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Fans react after Tommy Widdrington unexpectedly resigns as Aldershot Town manager

Fans react after Tommy Widdrington unexpectedly resigns as manager of Aldershot Town, days on from a 3-2 FA Cup win against Dorking.

The 54 year old has stepped down with the Shots sitting 19th in the National League with 13 points from 14 games played, a point above the drop zone, and had just booked a place in the FA Cup First Round where they will travel to Weston-super-Mare.

He joined the club back in 2023 from King’s Lynn Town, stabalising Aldershot, guided them to an 18th-place finish in the 2022–23 National League, avoiding relegation. He signed a new contract in November 2023 with the his side sitting 7th place and led them to a historic 7–4 FA Cup win over Swindon Town, the first non-League team to score seven against a Football League side.

Named National League Manager of the Month for November 2023, his team reached the FA Cup third round after defeating Stockport County, but lost to West Brom.

Aldershot finished the 2023–24 season in 8th, just missing the play-offs.

After suffering two strokes in late 2024, Widdrington returned in January 2025 and led Aldershot to their first FA Trophy win, defeating Spennymoor Town 3–0 at Wembley on the 11th of May 2025.

A very brief club statement read: “Aldershot Town Football Club can confirm that Tommy Widdrington has informed the Club of his resignation as First-Team Manager.

“Hugo Langton and Alan Dowson will be overseeing first-team affairs ahead of Saturday’s game against Tamworth.

“The Club will be making no further comment at this stage.”

Widdrington spoke to BBC Radio Surrey after the Dorking game: “It’s a bit early for me to have reflections, my emotions were up and down as you can imagine.

“I thought Dorking as we knew they would came out the blocks brilliantly and put it on us, you know Mark’s got a really good group of lads here and on this surface in front of a crowd like they had today it was difficult, very difficult.

“I don’t feel wrong in saying they had their tail up early doors and we had to dig in and it’s something that we’ve struggled to do in a few games this season, to repel.

“But we did and somebody who had very little part in repelling them then shows the magic that he’s got and we know he’s got in his feet and he puts us, well almost he puts us 2-0 up so…

“Was I surprised at that? Yes. Was I disappointed to concede after that? Yes, because there’s 10 minutes gone up and they score in the nearly 11th minute with no reason whatsoever because I could hear the fourth official telling the referee, that’s your 10 minutes, that’s your 10 minutes, but he let them play out the attack.

“We should have defended it, but ultimately the game should have been finished and we should have been in there with a cup of tea.

“So that sort of changed momentum a little bit, but I thought our lads responded fantastically.

“The goal we scored after the break was excellent, put them on the back foot for a while, but we knew they were never going to, you know, relent, the biggest game for them in the FA Cup. They’ve never been beyond this. Well, I’ve never not been beyond this.”

Interviewer: “Talk about Josh Barrett because the first goal was a quality goal and then the delivery for the second goal as well.”

Tommy: “Yeah, I mean, listen, we all know about Josh. It’s difficult because a lot of managers that have had Josh before me. Just look at the things he can’t do. If I did that I wouldn’t pick him.

“I’ve got to understand at this moment in time with the group of players I have, I can’t have a nobody when we haven’t got the ball and Josh sometimes is a nobody when we haven’t got the ball.

“He needs to contribute and when he does that and then he does that when he’s, I know he’s going to do that at some stage, Mark will tell you it’s probably the one bloke, even though he doesn’t look visually to be the biggest danger, he’s got the best brain and the best feet on the pitch with any of the teams.

“So it didn’t surprise me that he put it in the goal and then like you said he’s delivery for Kwame who’s probably won the best in our division at doing what he did, that scored a second, just you know filled me with joy to be honest with, with two good goals.”

Interviewer: “On any other day, he scored two goals and an assist, you might be the man of the match, but I thought Ben Jackson else standing for you at the heart of the defence.”

Tommy: “Well like I said, I think we’ve had an issue, not just Ben, we’ve got young lads, we’ve got an injury list as long as my leg mate, I mean you know I can say that now after the event, we’ve struggled to put a bench together today.

“And the young lads that we’ve taken on loan, obviously, they’re from development football and they’re learning on the job.

“They’re supposed to be coming into my club and playing when and if needed, but they’re playing every week and they are putting their absolute, you know, heads on the line for me.

“And Ben Jackson, fairness to him, he got an unbelievable injury in the first game of the season. He broke his nose, his eye socket was buggered, cheekbone went and he missed four weeks after half a game, after 40 minutes at Altrincham.

“And he’s only just getting his confidence back. What he did after what two minutes no slash he’s head open and had to have treatment of a four or five times because the blood wouldn’t stop just shows you that he’s got a bit of grit the lad so I’ve said that you know it’s all about being in the hat on Monday and I’m delighted that we are.

Interviewer: “What might this mean for your season Tommy because it’s been a difficult run in the league

Tommy: “Like I said i think the factors of why it’s difficult run in the league is what I’ve just said to you this today could be the catalyst in that I’ve just said it’s dead easy to say oh we’re too young and we’re naive at the back we know that but that’s the thing the card we’ve got dealt at the moment what we’ve to do is remind them guys look you just kept out one of the best teams in the National South who I think will be very close to going out back into our division you kept them out enough because we did we scored three goals my team is if you follow Aldershot the fans will not like me possibly for seeing this or some of them it’s a rollercoaster ride that’s what we are and today we’ve gone up and up and up and not come down as much.”

