EBB Stadium – Aldershot Town FC
- Chris Tuck
- Oct 14, 2018
- 7 min read
Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
EBB Stadium
HIgh Street
Aldershot GU11 1TW
England
Year Opened: 1927
Capacity: 7,100
Together We Rise
With three club chaplains, it is no surprise that Aldershot fans embody numerous biblical texts around perseverance, strength through adversity and standing firm in the faith. Whilst those divine utterings ultimately point to one even greater than Town boss Gary Waddock, you get the point, ATFC have suffered and they are all the better for it.
‘Together we Rise’ reads the huge flag pinned to the back of the community stand. After a lifetime of bucket collections, winding up orders and ‘save our club’ banners this ‘phoenix from the flames’ club is now ready for whatever the footballing world throws at it.
The North-East Hampshire club, nicknamed ‘the shots’ were formed in 1926 and played at ‘The Rec’ for the first time on 27 August 1927 (v Grays Thurrock). These days the ground has attracted sponsorship and is officially known as the EBB Stadium.
In early 2018 the club released a statement revealing that the redevelopment of the ground is now a real possibility. Fans and stadium-hopping visitors will be in two minds. Brand new facilities, comfortable seats, executive suites, increased income; these are often the results of ‘new’ or redeveloped stadiums. A chance to move to the next level. Also on the positive side, staying on the same site keeps the history alive and means pre match traditions can continue, something often overlooked. The alternative emotion however is a sadness. This is a proper football ground. Huge floodlights shining like beacons across the town, the character of a ground nearly 100 years old and the atmospheric barrel-roofed east bank terrace these aren’t things you can just ‘replace.’
The impending development gives you even more reason to plan your journey here soon.
Food & Beverage 4
There’s a good variety of food and drink options once you are inside the ground. A favorite is the ‘East Bank Bar,’ situated up a small incline in the northeast corner of the ground. These days it would be called a ‘fan-zone’ but there’s no premier league branding here, it’s simply an open-air bar, brilliant in the warmer months! The bar sells various ales, ciders, lagers, soft drinks and hot food too. Over to the south stand you can use the ‘Phoenix Bar’ found underneath the old wooden stand, you can catch the latest scores in this bar and it’s a bit warmer on those not-so-sunny days!
At the corner of the south and west stands next to the scoreboard is Hotshots Café selling the usual drinks and hot food. In the main (north) stand there are two burger vans (bacon baps £3.50, chunky chips £2.50) and McGinty’s Bar. This indoor bar is small but welcoming; the scores are on in here too, a bottle of London Pride will set you back £4 or a Coke £2.20. If the match is segregated, away fans get their very own burger van! Queues for refreshments were not a problem for our visit but the attendance was only 1625, if there’s a larger crowd and you may have a slightly longer wait.
Atmosphere 4
If you’re used to bowl-shaped stadiums with no restricted views, branded seat colourings and perhaps a retractable roof then move to the next stadium review now. This is a proper football ground. A 360-degree panoramic starting in the northwest corner of the ground would look something like this:
Seats, portacabin, scoreboard (west stand), terrace, seats, terrace (south stand) terrace (east bank) terrace, seats, terrace (north stand).
The Floodlights too are ‘a work of art,’ so says @Shotsremebered a twitter site devoted to the shots rich history. They are right. You could find yourself spending the whole 90 minutes of the game taking photos of them from different angles. Then, as day turned to dusk and the lights come on, out comes the camera again!
The Rec holds around 7,100 people, the highest attendance though was a huge 19,138 v Carlisle Utd in 1974 FA Cup 4th round replay, the old place must have been rocking!
The noise at matches mostly emanates from the famous East Bank, a large terrace with a barrel-shaped roof behind one of the goals.
Neighborhood 3
The Aldershot Military Museum is a popular destination for visitors to the town, open Weds-Sun; check the website for more info. North of the town is the Alpine Snowsports Centre, worth a visit if you and the kids are feeling adventurous!
It is rumoured that a certain highwayman named Dick Turpin worked on the roads near Aldershot but your money is more likely to be drained these days by the Westgate Centre. This large shopping centre, within walking distance of the ground, has all the shops you and your partner may need and restaurants for after the game too. The High Street struggles like many these days but as you near the ground look out for the ‘Funky End’ selling Carling at £4 and showing whatever football is on the TV. Even closer to the ground is The Crimea, a pint of Aspall Cider there is also £4. Further down the High Street heading under the railway line and in a south-easterly direction away from the ground are two more pubs, the Red Lion and Golden Lion.
