Ashington FC are delighted to announce our new management team as Andy Coyles and Richie Hill, as they will be stepping into the head coaches’ roles for the upcoming 2024/25 season.

Having previously served as part of the management team along with outgoing Manager Ian Skinner, Coyles and Hill are already well-acquainted with the club. Andy and Rich have shown a clear understanding towards our fans passion and loyalty surrounding the football club and acknowledge in full, the demands of the Northern Premier League.

Andy, a Uefa ‘A’ licence coach, is an assistant professor and practitioner in sport coaching/PE at Northumbria University in Newcastle, and away from Ashington is the head coach of the England Universities National Team. Andy was also part of the club’s promotion success during the 22/23 season working alongside Ian Skinner.

Richie, also a Uefa ‘A’ licence coach has previous experiences at Hartlepool United FC followed by Spennymoor Town, where he was involved in their successful youth set up. In addition to that, Richie has also spent time at Middlesbrough FC’s academy where he was their lead U14’s-U16’s coach.

Andy and Richie share the same beliefs and values surrounding the game, and their strong working relationship will bring great enthusiasm and energy to the football club.

Both coaches’ have a wealth of experience of the non-league landscape and have previous experience of working together at Consett AFC.

Our new management team outlined “we are both delighted and honoured to be appointed as the new management team, here at Ashington. We know that the club has a proud history and we regard it as an honour and a privilege to be appointed at such an exciting time, both on and off the field. We have by far, one of the best supported clubs in the North East and we are both looking forward to sharing this journey together.”

Ian Skinner commented on the appointments, stating, “The decision to retain Andy and Richie reflects our commitment to building on the successes of last season and our survival at this level. Their understanding of the club and the league, coupled with their connection with the dressing room, was exactly what we were looking for.”

Brian Shotton added, “we had a meeting with some of the new board members to get to know Andy and Richie, it was clear following discussion straight after the meeting that this was the direction we wanted to head. They had answers to all the questions we had and aligned with where we saw the club headed next season. Last season was a difficult one with the rising costs around the club, which were generally out of our control, therefore having a coaching team bought into our overall mission for Ashington was key for us.”

As we push forward in a new chapter, we extend our gratitude to Ian Skinner for his contribution to the club as well as steering us into this league as a manager. Skinner will maintain a role as a Director at the club.

We look forward to next season to continue the journey and maintain the legacy of Ashington FC.

We are expecting a crowd close to capacity this Thursday so it will be a busy night. Please give this a read before coming to the game to ensure you know what the crack is.

TRAVELLING & CAR PARKING

Ashington AFC wishes to be a responsible community organisation and a good neighbour to all residents living locally. The Club would make the following appeal to anyone attending the Semi Final fixture on Thursday 2nd May and would like to thank you all in advance for your cooperation.

Whilst there are a limited number of car parking spaces at the club, the anticipated crowd will mean they will fill up early, we would urge anyone who is able, to leave their car at home.

Regular Bus Services running to Wansbeck Hospital include the

1 Blyth, Bedlington Station, Stakeford, Lynemouth, Ellington, Creswell and Widdrington

X21 Newcastle, Bedlington, Stakeford and Newbiggin by the sea

There is also considerable car parking in Ashington Town Centre and you can walk to the ground in 20 minutes from there.

Please do not block the highway or any drives or garages locally.

FOOD & DRINK

The clubhouse is located on the first floor of the main stand. As we expect the match to be busy there may be queues. Our staff will be working hard to serve as quickly as possible, please bear with them as they do so.

Tommo’s Pit Pony Can Bar will also be open and is located on the North East side of the ground in the black container. The bar will be selling cans of beer, lager, cider and soft drinks. This is CASH ONLY!

Katies Kitchen will be selling food as usual on the East Side of the ground behind the net.

The Hatch on the side of the main stand will be selling hotdogs and nachos.

PROGRAMMES

Printed match programmes will be available just beyond the turnstiles and can be purchased at a cost of £2. Whilst we will be printing more than usual, these may run out, so get them early.

50/50 DRAW

Our 50/50 Draw tickets will also be available inside the ground on Thursday night with half of the ticket sales going directly into the prize pot. We expect this to be of high value so get your tickets to be in with a chance of winning.

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC skipper Karl Ross has said that his team mates will have their minds entirely focussed on the task which lies ahead – nowhere else – when they face Newcastle United U21’s in the semi final of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup at Woodhorn Lane on Thursday night (7.30pm kick-off).

Last Saturday the Colliers won for the first time in six games when they brushed North Ferriby aside in their last league fixture of the season in the Pitching In Northern Premier League’s East Division.

