Aldershot Town will play in League Two next season, after a 1-1 draw at Exeter City secured a spot in the football league for the first time in the club's eventful 16-year history.

Scott Donnelly's 42nd minute equaliser on Tuesday night saw Town crowned Blue Square Premier Division champions, prompting wild scenes of celebration.

"You've got to feel proud," said John McGinty, the club's chairman. "I feel proud that I am the chairman that has taken Aldershot back into the Football League. That will be nice.

"But it's been every man jack of us, lots of lads who have been with us and have left us along the way."

Aldershot Town were formed in 1992 as a reaction to the demise of debt-ridden Aldershot football club, and began life playing in Division Three of the Isthmian League.

Successive promotions followed, and the club eventually reached the Conference in 2003.

The Shots were denied promotion to the Football League in both 2004 and 2005 as a result of play-off defeats - both times falling foul of the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

This season, however, manager Gary Waddock has steered his side to 39 wins, 9 draws and 9 defeats in their 57 games, and an unassailable lead at the top of the table.

"It's a large step in our history," said McGinty. "We had to take a step back to the bottom part of the leagues and work our way through and now it is an unbelievable situation.

"A team that gets to the top of the league in October and stays there right the way through the season is a phenomenal thing."

Will Tidey / Eurosport