Having missed out on the playoffs by only two points last season, Aldershot Town fans will be hoping to see their side go one better this season.
It has been eleven years since the club last played in the Football League and last season the North Hampshire looked to be on course to reach the play-offs.
However, with one win in the final eight league games their dreams were dashed and Halifax Town took seventh place on the final day of the season.
Pre-Season:
Pre-season has gone well, with five wins from eight games including an impressive 3-1 victory at home to League One side Birmingham City.
Although, the real test is on Saturday when Forest Green Rovers visit the EBB Stadium for the first game of the new campaign.
Speaking to the club’s website, manager Tommy Widdrington stated…
“We’ve picked up one or two knocks and niggles along the way.
“On the whole, I think we’ve got a relatively fit and fighting group to pick from for the first game that we are going to face.”
Transfers:
Widdrington has brought in 12 new faces over the summer.
Goalkeeper Pat Nash, who was signed from neighbours Farnham Town, has returned to his former club on a season-long loan to gain first-team action.
Many players have also left the club over the summer, with the most noticeable being Lorent Tolaj, the club’s top goalscorer last season.
The Swiss striker joined League Two side Port Vale at the end of June and will be greatly missed by the supporters and team alike.
Tolaj weighed in with 25 goals in all competitions and won both the Supporters Club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season.
What is the biggest issue that Aldershot need to address?
The defence remained the constant worry over the course of the 2023/24 season, with the Shots conceding 83 goals in their 46 league games.
Of those 46 games, only seven of them ended with Widdrington’s men keeping a clean sheet.
This remains a matter that Tommy Widdrington will need to address this season along with how to replace goalmachine Lorent Tolaj.