By Brian Bennett

Ben Sampson has made the decision to leave Ashington FC and move on to a new chapter in his footballing career.The 26 year old’s final performance for the Colliers came in the goalless away draw against Grimsby Borough.

Sampson, who said there had been ‘some massive highs’ during his six year spell with the Woodhorn Lane based outfit, wrote his own farewell message which was posted across the club’s social media platforms on Saturday lunchtime saying it was a ‘difficult decision to move on’ and thanked several personnel including manager Nick Gray, assistant manager Liam McIvor, the staff and volunteers behind the club and the unconditional support he has received from the fans.

He described Ashington as being ’one of the best run clubs at this level’ and ended his comments with the words ‘I will remain an Ashington fan’

Manager Nick Gray said: “Ben has been a great servant for the club. His personal circumstances have changed at home and he was finding it difficult to stay at this level. However, I cannot thank him enough from the staff, players and supporters because he gives everything on the pitch. He’s a good lad and I wish him all the best going forward.”

Sampson’s statement was posted on social media only a couple of hours before the midfielder had his name in lights after scoring the only goal of the game for his new club North Shields in their Ebac Northern League first division clash at Birtley Town.

By Brian Bennett

Friday night football comes to Woodhorn Lane this week when Ashington take on Newton Aycliffe in the East Division of the Pitching In Northern Premier League (October 31).

And Colliers boss Nick Gray is hoping the fixture will attract a good crowd through the turnstiles: “We want to start to entertain our home supporters so that they’ll come back,” he said, “The reason we are playing Friday night is twofold. The only way supporters are going to return is if they see an attractive entertaining game whilst it also allows us the opportunity to give the lads the weekend off. It’s a good weekend if you get a positive result – but it’s a long weekend if you don’t.”

He continued: “We’ll dust ourselves down after today (at Grimsby Borough) and train during the week but football is a funny old game. Thursday’s defeat in the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup hit everyone at the club hard – players, staff and supporters alike and then at Grimsby there were a lot more positives than negatives. It’s a very competitive league. You look at results and everyone can beat everyone and you’ve just got to work on the consistency because the teams who get the most points are the ones who are consistent – it’s not rocket science.”

Friday’s match has a 7.45pm kick-off.

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

After two games where he has had a face like thunder, Ashington manager Nick Gray emerged from the dressing room on Saturday wearing a smile following his sides battling goalless draw against Grimsby Borough in North East Lincolnshire.

“It wasn’t a classic game by any means but it was a point on the road and we kept a clean sheet,” he said “I was proud of all the players today because they gave everything and left everything on the pitch. On Thursday night against Newcastle University it was both a disappointing result and performance as we lost 2-0 but there were some lessons learned. We definitely would have taken a point before the game today. If I’m being honest I thought it was probably a fair result because I didn’t think either team had that bit of quality in the final third. We even could have won it – but that’s been our issue where we are not scoring or working the goalkeeper. There are still things which we have got to learn but today was positive. We’ve had two draws in the league and are hard to beat but we need to work on finishing teams off.”

He continued: “It was a good bounce back after Thursday night. We are a Jekyll and Hyde team with my assistant Liam McIvor and I not sure what we are going to get. The best teams have got consistency  – and that’s what we have got to aim for. You take each game and now the midweek games have finished which allows you to work on things in training but you’ve just got to keep thinking positively.”

He added: “Probably a learning curve for us today was the substitutes who came on and who gave everything were the people who haven’t had many minutes. We probably need to work them a bit harder because we are asking them to do things when they go on the pitch and they are not quite up to fitness but I take the responsibility and blame for that – it’s not on them.”

Ashington were forced into a late reshuffle when Scott Lowery pulled out in the warm up – and Gray gave a glowing tribute to Ryan Donaldson: “Scott was disappointed but he didn’t feel right,” said the boss, “He’s had an injury and played last week and after not involving him against Newcastle University, I thought he would have been okay for today – but fair play to Ryan Donaldson. Ryan was informed 20 minutes before the game that he was starting and he got through 90 minutes. He’s been out for a while with injury himself but he’s played two games within 48 hours and that’s credit to him. He’s comfortable on the ball and is a very good communicator on the pitch.”

Ashington Football Club is proud of the fantastic facilities we provide for the level at which we operate. However, we recognise that maintaining these facilities comes with significant costs. In the current economic climate, with rising energy and food prices alongside increases in wages and National Insurance, the non-football side of the club has been reviewing ways to operate more efficiently internally.

After evaluating the hatch and Sunday lunches, the club has made the difficult decision to discontinue in-house catering effective immediately. We would like to thank everyone involved in their dedication and hard work in this effort.

To ensure that our fans continue to enjoy quality food on matchdays, the club will now outsource catering services and is delighted to welcome back Katie Doc’s food van, who will provide an excellent offering for supporters.

Additionally, the club has reluctantly made changes to the bar operation, including the mutual agreement to discontinue the bar manager role. We are pleased to confirm that our former bar manager will remain with the club as part of the bar staff team moving forward.

