On 23rd November players and families from Mytchett Athletic U9s visited Aldershot Town FC to watch the Skrill Premier League match against Southport. The day was organised by Tim Peacock, manager of the U9 Eagles, and he has kindly provided us with the following report and pictures.
C’MON YOU SHOTS…
What a game! 44 mums, dads, 15 Under 9s, brothers and sisters all hauled themselves on a chilly-ish Saturday for the long awaited visit of Southport to The Rec (it will always be The Rec to me!)
With the Aldershot Trust supplying the tickets, we took our place in the Community Stand, banners waving and in very high spirits – right behind the goal Aldershot were attacking. However a surprise lay in store for two of the Under 9s as they helped present the Aldershot November Player of the Month with a trophy before the game – thanks Lauren for organising.
Right from the off the noise was deafening with the stamping of feet, the waving of banners and cheers of excitement – and that was just the mums! What a racket pursued, every time their keeper had a goal kick the noise level increased and every time the Shots neared the Southport goal the stands roof came under direct threat of being lifted.
What we hadn’t planned for was the feast of goals that fired in from all angles within the first 20 minutes. Aldershot were on fire and the crowd went into a frenzy as the fourth struck the back of the net. What a great opening salvo from the Shots – clearly firing on all cylinders and buoyed on by the vocal support from the lads.
At half time with the score at 4 nil, chips and teas were the order of the day followed by a quick half time natty and then the second half exploded into life. Soon the fifth was fired home allowing the travelling fans (numbering around 23), to final realise their day wasn’t going to get any better. With the noise so loud at one corner a couple of the Shots players looked over to see where all the noise was coming from; who says crowds don’t influence players. A clean sheet looked a possibility until a half volley skipped over the Shots keeper to end the game Aldershot 5 – Southport 1.
What was great to see at the end of the game the Shots keeper applauding the lads in the stand – he knew we’d come to support and raise the roof and we had.
After the game the Shots Forum was awash with praise for the noise from the Community Stand – “never heard it so noisy” was a common thread – and what was great was; we were there!!
Even the email I received after the game from the Vice-Chair of the Shots Trust was praising our performance…
“…I would like to add that the players and parents of Mytchett Athletic were a credit to your club. The noise from the Community Stand matched that of the Eastbank which is no mean feat! Your made such a good impression that it’s been mentioned numerous times on the Shots forum, on Twitter and Facebook. I even had a call from the Chairman, Shahid Azeem, asking if you would like to come back in the very near future!
Please pass on all my thanks to Mytchett Athletic and I very much look forward to welcoming you again in the near future”
So thanks again to all the parents who make these events happen for their lads – without you it doesn’t happen, so a genuine thank you from all at MAFC.
Roll on the next outing where I’d like to fill the whole Community Stand – who says it can’t be done..
C’MON MYTCHETT