Issue #17 - v Ashton Town (22/03/2025)

SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2025

NWCFL First Division North vs ASHTON TOWN

KO 3:00PM

THOUGHTS FROM THE DUGOUT

Good afternoon and welcome back to Rakesmoor Lane for today’s North West Counties Football League fixture against Ashton Town.

we’re back at Rakesmoor Lane today with five big games ahead of us and just four points needed to confirm a place in the playoffs. It’s a crucial run-in now, and every game matters. The focus is on keeping standards high, staying consistent, and making sure we finish the season as strongly as possible.

Monday’s draw away at Maine Road was a good point in tough circumstances. It’s never an easy place to go, especially with the pitch conditions and the number of changes we had to make due to injuries. The lads dug in, worked hard for each other, and showed a bit of resilience to get something out of the game.

We know what to expect from Ashton Town – they’re always a tough opponent and we’ll need to be right at it again today. At this stage of the season, momentum is massive, and we know we’ve got to deliver good performances every time we step on the pitch. It’s a boost to have Woody, Tyler Spence, and Tyler Wood back in the squad, though we’ll still have to wait a bit longer for Amo, Cal, Hodgey, and Tommy to return.

KEVIN WATKIN

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

FACTSHEET

COLOURS

Red & White

NICKNAME

The Town

GROUND NAME

Hebs Group Stadium

CAPACITY

Unlisted

RECORD ATTENDANCE

1,865 (vs FC United of Manchester - 2007)

LEAGUE POSITION 8th

ON OPPONENT

ON THE OPPONENT

THEIR HISTORY

The original Ashton Town joined Division Two of the Lancashire Combination in 1903 and were promoted to Division One in their first season.

However, they were relegated back to Division Two after finishing sixteenth in their first season in Division One.

Towards the end of the 1910–11 season, the club withdrew from the league, and Tyldesley Albion took over their fixtures.

The current club was established in 1953 as Makerfield Mill. They initially played in the Wigan Sunday School League before moving to the St Helens Combination, where they played for three years, winning Division Two in 1957–58. In 1958 they joined the Warrington and District Amateur League, winning Division One in 1959–60 and 1950–61.

In 1962 the club were renamed Ashton Town after being forced out of their Windsor Road ground and moving home matches to a public park pitch at Whithill Street Recreation Ground in Bryn. However, they won the league again in 1962–63 and 1963–64.

In 1964 the club purchased their Edge Green Street ground, which had currently hosted Stubshaw Cross Rovers. They finished as Division One champions for a fifth time in 1964–65 before winning a sixth title in 1969–70.

They joined the Lancashire Combination in 1971, moved to Division Two of the Cheshire County League in 1978 and became a founding member of Division Three of the North West Counties League in 1982.

In 1985 the club dropped into the Manchester League but returned to Division Three of the North West Counties League the following season.

After Division Three was merged into Division Two in 1987, the club remained at the same level until relegated to the Cheshire Football League Premier Division at the end of the 2016/17 season. However, they were promoted back the following season, 2018/19, to the NWCFL Division One North.

v Prescot Cables FC - July 2022 (Photo - Dawn Marshall)