While some may see these changes as a temporary step back, they are necessary to ensure the club becomes more efficient and sustainable. Our priority remains the best interests of the club, our facilities, and the overall matchday experience for our supporters and this commitment is evident in recent improvements, including the switch to LED floodlights, which not only increase efficiency but also reduce light pollution in the surrounding community. The club will continue to explore ways to enhance operations while maintaining the high standards our fans expect.

Thank you for your continued support!

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Nick Gray pulled no punches as he openly and honestly delivered his postmatch verdict after his side had gone out of the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup following a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle University at Prudhoe’s Essity Park last night.

Joel Manning gave the Students an early lead in the second half which was added to midway through when Andrew Anderson put the ball into his own net – and Gray was seething with his outfit.

“I cannot be having the same conversation after every game about performances,” he stormed, “A lot of questions have to be answered by myself as manager and the players. We spoke to them before the game about attitude, mentality and how we had to be better than them (Newcastle University) and I just wonder whether the players are not listening to the information we are giving them – and if that is the situation then something has got to change.”

He continued: “On the night we were beaten by the better team – no arguments about it – and it has hurt me badly. The supporters were fantastic again and I am apologising to them – but I cannot keep on doing that. I’m really, really disappointed and some of the players have got to come to the table. It’s a quick turn around for us as we go to play Grimsby Borough tomorrow – and I’ll be looking for a reaction.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Liam Miller says he just wants to start playing football again after putting pen to paper for Ashington on a loan deal from neighbours Morpeth Town.

The 23 year old has been out of the game for 18 months with injury but he has now been given the green light to kick start his footballing career.

“I did back to back ACL’s (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) on the same knee,” he said after making a brief appearance as an 84^th minute substitute in the Colliers 1-1 draw against North Ferriby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday, “After being injured the first time, I returned within seven to eight months but after doing pre season, it went again in my first game back. However, I’ve played things safe this time round and have been out for a full 12 months.”

Hexham-born Miller, who is a football coach, continued: “I just want to get some minutes into my legs and play football again. I know a good few of the lads at Ashington so I thought it was a perfect opportunity because it’s just up the road as well. I’m buzzing – and can’t wait to get started.”

Ashington manager Nick Gray said: “I’ve know of Liam for four or five years. He’s coming back after a long term injury but has been training and has received the okay to play but needs minutes. I’ve brought him in because we are a bit lopsided between left and right footers as we only have Jay Hornsby and I’ve told Jay that Liam – who has got a great left foot – will help him. If a player becomes available who you think is going to strengthen your squad then we’ll always look at the situation. Liam is a player who is here to get his match fitness back. He’s a good player and will enhance the squad for sure.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Nick Gray didn’t have to speak about being disappointed and frustrated after his side had played out a 1-1 draw against high fliers North Ferriby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday – the expression on his face said it all!

After the visitors had been reduced in number following Louis Kirk’s red card two minutes into the second half, Josh Gilchrist fired the Colliers in front but the ten men of Ferriby went back home with a point as a cool finish by Charlie Clements with a little over ten minutes remaining levelled the scores.

A furious Gray commented: “One hundred per cent it was two points dropped today and what I will say is that when it went to 1-1, I thought they (North Ferriby) were more likely to score again than us. The game was there for the taking from the first minute of the second half right the way through. The sending off obviously helped us and we got our noses in front but missed some good chances. We still gave silly free kicks away even though we talk about not doing that and to be fair our ‘keeper Tyler Jones has made two unbelievable saves from set plays.”

He continued: “We gave them (North Ferriby) a goal by over playing in the wrong area and people have got to learn. When they went down to ten men, they worked harder than us – and that shouldn’t happen because we have got to raise our game. We made wrong decisions and played sideways and backwards passes too much and invited them on. Credit to them, they worked hard and got the equaliser but for me it was avoidable.”

Chances were at a premium in a dull opening period. It was past the quarter hour mark before Lewis Dennison missed out with a close range header for North Ferriby  – before Liam Henderson fluffed his lines when he stroked wide of the upright: “Liam said he should have scored after what was a good move,” added Gray, “I thought we began the game slowly but grew into the half as it progressed. We got more possession but didn’t use the ball wisely enough and at half time I said to the lads ‘let’s look after the ball a bit better’ – and we started the second half okay. We got our noses in front and with no disrespect to the opposition, when you are 1-0 up against ten men you should control the game but we didn’t. That was disappointing and we’ve got to learn from it. It’s a point more than we had before kick-off but I do feel it was two points dropped.”

Ashington travel to face Newcastle University on Thursday night (October 23) in the Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup and Gray added: “It’s a one-off game and we’ve got to make sure that we’re ‘at it’ and focussed. We’ll dust ourselves down and prepare for the match but it won’t be easy. It’s a competition where the final is played at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park and all players relish the opportunity of playing there. With that incentive, if people can’t raise their games then they shouldn’t be in non league football.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Nick Gray said his side still had to work on their consistency following their slender 1-0 defeat at the hands of league leaders Redcar Athletic on Wednesday night.

