The Shots travel to the J.Davidson Stadium this weekend to face Altrincham in the Vanarama National League.
Known as ‘The Robins’, the Mancunian-based side were founded in 1891, and as founder members of the Alliance Premier League, have been a sporadic figure in England’s fifth-tier since 1979.
Our hosts currently sit in eighth in the Vanarama National League table with 55 points from 35 games so far this season, and with this being the first of four successive home fixtures, will be hoping their tremendous form as hosts will see them enter the play-offs for a second successive season.
Regan Linney is Altrincham’s top scorer so far this season with 19 goals, with only York’s Ollie Pearce (22) besting him in the entire division. Fortunately for the Shots, Linney will not feature in this tie, as an off the ball incident versus Southend has seen the forward given a retrospective three-match ban, which began during Tuesday’s visit to Rochdale.
RECENT FORM
After a nine-game unbeaten start to the calendar year, the Robins suddenly find themselves with four losses from their last five.
- 11/03/25 – Rochdale 3-0 Altrincham
- 08/03/25 – Southend United 2-1 Altrincham
- 04/03/25 – York City 1-2 Altrincham
- 01/03/25 – Rochdale 2-0 Altrincham (FA Trophy)
- 22/02/25 – Altrincham 1-2 AFC Fylde
Saturday’s fixture will be their first at the J.Davidson Stadium in three weeks, where they suffered defeat at the hands of local rivals AFC Fylde.
This result was fairly anomalous, however, as the Greater Manchester side are generally to be considered a force at home. In all competitions, their only other loss as hosts came all the way back in August.
IN THE DUGOUT
Not to be confused with his Wrexham-based namesake, Phil Parkinson has been in charge of the Robins since April 2017, making him the second-longest-serving manager in the National League, behind Maidenhead’s Alan Devonshire (2015).
He joined the Robins after an impressive spell at Nantwich Town, transforming them from relegation candidates to promotion hopefuls, while also taking the club to their first ever FA Trophy semi-final.
His tenure at Moss Lane has also been an incredibly successful one, winning the Northern Premier League title during his first season in charge, before achieving national league status two-years later, beating Chester, York City and Boston on the way to play-off promotion.
Parkinson’s Robins are currently in contention to enter the play-offs once more this campaign. Having never entered the Football League as a club, he will be hoping to improve upon last season’s heartbreak, as they lost to eventual Wembley winners Bromley in the semis.
LAST TIME OUT
With ten places between them on the day, the Shots were somewhat unfancied victors in the reverse fixture, taking all three points in a 2-1 win at the EBB in late November.
Two first-half strikes from James Henry was enough to see off an Altrincham side that finished the game with ten men after Tom Crawford’s second yellow for preventing a counter-attack.
With an identical gap between the two leading up to this weekend’s encounter, Aldershot will be hoping to complete a similar upset on the road.
FORMER SHOTS
Justin Amaluzor – Known simply as ‘Justin’ on the back of his shirt, the 28-year-old winger scored an impressive eight goals in 41 National League matches for Aldershot in his solitary season with the club in 2022/23.
Moving directly to Altrincham the following summer, he has seen similar levels of attacking output, most recently scoring a winner against York City with an improvisational chest-finish.
Ethan Ross – Normally the Robins’ first-choice keeper, Enfield-born Ethan Ross has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury.
Ross played just nine times for the Aldershot during a short loan from Stockport in Spring 2022. He played a significant role in ensuring the team’s National League survival that year, as stand-out performances in wins against Yeovil Town and Notts County helped the Shots achieve mathematical safety.
TICKET INFO
Tickets for the Shots’ trip to Altrincham this weekend can be bought online by clicking HERE
Tickets are listed as “Home” and “Away” so please ensure you have selected the relevant age category listed as “Away”.
Prices are as follows:
- Adults (18+): £20
- Concessions (Over 65’s/Full-time Students 18+/NHS workers) £15
- Youth (Aged 12-18): £9
- Child Aged 5-11: £4
- Child Aged U5: £1
Hot & cold food and drinks will be served from the kiosks inside the stadium. Payment is by cash and/or card. Please note away fans will be unable to purchase alcohol at the J. Davidson Stadium. The designated public house for away supporters is The King George on Moss Lane, approximately 350-yards from the stadium.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT
Live updates will be available from our social media platforms X (@OfficialShots), Instagram (@aldershottownfcofficial), and Facebook. After the game, highlights will be available on our YouTube channel.
The game can be streamed by overseas viewers via DAZN’s National League TV coverage. Click HERE to purchase a match pass.
There will be live commentary of the game provided by BBC Radio Surrey – listen online HERE
