Women’s Football Rising in Hampshire: Aldershot FC Women Team
Shellie Irvine and Aldershot Town Ladies’ Inaugural Season 2025/2026
Women’s football in the UK has never felt stronger. The Lionesses’ World Cup victory captured the imagination of millions and ignited a surge of energy through grassroots clubs across the country.
That triumph was more than a trophy lift — it was a signal to young girls everywhere that football belongs to them too.
Yet the true heartbeat of women’s football is not found only on the biggest stages, but in the local clubs and Sunday matches where commitment, community, and passion fuel the game.
Here in women’s football Hampshire, Aldershot Town Ladies Senior Team is stepping into history with their inaugural 2025/2026 season in League 3 of the Hampshire County Women’s League.
For the club, which has long carried the proud footballing traditions of Aldershot Town, this is a moment of renewal — a chance to write a fresh chapter for women’s sport in the region.
Building a Legacy in Women's Football Hampshire
Aldershot Town has always been at the heart of the local football community.
From its men’s team and loyal fan base to its growing youth pathways, the club has long been woven into Hampshire’s sporting fabric.
Now, with the establishment of a senior women’s side, that story is evolving.
This season marks a milestone — not only for the players on the pitch but for the generations of girls in Hampshire who can now see themselves represented in Aldershot’s colours.
Playing in League 3 is the first step, and it represents something far greater: a foundation on which a thriving women’s team can be built.
Leadership on the Touchline
First Team Manager
The squad is guided by First Team Manager Aym’e Melham, who stepped into the role after working within Aldershot Town’s Girls Academy during the 2024/25 season.
Aym’e brings not only her own playing background but also an impressive coaching career across clubs such as Basingstoke Town, Hungerford Town, Hartley Wintney, and MRPFC in her native Australia.
Though this is her first official venture into women’s football, her coaching experience and vision are helping to shape Aldershot Town Ladies’ inaugural season, instilling both discipline and belief in a squad that is already proving itself on the pitch.
Assistant Manager
Paul Macrae will be supporting Aym’e Melham as Assistant Manager for the Women’s Senior Team.
Paul brings with him over 18-years of coaching experience across various ages in local football across both youth and senior teams in the female and male games.
On taking the role, he said:
“I’m delighted to be offered the role of Assistant Manager. Really looking forward to working with everyone here at Aldershot Town.
Players Who Embody the Spirit of the Game
Forward Shellie Irvine brings creativity, pace, and relentless energy to the attacking line.
Watching her drive the team forward, it’s clear she plays with both talent and heart, embodying the determination that defines grassroots football.
As Shellie takes her place up front this season | a journey we’re honoured to support through sponsorship |
She represents not just talent, but the spirit of community and wellness that makes women’s football so powerful.
In defence, Hollie O’Brien has quickly become a rock at the back.
We’ve followed Hollie’s journey from Ash United to Aldershot, where she now anchors the defence with resilience, leadership, and a never-give-up attitude.
Her transition shows not just personal growth, but also the growing strength of women’s football in the region.
Together with their teammates, Shellie and Hollie demonstrate that women’s football is about more than goals and results — it’s about teamwork, perseverance, and the power of community
Grassroots Meets the County Stage
Aldershot Town Ladies are not only competing in the league but also taking part in the Hampshire FA Women’s Trophy.
Cup competitions like this bring a different kind of test — where grassroots spirit meets the intensity of knockout football.
Every match is a chance to grow, prove themselves, and inspire the next wave of players coming through.
Football and Wellness: More Than a Game
At BCH Naturals, we believe wellness goes beyond skincare or spa rituals. It’s about living well, connecting deeply, and celebrating the moments that uplift us.
When we see Shellie sprinting down the wing or Hollie clearing danger at the back, we’re reminded that football itself is wellness in motion:
- Physical strength – the game builds fitness, agility, and stamina.
- Mental resilience – overcoming setbacks, staying focused, and bouncing back.
- Community belonging – shared victories and collective spirit remind us that no one achieves alone.
In that sense, Aldershot Town Ladies are not just playing football — they are living examples of how wellness touches every part of life.
The Bigger Picture: Inspiring the Next Generation
The Lionesses showed us what’s possible on the world stage, but the real transformation happens week in, week out, at pitches across the country.
Every time Aldershot Town Women step onto the field, they are giving visibility to women’s football, showing young girls in Hampshire that the game is open to them.
This is why grassroots matters: it’s where passion becomes legacy.
Looking Ahead
This Sunday at the EBB Stadium, Aldershot Town Women’s team will take to the pitch once more. For fans, families, and those of us who believe in the growth of women’s sport, it’s more than just another fixture.
It’s a statement that women’s football is here to stay — growing stronger, season by season.
We will be there cheering them on!
Shots go marching on!
You can find out more about Aldershot Town Ladies and the wider club at the official Shots website.
Here’s to Aym’e Melham, Paul Macrae, Shellie Irvine, Hollie O’Brien, and the entire Aldershot Town Ladies team (Women’s Senior Team | Aldershot Town FC) — writing history in their inaugural 2025/2026 season, inspiring the community, and symbolising the unstoppable growth of women’s football from grassroots to the global stage.
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