By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Nick Gray plunged into the transfer market this week to sign goalkeeper Ryan Catterick from fellow NPL East Division outfit Bishop Auckland.

Woodhorn Lane supporters will recall that on the final day of the Ebac Northern League’s first division campaign two seasons ago when Ashington had to avoid defeat and Bishops needed to win to decide which club went into the Inter step play off final against Glossop North End, it was Catterick who kept his side in the game with an outstanding display between the posts.

The match finished all square at 1-1 after Andrew Cartwright’s ice cool penalty on the hour had cancelled out a first half spot kick by Craig Gott.

The following week, the Wansbeck outfit turned in a five star performance culminating in a 3-0 victory over Glossop which clinched them promotion to the Northern Premier League’s East Division.

25 year old Catterick – who watched from the stand as his new side went down to a 4-0 home defeat against Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday night – said: “As soon as I spoke to the manager (Nick Gray) he was straight up and honest – and that’s what I wanted to hear. I remember playing at Ashington – it’s a good set up and a nice ground. I’m happy to be here and I can’t wait to get going and to enjoy my football again.”

After coming through the academy at Middlesbrough, Catterick was a scholar at Hartlepool United before he turned professional with the club where he played for three years. He then signed for Marske United and helped them to get promoted to the NPL Premier Division before he joined Bishop Auckland where he has played for the past two and a half seasons.

Ashington boss Nick Gray said: “We were lucky when we had Ross Coombe but he decided he wanted to have a bit of time out of football then when Dan Staples was suspended after being sent off we were fortunate that Michael Hogan came in on loan from Blyth Spartans and did a sterling job. We are always looking to improve the squad – Ryan became available and he will give competition to Dan Staples.”

Gray continued: “With his quality as a goalkeeper, Ryan had a lot of enquiries from other clubs and we’re just delighted to get him on board. He’s at a good age and probably hasn’t hit his full potential yet and we are now fortunate to have two very good goalkeepers at the club.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington manager Nick Gray – understandably hurt after a 4-0 defeat on Tuesday night against Newton Aycliffe – nevertheless gave praise to the County Durham outfit and described them as being “the best team we have played so far this season.”

Gray said afterwards: “We were beaten on the night by the better team so full credit to Newton Aycliffe. They were excellent tonight and in my opinion are the best team we have played so far this season. We have got to look at the bigger picture for ourselves. You learn from games and tonight we will certainly learn but we’ve got a big game against Consett on Saturday where we have got to look to bounce back.”

He continued: “The first half – without us being great – I thought we contained them (Newton Aycliffe) quite well out of possession. However we needed to improve in possession and I actually thought we came out better for the start of the second half and it was our best little spell. Then we gave away a poor first goal followed by another poor second and you cannot give good teams two goal head starts like that because it gives them confidence. We looked short of ideas and we didn’t have a great game at all. We’ll reflect on it and although tonight’s result is not going to determine our season, we’ve got to get back on the horse as quickly as we can.”

He added: “It was a really poor result against a good side and I didn’t think we helped ourselves either. You cannot give a team like Newton Aycliffe all the time they had because if you do that then you’re going to get caught out and we got what we deserved in the end. We’ve had three away games and have dug in for seven points but tonight in front of our home fans, we were really disappointing. Next month is crucial where we face teams in and around us and we need to have positive results starting on Saturday.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

It was a smiling Liam McIvor who emerged from the Ashington dressing rooms following the Colliers’ 1-0 win over Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday.

Defender Ben Williams scored the all important goal as early as the fourth minute and although the Wansbeck side had to defend manfully, it took their recent points haul to 14 from a possible 21.

“It was a fantastic win,” said McIvor afterwards, “It wasn’t the best performance but it’s not always about playing pretty football, it’s about jumping into the trenches on occasions to win games when you have to – and that’s what we have done today. We’ve had three away games in ten days and have travelled hundreds of miles but we’ve collected seven points out of nine which is fantastic and I’m really happy.”

Looking back on the first period, he said: “In the opening seconds Stocksbridge had a chance but Scott Lowery and Ben Williams combined to made a great challenge otherwise we would have been 1-0 down. After that the game was wide open. It’s frustrating sometimes but when you are not playing well, you’ve got to work hard and get men behind the ball and that’s what we did. The message at half time was for the players to try and keep the ball a little bit better and for us to have a bit more width to our game. However, they (Stocksbridge) came out strong and had a lot of the play but didn’t really have any clear cut chances. As the game wore on we changed the formation a couple of times just to try and get more men in the middle and we even went to five at the back in the last five minutes. We had players putting their bodies on the line and there was some great defending.”

McIvor was equally pleased with the goal scored by Ben Williams: “It was well worked and proved to be an important first one of the season from Ben (Williams) but to be fair all the players have got to look to chip in. We don’t score from many set pieces but we’ve got a bit of a threat at the minute with having a bit more height in the box.”

