2018/19 #12 - 20th November 2018 - Ashington v. Hebburn Town

By Brian Bennett
Colliers launch new strips
A need to flag up more awareness about the
disease Motor Neurone – a charity close to
Ashington Football Club’s hearts – was a
major factor behind the Colliers decision to
incorporate the Motor Neurone Disease Association
logo on the front of their new
strips which were launched against Newton
Aycliffe on Saturday.
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Photo: Keith Saint
Brian Shotton - who was recently installed as
the new chairman at Woodhorn Lane, taking
over the reins from Ian Lavery - said: “Our club
is richly associated with the charity Motor Neurone
Disease Association through our late stalwart Les Alderson and the decision to emblaze
the logo was made a few months ago. However we had to put things in place and
also needed a game where the new kit was going to debut. As a board, we thought the
Newton Aycliffe match – which was the only home fixture we had at that time in November
- was the perfect time for that to happen. I think it is a charity which is close to a lot of people’s
hearts and it needs a lot more exposure. As a club we have supported the MNDA for
many years.”
He continued: “My own grandfather passed away through it and I had to watch that as a
child - and you see how the disease affects people as well as people with families. We
need to support this - and I think it is an excellent thing for the football club to do.”
Colin Hardy MNDA Northumberland group campaign contact said: “I think it is absolutely
fantastic that Ashington FC are incorporating MNDA on their shirts. Motor Neurone is an
horrendous disease which once a family or friend has been affected by it, leaves a mark
for the rest of your life. We are trying to raise awareness and through it we hope to raise
more money which can be used for research and hopefully one day find a cure. We have
a hotspot in this area in Northumberland with people affected by MN disease and the history
behind it means that we can spread the word wider and bring in other charities that
are related to the disease to deal with people in later life such as Marie Curie. It’s not a
stand alone charity - although we very much are an association in our own right but it’s the
awareness it creates for everyone. At the present time we are involved in trying to change
the law on terminal illness and we are rallying the support of councillors and MP’s.”
Graham Murdie, owner of Miner Wear based on the former pit heaps at Pegswood Colliery
said: “The shirts include the Miner Wear and Ashington FC logos and the goalkeeper’s
home top has a sunset. We thought it best to incorporate landmarks of Ashington
within it so on the ‘keepers shirt is the pit wheel which is down at Woodhorn; the statue of
Jackie Milburn which is at the Leisure Centre and also the mining statue which is down at
Woodhorn and represents the 13 miners who passed away over 100 years ago. We spoke
to the club about this and they were really on board with it and what is better than to have
a strip which represents the landmarks of Ashington. That’s what it is about – the club are
nicknamed the Colliers and it’s going back to the mining town. Ever since I formed the
company it was always the intention to work with Ashington FC. We have been trading
over four and a half years and this is a milestone for us.”
Pictured is Ashington FC chairman Brian Shotton (centre) alongside Graham Murdie from
Miner Wear with the new strip. MNDA representative Colin Hardy is on the extreme left.