Following the operational review update released last week, we felt it was right to share a wider update on where the club is at across different areas, both on and off the pitch. A lot of work goes on in the background that isn’t always seen, and this aims to give a clear picture of that.
🏟️ Ground & Facilities
- New LED Floodlights are now in use, improving visibility, meeting league regulations and reducing running costs.
- The pitch continues to be maintained to a high standard thanks to Scott Robson, our groundsman, who puts in countless voluntary hours.
- Thank you to the volunteers who help around the building and the ground. Much of the work is quiet and unseen, but the effort shows.
- Work is ongoing to improve the club shop and return it to matchday opening, alongside a wider range of merchandise.
🚌 Travel & Fixtures
- Supporter and team travel has been strengthened to keep the squad together on more matchdays and allow fans to follow the side. Supporter travel is offered at a reasonable cost, and many choose to make use of it, which helps support the overall travel bill.
- Travel for the club can range from £12,000 to £14,000 a season depending on the journeys involved, so every bit of support here makes a difference.
- Friday night fixtures have returned. We hosted Newton Aycliffe last week and face Consett at Woodhorn Lane in early December.
- The first Ashington vs Blyth league derby since 1983 takes place on Boxing Day. Tickets are now on sale.
🍺 Matchday Experience, Functions & Catering
- We trialled in-house catering across the hatch and Sunday lunches, but rising costs made this difficult to continue. We have now returned to a matchday food van arrangement. Whilst this may feel like a step back the club has to get back to basics and take stock of things whilst reducing costs. Thank you to everyone who put their time and effort into the catering side during that period.
- Hospitality remains available, and the Charlton Lounge and Woodhorn Lane are available for private hire when fixtures allow.
- Functions are a key part of the club’s income. If you know anyone looking for a venue for birthdays, family gatherings or celebrations, please recommend us. Every booking helps support the club.
- The Tuesday Quiz Night with Steffan Peddie continues to bring people together, and getting along to it supports the club. This will be staffed on a voluntary basis for the forseeable future.
- Jimmy Ogilvie is once again hosting a fundraising night with live music at the Northern Club on Friday 14th November. Tickets are available from Jimmy or the Northern Club.
- Hank and The Hotdogs will be playing live at the football club on Saturday 29th November at 7.45pm, following the home match and the Newcastle game on TV.
- The club has Sky Sports and TNT Sports, and we would like to open more often around televised matches. However, when we have opened previously, bar takings have not always covered staff costs or stock. This is something we are reviewing carefully moving forward and again may be a voluntarily operated opening.
💼 Commercial & Fundraising
- Build the Budget returned this season. It didn’t reach previous levels but we do thank everyone who contributed. Work continues on new ways of supporting the football budget.
- The seasonal sponsorship pack has been refreshed and several new partners have joined recently.
- Matchday 50/50 continues to generate good income of nearly £200 for most games. The sellers do a great job and we thank them for that, it really does make a difference.
- The Supporters Club is also going through a re-organisation and are looking to relaunch the Awayday 50/50 in the near future.
👕 Identity & Kit
- The new home shirt has been popular with supporters and we have sold around 80 so far. We will be ordering more home shirts on the run up to Christmas.
- Moving to Adidas for kit and training wear has lifted how the club presents itself. Sponsorship remains available for the kit and we are looking at a supporter pre-order before Christmas.
🌱 Sustainability
- The LED floodlights are already helping reduce electricity use although across the facility overall it is still too high.
- Further work is planned to extend LED lighting throughout the facility to reduce running costs.
- We are working with local partners on wider energy projects in the community.
🏛️ Boardroom
- Work has continued to build stronger governance, clearer roles, and steadier planning across the club. With having such a small team quite often roles end up crossing over which means they don’t get the full attention they deserve. Work is underway to rectify that.
- Off-field operations are being strengthened, including the bar and function facilities, matchday organisation, commercial work, and community links. The aim is for these areas to support one another and provide a stable base for the football side.
- All board positions are voluntary, taken on by people who give their time because they care about Ashington Football Club.
- The club is open to bringing new skills into the boardroom to support the existing team. Anyone who feels they could contribute is welcome to speak with us.
⚽ On the Pitch
- It has been a mixed start to the season and the league position is obviously not where we would like it to be at this stage.
- The local football landscape is very tough and competitive, with player availability at a premium across the region. This affects many clubs, not just ourselves.
- Nick is working hard to improve the squad and bring in the right players where possible. The group are committed and are putting in the work to turn results around.
- Support home and away continues to mean a great deal to everyone in the dressing room and the club overall.
🙏 A Final Word
Thank you to everyone who turns up, buys a ticket, supports the bar, volunteers, and stands by the club.
As always decisions are made with the best interests of Ashington AFC at heart. The club has been here for 142 years, and the intention is for it to be here long beyond all of us.
We keep going and working hard together.