If you are staying overnight, the Premier Inn on the edge of town, with a Brewers Fayre pub next door, is suitable for most people’s needs. It is a short walk, albeit across a busy road, to the Westgate Centre and onto the ground from there.
Fans 4
ATFC fans appear to be a blend of refined Hampshire stock with hints of cockney / London boldness. @Shotsremembered suggested their fans should be described as loyal, passionate and loud.
The fans in the East bank lead the singing with the usual drum-assisted odes to the players and the town. “Oh Aldershot, is wonderful” “We’re the red and blue army” and “Aldershot til I die” all sung with gusto and meaning. UK terrace humour is still the best in the world, for example when the attendance is read out over the tannoy, the away support is applauded as ‘they’ve come a long way’ before seconds later being serenaded with “Your support is F**ng Sh*t.” Away fans wouldn’t have it any other way!
Another mark of a good home support is the flags. At The Rec they are plentiful, championing the local army links “Lest we Forget” and the phoenix-like rise of the team “Together we Rise.”
For the more mature fans the teams ‘rivals’ would be Reading FC, younger fans would more likely say Woking FC. Attendance wise nearly 2500 attended the Barnet fixture at the beginning of the 2018/19 season. On our visit, 1625 braved the cold and wet weather and were rewarded with a 3-0 win.
Away fans can often mingle with home fans depending on whether the police and club deem it safe. If it is a segregated game, away fans have to stick to their section of the East Bank Terrace and the first block of seats in the south stand. In these instances, away fans access the ground by walking up Redan Rd, adjacent to the ground, and following the signs from there.
Access 3
Located to the southwest of London, the town is nestled between the A31 and M3. Aldershot has a population of less than 50k but add the urban sprawl to the north and south and it’s over 200k. If you arrive by car you can park in the large car park behind the north stand. Alternatively, the train station has a car park called East Station Rd which costs just £2.40 for 4 hours. Most of the local street parking is for permit holders only.
If you arrive by train it’s a ten-minute walk, there is a cash point at the station entrance and toilets in the bus station opposite.
Access within the ground has been a talking point for some visiting fans, complaints about the steep inclines at the high street end of the ground and access into certain stands. Whilst factually correct, this partly comes from fans spoilt by premier league stadia with their perfect site lines, customer lifts and large concourses. If you have difficulty walking, or use a wheelchair, contact the club beforehand and they will advise the best access point for your needs, they really are nice people! Be aware the ground is over 90 years old and leave extra time for your visit. If accessibility isn’t an issue for you simply bask in the lack of straight lines, the restricted views, the inclines and the sheer elegance of a proper English football ground, oh, did we mention the floodlights?!
Return on Investment 5
Tickets currently sell for £20 seating and £18 on the terrace with the usual concessions. This is not the cheapest in the division but UK football isn’t known at the moment for its cheap ticketing. Refreshments at the ground are about average price wise for the team/area and the programme at £3 is well worth the money. To visit a classic English football ground that is becoming increasingly rare – priceless!
Extras 5
The Programme warrants another mention here as it has regularly won the programme of the year for this division. Editor Vicky Rogers and her contributors put together a wonderful printed match programme that is highly recommended!
Chelsea U23s play at the EBB Stadium too for their Premier League 2 fixtures. Check the website for match dates and check out some potential stars of the future
Worth highlighting again the @Shotsremembered twitter site which provides an excellent insight into the history of the club. Give them and the impressive club twitter account @OfficialShots a follow for all the background and pre-match information you need for your visit.
The EBB has also hosted a peace and goodwill concert in partnership with the locally based army barracks. Aldershot is the Spiritual home of the British army and the flags, the concert and occasional army games here showcase those positive links.
Aldershot sits in the borough of Rushmoor which was recently voted the happiest place in the country in a poll by ONS. The response from locals (they must be joking!) said a lot about the humour and resilience in this town and at the club that refuses to expire.
Final Thoughts
This is a proper football ground. Visit if you enjoy the character, heritage, smells and down to earth culture that made football what it is today. Whilst the club is on the rise, this likeable club is still in need of every penny. The Shots Trust do a great job in serving the club and every volunteer here are a lifeline. ‘Together we Rise’ reads the huge flag and you get the real feeling that the ‘Together’ part is just as important as the rising – a lovely trait for any club. Did we mention the floodlights?
