Ashford Town FC
Club History
General Info
History of Ashford Town Football Club
Don Crosbie and Tony Betteridge took control at Homelands in March 2007 and instantly set about transforming things. Along with the help of a dedicated group of employees, they have totally refurbished the facilities.
Manager Steve Lovell has a talented squad and the pitch has been flattened and re-laid, to aid the passing brand of football that he employs. Don and Tony have worked wonders in their short spell in charge although the biggest challenges are still ahead. With a young playing squad of Ashford born players, the aim this season is to avoid relegation and develop the squad to reach their potential. After a disrupted preseason with this young hungry team there is a genuine feeling that Ashford Town is on the rise.
Off the field, plans for the new Homelands Sports Village are simply breathtaking. The owners have unearthed a ten million pound project to totally transform the stadium and surrounding areas. Most sports will be available and the facilities will be first-class. There will also be a budget hotel, conference and banqueting facilities to be proud of as well as starter business units for local businesses. There really will be something for everyone at the Homelands Sports Village to further aid the fast improving and expanding town of Ashford.
You now have much more of an insight into what is going on currently at our great club. Now, let’s go back to the beginning. How did it all start?
In April 1930, Sir Charles Iggleden (then Editor of the Kentish Express) presided over a meeting to form a senior football club in Ashford and subsequently applied to compete in the Kent League, Kent Senior Cup and the FA Cup. Ashford Town was elected to the Kent League in 1930 and finished their first season in an impressive sixth position. It was around then that the club acquired its nickname of the ‘Nuts and Bolts’ as many of the members were drawn from the ranks of skilled engineers in the railway works.
The following year the club moved to Essella Park. It was the sale of this ground in the mid 1980’s that enabled the purchase and development of the present ground at Homelands, named after the farm which originally occupied the site, four miles south of the town centre, and with easy access to the M20.
Despite being champions of the Kent League in the 1948/49 season, it was cup football that has provided the greater success. Town reached the FA Cup First Round proper as a Kent League side in 1958-59 losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace, in front of a ground record of 6,525 spectators. In the 1960's Town reached the first round of the Cup on four occasions, falling to league sides every time. Further honours arrived with success in the Kent Senior Cup in 1959 and 1963.
In 1972-73 Town reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, losing to Scarborough by a penalty goal. The following year Ashford finished third in the league when Alan Morton set the club scoring record of 46 goals from 69 games, which still stands today and is unlikely to be beaten.
The club earned promotion to the Premier Division of the Southern League in the 1986/87 season, at a time when the new ground at Homelands was being built. The final game played at Essella Park was a draw with Dorchester which ensured both teams gained promotion. The next two seasons saw ground sharing at Folkestone, whilst the new stadium was built. Sadly the first season at Homelands ended in disappointment as the club was relegated.
During the 1990’s then manager, Neil Cugley, produced an entertaining and successful side which gained promotion back to the Premier Division in 1995/6 and, as a highlight, drew an FA Cup First Round tie against Fulham then captained by Micky Adams. A capacity crowd of 3,300 packed into Homelands and Sky TV screened the highlights of the game. The result was a credible 2-2 draw and a replay at Craven Cottage. Again they impressed their League hosts and took the game to extra time with Fulham ending up winning 5-3.
The following year, Ashford defeated Dagenham & Redbridge in the first round and then drew Watford away in the second round; losing 5-0. The season ended poorly, with a finishing position of 18th and the club was only saved from relegation by the resignation of Sudbury.
Several managers then came and went with varying degrees of success until Don and Tony took over as owners. Their first appointment was Clive Walker who was then replaced by the present manager, Steve Lovell. Everything is now set-up for success and there is plenty of optimism that the club will move forward.