Football club honoured with new South Western Railway Arterio 'Phoenix' train
Aldershot Town have been honoured with a special new train ahead of kicking off the defence of their Isuzu FA Trophy triumph next month.
The new South Western Railway Arterio train has been dubbed the ‘Phoenix’ to mark the National League club's historic victory at Wembley, a nod to their emblem after they beat Spennymoor Town 3-0 in the final.
Shots chairman Shahid Azeem led the unveiling, joined by players Dejan Tatek, Olly Scott, and Hady Ghandour, all of whom were in the squad for the showpiece in May. Also in attendance was club legend Terry Brown, first team goalkeeper coach David Smalley and David Josey, a life-long Aldershot fan and formerly SWR’s Station Manager for Aldershot, who ensured that the club's flags were flying at the station for many thousands that took SWR services to the FA Trophy final.
He stood alongside Aldershot's Phoenix mascot, who helped welcome the ‘Phoenix’ to the network.
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Earlier this year, Aldershot travelled to Wembley for the very first time and toppled Spennymoor to lift the prestigious non-league prize, the club’s first major cup triumph and sparking huge celebrations in the Hampshire town.
The Shots will kick off their title defence when they clash with Eastleigh in the third round next month.
Last May's festivities not only celebrates Aldershot's remarkable achievement but also marks the recent extension of SWR’s fleet of Arterio trains to Farnham, serving Aldershot station for the first time.
Arterio reached the route to Aldershot earlier this month, providing customers with improved comfort, Wi-Fi, and charging points at every seat, marking a significant upgrade across SWR’s suburban network.
Shahid Azeem, Aldershot Town club chairman, said: “I’m honoured to join South Western Railway today and unveil the ‘Phoenix’ just in time to begin our defence of the Isuzu FA trophy next month.
“Trains play a key role in bringing sports fans to the heart of the action they love, building excitement as they make their way to the big game. We saw the amazing impact the additional services provided by South Western Railway had in helping get fans to Wembley for our win early this year.
“It's great to strengthen this partnership further, and exciting to think of the
Peter Williams at South Western Railway added: “One of the great joys of the railway is connecting people to the places that matter to them, making unforgettable memories possible for our customers. It was our pleasure to put on extra trains to help Aldershot Town fans get to the FA Trophy final at Wembley, and now we are celebrating that historic win by naming one of our new Arterio trains the ‘Phoenix’, after the club.
“The introduction of our new Arterio trains to the Farnham route, serving Aldershot and other stations for the first time, is another major milestone in their rollout. Customers love the Arterios and the increased capacity and comfort they bring.”