Ashton aim to be crowd pleasers

Ashton United manager Danny Johnson is urging Tameside football fans to get along to Hurst Cross to support his high-flying Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division side.

Ashton host Chorley at Hurst Cross on Saturday and the Robins manager is appealing to supporters to get behind his third placed and free-scoring side who've led the scoring charts for most of the season.

Johnson spoke out after Ashton attracted contrasting crowds for recent fixtures. Last week a visit from FC United of Manchester helped boost a midweek crowd to more than 500 despite the lure of Champions League football on television. However, the previous week just over a hundred supporters turned up for an Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division clash against Nottinghamshire neighbours Eastwood Town.

Johnson said: "I’ve built a good squad here and these lads deserve better crowds. I appreciate that we’ve a lot of competition on our doorstep but we really should be picking up more floating fans given how well we’ve been playing recently.

"It’s not like Ashton play Sunday League standard either - we’ve four or five ex-Football League players in the squad while almost all my players has been on the books of at least one professional club during their careers – and yet it still costs less than a tenner to get in to Hurst Cross, unlike the cost of watching league football, assuming you can get a ticket that is!

"Any real football fan knows it is much better to watch a live game than be stuck in front of the telly. With Manchester City not playing untill Sunday and Manchester United playing away this weekend - and having an evening kick-off to boot - the only way to watch live football locally this Saturday afternoon is to visit one of the borough’s Non-League clubs so why not give it a go instead of doing the shopping for a change?"

Johnson, who believes Saturday’s big match will be great entertainment for the fans who do make it, added: "Chorley made the play-offs last season and are amongst the favourites to repeat that feat this term – they currently sit just below my team in fifth place.

"It’s got the potential to be a cracking game and afterwards fans can join the players and management teams in the bar and even stay on to watch the Villa versus United game while having a pint. It’s a great way to have an afternoon of football without breaking the bank."