Ashton Wanderers F.C.
| Full name | Ashton Wanderers Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1901 | |
| Dissolved | 1903 | |
| Ground | Recreation Ground | |
|
| ||
Ashton Wanderers F.C. was an association football club from Ashton-under-Lyne,[1] Lancashire, active in the 1900s.
History
There were two Wanderers clubs in existence in the 19th century, one being in effect the reserve side of Ashton-in-Makerfield),[2] and the other active as a member of the Ashton and District Amateur League in 1898–99.[3] but the instant club was founded in 1901, immediately joining the Lancashire Alliance.[4] The club finished 7th out of 11 in its first season, but the club was only 5 points from second place.[5] A highlight was a 9–0 hammering of Blackrod.[6]
The club's second season turned out to be the club's last. The Wanderers won the Alliance championship, but, in so doing, recruited a large number of players in December 1902 (including three from the Birchley club, which had gone bust during the season).[7] The recruitment raised suspicion, and the club was under investigation from February 1903, although allowed to play in the meantime.[8] The Wanderers clinched the title with a 2–1 win over their local rivals Brynn Central, before a crowd of 4,000;[9] the result was especially sweet as Brynn had won every previous engagement between the sides, spirits running so high in the November match at Brynn's Central Park that the home crowd rushed onto the pitch to attack Ashton's Makinson for a perceived foul.[10]
Four days after the triumph, on 18 April 1903, the Lancashire Football Association suspended the club and its committee for a year. It had found that the club did not have proper contracts with its players, and had been promising illegal bonuses (4s. per win and 2s. or 3s. per draw depending on venue).[11][12] The club had been planning to apply to join the Lancashire League,[13] but instead disbanded.[14]
Colours
Ground
The club's ground was simply known as the Recreation Ground.[17][18] A crowd of 5,000 turned up for the derby with Brynn Central on 8 February 1902.[19]
References
- ↑ "Lancashire League". Lancashire Evening Post: 3. 23 November 1901.
- ↑ "Nuggets". Wigan Examiner: 3. 18 February 1898.
- ↑ "Football". Wigan Examiner: 3. 17 February 1899.
- ↑ "Association". Wigan Observer and District Advertiser: 6. 20 September 1901.
- ↑ "Lancashire Alliance - season 1901–02". Wigan Observer and District Advertiser: 5. 7 May 1902.
- ↑ "Ashton Wanderers v Blackrod". Preston Herald: 6. 27 November 1901.
- ↑ "Football notes". Wigan Observer and District Advertiser: 6. 2 January 1903.
- ↑ "Charge against the Ashton Wanderers club". Wigan Observer and District Advertiser: 7. 28 February 1903.
- ↑ "Ashton win the championship". Wigan Examiner: 8. 18 April 1903.
- ↑ "Association". Wigan Observer and District Advertiser: 7. 7 November 1902.
- ↑ "En passant". Athletic News: 1. 20 April 1903.
- ↑ "A club suspended". Athletic News: 5. 27 April 1903.
- ↑ "Ashton Wanderers F.C. suspended for 12 months". Wigan Examiner: 2. 22 April 1903.
- ↑ "Association". Wigan Observer and District Advertiser - Friday 01 May 1903: 3. 1 May 1903.
- ↑ "Bryn Central v Ashton Wanderers". Wigan Examiner: 7. 14 March 1902.
- ↑ "Southport Central Reserves v Ashton Wanderers". Formby Times: 3. 21 February 1903.
- ↑ "Ashton Wanderers v Pemberton". Northwich Guardian: 5. 25 December 1901.
- ↑ "Ashton Wanderers v Pendleton". Wigan Examiner: 7. 12 September 1902.
- ↑ "Lancashire Alliance". Wigan Examiner: 7. 14 March 1902.