Assignment Two, Article One

Aldershot Town, the reincarnation of Aldershot FC, have won promotion to the Football League 16 years after the liquidation of the old Division Four club.

The Hampshire side, who have already won a league record number of games this season, confirmed their promotion with a 1-1 draw away at play-off contenders Exeter City.

Around 900 Shots fans travelled the 145 miles to Devon on Tuesday evening to witness Gary Waddock’s team clinch the Blue Square Premier title.

Aldershot Town’s message board, shotsweb.co.uk, was as busy as it has ever been on Tuesday evening and Wednesday as fans discussed their feelings about promotion, their chances next season and what the most memorable moment of the season was.

Dave Shearer, 20, and Aldershot fan for 9 years said: “hmm...words can't really describe the feeling we all went through last night. I'm no good with big words but... joy, excitement, relief etc... were a handful of the emotions I went through last night”

Another Dave, who posts under the alias One Club 26-08, has been a supporter for 39 years and his thoughts looked to both the past and the future.

When the final whistle went at St James Park the 50-year-old felt: “Relief, happiness and thoughts of past players and staff. I wondered how many of them were actually watching last night.”

In regards to the first season in the league he said: “I obviously want us to do as well as possible but just to stay up will be good. I think it is most important to get on a financial even keel and I have every confidence that out chairman will achieve just that.”

Many fans felt that Scott Davies’ 94th minute equaliser away at Torquay was the defining moment of the season, including 20-year-old Adam Carmichael who said: “The most memorable moment of the season I have witnessed was undoubtedly Scott Davies' 90th minute winner away at Torquay, at the beginning of March.

“I wasn't prepared to admit it until yesterday, but that goal won us the league - it gave us a huge lead over Torquay and gave everyone a real lift.”

However, Geoff Covey, alias Analex, 37, said: “The moment I started thinking 'aye aye, we might do something here' was when we got a late equaliser at Cambridge.

The 37-year-old, who has supported Aldershot since he was eight, also added that: “As for next year, the euphoria is great and I don't want to dampen that. Let's just say that in 60 previous years in the Football League, we managed only two promotions… So I'm not expecting miracles. On the other hand, I didn't this season either.”

Other Aldershot fans are confident of doing well next season, with several feeling that a play-off place is within their grasp.

43-year-old Bagshot Bob, real name Tony Roberts thinks that: “We will surprise a few teams and may just make the play-offs” and Zorro aka Geneva Shot, 32, will “stick £20 on a playoff place now.”

However, Adam Carmichael, who has supported Aldershot for 10 years said: “My heart says we will finish mid-table, but my head says we will probably struggle. The old club were always scrapping around the lower regions of the old Division Four when we went bust.”

Dave Shearer was also slightly less confident than other fans. He said: “With a handful of new defenders and a couple of strikers....I'm going for a mid table finish.”

Aldershot will be presented with the Blue Square Premier trophy at the all-ticket home game against Weymouth on Tuesday evening. The side can then start planning for next season in the Football League.