Paul Shrubb, who represented both Aldershot FC and Aldershot Town FC,
has been granted a testimonial by the Board of Directors at the club and
it is confirmed that Alan Pardew's Charlton Athletic will be the opponents at the Rec on Wednesday August 1 2007 (7.30pm).
Paul made 182 appearances for Aldershot between 1982 and 1987 before
returning to become Player/Coach and then Assistant Manager of Aldershot
Town between 1992 and 97. In total he featured in three promotions during his time at the Rec. His testimonial match will actually be played on his 52nd birthday.
A popular figure, Paul, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in
January 2006, is looking forward to his special evening in August. He said, "It means so much to me to be awarded this game. I know that I am getting the game mainly because of my illness but I am so grateful to the Board of Directors at Aldershot for awarding me the game and for Charlton Athletic, for whom I have been scouting for six years, in providing the opposition.
"Importantly though it also gives me the opportunity for me to show my appreciation to the supporters at Aldershot because I never really got the chance when I left when Steve Wigley was the manager as it was at the end of the season".
Paul explains that it has been a difficult period for him and his family coming to terms with his illness.
He continued, "When I was actually told about the illness in January 2006 I couldn't believe it to be honest. For the first three months after I was told I thought that was it.
"Since then I have accepted the illness and just get on with life and hope for the best really. Motor Neurone Disease is a muscle wasting disease. I have been told that a number of footballers over the age of 50 have got the disease but only two people in 100,000 are diagnosed with MND so I just happen to be one of the unlucky ones who have got it".
Paul has always kept an affinity with Aldershot and still lives in the town as he explains, "I had some great times at Aldershot. When I was 11 years old it was the first trial I ever had. My Dad took me down to the Rec and they declined me and I eventually signed for Fulham before playing in South Africa for Hellenic and then for Brentford where I spent five seasons.
"All the years that I played professional football though Aldershot was really the club that I took to heart. The supporters were absolutely fantastic to me and I hope that I won the supporters over during my two spells at the club.
" I am looking forward to seeing them all again on August 1st and I hope
that it is a special evening where I will be inviting some old friends back on the night too".