By Brian Bennett

Ian Skinner said at the weekend that his squad will be ready for Saturday’s Ebac Northern League first division opening fixture at home to Seaham Red Star (July 30).

The Ashington boss was speaking minutes after watching his side lift the JR Cleator Cup with a 3-2 win over North Shields – despite describing the treatment room at Woodhorn Lane as being like an ‘A & E’ department!

Skinner said: “Only recently I mentioned that I didn’t think we were ready – but the lads have worked hard since. The ethos of today was about the real bread and butter starting this coming Saturday and we certainly don’t want to be stumbling into the new league season. I almost challenged the players that the campaign started today so that we would hopefully go into Saturday’s opener against Seaham Red Star on the back of a good performance – which we achieved.”

He continued: “I was pleased for the lads today because even though we were 2-0 down at half time, I didn’t think there was too much wrong in the first half. We needed a bit more tempo; a little bit aggression; to be a bit more careful and to play with a bit more purpose in the final third – and I thought we did that second half.”

He added: “We’ll be approaching the Seaham match as we do with all our games – we’ll be looking to be on the front foot; we’re at home and we want to win as many games as we can.”

Injuries have already taken their toll in the warm up matches and Skinner added: “Our physio room is like A & E at the moment. We had seven players unavailable against North Shields today – the majority of those due to knocks and a suspension thrown in with that as well. I had a back four of Karl Ross – who is a central midfielder; Andrew Cartwright whose a right full back, Robbie Dale who can play anywhere and Jordan Summerly so of the back five, the goalkeeper (Karl Dryden) and the left full back were the only ones in their natural positions then we lost Thomas Kalthoeber early.”

For the Seaham Red Star match on Saturday – which will be quickly followed when Northallerton Town come to Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday (August 2) – Skinner said: “Thomas (Kalthoeber) will be out whilst I think Damen Mullen, Darren Lough and Paul Robinson are seriously doubtful. On the plus side, Lee Mason got 70 minutes under his belt today and Luke Salmon will be back from suspension which is a bonus. We’ll just have to see how the week goes but we’ll still be ready for the start.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner admitted that there was a touch of irony attached to Lewis Suddick’s goal which clinched the Woodhorn Lane outfit victory over North Shields in the JR Cleator Cup final on Saturday.

The Colliers – 2-0 behind at the interval – clawed themselves back into the contest to start the new season where they had left off in early May – by winning silverware. Only three months ago, they lifted the Ebac Northern League’s division one cup against Newcastle Benfield at North Shields’s Daren Persson Stadium.

On Saturday, Danny Anderson and Lee Mason brought the scores level inside the opening quarter hour of the second half before Suddick’s header from a free-kick on 75 minutes proved to be the clincher. However, Skinner revealed afterwards that had Dean Briggs listened to a few of his team mates, the goal may not have materialised: “It was quite ironic,” said the Ashington boss, “I think a couple of the lads were telling Dean (Briggs) to slow down before taking the kick because Robbie (Dale) was coming up to join the players in the penalty area. Dean mustn’t have heard them – and he’s played a delightful ball into the box where Lewis (Suddick) has scored with a thumping header! To be fair, we’ve been looking to be better from set plays and had put one or two visuals up in the dressing room – so it was nice for one of them to come off.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC boss Ian Skinner reflecting on his sides 3-2 win in the JR Cleator Cup over North Shields on Saturday said their were ‘lots of things’ which pleased him.

Skinner commented: “I thought we started the game quite brightly and Dan Maguire had a great chance after a couple of minutes – and on another day you would probably back him to score so we could have been ahead as early as the second or third minute. I also thought we moved the ball well and passed it well and by hook or by crook, if I’m being really honest, my views were that the difference between the two teams in the first 30-35 minutes was that we moved and passed the ball really well until we got to the final third and then were a little bit wasteful. On the other hand, I don’t think North Shields passed the ball as well as us but when they got into the final third on a couple of occasions they were quite ruthless and they found themselves 2-0 up.”

Skinner was disappointed with the goals his side conceded: “From our point of view, both were probably avoidable. The first has taken a massive deflection and looped in whilst for the second one we haven’t got out to the ball quick enough. We’ve allowed their full back to get really high and they have got a spare man at the back post and from it Dan Wilson has scored.”

