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Irish invasion to bring pride and passion back to Aldershot
 After
Niall Quinn and Roy Keane’s successful Irish revolution at Sunderland,
an Irish influx at Aldershot Town is looking to make a similar impact
with the Hampshire club. Elaine Sheridan speaks to the Gael force driving
‘The Shots’ to success.
Like it or loath it the football season is back with a bang and fans
are already planning long evenings in front of television screens in support
of their favourite teams.
While Irish football fans are eager to see how the Irish revolution at
Sunderland will fare in the Premiership, a small but equally momentous
uprising is taking place in a town down south.
Aldershot Town Football Club in Hampshire is hoping the luck of the Irish
will rub off just as it did on Wearside when Niall Quinn and Roy Keane
arrived last season.
Not only that but the club’s Irish chairman, John McGinty, has high
hopes that the Irish links will go beyond its sporting dimensions and
create a whole new Irish community within the heart of the army town
giving ex-pats a place to call home.
The Irish influx at the club is evident both on and off the pitch.
And with the chairman, director, manager, sponsor and new squad member
all being Irish, it is being hailed as a mini-Irish revolution.
John who is originally from Achill in Mayo said: “It’s amazing
really that there’s such an Irish presence here at the club.”
“Maybe it will attract some of the many Celts who are living among
us in Aldershot but who don’t realise what we’re about.”
At 70 John has been chairman since last October and was heavily involved
with the club for many years before that seeing it go through
a series of ups and downs, which included the club going bust back in
1992 and then being relegated five divisions.
But thanks to the Irish hope has now been restored and Aldershot Town
Football Club is looking forward to a future of glory and success both
on and off the pitch.
John is keen for the club to embrace a more diverse range of activities
outside the soccer arena and he believes that it could be the start of
something big for the Irish community in the area.
He is anxious to spread the word that the clubhouse can be used for private
hire or for watching Gaelic football and hurling matches outside of football
hours.
He said: “It’s a shame that we don’t get enough people
using the bar. The facilities are top-class and we’re happy to extend
our hospitality to the locals.”
“There are so many hidden Irish living in this town and surrounding
areas that maybe we’ll all get together one day and even form some
sort of Irish Association.”
“It would be great for Paddy’s Day if we could all meet
up to celebrate together. Who knows, maybe ATFC will be the start of the
Irish invasion in this part of Hampshire.”
As part of the new Celtic moves, the club has also just enrolled former
Irish international Gary Waddock as manager and are confident the 45-year-old’s
influence will see them rise to new heights over the coming years.
John said: “We’re delighted with signing Gary as manager and
know that pride and passion is high on his agenda for the coming season.”
Waddock whose parents hail from Wexford and Limerick said: “I’m
thrilled to be here and look forward to getting this club to higher levels.”
“I’m delighted to be given the opportunity and just want to
get on with the job. So far I’ve been made to feel very welcome
and am up for the challenge.”
Semi-professional player Aidan Whelan is a director of football and has
been at the club for over 12 years.
His father is originally from Crumlin on the south side of Dublin city.
He said: “There are exciting times ahead for this club and I’m
glad to be part of it. We’ve been through some tough times but now
with the right management in place I’ve no doubt we’ll go
places.”
Also among the Irish contingent at the club is Scott Davies, who has just
signed on loan from Reading.
The 19-year-old has a number of caps for the Republic of Ireland under-21s
and he too is excited to be part of the growing Irish links at Aldershot
Town Football Club.
Scott, whose Irish family ties lie in Co. Kilkenny and Westport in Co.
Mayo, said: “My experience here has been very positive so far. It
seems a very tight outfit and I feel right at home.
“I’m looking forward to playing first team football over the
coming year.”
Even the club’s new sponsor has a Celtic connection in the form
of Ezylet an on-line letting agency solely for the rental market
which is headed up by Paul Foy from Trim in Co. Meath.
He has come on board for the first time this year and is also sponsoring
the London Irish team from September.
He said: “I’m thrilled to be part of this team and hope that
our relationship will flourish over the coming season.
“It’s great that the Irish connection is so strong which makes
me feel very much at home.”
For more information on the club log on to www.theshots.co.uk
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