Gordon's launches partnership with Aldershot Town FC

Professional football is coming home to Gordon’s! The Vanarama National League’s Aldershot Town FC and Gordon’s School announced their partnership last week, which will see the club train at the Surrey Heath School and coach its students.

The revelation comes just a year after Premiership Rugby Club Harlequins announced their partnership with Gordon’s, providing a pathway for talented 16-18 year olds pursuing a career playing professional rugby while receiving a first class education.

Aldershot First XI will train at the school in Surrey Heath four or five times a week through the season using the recently completed Sports Hub and 3-G pitch as well as the extensive grass pitches. While students from the senior school, which has reached the semi-finals of the ESFA (English Schools Football Association) Cup on the last two occasions, will be coached by Aldershot’s elite team.

The two organisations have shared values – Aldershot Town FC is a family club with connections to the Army and Aldershot Garrison. Gordon’s has a proud history of links to the military with over half its boarders from service families. The two institutions also share the ethos of developing players holistically and not just their skills on the football pitch.

Scholarships in football are available to students coming into the Sixth Form at Gordon’s. As part of the scholarship, students follow a four module performance programme involving athletic development such as strength and conditioning, sport nutrition, sport psychology and video analysis.

The commitment to sports at Gordon’s extends to the teaching staff, many of whom have excelled in their fields, ensuring the highest level of coaching and commitment. The impressive line-up includes Pakistan Olympian Muhammad Irfan and GB hockey player David Mathews; former Wales International and Chelsea player Gareth Hall; former Fiji 7s Skills and Analyst Coach Chris Davies; three times Olympian cox Alan Inns and Surrey Storm netballers Nicole Humphrys and Leah Middleton.

Director of Sport at Gordon’s, Jamie Harrison enthused: “We are delighted to announce the partnership between Aldershot Town FC and Gordon’s. This provides an exciting period for football here that will not only identify talented students in the game but train and develop them.

“The ethos of the school is to develop the whole child and our sporting infrastructure provides our students with the best coaching, facilities and experiences. The partnership will further enhance this.”

Chairman of Aldershot Town FC Shahid Azeem said: “We are absolutely delighted with this partnership linking the football club with Gordon’s School, Aldershot Town being the Garrison Town and the home of British Army while Gordon’s School, with its strong military connections, is the national memorial to General Gordon.

"The training facilities are first class and the club has been made so welcome by all personnel who have gone the extra mile to accommodate us. We look forward to a very long, fruitful relationship between the two parties and to playing our part in helping to develop the star of the future at the school."