ASHTON ATHLETIC 33 LUXEMBOURG

A S H T O N A T H L E T I C

LAST SEASON Premier Division: 18th

FA Cup: Extra Preliminary Round FA Vase: First Qualifying Round

A BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR VISITORS…

Ashton Athletic Football Club was founded in 1968, playing in the Wigan Sunday League. The Club developed Brocstedes Park and was admitted to the Lancashire Combination, before becoming a founder member of the North West Counties League when the Combination merged with the Cheshire league in 1982. Unfortunately, financial constraints prevented the required ground improvements to be completed, and the Club was relegated into the Manchester league Division One in 1986. The 2008/09 season also saw further progression for the Yellows, having been promoted to the Premier Division of the North West Counties League. The previous season also saw cup success for the Yellows, retaining the Atherton Charity Cup at the end of the season. Following an impressive 6th place finish in the 2008/09 season, the Yellows struggled in the league for the next 4 seasons, finishing in the bottom three of the league in three of the next four seasons. In 2013, the Yellows took the unusual step in bringing in a trio of joint managers Jay Foulds, Ben Kay and Dougie Pitts. Jay and Ben were brought in from Wigan Robin Park and Dougie came in following a break from the game. The trio needed to completely rebuild the squad for the 2013/14 season and made an excellent start to their managerial careers creating club history with a 6th place finish and beating Maine Road 1-0 to win the League Challenge Cup at Curzon Ashton. More club history was made in the 2014/15 season with a highest ever 5th place finish in the league, conceding only 38 goals and losing only 7 league games that season and the Yellows were successful in the Wigan Cup, beating Newburgh Harrock United 5-1 in the final at Brocstedes Park. reaching the 2nd qualifying round for the first time ever, losing 5-0 against Halifax Town and winning the Lancashire Cup for the first time, coming from a goal down to win 2-1 against Radcliffe Borough. Lee Vaughan scoring the winner in the final minute of the game. With the impact the management trio made at the club in the 4 seasons that they were in charge , the success was noticed from clubs at a higher level and following the 2016/17 season, Ben Kay left his role as joint manager to take up the role as assistant manager to Simon Howarth at Clitheroe FC. The following seasons saw further progression with finishes of 12th (17/18), 5th (18/19), and 5th and 14th in the covid curtailed campaigns of 19/20 and 20/21. The club enjoyed further cup success - the 2017/18 season saw Ashton Athletic see off Squires Gate, Runcorn Linnets, Bamber Bridge and Albion Sports in the FA Cup to set up a mouth watering 3rd qualifying round local derby with Chorley with the yellows suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat in front of live BBC cameras and the biggest home crowd in their history of 610. In the 2019/2020 season, wins over AFC Liverpool, Skelmersdale and Morpeth set up an away trip to York City with the yellows beaten 5-0 by their illustrious opponents in front of over 1,000 spectators at Bootham Crescent. The Club was awarded the FA Charter Standard in 2013.

ASHTON ATHLETIC: THE SIXTY SECOND GUIDE

B R O C S T E D E S P A R K

Ashton Athletic play their home matches at Brocstedes Park, located 35 miles away from Squires Gate FC.

N E W P A R T N E R S H I P S

Wigan Athletic Ladies now play their home matches at Ashton Athletic, showing a great stride forward for the club and local women’s football!

T H E D W S T A D I U M

The closest Football League ground to Ashton Athletic is the DW Stadium, home to Wigan Athletic of the Championship!

2021/22 STATS

W D L GF GA

11 10 19 65 97

YEAR FORMED

1968

YEARS IN PREM DIV

14

TWITTER FOLLOWS

7.9k

5th

HIGHEST PREMIER DIVISION FINISH

3-4

THE AGGREGATE SCORE BETWEEN THE TWO CLUBS LAST SEASON

572

INSTA FOLLOWS

P

28

GATE RECORD VS ASHTON W D L F A

12 3 13 40 49

M E D I A M E M O I R S

One of many fine performances that season!

FROM THE AWAY END Q&A WITH THOMAS SMART

What is your all time 5 a side Ashton squad?

Hmmm, tricky one! GK- James Aspinall DEF- Luca-Defrietas Hansen MID- Joe Nicholson MID- Charlie Munro ATT- Josh Nicholson

First of all, why Ashton? What encouraged you to start supporting the club?

I was looking for local Non-League clubs to go and watch when Wigan were not playing and I discovered the Yellows. I went to a cup game one Friday night then I got hooked! The day after, I messaged the club's Twitter and I have been a volunteer ever since (for around 3 years now!) The team I'm looking forward to are Bury AFC and Isle of Man at home feel like them two will be up there this season.

Who is the one to watch for Gate fans today?

I would have to say, former Gate winger Max Rogers. The winger is a dangerous, pacy and tricky player that has caused many defensive lines trouble so far this season!

What are your expectations for the new season and what new clubs are you looking forward to playing?

I am hoping for the club to hold their own and give every team they play against a tough time! Hopefully we can gather some form and stay up in the League this season and build for the future!

Gate and Ashton have played each other numerous times over the last few years, what are the standout fixtures you can remember?

I remember the game in early 2020, just before covid. Frantic end to the game which saw about 2 goals late in the second half for the Yellows that saw them taking away a 3-2 win.

Have you ever visited Squires Gate before? What did you think of your visit?

I have not visited Squires Gate before! I have heard that it is a great ground though and from what I have seen on the club's visits to Brocstedes, Squires Gate are a very friendly club! I hope to visit this season