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Ashton United were formed in 1878 but
in those days were known as Hurst Cross FC. It wasn't
until 1947 that they changed the name to Ashton United.
In
1885 the club were the first ever winners of the Manchester
Senior Cup when they beat Newton Heath (later Manchester
United) 3-0 in the final. Not many side can boast that
they have beaten United 3-0 in a cup final!
In
1909 the club joined the Manchester League which they
had won by 1912. Following a spell in the Lancashire Combination
League the club joined the Cheshire County League in 1923,
where, after a few years of struggle the club signed Everton
legend Dixie Dean to try to improve the situation on the
pitch. However, a few games later the outbreak of the
Second World War drew a halt to football proceedings in
England and to Dixie Dean's Ashton career.
In
1947 the club went back to compete in the Lancashire Combination
League, and despite league success being sparse the club
were to win three cups in that period. They twice captured
the Manchester Challenge Shield and once lifted the Manchester
Intermediate Cup during the 1950's along with twice reaching
the F.A. Cup First round proper, losing to Halifax in
1952 and Southport a few years later.
In
1961 the cup triumphs of the previous decade were finally
mirrored in the league as the club clinched the Combination
Second Division title by winning every single home match.
In
1964 the club moved to the Midland League, where they
stayed for 18 years when they joined the Northwest Counties
League. Despite being relegated to the Second Division
in 1984 Ashton bounced back and were promoted as champions
four years later.. However by 1990, as a struggling club
with a crumbling ground, Ashton looked in trouble both
on and off the pitch. Then, Oldham businessman Terry Liversedge
became managing director and turned the club's fortunes
around within twelve months.
The1992
season will be remembered as Ashton's most memorable.
The championship race went all the way to the wire, and
on the last day of the season Ashton needed a point away
to Becup to stave off a challenge from Great Harwood Town.
This they did with a 1-0 win to clinch the title. The
club were to add further silverware to the cabinet that
season in the form of the Manchester Premier Cup, the
Raab Karcher Cup and the Challenge Shield.
The
club then went into the Unibond League where they narrowly
missed out on promotion in the 2000/01 season when they
finished third, just a point behind Vauxhall Motors. The
following season saw the club finish in the same position.
Under normal circumstances it would have seen the Robins
miss out again. However, in the 2001/02 season a playoff
system had been introduced to the Unibond League for promotion
and relegation. Ashton won their semi final 3-1 against
Spennymoor, who had finished fourth and went on to play
Bamber Bridge from the Premier Division in the final.
The Robins won through 2-1 and swapped places with their
opponents. Once in the Premier Division Ashton acquitted
themselves well, finishing 16th in 2003.
The
2003/04 season was a topsy-turvey one for the club. Their
14th placed finish saw them just miss out on promotion
to the newly formed Conference North and, as a result,
enter the Play-Offs. Once their, the Robins again tasted
disappointment as they lost in the Semi Finals to Bradfprd
Park Avenue. However, all was not lost. Due to Conference
side Telford United going out of business it meant that
Leigh RMI avoided relegation which, in turned, freed up
a place in the Conference North - a place which Ashton
duly filled.
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