Ashford Town F.C. (Kent)
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| Full name | Ashford United Football Club |
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| Nickname(s) | The Nuts & Bolts |
| Founded | 1891 (reformed in 2011) |
| Ground | The Homelands, Kingsnorth |
| Capacity | 3,200 (500 seated) |
| Owner | Don Crosbie |
| Chairman | Derek Pestridge |
| Manager | Danny Lye |
| League | Isthmian League Division One South |
| 2016–17 | Southern Counties East League Premier Division, 1/20 (promoted) |
| Full name | The Homelands Stadium |
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| Location | Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Kent, TN26 1NJ |
| Coordinates | 51°6′18″N, 0°51′21.51″E |
| Capacity | 3,200 (500 seated) |
| Surface | Synthetic turf 3G (FIFA 2 rated) |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1989 |
| Tenants | |
| Ashford Town 1989–2010 Margate 2004–05 Maidstone United 2009–2011 Ashford United 2011– Canterbury City 2014-2017 Ashford F.C. 2016 AFC Ashford Athletic 2017- |
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Ashford United F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Kent. The 'new' United was formed in 2011 (resurrecting a name used by the town's football club around the advent of the twentieth century). Between 1930 and 2010 the town was represented by Ashford Town FC, before it ultimately went into administration. The current club is therefore a 'phoenix club', rising from the ashes of financial ruin of its predecessor and although not a supporter owned club continues, like most non-league clubs, through the contributions of volunteers and supporters.
Ashford United are currently members of the Isthmian League Division One South. For the 2015-16 season the 'Nuts & Bolts' entered a new era following the installation of a synthetic 3G pitch at their homeground of 'The Homelands'.
See List of Ashford United F.C. seasons for League and Cup records.
The roots of senior football in Ashford originate in 1881 with the South Eastern Rangers who played at Newtown Green (with dressing rooms in the adjacent Alfred Arms). The club reached the Final of the Kent County Badge competition (the fore-runner of the Kent Senior Cup) in 1886 and 1888 but lost on both occasions to Chatham.
In 1891 the original Ashford United was formed when the South Eastern Rangers amalgamated with Kentish Express FC. Initially their home ground was at the back of the Victoria Hotel. About 700 people yielding gate receipts of £5 were present for 'United's' first match on 19 September 1891, a defeat by the Highland Light Infantry 1–5. In 1893 the team exceeded the exploits of their fore-runners and defeated Chatham in winning the Kent Senior Cup. Ashford had been the beneficiaries of a bye prior to the final - in the semi-final they were due to meet the West Kent Regiment but the West Kent's were shipped out to Ireland before the match took place. Scorers for United in the 2-0 win were Archie Munro and Frank Young.
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