Just when it looked as if the Colliers were going to pull off a deserved goalless draw against the free scoring Steelmen, striker Oscar Fletcher netted the winner in the 89^th minute.

Gray commented afterwards: “Listen, we came with a game plan and I thought that the starting 11 worked their socks off and pressed Redcar well. We stayed with runners and the longer the game went on, the more we grew into the contest and they (Redcar) got more frustrated. We changed the shape and matched them and it was disappointing that we didn’t get anything out of it at the end –  you could see how happy they (Redcar) were. They are a good side and have got some good players and it was just a lapse of concentration which led to the only goal of the game near the end. The result hides away what was a really good performance. Everyone gave their all and yes I’m disappointed. Could we have nicked it? They have scored but we’ve had a chance at the end with a header which went just over.”

Gray touched on the goal: “The pace of the ball beat our ‘keeper Tyler Jones,” he said, “Louis Johnson is a good player and he spun Rory Powell. Johnson could have had a shot himself but he’s played the kid in (Oscar Fletcher) and it worked for them.”

Gray added that his outfit face a ‘huge week’ ahead: “We have taken a lot of credit over the last seven games,” he said, “After the first 20 minutes we played really poorly against Emley on Saturday but we have won three and played against Matlock Town, Bradford Park Avenue and Redcar Athletic and we have given them all a game. However, we have got to work on our consistency because we have got a huge week coming up with a home game against North Ferriby on Saturday (October 18), our Northumberland Senior Cup tie away to Newcastle University on Thursday (October 23) and an away clash at Grimsby Borough on Saturday (October 25). We will take our confidence on board and learn from our mistakes. We are going the right way – I’m positive about that  – but we have got to eradicate Jekyll and Hyde performances which we still have in us.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s assistant manager Liam McIvor was seething after the final whistle and slammed the Colliers’ display after the 3-0 defeat against Emley on Saturday.

“It was a hard one to take,” he said afterwards, “I thought for the first 20 minutes there was nothing in the game and then they scored. I’m always harping on about doing the basics – and the goal came from us not doing that due to a bit of communication and a silly throw in which developed into a 50-50 that we didn’t win – and the ball ends up in the back of the net.”

After Chris Dawson had added a second for the hosts, McIvor was pleased to hear the half time whistle. “We needed to ‘man up’ because for the last 25 minutes of the first half we were awful,” he added, “It was like men against boys. It wasn’t good enough and that’s not acceptable. I thought we started the second half brightly and if Sam Davison had scored when he had a chance then it would have changed the picture a bit.”

He went on: “Our attitude before the game was right and young ‘keeper Tyler Jones has pulled off some great saves again. However, that wasn’t a performance by a Nick Gray/Liam McIvor side and I felt embarrassed that we got clapped off by our fans who back us no matter what. I didn’t think it was as bad a showing as against Consett recently when we lost 4-0 – but it was along those lines.”

He concluded: “We’ve got a game on Wednesday night against what I call a proper team (Redcar Athletic) and if we don’t turn up with the right mentality, we’ll get rolled over. Nick (Gray) and myself will be looking for a reaction but one thing about us is that we raise the bar against the better teams. Redcar certainly fit into that category but if we raise the bar then I know we can match them.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ashington skipper Karl Ross said at the weekend that he and his team-mates will go into the next three league games inside eight days against teams in the leading pack – Emley, Redcar Athletic and North Ferriby – full of confidence.

The Colliers gave a wholehearted display despite a 2-1 defeat against leaders Bradford Park Avenue last midweek. The hosts – who were unbeaten in ten matches – went two goals ahead inside the opening quarter hour through Joe Ackroyd and Kareem Hassan-Smith.

However, a header by Scott Lowery halved the deficit and prompted an energetic display by Nick Gray’s side with the hosts happy to hear the final whistle.

Ross – who is based in Cramlington – said: “I thought we definitely deserved a point. Obviously we had a tough start but we changed things a little bit and after that we gave a cracking display away from home. There weren’t many chances but after the fight which the lads showed, I was just proud to be on the pitch with them. I think for heart and desire, our performance was right up there as being one of the best I’ve been a part of. Every single person plus the lads who came on ran themselves into the ground – and that’s not easy to do that when you have travelled for two and a half to three hours.”

Ashington go to Emley on Saturday (October 11) and Ross – who celebrated his 27^th birthday last Friday – added: “We’ve had a good couple of weeks and have hit a bit of form of late. We were without a fixture on Saturday so we’re looking forward to the game. Following on from Bradford, we’ve got the other top three to play in the games which lie ahead and we’ll be relishing the opportunity to play against them. Things are starting to click a little bit for us and we’ll be looking to continue to play like we have been.”

On Wednesday (October 15), the Colliers travel to Teesside where they face Redcar Athletic (7.45pm) before they take on North Ferriby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday (October 18).