ALL KENT COUNTY LEAGUE FIXTURES POSTPONED

TRAINING CANCELLED Tonight’s training session has been cancelled due to Homelands being closed.

TRANSFER NEWS.... We are delighted to confirm the signing of 22 year old Jake Hibbert who joins us from Deal Sports FC Reserves. Jake is a talented forward player who can play through the middle or out wide, blessed with quick feet and great balance he is a real handful in the final third. Jake came through the youth ranks at both Deal Town FC and Dover Rangers. This was his 3rd season with Deal Sports and he has scored 16 goals in 20 appearances for them this season and was their joint leading scorer. “Jake is a player we have kept a close eye on all season, in both our league matches against Deal Sports he was the player who stood out as the main threat. I was impressed with his ability to protect the football for a small player, he has great balance and uses his body really well. He’s very difficult to disposes. When I heard Jake was looking to move, it was a no brainer to bring him in. At just 22 he still has a lot to learn and we feel we can help him progress his game.” Jake will be available for selection this weekend and could potentially make his debut against league leaders AEI Sports in Saturday’s top of the table clash. #WelcomeJake #UpTheAthletic

Some big transfer news coming up......stay tuned.....

LES LECKIE CUP - RESULT Ashford FC 2-0 AFC Ashford Athletic M.O.M. Morgan Regardsoe Yesterday we bowed out of the Les Leckie Cup at the Quarter Final stage following a 2-0 defeat to local rivals Ashford FC. We can have no complaints as a poor 1st half saw Casper Floyd gifted two easy chances which he happily tucked away. There was a much better response from the players in the 2nd half but we had gave ourselves too much to do and Ashford used all their experience and know how to shut us out. This is only the third game this season in which we haven’t scored so credit to Ryan Norman’s boys for being so stubborn. Next Saturday we have a huge game at Homelands as we lost league leaders AEI Sports FC in a crucial top of the table clash.

ASHFORD ATHLETIC'S NUMBER 1 FAN! As a small amateur football club it's rare that we are able to or have the opportunity to give something back to the community and or be held in high regard by football fans. However, this changed on Saturday 13th January when super fan Rhys attended our home league fixture against Aylesford FC. Rhys is in a wheelchair and this was his first ever taste of live football, luckily the boys put on a real show for Rhys as we ran out 14-0 winners. Since then Rhys has attended every one of our home games and has quickly become our Number 1 fan! Rhys's Mum had this to say about his experience; "Rhys recently attended a football match with his PA Steph to see if this was an activity Rhys would enjoy watching. We are never sure if Rhys will engage in certain activities, however the Ashford Athletic players kicked the ball towards him during their warm up which he loved! He kept his eye on the ball all through the match, with Ashford scoring 14 goals he did a lot of clapping! Rhys is in a wheelchair so access can be difficult at local grounds, we found The Homelands, Stadium & Venue Hire to be fully accessible with disabled toilets so we would highly recommend a visit for others in a similar situation." For the club its brilliant to see Rhys at our games and is an amazing feeling to know that we are bringing some real enjoyment to a fantastic young man. The players have become very aware of Rhys in recent weeks and now look for him at every home game where he is encouraged to get close to the warm up. Rhys's support means a lot to everyone involved with the club and we feel very lucky to have such a dedicated supporter!

MATCH PREVIEW VS. ASHFORD FC (A) Tomorrow we take the short trip down to Hamstreet to take on Ryan Norman's Ashford FC side in the Quarter Final of the Les Leckie Trophy. Derby games don't usually need any added spice, but with our skipper Craig being the older brother of opposition Manager Ryan, who also spent a short while with us a few seasons back there is a little extra incentive for all parties. This is Ryan's 1st step in to management and to his credit, he has found his feet quickly taking Ashford FC to the Semi Final of the Kent Reliance Cup and 9th in Division 2 C&E. Ryan has built a strong squad with great depth and many familiar names. Both sets of players will know each other very well and a tight game is fully expected. We have only faced Ashford FC once before and that was in a preseason friendly where we came out on top winning 1-0. Both squads have been hugely improved since the summer so not too much will attention will be paid to the previous result. We have had to face two Division 2 sides in this cup already and having successfully knocked out both of those opponents the players will be desperate to add a third scalp from the Division above. Stuart and Charlie only have a few concerns regarding player availability, however the loss of centre back Alfie Dryland through a back injury and top scorer Dale Horton being unavailable due to work commitments are both big losses. Midfielder David Yates misses out through a foot injury and winger Matt Lawrie continues his recovery from nose surgery. Midfielder Martin Henry is cup-tied whilst Defender Paul Whittaker is the only other absentee. On a positive note Craig Norman, Ollie Perkins-Grist, Sean Halls, Justin Howard and Tom Draper have all shaken off minor injuries and reported in 100% fit after Wednesday's training session. There are still 1 or 2 decisions to be made regarding the final 16, but we know whoever is selected they will put everything on the line Saturday. Kick Off is 2.15pm at Hamstreet Sports Ground and the bar will be open. We encourage everyone to come down and support the boys in what promises to be a really exciting game of football. http://ashfordathletic.leaguerepublic.com/matchPreview/ashford_fc_v_afc_ashford_athletic_24_february_2018_preview.html

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The club would like to wish Lewis Bedwell a Very Happy 20th Birthday today!

Kent County League Annual Presentation Dinner and Dance Saturday 2nd June 2018 Special Guest for this Year's Event is former Derby, Aston Villa & Welsh International Dean Saunders. THE MERCURE MAIDSTONE HOTEL, HOLLINGBOURNE, NR MAIDSTONE, KENT, ME17 IRE RECEPTION 6:30pm FOR 7:00pm Carriages at Midnight Early Booking Essential, Available tickets after clubs allocation will be strictly limited.

AFC Ashford Athletic are delighted to be supporting Noreen Mckechnie in running the London Marathon in aid of Holding On Letting Go Please read her story and give what you can! https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=NoreenMcKechnie&pageUrl=1 #londonmarathon2018 #charity

Ashford United Football Club welcome Gary Alexander's former side Chatham Town FC this evening at Homelands Stadium in a Mid Season Friendly. Kick Off - 7.45pm Admission Prices Adults £3 U16s go FREE with a paying adult Season Ticket Holders CAN use there tickets for this match.

FIXTURE UPDATE There is a change to Saturday’s fixture with our proposed league game against Deal Town Rangers being postponed. We now travel to Hamstreet to take on Ashford FC in the Quarter Final of the Les Leckie Cup. Kick Off will be 2.15pm.