA Vase finals, today.
Aldershot Town, making their first-ever appearance at Wembley, will face Spennymoor Town in the FA Trophy final. The match comes after a dramatic semi-final in which Aldershot triumphed 2-1 over local rivals Woking. The game was a rollercoaster, with two penalties, a red card, and a last-minute header from Jack Barham to seal the victory. It was a moment of triumph for Aldershot, who have spent years building up to this point.
Manager Tommy Widdrington reflected on the significance of today’s final, saying, “Wembley is the ultimate stage. We’ve worked hard to get here, and now it’s time to take the next step. It’s a huge day for the club, and we’re determined to make the most of it.”
Even celebrity fan and pro golfer Justin Rose is excited for the match, seen "rocking" the club's logo on his bag.
Aldershot finished third in the National League South this season (did we? ) and will be looking to add the FA Trophy to their accomplishments. For key players like Josh Barrett, who has scored 18 goals this season, today’s final represents an opportunity to etch their names into the club’s history. Barrett said, “This is the kind of match you dream of playing in. Wembley is special, and we’ll be doing everything we can to bring the trophy home.”
In the FA Vase final, Whyteleafe FC will also be hoping to create history as they face Whitstable Town. Formed only in 2021 after the previous Whyteleafe FC folded, the club has risen quickly through the non-league ranks, earning promotions from the eighth tier to the fifth tier in a short space of time. The club’s meteoric rise was capped off with a third-place finish in the Combined Counties Premier Division South this season, just a point behind second-place Redhill and champions Jersey Bulls.
Both clubs will be cheered on by thousands of passionate supporters who have followed their teams through the highs and lows of non-league football.
Aldershot Town and Whyteleafe FC, will make their mark on football history as they take to Wembley Stadium for the Isuzu FA Trophy and Isuzu FA Vase finals, today.
Aldershot Town, making their first-ever appearance at Wembley, will face Spennymoor Town in the FA Trophy final. The match comes after a dramatic semi-final in which Aldershot triumphed 2-1 over local rivals Woking. The game was a rollercoaster, with two penalties, a red card, and a last-minute header from Jack Barham to seal the victory. It was a moment of triumph for Aldershot, who have spent years building up to this point.
Manager Tommy Widdrington reflected on the significance of today’s final, saying, “Wembley is the ultimate stage. We’ve worked hard to get here, and now it’s time to take the next step. It’s a huge day for the club, and we’re determined to make the most of it.”
Even celebrity fan and pro golfer Justin Rose is excited for the match, seen "rocking" the club's logo on his bag.
Aldershot finished third in the National League South this season (did we?
) and will be looking to add the FA Trophy to their accomplishments. For key players like Josh Barrett, who has scored 18 goals this season, today’s final represents an opportunity to etch their names into the club’s history. Barrett said, “This is the kind of match you dream of playing in. Wembley is special, and we’ll be doing everything we can to bring the trophy home.”In the FA Vase final, Whyteleafe FC will also be hoping to create history as they face Whitstable Town. Formed only in 2021 after the previous Whyteleafe FC folded, the club has risen quickly through the non-league ranks, earning promotions from the eighth tier to the fifth tier in a short space of time. The club’s meteoric rise was capped off with a third-place finish in the Combined Counties Premier Division South this season, just a point behind second-place Redhill and champions Jersey Bulls.
Both clubs will be cheered on by thousands of passionate supporters who have followed their teams through the highs and lows of non-league football.
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Melbourne Red
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Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Cheers, pretty dire game, but we just about did enough - scores were level with 5 minutes to go and we added two behinds (one with a set shot from the goal square!).Aldershot wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 7:54 amCongrats on the win! I'd like to forget all about 2018 - I'm still not over Dom Sheed's goal and the non-call hold on Brayden Maynard. There have been some positive signs for Richmond this year and with the Tassie team coming in 2028, it's probably a good time to stock up on draft picks before they get a load of list concessions.Melbourne Red wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 12:59 amWe should win, but like the shots our team has a lot of youngsters who can’t necessarily be depended on to produce their best every week.
I’m going, as I do every year, with a mate who’s an Eagles fan - it’s funny to think that as recently as 2018 this was a game between the top two teams in the table.
Fortunately he does take a bit of interest in the shots (he’s enjoyed some of hiccup’s matchday videos that I’ve sent him) so we should be able to have a bit of Wembley chat between groaning at our respective teams’ skill errors.
Let's hope it's not the only victory you get to celebrate today!
Will certainly settle for a similarly dull game if the result is the same later…
29,500 at the G so the Wembley crowd should comfortably beat that.
COYS
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Aldershot_Rob
- Posts: 2043
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- Location: England
Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Great post, Sean. I hope you enjoy your daySean Chambers wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 8:25 am Still can’t quite believe it,that we are all going to see Aldershot Town play at Wembley.
If any fanbase deserves it then it’s most definitely ours.
All the heartache and tears over the years,well today the Pride of North Hampshire descends on North London where we finally have our day in the sun.
It’s been absolutely brilliant the way the town and the whole community has come together in their support of the club.
I have been to Wembley loads of times but today will be totally different as little old Aldershot Town are going to Wembley.
To walk down Wembley Way knowing that my home town club will be playing there will be emotional and special.
Thinking as well of all those special Shots fans that will be looking down on us all today and cheering us on.
Take it all in and enjoy the day.
Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Had my first pint. Cor I am loving this day already. Can’t wait to hear the red and blue army in full voice at WEMBLEY!!!!!! Jeepers I’m excited
Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Agreed! Looking forward to it and see you next season Sean! Ps, have you met Alex yet?Aldershot_Rob wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 11:17 amGreat post, Sean. I hope you enjoy your daySean Chambers wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 8:25 am Still can’t quite believe it,that we are all going to see Aldershot Town play at Wembley.
If any fanbase deserves it then it’s most definitely ours.
All the heartache and tears over the years,well today the Pride of North Hampshire descends on North London where we finally have our day in the sun.
It’s been absolutely brilliant the way the town and the whole community has come together in their support of the club.
I have been to Wembley loads of times but today will be totally different as little old Aldershot Town are going to Wembley.
To walk down Wembley Way knowing that my home town club will be playing there will be emotional and special.
Thinking as well of all those special Shots fans that will be looking down on us all today and cheering us on.
Take it all in and enjoy the day.
Wylie, McLaughlan & Jack, Taylor, Kinnell & Moore, Sugden, Dickson, Mullen, Bostock & Ross.
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ShottyMcShotface
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Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Currently in the Globe. Loving it in here but wondered if Box Park was now free to get in? Anyone know??
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RuislipShot
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Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
No still pay to get in
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Reg's corner
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Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
When is team announcement?
Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Usually an hour before kick off!
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ShottyMcShotface
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Re: The 2025 FA Trophy Final - Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town (Match Day Thread)
Box park now free and awesome!