Josh Stokes, a star from Aldershot Town, was signed by Bristol City, who defeated three Premier League teams, four Championship opponents, and the entire League One. The deal was made possible by the Robins’ readiness to loan Stokes back to the National League team for the remainder of the season.
On January 22, City confirmed the signing of Stokes, who will play out the season at the EBB Stadium, in addition to future appearance-based incentives and a preseason friendly. The 19-year-old forward was purchased for approximately £250,000 by City.
A number of teams, including Brentford and Coventry City, were pursuing the teenager, but in the end, the Robins prevailed, aided by the very clear roadmap they have been offering young players for the previous three to four years, which makes a compelling sales presentation.
In an interview with The Shots Pod, Tommy Widdrington, the manager of Aldershot, stated that Stokes’ transfer would not have been authorised if the Hampshire team hadn’t agreed to keep him on for the 2023–24 season, when they want to finish in the fifth division, regardless of the money provided.
In order to get used to his new environment before joining the squad for preseason in June, Stokes has been practicing at the High Performance Centre on the days when the Shots don’t have a midweek game.
Widdrington told The Shots Pod, “There were three Premier League clubs that wanted him, at least three or four Championship clubs that wanted him, and everybody in League One.” However, from the beginning, his family, his representative, and I all agreed that he needed a full season at this level.
There were no negotiations if he was going to be sold, provided he surprised everyone and performed as brilliantly as he had before Christmas. And if the agent had wanted to sell him, he could have simply changed his mind. In that case, I would have advised the club—and I have to give our chairman a lot of credit for allowing me to handle the entire situation—and I wouldn’t have sold him out of the window. If he hadn’t returned to us on loan, I just wouldn’t have done it.
I’m thrilled for him, his family, and his agent. They deserve a lot of praise because they consistently receive bad advice from managers, teams, and media outlets. However, in this instance, I must say that Josh’s representative has kept his word and I believe he has chosen a very nice club for Josh.
“There’s a connection there as well; many won’t know this, but Josh was tutored by the finest players at Ipswich when he was younger. Josh’s business involves a lot of behind-the-scenes activities that the public won’t know about, but overall, I think it’s a great fit.
They briefly strayed from their model, but they need players his age to be succeeding, so I believe he’ll have his chance. I wish him all the best of luck, as he will need it, but his application and drive are impressive; anyone watching us train would be able to tell who we are, and that speaks volumes about how he trains every day.
Stokes has made seven appearances for the Shots since his City move was revealed. They are presently in fifth place in the National League after winning four, drawing two, and losing one.
The 19-year-old, who was released by Ipswich Town three years ago and was playing for AFC Sudbury in the Isthmian League at this time last year before signing a contract with Widdrington in the summer, has had an incredible year.
In addition to his skill, which has seen Stokes score 16 goals in 36 games, Widdrington has frequently complimented Stokes’ temperament and commitment to his work, highlighting his attitude and work ethic.
The level he was at makes me feel incredibly proud. We made him our first signing when we initially joined the team, and I will never forget him and his parents visiting the EBB and saying, “Wow,” at that stadium. God knows what kind of people they were when they played Bristol City,” Widdrington continued.
And I did tell them, “This is just the first step on the ladder for him,” while Josh was having his picture taken on the pitch in the summer. They asked, “Really?,” and I replied, “Yeah.
I’ve been praising Josh for his behind-the-scenes work to them; what a guy, what a person, and nothing matters more to him than football. I believe he carries a football into bed. He didn’t seem to own a teddy bear.
“He came here with dedication; he is aware that hard effort is required, but I believe it’s a given with him. He’s been a delight to manage and coach, and he’s now, I believe, established something in the group that will maybe attract someone outside the group who I might be interested in working with in the future.