The Wansbeck outfit ran out 2-0 winners and the result prompted Ashington-born Ross to say: “We enjoyed the day – but we’ve put that behind us now and it’s all about us focussing on the Newcastle game. It’s a great incentive knowing that the final will be held at St James’ Park and I know the lads would love to get through and play there because it’s something which players all dream about. However we’ve got to put that to the back of our minds and fully concentrate on Thursday’s clash which we are really looking forward to.”

The midfielder is looking for a noisy atmosphere from the home supporters: “Our fans have been unbelievable for us all season and they will come out in their hundreds,” he added, “We want them to get behind us because they are a great 12^th man and can spur us on.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner has described Thursday’s semi final clash against Newcastle United U21s in the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup as being a ‘tough test – but nevertheless a winnable one.’

Following a run of four defeats in five matches, the Colliers got back on track at the weekend when goals from Andrew Cartwright and Dan Maguire secured a 2-0 victory over North Ferriby in their final game of the season in the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League.

Skinner said later: “Returning to winning ways last Saturday was all part of the plan. We asked the lads to go out and play with a bit of freedom and to get back to the levels which we were capable of and to send the fans home happy. We achieved our goal – and now everybody will be really excited about Thursday night. There will be a big crowd inside the ground and the support will be fantastic – just like it was today against Ferriby – and we’ll be working hard on how we are going to tackle what will be a tough test – but nevertheless a winnable one.”

He continued: “Obviously I would like the boys to be able to go to St James Park for a final. However we’re certainly not getting ahead of ourselves and we’ll be taking things one step at a time because will Thursday night be easy? No. Will we try and tackle it with everything we’ve got? Yes – and hopefully on the night it will be good enough.”

The boss added that the Woodhorn Lane fans can play an integral part: “Our fans are always important,” he said, “They come and sing and shout and bang the drum and it’s great. The lads love it and long may it continue. To be honest, it’s a club where they need each other – the players need the fans and the fans need the players to show that they care on the pitch and I think when you get both, you get a real feel-good factor about the place. There was a little bit of that today (against North Ferriby) because we managed to get back into the groove. The fans sang their hearts out for the entirety and it leads to a good positive environment – so hopefully Thursday night can be a repeat of that.”

Kick-off is 7.30pm

On Saturday night, a special presentation was made to Brian “Scoop” Bennett who has reached the massive milestone of 50 years with Ashington AFC.

Brian started reporting for the Chronicle back in the 74/75 season in what turned out to be a 6-2 home defeat to Consett. This didn’t deter him from the role however and over the 50 year spell, he has seen three promotion seasons, two relegation seasons, four FA Cup runs which ended at the 4th Qualifying Round as well as two Northumberland Senior Cup titles. Could his 50th year also be the season in which he sees his third?

On receiving the award on Saturday evening, an overwhelmed Scoop could not thank the people of the club more for all the support they have given him (we still say he has given us more than we have given him) as well as paying a special tribute to his long suffering wife and son, Janet and Jonny who have had to endure all the ups and downs that come with being part of Ashington Football Club.

Brian also acknowledged that Vince Gledhill had been instrumental in securing his involvement here at Ashington. Back in 1975 he had asked Brian to come across to cover games for the local paper, but at the time Brian had recently started covering Bedlington Terriers (booooo!) for the local press. Vince, if you’re reading this Ashington AFC are forever in your debt!

Scoop, a massive thank you from us all!

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Connor Thomson claimed the award of top goalscorer when Ashington FC held their presentation evening in the function room at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday night.

And afterwards, the 28 year old – who is on loan from Morpeth Town – could not disguise his delight on several fronts.

Thomson bagged 17 goals, one more than fellow striker Wilson Kneeshaw to lift the award and he said afterwards: “It wasn’t something which I thought about when I joined Ashington but by the end, I had a good idea that I had finished top of the pile. Obviously I wanted to make an impact but to come away as top goalscorer in the time I have been with the club, I’m buzzing about it. I have only been here for six months so to get the award is unusual because some of the other lads have been for the whole of the season.”

Newcastle-born Thomson continued: “It was all about how quickly I gelled and how quickly I fitted into the team and straight away, I struck up a good partnership with Wilson (Kneeshaw). The benefits came from the rest of the lads where they were really putting the ball on a plate for me to put into the back of the net.”

He continued: “All of the players and the staff have been absolutely brilliant with me and consequently I’m absolutely loving my time here. From my point of view, it was all about scoring, assisting and helping the team but the journey which I’ve been on has been nothing short of incredible. We are all good mates – not just on the pitch but off it as well – and the environment in the changing rooms is great.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Wilson Kneeshaw struck at the double at Ashington FC’s presentation night on Saturday as he won the Management team’s Player of the Year and Goal of the season awards.

And afterwards the 29 year old striker paid tribute and couldn’t thank the management team of Ian Skinner, Andy Coyles and Ritchie Hill enough for giving him a ‘new lease of life’ at Woodhorn Lane.

