ASHINGTON FC-most northern club to play in the Football League.

Ashington AFC's most recent match in the Northern League Div 1, was on Saturday, a 5-3 deafeat at Whickham; they next play the famous Bishop Auckland FC. 

Founded in 1883, 

the club spent 8 seasons in the Football League in the 1920s, their last season being 1928/29. They finished bottom of the Third Division (North) that season conceding 115 goals with their worst defeat being 8-2 at home to eventual champions Bradford City. On this day in 1929 Ashington suffered another major defeat at their Portland Park ground that season, 4-7 against Doncaster Rovers with Tom Keetley scoring 6 of the Doncaster goals. That was – and still is – the record goals scored by a Doncaster player in a League match while the 180 League goals he scored in his Doncaster career also remains a Rovers record. Amazingly Tom was one of six Keetley brothers who played in the Football League including four – Tom plus Harry, Joe and Frank – who turned out for Doncaster Rovers. 

Other well knowns associated with Ashington include: Stan Milburn, brother of George, James Milburn, cousin to Jackie Milburn and Uncle to Jack and Bobby Charlton. Ray Kennedy of Arsenal made his start there and so did Albert Stubbins (once of Liverpool FC) of Sgt Pepper's LP Album fame! (remember him on the cover?); smiley face behind lady with yellow collar.

This link should take you to a complete index to all those faces on the album cover. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/sgt-pepper-cover-art-whos-who/

The new Third Division (North) came into being in 1921/22 and four North-Eastern League clubs - Ashington, Darlington, Durham City and Hartlepools United - were amongst the clubs who were invited to join the new division without having to take part in a vote.

Ashington, spending 8 seasons in the Football League Div 3N, in 1928-9, came bottom in the division, and failed to gain re-election at the end of the season. York City from the Midland League took their place. Other clubs in the Midland League at this time included: Mansfield Town, Scarborough, Scunthorpe Utd and Doncaster Rovers. The regionalised Third Divisions North and South changed to the  Division Three and Four in 1958-9 until 1992.

NORTH-EASTERN LEAGUE  1920/21
							P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
				1		Darlington	38	28	4	6	76	29	60
				2		Middlesbrough Reserves	38	27	5	6	93	35	59
				3		Newcastle United Res.	38	23	7	8	96	39	53
				4		Sunderland Reserves	38	21	10	7	73	49	52
				5		Blyth Spartans	38	19	11	8	69	34	49
				6		Carlisle United	38	18	10	10	79	46	46
				7		West Stanley	38	14	14	10	54	42	42
				8		Hartlepools United	38	18	6	14	64	50	42
				9		Ashington	38	14	13	11	66	52	41
				10		Jarrow	38	14	11	13	46	44	39
				11		Durham City	38	16	5	17	51	60	37
				12		Chester-le-Street	38	13	11	14	50	58	37
				13		Leadgate Park	38	13	10	15	57	58	36
				14		South Shields Reserves	38	12	11	15	51	66	35
				15		Spennymoor United	38	10	10	18	51	79	30
				16		Houghton Rovers	38	7	10	21	38	69	24
				17		Shildon	38	8	7	23	41	75	23
				18		Scotswood	38	8	5	25	35	76	21
				19		Wallsend	38	6	8	24	39	96	20
				20		Bedlington United	38	4	6	28	32	104	14