He added: “This run of games has seen us move up the table whilst teams in and around us have dropped points. It’s still tight but we’ve got a big week ahead with two home games against Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday and Consett on Saturday. Hopefully we are now on the right path but we need to continue to pick points up.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Ben Williams was delighted to get off the mark and register his first goal of the season for Ashington on Saturday which secured a precious 1-0 win over Stocksbridge Park Steels.

However the 20 year old defender who is on-loan from Gateshead until the end of the campaign also spoke about how he was ‘buzzing’ for his team mates with Dunston UTS the only side to inflict defeat on Nick Gray’s side in the last seven matches.

Williams said: “We came here with two results in mind – a draw or a win – and to get the three points was brilliant. It was a hard fought game and I thought we deserved it. We’ve had a good ten days with the win at Grimsby, draw at Sherwood and the result today and we’re on a good run at the minute and are just hoping that we can keep it going. We knew we had a tough start to the season but now we are picking up some points and this is exactly what we needed.”

Stocksbridge – on the fringe of the play offs – went into Saturday’s game on the back of a superb 1-1 away draw against Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division leaders Cleethorpes in midweek but they were shell shocked when Williams struck in the fourth minute: “It was a case of being in the right place at the right time to tap the ball in,” said Newcastle-born Williams, “However, I’m buzzing for the lads about the result because it’s a real confidence booster in this little run that we’re on. Obviously I’m a defender and my main job is to keep the ball out of our net but if I can chip in with a goal or two as well, then I’ll be happy.”

Williams – who is based in Bedlington – praised the defending of his team mates on Saturday: “A lot of the games in this league are like it was today,” he added, “You know what you are going to come up against and it’s about being brave and putting your body on the line. There are going to be teams who are just going to throw it (the ball) into the box especially late on when they are trailing 1-0 so you’ve just got to be brave in defending and we were excellent at doing that today to be fair. I thought there was a lot of last ditch tackling by us and that’s also what you need. It’s a confidence booster for us as well because it shows we can defend well and get results like today.”

Do you want to help Ashington AFC to increase their online engagement and offering on matchdays? This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual who is keen to develop their own personal skills in the media domain while also providing an essential service for fans far and wide.

Role Overview

As a Matchday Social Media Lead, you will play a key role in providing timely updates via our online platforms with an aim of building excitement and connecting with the online audience on matchdays.

Key Responsibilities

• Pre-match build-up: Posting team lineups, player profiles, interesting stats, and pre-game hype on social media platforms.
• Live updates: Providing real-time updates on the score, key moments, substitutions, and notable plays during the match.
• Post-match analysis: Posting post-match reactions from players and the manager, key highlights, and match statistics.
• Fan engagement: Responding to comments and questions from fans, running polls, and encouraging interaction on social media.
• Time commitment: This role will predominantly be for home matchdays (away matchdays where possible) from approximately 1 hour before kick off to 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Desired Skill

• Strong understanding of social media platforms
• A commitment to the clubs’ values of professionalism and inclusivity
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Knowledge of non-league football
• Ability to work under pressure

Why join us?

• Be part of a dedicated team passionate about football and community engagement.
• Contribute to increasing our profile within the local and wider community
• Gain valuable experience in online sports media.

Please note that this is a voluntary position and any interested parties will need to be over the age of 16 to ensure we adhere to all the various policies of media platforms used.

To express and interest please email media@ashingtonafc.com.

You can also download a PDF copy of this role profile here.

Are you passionate about Ashington AFC and making an impact in our community. We invite you to join our Revenue Growth Committee. This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals who are eager to contribute their skills and ideas to help us thrive financially and expand our reach.

Role Overview

As a member of other Revenue Growth Committee, you will play a key role in driving our club’s revenue growth initiatives. Your contributions will directly impact our ability to attract sponsors, enhance our community offerings and create sustainable revenue streams.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with fellow committee members to develop and implement strategies aimed at increasing revenue through various channels.
• Identify potential sponsors and create tailored proposals that align with the clubs  values and objectives.
• Brainstorm and propose innovative ideas to enhance growth, including merchandise sales, event hosting and community engagement initiatives.
• Regularly report on progress and outcomes of revenue initiatives to the club board.
• Time commitment – Max 2 hour per week.

Desired Skill

• Passion for football and community engagement.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Creative mindset and ability to think outside the box.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.

Why join us?

• Be part of a dedicated team passionate about football and community development.
• Contribute to the sustainability and success of our club.
• Gain valuable experience in revenue generation.
• Network with local businesses and community leaders.

To express and interest please email nicola.sanders@ashingtonafc.com no later than 5pm Friday 31^st January

You can also download a PDF copy of this role profile here.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s new striker Cieran Jackson said at the weekend that he is excited about joining the Woodhorn Lane based outfit.

The 24 year old was included in the squad for Saturday’s trip to face Sherwood Colliery and came on as a substitute just past the hour mark.

The contest finished all square at 1-1 with Ryan Wombwell on target for the Colliers with a late equaliser.

