Ashford Town F.C. (Kent)

Football club infobox
clubname = Ashford Town


fullname = Ashford Town Football Club
nickname = The Nuts & Bolts
founded = 1930
ground = The Homelands, Ashford
capacity = 3535 (500 seated)
chairman = Mark Jenner
manager = Steve Lovell
league = Isthmian League
Division One South
season = 2007–08
position = Isthmian League
Division One South, 8th
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leftarm2=FFFF00|body2=FFFF00|rightarm2=FFFF00|shorts2=FFFF00|socks2=FFFF00

Ashford Town F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Division One South.

To avoid confusion with another Ashford Town F.C. based in Ashford, Surrey, they are sometimes referred to as Ashford Town (Kent). The two sides have played each other in the past.

History

Formation

Following the founding of Ashford United in 1880 and their collapse in the 1906-7 season, and the subsequent founding of South Eastern & Chatham Railway Football Club and their collapse in 1927, a decision to found Ashford Town was taken at a meeting in April 1930 chaired by Sir Charles Iggledon, who was the editor of the Kentish Express. Ashford Town were elected to the Kent League, and played their first match on August 30th of the same year at the railway works ground at home to Canterbury Waverley. The result was a 4-2 victory. [http://www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk/atfc.html Ashford Town F.C. History]

Overview

*1948-49 - Kent League Champions
*1959-60 - Joined Southern League Division One
*1969-70 - Promoted to Premier Division
*1971 - Relegated to Division One
*1972-73 - FA Trophy semi-finalists
*1979-80 - League re-organised to Southern & Midland Divisions (No Premier); placed in Southern Division
*1986-87 - Southern League Southern Division Champions; promoted to Premier Division
*1990 - Relegated to Southern Division
*1994-95 - FA Cup - after five qualifying rounds, held Fulham (from the Football League Third Division) to a draw at home, losing in the replay.
*1995-96 - Southern League Southern Division runner-up; promoted to Premier Division. FA Cup Lost 5-0 in the 2nd round away to Watford (from the Football League Second Division)
*1998 - Relegated to Southern Division
*1999-00 - Southern Division renamed Eastern Division
*2004-05 - Joined Isthmian League Division One. (20th of 22) [fchd|id=ASHFORTK|name=Ashford Town]
*2006-07 - Attracts a crowd of 10,000 people to watch ATFC v Maidstone United FC

Club records

Previous Names : Ashford United, Ashford Railway, Ashford FC.

Previous ground : Essella Park (1930 - 1987)

Club Records & Honours: Attendance: 6525 (at Essella park) V Crystal Palace, FA Cup 1st Rnd 1959. 3363 (at The Homelands), V Fulham, FA Cup 1st Rnd 1994. Highest Goal Scorers : Dave Arter 197, John Young 172, Mark Stanton 128 & Lee McRobert 105 to date Most Appearances : Peter McRobert 765 Win : 10 -1 v Barry Town, February 1964 Defeat : 0 - 8 v Crawley Town, November 1964 Fee Paid : £7000 for J Ross & D Arter (Sittingbourne 1994) Fee Received : £25,000 for J Ross & D Arter (Hythe Town 1990) Individual : £20,000 for Lee McRobert (Sittingbourne 1993)

Best Seasons : FA Trophy: Semi Final 72-73, 2nd Rnd 96-97, 4th Rnd 2000-01 FA Cup: 2nd Rnd 61-62 (0-3 v QPR ) FA Cup: 2nd Rnd 66-67 (0-5 v Swindon) FA Cup: 2nd Rnd 95-96 (0-5 v Watford) FA Cup: 1st round 7 times.

Honours : Southern League runners up 86-87, 95-96. League Cup 38-39

Kent Senior Cup 58-59, 62-63, 92-93, 95-96.

Players Progressed to the Football League : Ollie Norris (Rochdale 61), Howard Moore (Coventry 66), Tony Godden (WBA 75) Lee McRobert (Millwall 94), Lee Bracey, (Hull City & Halifax Town) (all in formation on this is from http://www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk/atfc.html

Notable former players

*Jimmy Dimmock
*Tony Godden

References

External links