Shrewsbury Town's Alex Rodman savouring FA Cup tie against former club

The 30-year-old winger spent two-and-a-half years with the Shots after signing in January 2011, writes Joe Edwards.

He managed five goals in 14 games in the second half of the 2010/11 season, but the following campaign came to a halt after three blood clots were found on his lungs.

He was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism in January 2012 and missed the rest of the term.

Rodman returned to fitness the following season but was sent out on loan to York City before being released at the end of his Shots contract in 2013.

The illness or being let go did not deter Rodman though.

He actually went from strength to strength and is now one of Shrewsbury Town’s most consistent performers – chipping in with a fair share of goals and assists.

On tomorrow’s FA Cup first-round clash against his former employers, Rodman said: “It was good when the draw came out, I was quite excited.

“It’s nice to play against an old club. I had two-and-a-half years at Aldershot, disrupted by an illness I had which has been documented and hampered me quite a bit.

“I made some good friends there, people I still keep in touch with now.

“It’s a close club, with a bit of a family atmosphere. There’s not too many players I remember there now, the team has changed.

“I had some good times there, good memories. It was my first step into full-time professional football in the League – it seems quite a long time ago now.”

Aldershot are currently ninth in the National League and go into the tie as the huge underdogs as Town sit at the top of League One.

Rodman can empathise with how the Shots players will be approaching the clash, as he has played for the likes of Tamworth, Gainsborough Trinity and Grantham Town in non-league.

“It’s a cup final attitude really – leave everything out on the pitch, give it everything you have got,” he said.

“You have to work as hard as you can to try to cause an upset.

“The teams lower down tend to get in your face and try to rush you, harry you.

“I don’t think you can underestimate any side in the FA Cup, it always throws up upsets.

"We have been doing fantastically well in the league and it’s about trying to take that into the Cup, starting a journey tomorrow.

“We have done our homework on Aldershot and hopefully we’ll be in the hat for the next round.”

Salop go into the game having had their 15-game unbeaten league run ended at the hands of Peterborough United last weekend.

Rodman insists the squad has not been down about that and will respond in the right manner.

“I think we will do. Training has been good this week, the lads have been bang on,” he said.

“We have been re-energised and refocused by the loss. It’s time to start a new run.

“I haven’t played against any top Premier League clubs in the competition so hopefully this is the year.”

Left-winger Rodman has scored three goals this term, as has Shaun Whalley on the other flank.

“We have chipped in with some assists and goals and hopefully there is a few more to come. It’d be nice to get a goal against my old club,” added Rodman.