Monday, April 20, 1992

Curzon Ashton FC

Curzon Ashton 0 Worksop Town 3 - Northern Premier League, Division One


Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines. Ashton (as it is often shortened to) is 3.8 miles south-southeast of Oldham, 6.1 miles north-northeast of Stockport, and 6.2 miles east of the city of Manchester. Evidence of Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Viking activity has been discovered in Ashton-under-Lyne and its surrounding area. The "Ashton" part of the town's name probably dates from the Anglo-Saxon period, and derives from Old English meaning "settlement by ash trees". The origin of the "under-Lyne" suffix is less clear, and it possibly derives from the British lemo meaning elm or from Ashton's proximity to the Pennines.  Until the introduction of the cotton trade in 1769, Ashton was considered "bare, wet, and almost worthless". The factory system and textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution triggered a process of unplanned urbanisation in the area, and by the mid-19th century Ashton had emerged as an important mill town at a convergence of newly constructed canals and railways. Ashton-under-Lyne's transport network allowed for an economic boom in cotton spinning, weaving, and coal mining, which led to the granting of honorific borough status in 1847. During the mid-20th century, imports of cheaper foreign goods led to the decline of Ashton's heavy industries, but the town has continued to thrive as a centre of commerce, and is "considered the hub of Tameside, providing the perfect setting for the town hall, council offices and 19th-century market hall". Ashton Market is one of the largest outdoor markets in the United Kingdom. 

National Park

Curzon Ashton FC was formed in 1963 after the merger of two clubs, Curzon Road F.C. and Ashton Amateurs FC, who played in the Manchester Amateur Football League. The amalgamated club's name was originally Curzon Amateurs before being changed to the current name. In the 1980s the Manchester Premier Cup was won five times. In 1983–84 Curzon became founder members of the North West Counties League. The club was placed in the First Division, floodlights were purchased and National Park was "illuminated' in 1986. Despite finishing in a relegation position, Curzon became founder members of the Northern Premier League First Division the following season. 

This Pieman had travelled to Manchester on Easter Sunday in anticipation of the Bank Holiday Oldham Athletic v Spurs match. That match was scheduled for the afternoon and as Oldham is reasonably close to Ashton, it was decided to take in both matches as Oldham could be reached by bus after the Curzon match. The morning fixture at National Park saw Worksop Town romp to a convincing 3-0 victory.





Programme: 45p

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