Full-time score stands at 101 for Ashington FC

Posted by Simon Honeysett on Feb 16, 08 10:39 AM in News

FOOTBALL fans heard the final whistle blown on more than a century of tradition last night as a famous North-East club played the last-ever match at its spiritual home.

Portland Park

Supporters of Ashington FC were joined by non-league fans from all over the country for the final fixture at the town's Portland Park - the club's base for the past 101 years.

They enjoyed the Arngrove Northern League first division clash with rivals Seaham Red Star - before setting about the task of drinking the clubhouse dry and bidding an emotional farewell to the much-loved old ground.

The Ashington Colliery Band provided the musical backdrop for the occasion, which club officials hoped would draw a bumper crowd of 1,000 for a landmark night in non-league soccer circles. Ashington FC is having to leave Portland Park, where it has played since 1907, to clear the way for the ground's redevelopment as a ÃÂ£25m Asda superstore.

It has to be out by Wednesday, making last night's fixture the final home game for a proud club linked to Ashington footballing legends such as the Bobby and Jack Charlton and Jackie Milburn.

Club officials decided against marking the sad occasion with a special exhibition game against a Northern League invitational side, preferring to see off Portland Park with a fully competitive match. Yesterday chairman Jimmy Lang said: "We were meant to play the last home game earlier this month but got a reprieve. However, tonight is definitely the final match and we will have to play our two remaining home fixtures at Bedlington Terriers' ground.

"Tonight is all about everyone in the town coming together for the last game and then drinking the clubhouse dry. We have to be out by Wednesday, there is nowhere to put it so we might as well have a farewell party and drink it.

"We are expecting other non-league fans from as far afield as London to be here for the occasion because people want to be associated with something like this. We are in our 101st season at Portland Park and tonight is an emotional one for many people.

It will really hit home tonight that it is all over. Personally, I spend a lot of time at the ground and from Wednesday we are not going to be able to come here any more. We have found space to put all of our memorabilia but would love to hear from anyone who has a small factory unit where we could store our tables and chairs, pool table and bottle coolers."

The club is to move to a new ground at Ashington's Hirst Welfare, hopefully in time for the start of the 2008/9 season.

Jack Charlton attended a sportsmen's dinner at Portland Park - dubbed The Last Supper - as part of a series of events to bring the curtain down. He and brother Bobby were once ball boys there, and Jackie Milburn is a former player.

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