Fans react after Tommy Widdrington unexpectedly resigns as Aldershot Town manager…

@CBesty1990:
Let’s not jump to conclusions but it’s one of two things…
1) Tommy’s health, in which case thank you everything and well done for prioritising yourself.
2) Our wonderful chairman. Into the 1st round, Tommy probably asked for some funds for a loan player and was told NO.

@J_littlemore8: Does this also mean Theo has handed in his resignation?

@WreccleshamBag1: Not an Aldershot fan ‘as in goes to games’ as heavily involved in my own club but just want to put my note of thanks to Tommy for his incredible support of Badshot Lea FC – especially this pre season when he brought a proper squad with him, attended himself and stayed around

@Tristan_ATFC: Shambles! I hope those constantly moaning are happy. Thanks for the given us our dream at Wembley @TommyWidd

@BrynLucas: Thank you Tommy for giving it your all. You brought us a huge moment, which we all are grateful for. This is the likely for the best for us as a club as results and the same old problem were a recurring theme. Wish Tommy all the best in his future endeavours. #ATFC

@jimmy_g87: A bit shocked, the only thing I can say is thank you @TommyWidd for some of the greatest memories. 🔴🔵

@IanWilliamJohn5: A sad day for us. The best manager we’ve had in a long while. Just hope he is okay. ⚽️❤💙⚽️

@ttt23rg: wow. no money, lots of injuries and some great memories. thank you @TommyWidd. would love to know the truth. got a feeling the man at the top and his shallow pockets could have something to do with it.

@HarHar_Harry34: What the fuck? That’s a huge blow for us! Tommy has given me the most unforgettable memory of seeing Aldershot play at Wembley – thank you, Tommy!

@stalysteve63: All the best Tommy hope you were not forced out by the negative fans,we will always have Wembley 2025 thank you mate

@AlphaomegaJohn: Thanks for everything @TommyWidd what a ride! Go well and good luck for the future! Absolutely gutted to see you leave our club ❤️💙

@BillyLomax88: This has shocked me, must have another job lined up surely

@OffTheLineBlog: Sad day for #TheShots. TW has done an excellent job. Kept them up 2022-23. That 7-4 win vs #STFC and the FA Cup run. First ever trip to Wembley last year with FA Trophy win. Some of the best attacking football that I have seen at this level. Good luck, TW.

@ChappsRyan2000: Had a torrid time with the chairman it seems.. Him and Dryden reunited? Whenever we’ve played Aldershot it seemed he had a soft spot for the club. I’d have him. #YTFC

@DanielT171284: Gutted to see him go but keep thinking there is more to this.

@tryan255: Wow. Job has Scott Davies written all over it. He’s better off staying with Slough in my opinion.

@RedBlueAndy: Love Scott Davies but not so sure he’d leave Slough as it seems he has a long term project there

@LukeyFFC: Few shots fans think he has been poached by Hartlepool 👀

@MichaelCaponee: If I was aldershot I’d go for Derek Adams but your probably going to get someone like Kelvin Davis, Steve Morrison, Mark Cooper or even Matt Taylor big few weeks ahead for aldershot #Theshots 🔴🔵

@CallumHallett6: Interesting. Could be a tough period for #TheShots – Tommy has done a good job there + a period of transition could make things difficult. Interested to see who goes in there. Scott Davies? Dom Di Paola? Daryl McMahon? Thoughts, Shots fans? 🤔

@Coach_CJPrice: Absolutely gutted to see this ! 😩 @TommyWidd you go down as one of my favourite managers since I started watching / supporting this club and hope you get some sort of statue or plaque made from the club for your efforts Never thought I’d be reading this I’m so gutted 😔

@HayleyATFC: Gutted 😔 Wishing Tommy all the best and thank you for everything you’ve done for this football club especially that day at Wembley ❤️💙

@RYANscolly: Who’s chopping up onions 😭😭 thank you for all the memories Tommy they will never be forgotten❤️💙

@JayNich47098520: Personally wouldn’t mind it if he came here at all. Attacking football and more importantly actually makes players better which we haven’t seen enough of in recent years #hufc

@colony79: Wow, I was not expecting that and hope this is not health related as others have said. Thank you for all your hard work Tommy, you created some great moments over your time at The Shots 🔴🔵

@jimmy_g87: Don’t know for sure, but he did resign from King’s Lynn out of the blue to take the Aldershot job so wouldn’t be a first. But couldn’t be a few things. Injuries mounting up and not much reinforcement coming in possible fell out with the board, or could be his health.

@guyblackman_: The amount of memories he’s given us 💔

@aarongardiner07: A brilliant attacking manager, always got Aldershot playing. Went on to win the FA trophy last year, plus a good FA cup run. If #YTFC are still looking for a manager then we could do a lot worse than Tommy Widdrington.

@ThePoolsPod: Yes please. I’d drive down south now to pick him up. He loves the club, has an undoubted passion for the game, and a good style of play. Anyone watching him on the touchline during our game knows he’s a man with exemplary standards. If it’s health-related, all the best to him.

@lewiswray: Surely he’s back up North to Hartlepool & I wouldn’t blame him. The comments from players in the summer & the likes of losing Barham to lower league opposition says it all Lucky to have had Tommy and them memories but it’s going to be the same slog with this unambitious board 🚮

@LeviDarch: All but confirms we are in for a long , tough season… would love to know why or how this has happened?!

@ShaunBrown995: Well that’s unexpected! Off to Hartlepool maybe? Going to be a storm to weather over the coming months, that’s for sure…

@SteveyAsp: Hartlepool???? I should be more disappointed than I am, he gave us some great days in the cup but generally poor in the league.

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