Aldershot Town Football Club's historic Wembley victory has been immortalised in a unique way, with South Western Railway (SWR) naming one of its brand-new trains after the club.
A Fitting Tribute to the Shots
The new SWR Arterio train has been officially dubbed the 'Phoenix' in a nod to the National League club's emblem. This honour celebrates Aldershot Town's memorable 3-0 victory over Spennymoor Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy final at Wembley earlier this year. It was the club's first major cup triumph and its inaugural appearance at the national stadium.
The unveiling ceremony was led by Shots chairman Shahid Azeem. He was joined by players Dejan Tatek, Olly Scott, and Hady Ghandour, all part of the winning squad in May. Club legend Terry Brown and first-team goalkeeper coach David Smalley were also present.
A special guest was David Josey, a lifelong Aldershot fan and former SWR Station Manager for Aldershot. He was instrumental in ensuring club flags flew at the station for the thousands of fans who used SWR services to travel to the final. The event was completed by the club's Phoenix mascot, who helped welcome its new namesake to the railway network.
More Than Just a Name: Service Upgrades
The tribute coincides with a significant upgrade for local rail users. The Arterio train reached the route to Aldershot earlier this month, extending SWR's fleet to the Farnham line. This marks the first time these modern trains have served Aldershot station.
Passengers on the route can now enjoy:
- Improved comfort and more space.
- Onboard Wi-Fi access.
- Charging points at every seat.
This rollout represents a major step forward in modernising SWR's suburban network.
Strengthening Community Ties
Shahid Azeem, Aldershot Town club chairman, expressed his honour at the unveiling. He highlighted the railway's crucial role in building matchday excitement and bringing fans to the action. He noted the amazing impact of the additional services SWR provided for the Wembley final and welcomed the strengthened partnership.
"It's great to strengthen this partnership further, and exciting to think of the 'Phoenix' connecting even more fans to our club," Azeem said.
Peter Williams of South Western Railway echoed this sentiment, stating that one of the great joys of the railway is connecting people to the places that matter to them. He said it was a pleasure to help fans get to Wembley and that naming an Arterio train the 'Phoenix' was a fitting way to celebrate the club's historic win.
The Shots are set to begin their defence of the FA Trophy next month when they clash with Eastleigh in the third round.