Afterwards Jackson said: “I’m excited about joining Ashington and to start playing again – hopefully I can score a few goals. As soon as the manager (Nick Gray) rang me it was a no brainer to join. It was good to get on as a substitute today – I thought I did alright – and maybes could have scored but the defender (Jaz Goundry) got back to clear. We had a better second half today but I thought we dropped two points really because we could have won.”

Ashington boss Nick Gray said: “I’ve known Cieran for a few years. He’s been at Spennymoor and Stockton – both good clubs – and although we are getting better, we need to be looking to improve even more and probably in the attacking third. Cieran is a player who will give us tenacity and he’s a livewire who will put his body on the line. He’ll not score 25 goals a season but will create chances for others and work hard for the team and won’t give the opposition defence time on the ball.”

He continued: “Cieran lives in Bishop Auckland – which is not close to Ashington – and he had a couple of other offers but decided to join us so that says something about the lad. I’ve admired him for a good while and he’ll give us something which we haven’t got and that will be a plus for us.”

By Brian Bennett

Ryan Wombwell scored his first ever goal for Ashington in their 1-1 draw against Sherwood Colliery on Saturday.

Wombwell’s strike came with just two minutes of the 90 remaining – but the on-loan defender revealed afterwards that the thoughts from within the Ashington camp was that they had dropped two points as opposed to claiming a valuable one on the road.

The 23 year old said: “The first half was disappointing. The shape we played worked well on Wednesday against Grimsby Borough but today we didn’t really get the press right. Following an injury to Scott Lowery, we changed shape and it worked much better for us. From thereon in I thought there was only one team in control of the game and that was us. We managed to score late on but we’ve said in the dressing room that we thought it was two points dropped after the amount of the ball we had in the second half.”

Newcastle-born Wombwell – who is based at Westerhope – described his goal: “Ben Sampson had a shot which took a deflection and wrong footed the ‘keeper a little bit and although he saved it (the ‘keeper), the ball ran to me. It was quite a simple finish to hit the target and I was happy to finally get my first goal for Ashington ten games in. Although we got a little bit of luck with the ball dropping for us, we earned it by the amount of attacks we had and I thought we played well in the second half.”

Wombwell will continue to wear Ashington’s colours after the Woodhorn Lane club and Morpeth Town agreed to extend his loan until the end of the campaign. Wombwell added: “I came to Ashington and have started and played every game and that’s what I wanted to do. The group of lads in the changing room are brilliant and I’m really enjoying it. I’m happy that the loan has been extended until the end of the season and now I can focus on helping the team to get as high up the league table as possible.”

By Brian Bennett

Ashington’s assistant manager Liam McIvor looked on as Ryan Wombwell scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for the Colliers from their clash against Sherwood Colliery at Debdale Park on Saturday – and said he thought a draw was the least the Wansbeck side deserved.

Wombwell’s strike – his first goal for the club – took Ashington’s recent run to three wins and two draws from their last six matches and McIvor reiterated what manager Nick Gray said recently – that he thinks the team are heading in the right direction.

McIvor commented: “I thought 100 per cent we were the better team in the second half and a draw was the least we deserved. From the start of the game, we just dropped off a little bit and made them look good by allowing them play. If you give any player time on the ball they’ll kill you and we just gave their two midfielders time on the ball to pick passes out and they created a couple of good chances but thankfully for us they missed. For the first 35 minutes we didn’t get going then when Scott Lowery unfortunately got injured and we changed our shape, we looked a different team.”

Ashington went in at the break trailing to a penalty which was converted by Sherwood’s Carter Widdowson but McIvor was always optimistic: “The message at half time was to keep going because we have got quality in the squad and I knew we would create chances. We hit the woodwork twice and I think we’ve created enough (chances) today than we have done in the last three of four games but we just need that extra bit of quality in the final third.”

He continued: “We have travelled to both Grimsby and Sherwood in four days – in total a round trip of over 600 miles – and have come away with four points out of six and I would have settled for that beforehand. It was important not to lose today especially after winning on Wednesday and we’re heading in the right direction. However the message to the lads is simple – if we want to be a good team we have got to kill teams off like we should have done today.”

McIvor added that the squad will train twice this week ahead of Saturday’s away clash against Stocksbridge Park Steels (January 25).

By Brian Bennett

Manager Nick Gray will take his new Ashington side to face one of his former clubs in the semi final of this season’s Newcastle Flooring Northumberland Senior Cup.

The Colliers have been drawn away to Morpeth Town whilst the other tie will see Heaton Stannington face holders Newcastle United u21’s.

The boss heard the draw ahead of what was an excellent 1-0 win over Grimsby Borough on Wednesday night and said: “I have some fond memories as well as having had some very good times at Morpeth so it will be nice to go back. On top of that I also have good friends at the club. The last time I returned to Craik Park with another club we didn’t do ourselves justice on the night and although we know it’s going to be a tough challenge for us, it’s a local derby and a semi final with the chance to play in the final at St. James’ Park. We’ll look forward to it with anticipation.”