He went on: “We got in at the break and the key thing for me was just before half time when we broke four versus two but were wasteful again – and that set the tone for the team talk. Our approach play and build up play had been good and we wanted that to continue in the second half – as well as doing things slightly better. However, there were lots of things in the performance I was pleased with to be honest.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner was naturally ecstatic on Saturday evening after his side had fought back from a two goal deficit to win the JR Cleator Cup against North Shields at Woodhorn Lane.

Indeed the Colliers were unfortunate to go into the break trailing to goals from David Robinson and Dan Wilson – but they dominated proceedings after the break and drew level through Danny Anderson and ex Robin Lee Mason before Lewis Suddick headed a brilliant winner.

A beaming Skinner emerged from the victorious dressing room and was full of praise for his side: “I thought we had the bit between our teeth when we came out for the second half and certainly to coin a cliché in football, we just ‘ran over the top of them’ and they (North Shields) haven’t been able to deal with it. We moved the ball better than them; we’ve created more chances than them and I can’t think of a real clear cut opportunity which they have had in the second half – certainly I can’t remember our ‘keeper Karl Dryden having to make a save.”

He continued: “Obviously the goal by Danny Anderson early in the second half helped because it gave us a bit of confidence and belief – then we equalised soon after and I was pleased for Lee Mason who has got of the mark. For what turned out to be the winner, it was a great free-kick by Dean Briggs and a fantastic header from Lewis Suddick – who had only been on the pitch two or three minutes. To be honest, I didn’t think we ever looked like losing it – and if anything we looked the better at going to extend the lead. Robbie (Dale) has brought a good save from a free kick then Jordan Lashley has pulled one out of the sky from nowhere a couple of yards out from goal and also been thwarted by ‘keeper Finlay Hodgson. We just looked a threat – and I thought we thoroughly deserved to win.”

Ashington AFC are delighted to reveal our 2022-23 away kit in tribute to Ashington hero Jack Charlton.

Jack was born and grew up in the Hirst (Beatrice Street) and spent countless hours on Hirst Park playing football. He had a superb playing career winning domestic and European honours with Leeds United.

Along with brother Bobby, Jack was famously part of the England side that won the World Cup in July 1966 beating West Germany 4-2 at Wembley. Following retirement in 1973 Jack moved into management at Middlesbrough where he won the Second Division in 1974. He oversaw a successful time at Sheffield Wednesday followed by a short spell at boyhood club Newcastle United.

Jack then became manager of the Republic of Ireland in 1986 making an immediate impact on the Irish game with qualification for Euro ’88 in West Germany which saw Ireland beat England in Stuttgart but ultimately fall with a defeat to the Netherlands. They once again qualified for a major tournament – World Cup ’90 in Italy, successfully qualifying from a group including England and the Netherlands. The Round of 16 saw David O’Leary‘s penalty securing a shootout victory over Romania. Unfortunately the superb Salvatore Schillaci scored the only goal of the quarter final to see Italy win 1-0 in Rome. By this point Jack had certainly won the hearts and minds of the Irish and changed the game in the country in a short space of time. The song from the tournament ‘Put Em Under Pressure‘ is still played to this day.

Qualification for Euro ’92 was a tough task with a group including England, Poland and Turkey with Ireland missing out by a point to England. World Cup ’94 in the USA followed and once again Ireland progressed beyond the group stage, helped by a superb Ray Houghton goal that saw Italy beaten 1-0. Unfortunately they fell 2-0 to the Netherlands in the Round of 16 but once again had given a superb account on the highest stage. Jack left his post in 1996 but in ten years had changed the face of Irish Football forever – on and off the field.

He sadly passed away in 2020 and despite the pandemic thousands lined the streets of Ashington to pay tribute to one of our heroes as he made his last journey through his hometown.

It was only a short few weeks ago we were proud to host the Jack Charlton Memorial Cup between England Fans FC and You Boys in Green.

We are delighted to present a tribute to Jack with our away shirt in honour of his special time as Republic of Ireland manager. An Ashington lad who achieved so much at home and abroad – thank you Jack from us all.

Details on the full release and availability of shirts to follow.

Ashington AFC are delighted to announce Lynx Precast as our Home and Away kit sponsors for the 2022-23 season.

Lynx Precast – based at Lynefield Park near Ashington – are specialists in the design, manufacture and installation of precast concrete flooring systems.

Club Chairman Brian Shotton “We are absolutely thrilled to have Lynx Precast on board as a sponsor for the coming season. The goals we work hard towards behind the scenes can only be realised with the support of sponsors and Lynx Precast have made a superb commitment to the club, we very much look forward to working with them this campaign“

Brent Hall, Commercial Manager at Lynx Precast “Lynx Precast are proud to sponsor Ashington AFC for the forthcoming 2022/2023 season.

