Ashford put under eighteen side on hold

Youth football in Ashford has been dealt a major blow as Ryman League Division One club Ashford Town have decided not to run an under eighteen side again next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

 

Andy and Mike Ward, the latter works for Charlton Athletic in the local community, and has also played in the Kent League for Tunbridge Wells, alongside brother Steve, whose now turning out for Tonbridge Angels’ reserve side, had wanted to reintroduce an under eighteen side in the Kent Youth League.

The Homelands outfit had an under eighteen side last season and this, but despite the efforts of Gary Skillett and Nigel Barlow they folded due to a lack of interest.

But Skillett admitted club’s cannot throw a group of youngsters together instantly – they have to make their way through the age groups.

“Most of the under eighteen Kent Youth League teams have been together, playing, training and being coached for several years at junior level,” he said.

”It is not a league that you can compete in by just getting a group of lads together and turning up on a Sunday.

“It was clear to Nigel and I that the town of Ashford held enough talented individuals to do more than just compete but too many were either already playing for senior teams in local leagues, or couldn’t be bothered to turn up for training or matches on a regular basis.”

Skillett suggests all local clubs in Ashford should pull together to provide a springboard for local talented players to ply their trade, long term, for the Ryman League club.

“It does seem a shame that after finishing playing at under sixteen level for the likes of Kennington, Ashford Borough or Ashford Town the only option is to go into men’s football,” he said.

“But it is my opinion that until somehow a mutual arrangement is made so that these teams work together cause rather than competing against each other, the town of Ashford will always struggle, at all levels to put out a side that contains all its best players.

”If this ever were to happen then I have no doubt our local rivals would quake in their boots at the prospect of playing a fully trained, coached and committed full Ashford representative side of any age group.”

Mike Ward, meanwhile, explained his father, Dave, would be able to fund a new team, having secured Tunbridge Wells’ biggest ever sponsorship deal during the close season.

He said: “My brother and I have discussed the issue for sometime and if Tim Thorogood (the club’s chairman and first team manager) is willing to let me run a football team in his club then I would love to put my name forward as a manager of the under eighteen’s next year.

“Andy has suggested to me that he can get a nice selection of players together and with the help of local under sixteen teams we could get a nice selection of players.

“Also working for Charlton in the local community have seen some good players that would love the opportunity to play for Ashford Town.

“My dad would be willing to help in finding sponsorship, but the club has always been so good in that department.”

However, Shelley Jenner, the club’s reserve team secretary, revealed: “We do not intend to run an under eighteen side next year.

“We have had our fingers burned too badly in the past with false promises of vast amounts of money, sponsorship deals etc.

Mark Jenner, the club’s chief executive, pointed out the financial costs of running another team.

He told www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk: “The current plan is to continue the present set up with the under 15’s progressing to under 16 next year and the under 14’s moving to under 15.

“If we find suitable people to manage them then we will introduce younger age groups – subject to adequate funding.”

He added: “If the under 16s are reasonably successful next year we will likely move them to under 18s the following year.  We will then consider whether to run reserves as well or combine the two.

“We will not be considering an under 18 side for 2006-07 nor will we want to revisit previous youth managers who have let us down in the past by summarily leaving the club at short notice, leaving us with debts to cover or serially under performing.

“The cost of running each team is at least £5,000 for a season, not to mention pitch time, which must be found.

“In the last few seasons where we have run under 18 teams the return on investment for the club has been minimal so I remain unconvinced as to its viability.”

* Meanwhile, on Sunday 7th May Ashford Town will be holding trials at Homelands for next season’s under 10s, under 11s, under 13s, under 15s and under 16 sides.

Trials times will be as follows:

10:30-11:30 U10/U11 & U13

11:30-12:30 U15 & U16


The teams will all be competing in the Kent Youth and East Kent Youth Leagues.

For further information please contact Vince Shell or Stephane Ollier via vinceshll@aol.com
or lefrog@onetel.com  or telephone Vince on 07919 174 509 or Stephane 07747 531 786.

When contacting them, please mention you read this article on www.kentishfootball.co.uk