History
Established in 1958 as Ashford Albion, the club initially played in the Hounslow & District League. They won two two consecutive promotions to reach the Premier Division, and in 1964 adopted their current name. The club reconstituted itself in January 1965 and climbed back through the divisions of the Hounslow & District League before joining the Surrey Intermediate League (Western) in 1967. Ashford Town were immediately promoted to the top division of this competition and were Champions of the competition in 1974–75. They became founder members of the Surrey Premier League in 1983. In 1990 they joined the Combined Counties League. They finished runners-up in 1993–94, and the following year won the title. They went on to win the league in each of the next three seasons, and again in 1999–2000, after which they were promoted to Division Three of the Isthmian League.
After finishing third in their first season, they were promoted to Division Two. In 2002 they were moved to Division One South after a League re-organisation, and in 2004 switched to the Western Division of the Southern League. In 2005–06 they finished second in the division, and were promoted, being placed in the Isthmian League Premier Division. In 2006–07 they won the League Cup, and in 2008–09 the Surrey Senior Cup. At the end of the 2009–10 season the club were relegated and placed in Division One Central of the Southern League, although they were offered a late reprieve from relegation after Merthyr Tydfil were liquidated.
The club's decision to become the first club in the National League System to decline such a reprieve was the start of a difficult period on and off the field and the season was one marked by highs and lows, with a superb run in the FA Trophy being tempered by finishing sixteenth in the League. Jamie Lawrence resigned as Manager in June 2011, despite having won the Southern Combination Cup and was replaced by club stalwart Paul Burgess. Burgess assembled an exciting young team who finished in mid-table in the League but came back from 3-0 down in the Final of the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup to draw 4-4 with Northwood and win on penalties. Two days later, the Aldershot Senior Cup was also won when Badshot Lea were defeated 3-1.
Read more about this topic: Ashford Town F.C.
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