Lynx are thrilled to be this year’s shirt sponsor and to help further the club’s progress. We look forward to working with Ashington AFC and the wider community over the coming season“

By Brian Bennett

Ashington will go into Saturday’s Cleator Cup final (July 23) against North Shields at Woodhorn Lane with three of manager Ian Skinner’s summer signings – Damen Mullen, Darren Lough and Lee Mason – fighting fitness battles.

Of the trio, Mullen is the biggest doubt – with Skinner adding that the midfielder is potentially facing a race against the clock to be ready for Ashington’s Ebac Northern League first division curtain raiser at home to Seaham Red Star on Saturday week (July 30).

The Colliers hosted South Shields in another warm up game on Tuesday evening ahead of the Cleator Cup clash against Marc Nash’s North Shields outfit and Skinner said: “We had two good games against North Shields last year. Obviously both squads have changed slightly but there is the added fact that there is a bit of silverware at stake. The game has been switched to our place and it would be nice if we can play a little bit better than we have done today in our single goal defeat against Charnock Richard.”

He continued: “We have a really good week coming up and we’ll find out where we are at the end of it. South Shields will be a tough test on Tuesday because they play a couple of steps above us then North Shields, who won promotion from our first division last season, come to us on Saturday.”

He went on: “Without being disrespectful, I think we need those next three games against South Shields (Tuesday) and North Shields (Saturday) at home and away to Blyth Spartans (Tuesday July 26) – because it will force us to be better. At times – and with no disrespect to the four teams we have played so far – I think we’ve played within ourselves whereas we will not be able to do that in the next three games – instead we’ll have to be at it from minute one. We’ll have to work really hard both in possession and out of possession and when we do create chances, we’ll have to take more care and be a little bit more ruthless.”

The Cleator Cup final has a 3pm kick-off.

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager has given an update on the current fitness doubts surrounding three of his players – Darren Lough, Damen Mullen and Lee Mason.

Skinner said: “We’ve had a little bit of bad luck pre season. Darren (Lough) has missed quite a bit of training after he jarred his knee and it isn’t settling down much. We lost Damen (Mullen) who initially had illness and then cut his cheek – and then has played three minutes today (against Charnock Richard) and cut his eye on the other side so I think that will be him out for another week. He’s in a real race against time to be ready for the start of the season proper (July 30) because he has already missed the last week and a half’s work.”

He continued: “Lee (Mason) has been struggling because he kicked the bottom of someone’s foot and as a result, his own foot is badly bruised and that’s why he has played a very small part in the last three games. We’ve almost tried to ease him back in a bit today but his foot is still tender and sore. Again that’s part and parcel of pre season and all we can do it to play a waiting game.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner said that his squad are a little bit behind schedule -with the countdown to the new season rapidly approaching.

The Colliers had two friendlies on Friday and Saturday against Newcastle Blue Star and Charnock Richard respectively and the boss said: “We are probably a little bit behind where we want to be – fitness levels are quite good but in terms of our play on the pitch we are not quite there. We have still got a couple of weeks before the campaign starts but we have lots of hard work to do. We had two good games against Newcastle Blue Star and Charnock Richard and there were lots to take from both games – lots of things that have been flagged up in terms of what we still need to work on but that’s what pre season is for. I don’t think there are any players who havn’t played at least 90 minutes across the two games other than if they are coming back from a long term injury or if they’ve had a little bit of a knock.”

He continued: “We lost one game – again I don’t look at results – but they were two good work outs. In spells today against Charnock Richard – and it was quite warm out there – I thought similar to the game at Newcastle Blue Star that we were better second half but we just need to take a bit more care in the final third. Today we got into the final third in the second half on numerous occasions but we were slack and then got outworked a little bit for the last five minutes – not physically, just that we wanted to push forward. We gave the ball away and got caught on the break but it wasn’t bad for pre season because the lads have then had to make big recovery runs.”

He went on: “Overall in terms of team cohesion and system of play there is still some improvement to be done and if I’m honest, I would like to get on the training pitch a little bit more in the next week or so. We’ll get an opportunity on Thursday which is probably more important than people realise because games are really difficult to influence getting across philosophies and how we should play in terms of our strengths and giving people the opportunity to really work on movement patterns and things like that. Players will argue that they prefer to play which is understandable but it’s difficult to learn as you play whereas in training you can be a little bit more specific on one or two things.”