Ashton United F.C.

Warning: Kit colors incorrect.

Founded in 1878 as Hurst F.C., Ashton made their first appearance in a league in 1909, in the Manchester League. They won the league in 1912. They joined the Lancashire Combination in 1913, but joined the Cheshire County League in 1923, but were impotent. Before the World War Two, they had signed one of the star players of the period, Dixie Dean, but no football was played during World War II. They rejoined the Lancashire Combination in 1947, and still were impotent in league wins. They won various cups during the 1950s, including the Manchester Intermediate Cup, and made it into the First Round of the F.A. Cup in 1952, to be beaten by Halifax Town. They won the Lancashire Combination Second Division in 1961. They went to the Midland League from 1964 to 1966, but moved back to the Lancashire Combination. They moved to the Cheshire County League in 1968, then went to the North West Counties League in 1982, the year it was created. In 1984, they were relegated to the Second Division, but returned to the First Division in 1988. They finished in 14th in 2003, out of range for promotion to the Conference North, but Telford's liquidation put Ashton in 13th, and they were promoted.

History

• 1912-13 – Joined Lancashire Combination Division Two. Promoted to Division One
• 1914-15 – Lancashire Combination runner-up
• 1915 – Left Lancashire Combination
• 1923-24 – Joined Cheshire County League
• 1946 – Changed name from Hurstto Ashton United
• 1948-49 – Joined Lancashire Combination Division One
• 1961 – Relegated to Division Two, despite finishing 12th of 22
• 1961-62 – Lancashire Combination Division Two Champions; promoted to Division One
• 1964-65 – Joined Midland League
• 1966-67 – Rejoined Lancashire Combination Division Two
• 1968-69 – Rejoined Cheshire County League
• 1982-83 – Founder members of North West Counties League
• 1983-84 – Four points deducted, leading to relegation to Division Two
• 1985-86 – One point deducted
• 1987-88 – North West Counties League Division Two Champions; promoted to Division One
• 1988-89 – Two points deducted
• 1991-92 – North West Counties League Champions
• 1992-93 – Joined Northern Premier League Division One
• 1995-96 – Four points deducted
• 2001-02 – Promoted to Premier Division after play-offs
• 2004-05 – Joined Conference in newly-formed Northern Division

• Best league position: 14th in Northern Premier League, Premier division (then level 6), 2003-04
• Best FA Cup performance: 1st round replay, 1952-53
• Best FA Trophy performance: quarter-final, 1996-97
• Best FA Vase performance: 4th round, 1992-93

Source: Football Club History Database