MATCH PREVIEW: York City (A)

Aldershot Town make the 239-mile journey to North Yorkshire this weekend, as they face Vanarama National League high-fliers York City at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Founded in 1922, the club have contested the comfortable majority of their 103-year existence as a Football League club. However, the past 20 years have seen them become part of the non-league furniture. Playing in National League North as recently as 2022, a spectacular play-off run saw the club promoted back to step-one for the first time in five years, where they have gone from strength to strength since.

With an impressive 83 points from 41 matches, York find themselves in second place in England’s fifth-tier. Eight points adrift of Barnet, while still attainable, the automatic promotion spot appears unlikely at this stage in the season. However, they will undoubtedly be strong favourites to achieve play-off promotion, having already secured a semi-final berth.

RECENT FORM

With 12 points and as many goals from their last five matches, the Minstermen are the form team in the division.

05/04/25 – AFC Fylde 1-3 York City
29/03/25 – York City 3-0 Wealdstone
25/03/25 – Rochdale 0-4 York City
22/03/25 – Braintree Town 2-1 York City
15/03/25 – Yeovil Town 0-1 York City

With five games to go and a top-three finish mathematically secured, their only incentive now is the unlikely pursuit of chasing Barnet’s lead at the top.

IN THE DUGOUT

It isn’t every day that a former Shot occupies the opposition dugout, though this is exactly the case for Adam Hinshelwood, who played 18 times for the club in 2009/10.

The former defender spent the entirety of his playing career in the south of England, with spells at Wycombe Wanderers, Lewes, and most frequently Brighton & Hove Albion, where his recognisable surname is no coincidence.

He is a member of one of Britain’s most remarkable footballing families, as in addition to being both the son and grandson of former professionals, he is the father of current Seagulls midfielder Jack Hinshelwood, and uncle to England U17 international Harry Howell, also breaking through at the East Sussex side.

A gaffer since 2013, Hinshelwood’s greatest achievement in terms of silverware has been guiding Worthing to the Isthmian League title in 2021/22. Though, having lifted York from relegation contention to second in the league since his arrival in February 2024, his time in Yorkshire has certainly been most significant, and has understandably seen his managerial stock skyrocket in recent months.

LAST TIME OUT

There is usually little to separate these two sides, as the last eight meetings have seen five draws, with just one goal the difference in the remaining three.

This bore particularly true in the reverse fixture, as the tie finished goalless at the EBB Stadium in September.

Aldershot’s last trip to the LNER Community Stadium almost saw the same outcome, though a late goal saw the hosts emerge 1-0 victors in March 2024. Lennell Nicholas John-Lewis’ header in the 89th minute secured all three points, and represented both Hinshelwood’s first win with the club, and the beginning of a great-escape for the side second-from-bottom at the time.

FORMER SHOTS

While there are no current players in either squad who have played for both clubs, the two sides have shared plenty of personnel over the years, including Anthony Straker, Ryan Jarvis and perhaps most notably, England international and Carabao Cup winner Nick Pope, who enjoyed successive loan spells at both in 2013.

TICKET INFO

Tickets for the Shots’ trip to the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday, 12th April, can be bought online by clicking HERE.

This game has been chosen as the Shots’ 15th annual Tour of Duty with a bumper away following expected!

Shots supporters will be housed in the North Stand, blocks NC and ND.

Ticket prices are as follows. Subject to availability, you can purchase tickets on the day.