Aldershot progress through the non-league pyramid

It is simply wonderful for a club like Aldershot to finish as Conference champions and reach their goal after going through hell and back to regain their Football League status.

This rise to stardom brought to an end 16 years of frustration for the club and its fans. The Shots secured the title last week after a 1-1 draw at Exeter at St James Park to open up an unassailable lead of 13 points over second-placed Torquay with three matches still to play.

Aldershot have won the title in style this year after coming so close in the last two seasons, losing twice in the play-offs. In 2008/09, they will be the new members of League Two with high hopes of avoiding relegation.

Chairman John McGinty, who was one of the members when the club folded, was ecstatic after the match at Exeter. He praised all those who worked with him, particularly the players and the supporters.

Karl Prentice is another hero in the Shots board. He was club chairman in difficult times and stayed on to give his support as a director.

The Hampshire club folded 16 years ago. However, they succeeded in holding on to their Recreation Ground after opting not to go for a smaller stadium to save cash.

The long journey back began on April 22, 1992, after almost a month when the financially-stricken Aldershot were dissolved following a High Court order and their records obliterated. Aldershot were the last Football League club to go out of business during a season.

The new regime soon created a new badge - a phoenix - since they felt that they would rise from the ashes and return to the league in the future. Days after a new club was formed, Aldershot FC (1992).

They started from rock bottom, at the base of the non-league pyramid in the Isthmian League Third Division - five levels below the Football League.

Managed by Steve Wigley, the Shots made their bow against Clapton on August 22, 1992, registering a 4-2 victory in front of a very low crowd of 1,493 at the Recreation Ground which had a capacity of 18,000.

Wigley's side went on to claim back-to-back promotions before Londoner George Borg took the Shots into the Isthmian Premier in 1997. His successor, Terry Brown, guided the side into the Conference in his first full season in 2003.

Brown played a big part in the long haul. He was appointed on March 25, 2002 and in his first month he led the side to win the Hampshire Senior Cup that was followed by promotion to the Conference League.

In 2003-04, Brown steered Aldershot to the final of the Conference League play-offs, defeating Hereford United 4-2 on penalties but then lost the final to Shrewsbury Town 0-3 in the ultimate showdown at Stoke.

In the season that followed, Aldershot made it to the deciders once more but this time they succumbed in the last four to Carlisle. After a 2-2 aggregate over two legs, they went down 5-4 on penalties.

In 2005-06, the fans expected Aldershot to be in the thick of things but they finished 13th. Brown had to leave at the end of the season because of a serious illness to his wife.

After coming so close to their dream, McGinty increased his financial support. He was elevated to president from vice-chairman. The 71-year-old decided that Garry Waddock was the right man to coach the team.

The former QPR, Luton, Millwall and Bristol Rovers player was an excellent midfielder and also played for Ireland on 21 occasions.

Waddock also had a spell as coach of Belgian side Charleroi. He was sacked in September 2006 after winning just four matches during his seven months in charge.

His debut year at Aldershot was remarkable as he led the side to the Conference championship with a record 39 wins, ten draws and nine defeats in 58 encounters.

Waddock's no.2, Martin Kuhl, also played a part in this success. He previously worked under Brown, having nurtured a mainly youthful squad.