Ashington AFC: A History in the FA Cup
As well as Football League history when the Colliers rubbed shoulders with England's finest, the Colliers have also had a number of good runs in the Worlds oldest knockout competition - The FA Cup.
The First real FA Cup adventure was during the 1921/22 season when the Colliers reached the First Round after wins against Leadgate Park and Stalybridge Celtic, before going down 2-4 at Millwall in round 1.
The Next great run was during the 1923/24 season after wins against Carlisle Utd (2-0) and Hartlepools Utd (2-1) saw the Colliers land a superb draw against the mighty Aston Villa at Portland Park in the 1st Round which was the equivalent of the third round today. To make sure everyone attending to Aston Villa game had a good view, major work was done to the stadium to improve the ground. Crush barriers were installed on the terracing with a capacity crowd of over 20,000 possible.
On the match day ten special trains arrived from the Alnwick area in the North, whilst there were thirty constables, plus mounted police on duty as opposed to the normal six officers.
Heavy snow had fallen all week and there was a distinct possibility that game would be called off, but with thaw on the day the pitch had become muddy but playable. Crowds started to gather at the ground before midday and there was an air on intense excitement for this, without doubt, the Colliers biggest game. At the final Count the attendance was a disappointing 11,837 with gate receipts of £806-10s-0d. This wasn't helped by many local pit workers who were not able to attend because of work, as well as the very poor weather. Many other miners came straight from work with most of the locals displaying black & white rosettes.
Ashington's starting XI for the FA Cup match was:
Hoffman, Thompson ©, Page, Tubb, Price, Pigg, Kidd, Gardner, Robertson, Watson, Liverick.
Villa soon took the lead, but the Colliers equalised thanks to a Robertson goal met by a loud outburst of cheering. But level terms with their lofty opponents was short-lived, and handicapped by an early injury to the home player, Price, the Colliers were eventually overwhelmed with a final score of:
Ashington 1 Aston Villa 5
After defeating the Colliers 5-1 at Portland Park in the FA Cup First Round, Aston Villa had went on a fantastic run of their own, reaching the final without conceding a goal after visiting Portland Park, but met their match with Newcastle United defeating the Villa 2-0 at Wembley.
Aston Villa's Cup Run 1923/24
Round 1 ASHINGTON A 5-1
Round 2 SWANSEA TOWN A 2-0
Round 3 LEEDS UNITED H 3-0
Quarter Finals WEST BROMWICH ALBION A 2-0
Semi Finals BURNLEY N 3-0 @ Sheffield United
FA Cup Final NEWCASTLE UNITED N 0-2 @ Wembley
The next good run was in the 1926-27 season and in the FA Cup 1st Round The Colliers visited fellow North East side Stockton with the Colliers winning 2-1 at the Victoria Ground. After a derby win at Hartlepools on the 4th of December in the League by a single goal, the Colliers entertained Nelson the second round of the FA Cup. A healthy attendance of 5,265 with the visitors bringing many of their own fans to Portland Park, with the crowd witnessing a match full of missed chances, with the Colliers going through thanks to a narrow 2-1 victory.
The Directors of the Club were overjoyed when the Third Round draw was made for it paired them with a home tie against Nottingham Forest. Second Division Nottingham Forest visited Portland Park in an FA Cup Third Round clash as overwhelming favourites. In view of the financial problems prevalent to the town as a whole die to the Industrial situation, there were hopes of a new record attendance at Portland Park. However, with heavy rain on the matchday, coupled with many who didn't turn up as they expected the gates to be shut before the kick off time, the final attendance of 9,242 was smaller than hoped. The Cup tie admission costs were one and two shillings (5p and 10p) for the South Side open stand, 2 shillings and sixpence for the Paddock and three shillings and sixpence for the main covered stand - with the Club making £513 off gate receipts. The Colliers started well but Forest produced some quality football and despite great defending by the Colliers, the away side went in at half time one nil up. An injury reduced the Colliers to only ten fit men in the second half and with the rain coming down in torrents, the Second Division side sealed the match with a stunning header 17 minutes into the 2nd period giving a final score of:
Ashington 0 Nottingham Forest 2
After this the Colliers reached the First Round three years running, but lost each time. In 1946/47 the Colliers took North Shields to a second replay in the fourth qualifying Rounds before finally going out.
Then came a superb run in the 1950/51 season after wins against Annfield Plain (3-1), West Stanley (2-1), Hexham Hearts (6-2 in a replay), Cramlington Welfare (3-1) and Farsley Celtic (2-1) before drawing Halifax Town at the Shay in the FA Cup First Round. Over 1,500 Ashington fans made the trip to the Shay to cheer on the Colliers with an overall crowd of 7,440 in attendance.
Unbelievably Ashington went two goals up after Dent crossed for Gipper to head in and Dent set up Simpson to make it 2-0 to the Colliers. However Halifax Town pulled the game back to 2-2 through Glaister and Core but couldn't get any more past the magnificent Charlton in the Ashington goal, who made numerous fine saves. Late in the game Ashington won it through Scott making national headlines. £530 was made at the gate with a final score of:
Halifax Town 2 Ashington 3
Ashington were drawn against Rochdale in the Second Round and on December 9th, 1950 an all-time record crowd of 13,199 packed into Portland Park to watch the Colliers take on the Third Division side. All local League games were switched to the morning so people could go to Portland Park and a packed ground saw Rochdale go 2-1 up at half time. A storming second half, which included 14 Ashington corners in the last 15 minutes failed to produce an equaliser. With seconds to go a Norman West cross was put in by Gipper. The roar from the crowd was heard at the White Elephant, but the goal was disallowed for handball. The Colliers glorious run had ended with a final score of:
Ashington 1 Rochdale 2
Two years later the Colliers were back on an FA Cup run after wins against Amble away (4-0), Hexham Hearts away (5-3), Newburn away (4-1_ and Billingham Synthonia at home (4-0). In the First Round Ashington met Football League side Tranmere Rovers away and were crushed with a final score of:
Tranmere Rovers 8 Ashington 1
The Colliers next good run was in the 1961/62 season after wins at home to Spennymoor United (3-2), Silksworth Colliery Welfare at home (4-1), Stanley Utd away (4-1), Bedlington Mechanics 4-1 away in a replay and finally Scarborough at home in the fourth qualifying Round (winning 4-0) saw the Colliers draw Chester City away in the First Round. Unfortunately Chester beat the Colliers with a final score of:
Chester City 4 Ashington 1
Ashington then made the fourth qualifying round on a couple of occasions in the 70s but were defeated by Willington and Gateshead United before they could get to Round One. The early 80s saw the Colliers reach the Third qualifying round but were defeated by North Shields and Horden CW before they could get any further.
The late 80's and 90s saw the colliers struggle to advance in the FA Cup, but the New Millennium saw the Colliers hopes grow under manager Tony Harrison in the 2003/4 season. The Preliminary Round saw the Colliers make the trip to Maine Road FC of Manchester and win 4-2 thanks to an Alex Lawson hat-trick and a goal by David Carr. Ashington then disposed of Ramsbottom United at home 3-1 thanks to another Lawson treble before drawing Yorkshire based Maltby Main in the second qualifier.
A great Colliers performance by the Colliers saw them come back from 1-0 down to go 3-1 up through Marc Nash, Alex Lawson and a Stu Douglas corner that went straight in. Late on in the match Maltby pulled one back but the Colliers held on to win 3-2. In the Third qualifier Ashington were drawn against Grantham Town, but went out 3-1 infront of a crowd of over 700. Ross Atkinson got the Colliers goal with only bad luck costing Ashington a place in the next round.