| Full name | Ashton United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Robins | ||
| Founded | 1878 (as Hurst FC) | ||
| Ground | Hurst Cross, Ashton-under-Lyne (Capacity: 4,500 (250 seated)) |
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| Chairman | David Aspinall | ||
| Manager | Danny Johnson | ||
| League | NPL Premier Division | ||
| 2008-09 | NPL Premier Division, 9th | ||
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Ashton United Football Club is an English football club, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester but historically within Lancashire.
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History
The club was originally founded in 1878 as Hurst F.C. and the earliest known match report dates back to March 1879. By 1880 the club were playing at Hurst Cross, their current ground. This makes their home one of the oldest football grounds in the world. The club first entered the FA Cup in 1883 and became the first club in Manchester to play a home FA Cup tie as Hurst beat Turton in reaching the 2nd round at their first attempt. In 1885 Hurst beat Newton Heath (forerunners of Manchester United) 3-0 in the inaugural Manchester Senior Cup Final.
The club's first league was the Ashton & District League and, after a period of inactivity, in 1909 Hurst joined the Manchester League. The club finished joint top in 1910 (losing a play-off for the title to Salford United) then won the Championship outright in 1912 before joining the Lancashire Combination the following season. The club switched leagues again in 1923, joining the Cheshire County League.
Just prior to World War II Hurst signed one of the star players of the period, Dixie Dean, but the outbreak of hostilities ended his spell at the club. The club resumed playing after the war and changed their name to Ashton United in 1946 before re-joining the Lancashire Combination in 1947. The 1950s brought success in various cup competitions with four Manchester Challenge Cup wins and a Manchester Intermediate Cup triumph allied to two appearances in the first round of the FA Cup in 1952 and 1955. In 1959 a young Alan Ball made his Ashton debut at the start of a long and glorious career. The club won the Lancashire Combination Second Division in 1961 before moving to the Midland League in 1964 then back to the Lancashire Combination in 1966. Ashton returned to the Cheshire County League once more in 1968 and remained members until the league folded after the foundation of the North West Counties League in 1982. In 1988 Ashton won the 2nd Division of the North West Counties League and in 1992 lifted the Championship of the 1st Division, earning a place in the Northern Premier League (1st division) for the first time in the club's history. After a decade of near misses Ashton finally won promotion to the Premier Division of the NPL in 2002 - in the same season Ashton's Gareth Morris scored the fastest FA Cup goal, registered at four seconds against Skelmersdale United. In 2004 Ashton scraped into the final available place for the restructured Conference North, but their stay lasted just one season before returning to the Northern Premier League in 2005. Danny Johnson was appointed manager in April 2007 and led the club to a 10th place finish in 2008, ensuring the club celebrated their 130th anniversary with their highest-ever finish in the NPL, a mark which was then bettered with a 9th placed finish in 2009.
Current squad
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Stadium
The club initially played at Holebottom on Smallshaw, then at Rosehill - both of which were close to the their current ground. Records indicate that the club started playing their football at Hurst Cross in 1880, making the area one of the oldest surviving, constantly used football venues in the world.
The current capacity is 4,500. The Sid Sykes Stand provides 250 seats and covered standing accommodation is available in the Popular Stand on the opposite side of the ground. Open terracing is available at both ends of the ground.
Records
- Best league position: 14th in Northern Premier League, Premier Division (then level 6), 2003-04
- Best FA Cup performance: 2nd Round, 1883-84 and 1885-86
- Best FA Trophy performance: quarter-final, 1996-97
- Best FA Vase performance: 4th round, 1992-93
- Record victory: 13-1 v Marple (Lancashire Combination), 22/02/1919
- Record attendance: 7,824 v Halifax Town (FA Cup 1st Round Replay) 24/11/1952
(The actual attendance for the Halifax game was estimated as being closer to 8,500 due to people entering for free through a gate that was forced open.)
Honours
- Manchester League Champions - 1911-12
- Manchester League Runners-up - 1909-10
- Manchester Senior Cup Winners - 1885, 1914, 1976, 1978
- Manchester Junior Cup Winners - 1894, 1911, 1933
- Manchester Challenge Cup Winners - 1936, 1939, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1955
- Manchester Intermediate Cup Winners - 1959, 1963
- Manchester Premier Cup Winners - 1980, 1983, 1992, 2001, 2002, 2003
- Lancashire Combination 1st Division Champions - 1916-17
- Lancashire Combination 1st Division Runners-up - 1914-15
- Lancashire Comination 2nd Division Champions - 1961-62
- Lancashire Comination Cup Winners - 1961-62
- North West Counties League 1st Division Champions - 1991-92
- North West Counties League 2nd Division Champions - 1987-88
- North West Counties Floodlit League Runners-up - 1990-91
- North West Counties League Cup Winners - 1992
- North West Counties League Challenge Cup Winners - 1992
- Northern Premier League Division 1 Play Off Winners - 2001-02
- Northern Premier League Division 1 Cup Winners - 1994, 1997, 1999
- Northern Premier League President's Cup Runners-up - 2003
- Conference North, Founder Members - 2004
External links
- Ashton United at the Football Club History Database
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Ashton United | Boston United | Bradford Park Avenue | Burscough | Buxton | Durham City | FC United of Manchester | Frickley Athletic | Guiseley | Hucknall Town | Kendal Town | King's Lynn | Marine | Matlock Town | Nantwich Town | North Ferriby United | Ossett Town | Retford United | Stocksbridge Park Steels | Whitby Town | Worksop Town |
Coordinates: 53°30′04.61″N 2°04′46.99″W / 53.5012806°N 2.0797194°W
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