1921-22 Season
Well before the end of the end of the 1920/21 season Ashington were offered the chance to leave the North-Eastern League and play in the newly formed Third Division North for the start of the 1921/22 season.
With Confirmation of the clubs election to the new Third Division North as early as March the 10th, the incentive was there for all those connected with the Club to work hard on this rise of status. The ground was transformed from a typical non-league venue containing no more than a simple seated and covered stand to a stadium designed for 20,000. The pitch was re-laid, the Pavilion reconstructed, a Tearoom and large Press Box added and high terraces built around the pitch. Having sorted out the ground, thoughts turned to the playing staff with the intention of having 18 to 20 professionals for the opening 1921/22 season.
Nine players resigned whilst amongst others, Knowles from Manchester United, Thompson from Leeds United and Foster from Sunderland were added to the payroll. In the other direction Carter departed for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Ashington were one of only a handful of North-Eastern League clubs to be accepted into the New Third Division North along with Darlington, Hartlepools United and Durham City. Ashington’s reserve side ended up playing in the Northern Alliance League after struggling to find a higher standard of League to play in.
The Clubs entry into the Football League was heralded at Portland Park with the opening ceremony conducted by Mr Ridley Warham, appropriately the Managing Director of the town’s main employer – The Ashington Coal Company – on August the 27th. The attendance for the Colliers first Football League game against Grimsby Town was well over 9,000 but the remodelled arena wasn’t full.
The team for the opening fixture consisted of:
Davidson, Bradford, Buxton, Miller, O’Connell, Featherstone, Foster, Thompson, Dickinson, McGill and Brayson.
A second half dropping shot by Dickinson, after the Grimsby Town goalkeeper had first punched out a centre from the wing settled the issue and gave the Colliers a one goal win.
The performance wasn’t repeated the week after away to the same side, as the Colliers were thrashed 6-1. A 2-0 defeat at Wrexham was followed by a 2-2 draw against the Welshmen after Ashington had been 2-0 up the week after. After another loss, this time at Durham City, the Colliers were victorious against the Cathedral City side at Portland Park one week later with the only goal of the goal coming after 30 seconds. The game was played in front of 6,500 and was Durham City’s first defeat of the season.
As the weeks progressed the results continued in a dismal vain. A 2-0 loss at Barrow in front of 7,000 was followed by a defeat to the same opposition and by the same scoreline in the Colliers next match. On October 22nd, Ashington finally got their first away win of the season with a 2-1 win at Crewe, although the Railwaymen stole the points at Portland Park a week later. By November the locals were still out in force as Ashington defeated Lincoln City 4-2 with 5,000 attending.
By Christmas the Colliers were placed 6th from bottom, but a convincing win over Nelson (4-0 at home) after a thrilling 3-2 victory at Tranmere Rovers lifted the club into a higher position. After some encouraging displays the Colliers were brought back down to earth with a 5-0 hiding at local rivals Darlington, a 4-2 defeat at Millwall in the FA Cup and a 6-2 defeat at Walsall. A week after defeat at Walsall, Ashington beat Halifax town at Portland Park by a 3-1 scoreline, but went down 2-0 to the same side away. On the 18th of February Ashington produced one of the best performances of the season as they demolished Rochdale 7-3 at Portland Park. Weeks later the Colliers completed the double over Tranmere Rovers, but then went 5 games without a win until a victory against Darlington at Portland Park with a final score of 1-0. This result was followed by wins over Wigan Borough (3-1 at home) and Stockport (2-0 at home) before a couple of defeats.
Ashington’s last two games of the season were at home to Hartlepools United in a local derby that ended 4-1 to the Colliers.
This was followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Southport. This left Ashington in 10th position at the end of the season with 17 wins, 17 defeats and 4 draws. Memorable results included a 7-3 win at home to Rochdale, the opening day win in front of 9,000 at Portland Park against Grimsby Town, a 4-1 mauling of Hartlepools United, derby wins at home to both Darlington and Durham City, a double over Tranmere Rovers and a 2-0 win against the League Champions Stockport County.
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