By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner – after watching his side reach top gear on the opening day of the campaign where they won 6-0 against Seaham Red Star at Woodhorn Lane – believes the first division of the Ebac Northern League will be ‘very competitive.’

Skinner said: “I think we’ll see a Northern League this season where lot of teams will beat each other – and I don’t think anyone will run away with it not by any stretch of the imagination. I think it will be a very competitive league. Before Saturday’s match against Seaham Red Star, I was quietly confident on several aspects – with the squad we have put together; the fact that we were at home on our patch and with a good crowd who always get behind us. I thought we could take the game to Seaham and give them a really good game and make it a tough afternoon for them which we did. Scoring early helps but I sensed the players were going to be bang on today – and everything turned out to be just fine.”

By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie

Skipper Dean Briggs described Ashington’s performance as ‘brilliant’ – after they had demolished Seaham Red Star 6-0 at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

Briggs said afterwards: “We know we are going to have a bit of a target on our back this year. We have signed some good players and have got the players to do it but it’s about applying it right and we did that from start to finish. I thought we were dominant throughout and kept the ball really well. We were sharp and played it (the ball) around really well. We worked hard off the ball and that’s all we need to do this year because I think our quality will come through.”

The 26 year old continued: “Seaham are usually a hard team to play against and I thought it would have been a physical battle – but we were a level ahead today. They (Seaham) are a big strong side but we didn’t even give them a chance in the air – we just kept the ball on the deck, played it around them and nobody could complain about our performance today as I thought we were brilliant. Robbie Dale did really well for us but Yannick Aziakonou was outstanding in defence. Yannick doesn’t really like dropping in there (defence) but he was my man of the match.”

Briggs – born in Wideopen – had several chances to get on the score sheet himself – including an opportunity which came his way after only 70 seconds: “I could have had three or four goals today,” he added, “However, I set a few up – and I think we will share the goals around this season with quality players up front. The players the manager (Ian Skinner) has brought in have been quality and with a lot of experience – and that’s what we needed from last year. We had a good side last season but we just needed that little bit of experience and the lads who the boss has brought in have been brilliant. It’s a great dressing room to be part of and the new lads have helped the younger ones. They have come in and have hit the ground running and a couple of them got goals today.” Ashington face back to back games at Woodhorn Lane this week.

On Tuesday (August 2), Northallerton Town make the trip to Wansbeck for a League clash then Newton Aycliffe are the visitors on Saturday (August 6) in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup: “The crowd got behind us today and it was a great win – but it’s about taking one game at a time,” said Briggs.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC manager Ian Skinner described his sides performance as ‘first class’ after they had demolished Seaham Red Star 6-0 in their opening Ebac Northern League first division fixture of the season at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday.

The goals flowed in each half with Lee Mason and Lewis Suddick both notching braces with one apiece for Dan Maguire and Craig Spooner.

Skinner – who admits that he never gets too high after a win or too low after a defeat – emerged from the dressing room afterwards with a broad smile on his face and said: “It was a good start to the season. We’ve tried to work them (the players) as hard as we could pre season and we asked them to start with a positive performance for the first league game – and to be fair, I don’t think anyone from an Ashington perspective can be disappointed with what they (the players) served up. Similar to last week in the Cleator Cup final against North Shields, I think we had a really good chance in the first couple of minutes to go ahead and from then onwards – and without being disrespectful – we’ve dominated the ball and have created numerous opportunities and scored some very, very good goals so credit to the players who have taken on board what we have tried to do today. We’ve looked at a couple of different ways of playing in pre season and we set up with the ability to be able to play either of those systems today knowing we could change it during the game if we needed too. It was a first class performance really. They (the players) have set the standards so it’s up to them now to go on. We’ve brought some really good players to the club; we expect to be in and around the business end of the division but that doesn’t come easy – that comes with hard work and making sure we apply ourselves properly – and all of those things the players did today, They’ve won the game so if we can continue to do that on a regular basis starting on Tuesday night against Northallerton Town when we are at home again, then we’ll do okay.”

He continued: “On today’s showing, the players are where we want them to be – but Tuesday night will be a different game. We try to tailor pre season in a certain way; we put a little bit of detail into how the fixtures fell and if you look at the last three games (of pre season), we played against teams higher up in the pyramid. We were disappointed with some of the things we did in those games but we knew it would stand us in good stead for our first league match of the season when again – without being disrespectful – the competition, the opposition and the level of which they play at drops a little bit from facing South Shields, North Shields and Blyth Spartans. It was about making sure we could assert ourselves on the game and I thought we did that. Scoring early always helps but the difference being that we scored early and stayed on the front foot and kept creating chances whilst the difference between last week and this week was that we were more ruthless in the first half and we found ourselves three goals to the good.”

