Andy Scott: Aldershot Town relishing Portsmouth FA Cup tie
- Published
Scott was appointed Aldershot manager in February of last year and has a contract until 2016
FA Cup first round: Portsmouth v Aldershot |
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Venue: Fratton Park Date: Sunday, 9 November Kick-off: 14:00 GMT |
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website, FA Cup Final Score, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio. Highlights on BBC Two on Sunday at 18:30 GMT |
Aldershot Town manager Andy Scott says everyone at the club is relishing their FA Cup first-round tie away to League Two side Portsmouth.
Sunday's match is the first time the two Hampshire clubs have met since the old Aldershot FC beat Pompey in a second-round tie in 1982-83.
"Everyone would have said it is a draw they wanted," Scott told BBC Surrey.
"Six years ago they won the FA Cup, external and to be playing against a side of that stature is fantastic for us."
Shots striker Brett Williams, who has scored seven goals in the Conference this season, described facing Portsmouth as "the perfect draw".
"I screamed my head off when the draw came out," said the 26-year-old.
"I was in the lounge at my girlfriend's house and her mum did wonder what was going on. She wasn't as excited as me.
"I like to rise the occasion and, coming from Southampton and it being Pompey, it is a big game for me."
The army town against the naval base - on Remembrance Sunday | |
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This Remembrance Sunday marks the 100-year anniversary of World War One and also pits Portsmouth, a major Royal Navy base, against Aldershot, home to a British Army garrison, in the first round of the FA Cup. | |
"The connections make it very poignant," said Shots boss Andy Scott. "It's a fitting tribute on the 100th anniversary and we can mark it in the correct fashion on such an important day. "We want to make everybody proud of the fact we are representing Aldershot and the Army and Portsmouth will be doing so with the Navy. Hopefully that will reflect on the day." |
The two clubs, who are separated by less than 40 miles, have only ever spent two seasons in the same division - when both sides were in the old Division Four between 1978 and 1980.
Both have suffered financial difficulties in recent years, with Pompey entering administration twice before finding stability after a takeover by their supporters' trust in 2013, while Aldershot entered administration following their relegation from the Football League last year.
With Portsmouth slipping from the Premier League to League Two within the space of three years, Scott is hopeful of making the second round.
"It's amazing that the fortunes of both clubs have been similar in a way that financially, it has been horrendous for both clubs," explained the 42-year-old.
"We are underdogs by a million miles but maybe that is something we can play on.
"We want to do ourselves justice and we feel that if we play to our best we will give them a good game.
"There will be a big crowd there, we will have huge support and it is a great occasion. We believe we can have a go at them."
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