This season Prostate Cancer UK is the official charity of The
Football League. To celebrate, we've asked bloggers from each of
the 72 clubs to count down their top five strikers to have worn the
No9 shirt, in recognition of the fact that prostate cancer
affects one in nine men.
League luminary: John Grant's goals helped the Shots to promotion. Photo courtesy of Action Images
Here blogger Will Estlea, of keepingtheredflagflyinghigh.blogspot.co.uk,
selects Aldershot's five best No9s… and one to forget!
5. Tim Sills (2003-06 & 2011)
A big presence on the pitch with his height and strength, Sills
was a proper centre-forward. Very good in the air, he was also very
good at holding the ball up for other players to finish. Two
separate spells at the club, the second a lot shorter, bought Sills
48 goals for the club. One of my favourite players to have played
for the Shots, he now plies his trade at Basingstoke Town.
4. John Grant (2006-10)
John Grant was a key player in Aldershot's Conference-winning
squad. He was top scorer in his first season and in his second he
scored his first hat-trick. His goals fired Aldershot into the
Football League in 2008, bringing him legendary status.
3. Roy Young (1995-99)
Roy joined Aldershot for £2,000 and he paid back that money in
spades, scoring 75 goals in his four years at the club. Very much a
predator in front of goal and also very powerful, Roy lies
joint-third in the Shots' all-time scorers list.
2. Steve Stairs (1992-96)
Strong in the air and incredibly brave, Steve Stairs was a classic
No9. The first Shots player to score four goals in a game, Steve is
joint-third in the list of all-time scorer list with Roy Young on
75 goals.
1. Gary Abbott (1998-2001)
The Best No9 in Town's history. His 120 goals in four years for
the Shots is a phenomenal record from a very good player. He
finished top scorer in all three of his seasons at the club, a
spell that included some amazing goals. One particular moment
stands out for me - when he stuck his head in-between two flying
boots just to nod the ball home. An Aldershot legend.
And the worst…
Paul Moody (2002-03)
Paul never lived up to his reputation after joining Shots and it
didn't help that he was often injured. Considering he had played at
upper levels of the football pyramid with Fulham, Southampton and
Millwall, his performances for Aldershot were very disappointing.
Very often injured, he never lived up to expectations - a real
shame.
Follow Will on Twitter @Westlea11