He went on: “Again it’s about keeping standards high and managing the game state making sure you do things correctly and we did all of those things in the second half. We also scored really early which really puts the contest to bed. It would have been easy to take our foot off the gas and just knock the ball about but we didn’t – we stayed on the front foot. We didn’t need to chase the game but if opportunities presented themselves we wanted to be ruthless and take them. All in all credit to Seaham – they stuck at it and came into it a little bit when we made three and four changes so fair play to them for keep going. It’s always difficult – and I have been there myself last season when we ourselves were on the wrong end of a 6-1 score line at home to Guisborough Town.”

Short in the defensive department due to injuries, Skinner paired Robbie Dale with Yannick Aziakonou and was also delighted with a clean sheet: “That was probably the focal point of the discussions at half time – to keep a clean sheet,” he said, “Our goalkeeper Karl Dryden had little to do – I don’t think he was called into what you would call a full length save – but what he needed to do, he did well; Jordan Summerly played really well at left back; Robbie Dale just loves football and can play anywhere and looked comfortable at centre back which he has done pre season against higher opposition so that was never going to be an issue whilst Yannick Aziakonou never put a foot wrong. Andrew Cartwright is different class at right back so it probably helped Yannick (Aziakonou) a little bit today whereas last season when we maybes were in a similar situation and we asked him to play there, he was playing with different types of players. But with Dale one side of you and Cartwright the other, it is going to make your task a little bit easier. Even the subs who came on showed up – Adam Johnson was lively and forced a great save from the Seaham ‘keeper; Jordan Lashley has had a couple of opportunities; Paul Robinson did what Paul Robinson does, sending defenders one way then the other whilst Danny Anderson got on the ball which we asked him to do. Overall, the players need all of the credit today – they’ve gone out there and they’ve done the talking on the pitch. Everybody says we are a good side – but today my players have showed that we are a good side.”

By Brian Bennett

With Ashington ready to embark on a new season in the Ebac Northern League first division tomorrow at home to Seaham Red Star, manager Ian Skinner reflected on his sides concluding game against Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night which ended in a 3-0 defeat.

“At Blyth, we mixed it up a little bit first half because there were some players who were slightly behind on minutes compared to everybody else so we’ve tried to do almost two balanced sides in either halves. I was disappointed with the goals we conceded because they were all avoidable and all three of them came about from us losing possession but the second one – right on half time – came at a bad time although it was a little bit fortuitous. The lad has taken a shot; it’s bounced off somebody else and dropped to Michael Liddle in the box who has scored. The third was a great strike by Danny Barlow – but we’ve got to get out to the ball quicker.”

“The difference between the two sides was that Blyth play higher up the pyramid than us and they do everything a little bit quicker where they make good decisions in terms of the number of touches they take. Some of the chances we fashioned, we wanted that extra touch and that split second longer before taking a shot on – and they are the fine margins really – but it was still a good work out. There are still one or two things which we still need to work on but I think overall that pre season has gone quite well.”

Skinner revealed that for tomorrow’s 3pm kick-off, he will run checks on several players who have injury concerns before naming his side – but added that it’s part and parcel of the game.

By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC’s Lewis Suddick scored the winner on Saturday as the Colliers won the JR Cleator Cup after a thrilling 3-2 result over North Shields – and the midfielder admitted afterwards that he knew he had put his side ahead in the contest before the ball had hit the back of the net.

Suddick’s headed goal arrived with quarter of an hour remaining and stemmed from a precision free-kick floated into the penalty area by Dean Briggs: “As soon as the ball left Dean’s foot I knew I could get on the end of it,” said the 24 year old, “It was a great delivery; I got up well and as soon as the ball hit my head, I knew it was going into the bottom corner. I haven’t scored many headed goals in my career so it was nice to get one today – and especially as it was the winner.”

North Shields-born Suddick who also lives in the town, came on as a substitute and within five minutes had popped up with the goal: “To be 2-0 down and to come back and win the game 3-2 shows that we have a lot of character as well as quality in the dressing room,” he added, “Towards the end there was only one way the result was going to go – and if we had played another 10, 20 or 30 minutes I reckon we would have scored even more.”

Suddick continued: “We are more than building a solid base. The new lads who have come into the group as well as the players who have been here for a while, compliment each other and it shows the strength we have got. Ever since we reported back for pre season training we have spoke about the league’s opening day and to make sure we are ready for it. Today it was great to win the cup and the whole squad are buzzing. I think we’re fit; tactically we’ve all gelled together and everyone is raring to go for Saturday against Seaham Red Star.”

Kick-off is 3pm.

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.