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Ashford Town F.C. (Middlesex)
Encyclopedia
Ashford Town F.C. are an English
football club based in Ashford, Surrey
. The club are currently members of Division One Central of the Southern League
and play at Short Lane. The club formally changed their name in 1990 to Ashford Town (Middlesex) to avoid confusion with the Kent
club which previously shared the same name, but are now named Ashford United
.
. They finished runners-up in 1993-94, and the following year won the title. They went on to win the league in each of the next three seasons, and again in 1999-2000, after which they were promoted to Division Three of the Isthmian League
.
After finishing third in their first season, they were promoted to Division Two. In 2002 they were moved to Division One South after a League re-organisation, and in 2004 switched to the Western Division of the Southern League. In 2005-06 they finished second in the division, and were promoted, being placed in the Isthmian League Premier Division. In 2006-07 they won the League Cup, and in 2008-09 the Surrey Senior Cup
. At the end of the 2009-10 season the club were relegated and placed in Division One Central of the Southern League, although they were offered a late reprieve from relegation after Merthyr Tydfil FC were liquidated.
The club's decision to become the first club in the National League System
to decline such a reprieve was the start of a difficult period on and off the field and the season was one marked by highs and lows, with a superb run in the FA Trophy
being tempered by finishing sixteenth in the League.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football club based in Ashford, Surrey
Ashford, Surrey
Ashford is a town almost entirely in the Surrey borough of Spelthorne in England, with a small part falling within Greater London. It is a suburban development situated 15 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in London and forms part of the London commuter belt...
. The club are currently members of Division One Central of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
and play at Short Lane. The club formally changed their name in 1990 to Ashford Town (Middlesex) to avoid confusion with the Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
club which previously shared the same name, but are now named Ashford United
Ashford United F.C.
Ashford United F.C. was an English football club based in Ashford, Kent. The side was formed in 1880 and won the Kent Senior Cup in 1893. A year later the club became founder members of the Kent League. The club played home games at Godinton Road....
.
History
Established in 1958 as Ashford Albion, the club initially played in the Hounslow & District League. They won two two consecutive promotions to reach the Premier Division, and in 1964 adopted their current name. The club reconstituted itself in January 1965 and climbed back through the divisions of the Hounslow & District League before joining the urrey County Intermediate League (Western)|Surrey Intermediate League (Western)] ]in 1967. Ashford Town were immediately promoted to the top division of this competition and were Champions of the competition in 1974-75. They became founder members of the Surrey Premier League in 1983. In 1990 they joined the Combined Counties LeagueCombined Counties Football League
The Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprising teams from southwestern Greater London, Surrey, small parts of Hampshire and Berkshire, and Guernsey...
. They finished runners-up in 1993-94, and the following year won the title. They went on to win the league in each of the next three seasons, and again in 1999-2000, after which they were promoted to Division Three of the Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
.
After finishing third in their first season, they were promoted to Division Two. In 2002 they were moved to Division One South after a League re-organisation, and in 2004 switched to the Western Division of the Southern League. In 2005-06 they finished second in the division, and were promoted, being placed in the Isthmian League Premier Division. In 2006-07 they won the League Cup, and in 2008-09 the Surrey Senior Cup
Surrey Senior Cup
The Surrey Senior Cup is the senior Saturday cup of the Surrey FA. It is currently competed for by teams playing in the top nine levels of the English football league system who are affiliated to the Surrey FA...
. At the end of the 2009-10 season the club were relegated and placed in Division One Central of the Southern League, although they were offered a late reprieve from relegation after Merthyr Tydfil FC were liquidated.
The club's decision to become the first club in the National League System
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
to decline such a reprieve was the start of a difficult period on and off the field and the season was one marked by highs and lows, with a superb run in the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
being tempered by finishing sixteenth in the League.
Major Honours
- Isthmian League
- League Cup winners 2006-07
- Southern League
- Division One South & West Runners-Up 2005-06
- Surrey Senior Cup
- Winners 2008-09
- Middlesex Senior Charity Cup
- Winners 2000-01
- Combined Counties League
- Champions 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1999-2000
- League Cup Winners 1998-99
- Surrey Intermediate League (Western)
- Champions 1974-75