Aldershot Town FC were established in 1992 following the demise and liquidation of Aldershot. The club plays in the same stadium, wears the same kit and are supported by the same fans as Aldershot, serving as something of a spiritual successor, but recognises that they are a new team. Not only do Aldershot town admit this in their official communications and website, but they have imprinted it on their club badge as a source of pride. Indeed, Aldershot Town have a phoenix on their crest to symbolise rising from the ashes of the old Aldershot.
Aldershot Town FC in 1992 after Aldershot were liquidated. They play in the same stadium as the former Aldershot and same colours. They have a phoenix on the badge to recognise they started a new club to succeed the old one that was liquidated and thus no longer exists pic.twitter.com/EAsUE0pSe8
— Liam Kelly (@cfcliamk96) December 29, 2020
It’s a magnanimous stance, which has won the club praise. There is even sympathy to the supporters who lost their original club.
If we take a look closer to home, there are a number of new Scottish clubs, who were formed as the successor to a previously liquidated team. Gretna is a perfect example of this. Whilst fans of the new Gretna hold great memories and affinity to the old club, they understand the meaning of liquidation and that the team they used to follow has now gone. As such, the embrace the new institution as the successor and learn from the experience. Gretna has 2008 written on their crest to indicate their new club’s founding:
However, we can also look closer to home to see Gretna who also got liquidated, started from scratch in the same colours & same stadium but were formed in 2008 & make it clear in their badge they’re a new club. Shame that the Rangers & the SMSM keep up the pretence pic.twitter.com/tNDJZlT3vc
— The Huddle 🍀 (@letsdothehuddle) December 29, 2020
— A Bit of An Animal (@leemullin1) December 29, 2020
If we are told that you cannot liquidate a club then why did the above form new teams? Why does anyone bother to live within their means? It’s certainly caused a chuckle on Celtic social media today.
I’m off to don my Third Lanark kit and take a ball down to Cathkin Park. I can then write myself into the Third Lanark history books by forming a new company… or can I?
