You will have heard myself and others within the club and charity beating the drum about how much we believe that Ashton United are a true community club and not as some clubs who are just ticking the boxes. Our record of providing for and involving the local community speaks for itself with our regular Luncheon Clubs, the Whit Friday Band Contest, support for organisations such as Andy’s Man Club and LCE (Life Changing Education) speak for itself. Add on to this the work we do with partners such as Smallshaw Hurst Community Group, Jigsaw and Save the Children then we can claim to be truly embedded in the Hurst community.

Far from blowing our own trumpets this was brought home to me earlier this week when Mary Moore, one of the attendees at the Luncheon Club approached me to advise that she had seen the news about Ashton United captain, Luke Burke suffering a season ending injury that required expensive surgery. Mary had taken it upon herself to hold a raffle amongst her friends, neighbours and fellow lunch club attendees and had raised £110 and was donating this to Luke’s injury fund.

What a wonderful gesture that to me shows that if you are kind and provide for people then they will care for you and help wherever they can. On behalf of the club, AUITC and Luke I would like to record our thanks to Mary and her friends for such a kind gesture.

Mary is pictured handing over the monies to First Team Manager, Steve Cunningham.

Next big event in our calendar is the Whit Friday Band Contest on Friday 29th May so if you wish to get involved in any way, whether that be financial support or volunteering on the day please contact Eric Clegg (ericcleggauitc@hotmail.com) or myself, Andy Clayton (andyc@ashtonunited.co.uk) or pop into the office to speak to us.

Enjoy todays game.

Andy Clayton
AUITC Trustee / AUFC General Manager.