ALDERSHOT Town will entertain Accrington Stanley, another club who had to bale out of the Football League, in their opening Nationwide Conference match on Saturday, August 9.

Manager Terry Brown is delighted with the quirk of the fixtures that has thrown the two clubs together for their first match in over 40 years.

"It's a lovely fixture for both clubs. We're very old adversaries, but I have to confess that I know very little about them. All I know is that they had an injection of money and came from nowhere. But I also know they have a very strong squad and are full of confidence.

Accrington won the Unibond Premier League by a thumping 16 points from runners-up Barrow and Brown plans to watch them in one of their attractive pre-season friendlies – possibly the match against Preston.

Aldershot have an early home game against Woking on August 23 and they host Farnborough on September 23.

Aldershot have signed goalkeeper Richard Barnard, although they still have to agree a all fee with Maidenhead who hold his registration.

Aldershot resume training on Tuesday (July 1) and will continue four times a week during July – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

An additional friendly has been arranged with Wokingham, to be played at Egham FC on Monday, July 21 (ko 7-45 pm).