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Steve Barton of HBFCSA writes

In 1891 the original Ashford United was formed when the South Eastern Rangers amalgamated with Kentish Express FC. The club
became more commonly known as ‘Ashford’ upon the post-war resumption of the Kent League competition. However once more
fate took a hand and in 1928 the club folded leaving the Town with no senior club. The decision to found Ashford Town was taken at
a meeting in April 1930. They joined the Kent League before, in 1959/60, they moved to the Southern League. The club earned
promotion to the Premier Division of the Southern League in the 1986/87 season, at a time when the new ground at The
Homelands was being constructed.
In 2004/05 they moved over to the Isthmian League but following a major falling out at Boardroom level, which reached the courts,
and the club went into administration. A successful purchase came too late for them to compete in 2010/11 and the summer of
2010 therefore marked the end of Ashford Town FC after a history of 80 years. The club was reformed as Ashford United. Under FA
rules the 'new' Ashford United were not permitted to re-join the league where their predecessors had left-off: for their inaugural
season of 2011/12 they were placed into the newly formed Kent Invicta League. After an indifferent start to their first season results
improved over the second half and the team finished in fifth position. Their finishing position improved two places in the 2012/13
season to third. Although only the teams finishing in the top two positions were eligible for automatic promotion to the Kent League,
Ashford United were awarded promotion instead of the second placed club Hollands & Blair, as Ashford had the facilities and
ground grading in place in order to take the promotion. During the close season the Kent League renamed itself as the Southern
Counties East Football League. There were two successive runners-up places and as the 2014/15 season ended the club
announced that the natural grass pitch at the Homelands was to be replaced during the close season with a synthetic 3G playing
surface. In 2015/16 they were again runners-up but a ten point deduction dropped them down to third. In 2016/17 the Nuts and
Bolts won the Southern Counties East Football League two points ahead of second place Crowborough Athletic.
When Herne Bay moved into Winch’s Field in 1953/54 they joined the Kent League Division Two and played against Ashford Town
Reserves for four seasons. Herne Bay moved up to the Kent League Division One for the 1957/58 season, finishing bottom, with
Ashford two places above. 1958/59 saw Bay in 12
th
and Ashford 9
th
. From the four encounters Bay had won one, drawn one and
lost two. At the end of this campaign the Kent League folded with Bay moving to the Aetolian League and Ashford beginning their
45-year tenure in the Southern League.
There was an Eddie Collins brace inspired home FA Cup first qualifying round 2-1 win in September 1970 and in October 1972 a 6-
0 away defeat in the second qualifying round of the same competition, when keeper Malcolm Campbell was taken to hospital with a
broken arm following an accidental collision with two Ashford players in the 24
th
minute. Brian Hughes took his place between the
sticks with the game still goalless.
Their last two visits to Winch’s Field have both been in pre-season warm-ups. In July 2015 Luke Cuthbert fouled Sam Hasler in the
area and received his marching orders before Danny Walder scored from the spot. The 2-0 victory was completed when ex-
manager Danny Lye played a high back pass that left Joe Mante in the Ashford goal well out of position. July 2016 saw a further
two Danny Walder penalties netted in a 5-2 win with Danny Williams, Stuart Zanone and Sam Hasler also adding themselves to the
scoresheet.
“Don’t panic - there are still 44 games left” said boss Danny Lye after a disappointing start to Ashford United’s new Bostik South
season. Back-to-back defeats, six goals conceded and none scored, three red cards and a lengthy injury list all conspired to make
it a difficult opening week at Homelands seeing them in 22
nd
place in the league. He said: “We mustn't panic or sulk. It will be a
struggle to name a side (on Saturday), but we will involve the youngsters again and see if they are ready.” Within hours Ashford
issued a statement confirming his departure.
Caretaker-manager Jason Whitmore oversaw the 3-1 FA Cup Preliminary Round victory over Southern Combination Redhill at Kiln
Brow. The Lobsters had lost their two opening League fixtures with a negative goal difference of -5. A day later Herne Bay moved
through to the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 home win over Chessington & Hook United.