Curzon Ashton v Darlington

Bank Holiday Monday 30th August 2021, 3pm
Vanarama Conference North

 
Curzon Ashton FC:
The Tameside Stadium, Richmond Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 9HG
Tel: 0161 330 6033; Tweet: @CurzonAshton

History: The club was formed in 1963 from the merger of Curzon Road Methodists and Ashton Amateurs. After successes in the Manchester League in the 1970s, the club joined the new Cheshire League and the North West Counties League. The club moved to a new £4m stadium - opened by Sir Alex Ferguson - for the beginning of the 2005-06 season and the following season were promoted to the Northern Premier League as runners up to FC United of Manchester. In 2008, they reached the FA Cup 1st round, beating Exeter 3-2. The 2013-14 season saw Curzon win a league title for the first time in 36 years - including a top of the table tussle with Darlington, we well remember! It was followed by promotion in the play-offs the following year. Last season saw the club finish just above the drop zone. Long-serving boss John Flanagan left in November 2018 after a run of poor results, while successor Mark Bradshaw was replaced at the end of the following season.

Average Attendance: 407; highest 1,692
Capacity:4,000 (with 527 seats)
Most recent 2019/2020 season: 18th
Honours: NPL Division One North champions (2013/14), Northern Premier Division play-off winners (2014/15); FA Vase semi finals 1979-1980; 2006-2007

Record victory: 10-1 v Wakefield (2012-13
Nickname: The Nash
Colours: Blue
Manager: Steve Cunningham
Chairman: Wayne Salkeld

Click here for streetmap of the Curzon Ashton's ground

Admission prices (2021/22) Adults £15 (an increase on last season's prices), concessions (over 65) £10, and under 16s are £3. There was no segregation, and there are two covered stands - the seated main stand alongside the pitch and a terrace opposite; the two terraces behind each goal are open to the elements.

There is a statue to three Ashton-born World Cup winners, outside the stadium - Jimmy Armfield, Geoff Hurst and Italy's Simone Perretta. Read more

From Darlington, 108 miles, 2hrs. From the North: M60 Jct 23 turn left off slip road, onto the A6140 sign-posted Ashton. Turn left at the lights with a cinema on your right and then follow road over a bridge. Continue over a mini-roundabout then turn left. Ground is at the bottom.

Parking: Cars in the right of the club car park and coaches on the left.

Darlington FC Supporters' Club
Coach Contact: Darlington FC Supporters Group, call 07376 368553 to book a seat.Details of the supporters' group travel can be found here.

Ring A Car 0161 339 6001
Metro Cabs 0161 368 8888
Radio Cabs 0161 330 2090
A2B Cars: 0161 308 3838
Stanford Cars 0161 330 2080

Metrolink - Take the Ashton under Lyne tram from Piccadilly but get off at the Ashton West tram stop, which is less than 10 minutes walk along Richmond Street to the stadium. The tram takes about 35 minutes from Manchester Piccadilly (Fare £4.20 for a three zone one-day travel card or £5.40 return fare).

Ashton-under-Lyne railway station is just over a mile (20 minutes walk) and reached from Manchester Victoria.

The official site is OK.

The Manchester Evening News newspaper

At the ground:

The Sports Bar serves alcoholic and soft drinks and is open to all fans before, during and after games. It also has Sky on screen.

Near the ground:

Ashton-under-Lyne town centre is 15 minutes walk away. Some suggestions if you don't want to drink in central Manchester.

Witchwood, 152 Old Street, Ashton, OL6 7SF
A pub which specialises in live music in the evenings but does real ale and cider too. Ten minutes walk to ground.

Ash Tree, 9-11 Wellington Road, Ashton, OL6 6DA
A Wetherspoons in the town centre, not far from the railway station.

Dog and Pheasant, 528 Oldham Rd, Ashton, OL7 9PQ
Marston's ales but the pub is on the road, north of the stadium, out of town.

Pubs in Manchester:

Splendid choice, here are just a few:

Cask Bar, 29 Liverpool Street, M3 4NQ
Vast beer selection, opposite the science and industry museum.

The King's Arms, 11 Bloom Street, Salford M3 6AN
Robinson's and Phoenix beers in this theatrical/music pub.

New Oxford, 11 Bexley Square, Manchester M3 6DB
Eight cask ales and a range of 100 continental bottled beers, open from 12 noon.

Piccadilly Tap, Station Approach, Manchester M1 2GH
Craft beer bar on the walk down from the main station entrance, it has two floors. A good choice of ales. Open from 11am.

Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, Manchester, M1 2EQ
Craft beer bar in the Northern Quarter of the city centre, check Bank Holiday opening time.

A variety of hot and cold food and drink is available from the Snack Bar before, during and after each game. There was a chilli and rice and a good and reasonably priced pie and chips. You can also sit down in the snack bar.