Glancing back Kneeshaw said: “I was with Newcastle Independent – a club in the Northern Alliance League. I was with my friends who run – as well as play for – the club and I was turning out on a Saturday just to pass time to be honest. If they needed a player, I would help them out whenever I could other than that I had dropped out of football because I didn’t really want to play. However, Ashington manager Ian Skinner, his assistant Andy Coyles and coach Ritchie Hill gave me a new lease of life and I’ve got to give them all the credit for bringing me to the club and giving me an opportunity. I came to Woodhorn Lane late pre season and even had words with the boss after a few games at the start where I didn’t really play too well. It would probably have been easier for me to step away from it all as I was commuting three times a week from Darlington which is an hour and a half travel. However, I’m thankful to the trio that they’ve repaid me with the love that obviously I feel like I’ve given them to be honest. It’s just been pure respect to them this season from me and in the dressing room we have become such a close knit group. As I’ve grown into the club, the fans and the background staff have just made it such a welcoming place for me and I just feel so grateful. It’s been amazing and to get the management team’s Player of the Year is unbelievable.”

Of the superlative strike against Belper Town which clinched him the Goal of the season award, Kneeshaw chuckled: “It wasn’t captured on the veo! I remember we played really well that game and the score line could have been greater but I was just happy that I got the goal. I don’t get too stressed about awards – although it’s a pleasure that I’ve picked up two – and I’m a bit taken aback by it all to be honest. It’s not about me – it’s about the management team, the background staff and the fans and I just want to repay the staff for the loyalty they have given me.”

He went on: “I would love us be challenging and to win promotion and I want this team to really, really fight for it because I know that if we do that, the fans will fight and the background staff will fight even more than they are already doing – so next season is the push.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC defender Ben Williams picked up the Supporters Player of the Year award on Saturday night at the presentation ceremony – and reckons it will keep him motivated for next season!

Williams who was at Sunderland Academy, has found football in the non league pyramid to be a different kettle of fish but the 19 year old also spoke about how he had to patient before he forcing his way into the Ashington side: “Obviously it’s my first season at this level after being at Sunderland Academy and it’s a lot different,” he said on Saturday evening, “There are not as many people go to watch academy football so joining Ashington was a completely new experience. I wasn’t expecting to win anything but I reckon to get this award in my first season is a good achievement. I’m very happy that I’ve pleased the fans and obviously the management which was what I came here to do.”

Newcastle-born Williams – who was again outstanding at the heart of the Ashington defence in Saturday’s 2-0 win over North Ferriby – continued: “It wasn’t easy at the start – I had to wait a long time before I got my chance but I felt as though once I got into the side, I kept my shirt and won everyone over. I think I have had a good season and have done well which was my overall goal but to get the award on top of it is brilliant and will keep me motivated for next season. I just want to build on this season; build on what we can do and hopefully help to take this club as far as it can go.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Skipper Karl Ross was chosen as Ashington FC’s Players’ Player of the Year on Saturday night at the club’s presentation evening – and spoke of his delight.

Ross said afterwards: “Every award comes as a surprise because you don’t know about it – but I’m absolutely buzzing to be named as the Players’ Player of the Year. For me it’s probably the most important accolade as it’s your fellow players who vote for you. We are a tight knit group here – and it means so much to me.”

The 25 year old continued: “I’m delighted. I’ve been at the club for five years and feel as if I’ve had a good season.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington FC skipper Karl Ross has spoken about the influence which manager Ian Skinner has had on his career – as well as saying the rest of the squad at the Woodhorn Lane based outfit ‘love playing under him.’

On Saturday, the Colliers got the perfect pick-me-up tonic ahead of Thursday night’s semi final clash in the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup against Newcastle U21s with a 2-0 win over North Ferriby which brought them their first three points in April.

Skipper Ross said afterwards: “We’ve signed off our league games with a win and the lads are buzzing. Obviously the past few weeks haven’t been good enough by our standards – we couldn’t really buy a win – so to secure victory against a good side in North Ferriby is what we needed and with it being the boss’s last league game in charge, it’s what the occasion needed. Now we can look forward to the clash against Newcastle U21s on Thursday.”

Ross spoke from a personal level about Skinner’s enthusiasm and dedication to the position as manager of the Woodhorn Lane outfit: “I’ve been at the club for five years and have loved every minute of it,” he said, “Ian Skinner has been a big part of it so I can only thank him for what he has done for me. He’s brought me on as a player and obviously now as captain and a leader in the dressing room, I’m grateful to him for that and wish him all the best for the future.” Speaking on behalf of the players Ross added: “The lads buy into what Ian Skinner does. We play good football and he’s a good manager. He has got a wealth of knowledge that the lads thrive off – and we love playing under him.”