Aldershot Town Ladies will enjoy their first "home" pre-season friendly in over two years on Sunday after kindly being invited to use Ash United's Shawfield Road as their pre-season friendly base for the 2009/10 season as the two clubs continue to build strong links.
The opportunity to play at the Combined Counties League Club's ground is a fantastic piece of fortune for the Ladies side and speaking to The Shots, Ash United President Paul Burch said: "Over the last couple of seasons Aldershot Town Ladies have held their end of season presentation's night in our function room and I approached Andy [Liddicott] and Jamie [Woodfield] at the end of the last season to find out the clubs current situation and I raised the possibility of them using our ground.
"Although our pitch is in regular use, we discussed the possibility of using the Sunday afternoon slot for friendlies and this was later agreed by our committee.
"We pride ourselves in being a local Community Football Club and have recently added two more youth teams to play under the Ash United banner.
"One of our youth team's use Shawfield Road for their fixtures on Sunday mornings but we're hoping that once fixtures have been decided, we will be able to accommodate more of the Shots Ladies fixtures in the future.
"In my opinion, we have a lovely small stadium and playing surface at the club and I hope this will help the Aldershot Ladies feel that they are playing at a proper football ground and hopefully give them the boost and confidence they need for the coming season.
"The relationship between Aldershot Town and Ash United has always been excellent and we look forward to seeing the players, staff and supporters of Aldershot Ladies on Sunday 9th of August for there first ever friendly at Shawfield Stadium. I am sure it will prove to be a successful relationship."
Indeed with the facilities on offer to the Ladies side it is understandably causing much excitement among the players and speaking to The Shots ahead of the match coach/goalkeeper, Lesley Hubbard said: "I feel that Pre-season training has gone well so far and our levels of fitness are much better than they were at this time last year.
"It has been good to get to the pre-season game stage as it's helped to get rid of the cobwebs from last season. We've got a mixed bag of friendlies this year, and we're taking each game as it comes.
"We're all really looking forwards to playing at Shawfield Road and after last weekends 4-1 win over Crawley Wasps, the spirit in the camp is as high as ever and we're looking forwards to the challenge against Reading this weekend.
"We're all in a positive state of mind and are focusing on the season ahead and will be looking to do well in the League as well as aiming to get some silverware."
Ladies manager Andy Liddicott has no injury worries ahead of the match but Emma North is still coaching in the USA so remains missing from the squad as does Caz Shepherd who is unavailable due to being on holiday.
Nikki Moore has returned to the squad and trialists Gemma Twine, Grace Irvine, Maz Beaney and Gemma MacNeil have also been selected once again and will be aiming to impress as they look to secure their places at the club.
Shots Ladies from: Holly Twine, Lesley Hubbard, Holly Gayler, Amie Budd, Sian Houghton, Tara Coles, Carys Potter, Stacey Ireland, Laura Wallman, Jade Ferguson [pictured], Tracy Marlow, Hannah Grover, Grace Irvine, Laura Funnel, Nikki Hargreaves, Gemma MacNeil, Maz Beaney, Amber Marsh and Nikki Moore. 
Reading FC ladies from: No team news available.
The match kicks off at 2pm and everybody is welcome to attend.