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In the summer of 2008 a new executive board took control of the club led by<br />
National Union of Mineworkers President Ian Lavery. In early August 2008<br />
the new ground Woodhorn Lane was opened and on Saturday 30th August<br />
2008, <strong>Ashington</strong> played their first game at the new ground defeating UniBond<br />
League side Ossett Albion 2-1 in the FA Cup with a crowd of 341. Striker<br />
Gareth Bainbridge, scorer in the last match at Portland Park against<br />
Seaham Red Star had the honour of being the first goalscorer at Woodhorn<br />
Lane.<br />
Over recent seasons, The Colliers, under Gary Middleton’s stewardship the<br />
club made great strides forward on the pitch, to become a side challenging<br />
for a top 6 place each year, and regularly making it to the later stages of the<br />
FA Vase. In fact the 2011-12 saw one of <strong>Ashington</strong>’s most successful<br />
seasons in recent years. Finishing 5th, our highest league placing for many<br />
years was coupled with two successful runs in the National Competitions. In<br />
the FA Cup the Colliers made it to the fourth qualifying round before losing<br />
away to Grimsby. And in the FA Vase, <strong>Ashington</strong> had their longest run ever,<br />
making it through to the last 16. The work paid off in May 2013 when the<br />
Colliers won the Senior Cup at St James Park. The 3-0 victory brought home<br />
the Senior Cup for the first time since <strong>19</strong>80, and was <strong>Ashington</strong>’s first trophy<br />
since they won the Craven Cup in 2003 and the Second Division<br />
Championship in 2004.<br />
Unfortunately, the club was unable to build on this success and Middler<br />
resigned in January 2015. His replacement made headline news around the<br />
world. Ashes winning cricketer, and former Colliers defender Stephen<br />
Harmison stepped up to become the new Colliers manager, bringing former<br />
manager Ian Skinner along with him as head coach, and appointing the<br />
legendary former Collier captain Lee Anderson as his number 2.<br />
2015-16 was a landmark year for the club. The award winning Akzonobel<br />
Stand opened in <strong>November</strong>, with Newcastle United doing the honours on the<br />
opening night. One of the finest in the league, the new facility makes<br />
Woodhorn Lane one of the best Non-League grounds in the North-East and<br />
provides facilities unrivalled in the league.<br />
After a couple of disappointing seasons on the pitch, Harmison and his<br />
management team left their posts in October 2017. Stepping up to fill the<br />
void was Steve Bowey, along with his assistant Gareth McAlindon. Few<br />
people have played more games in the Northern League than Bowey, who<br />
will bring that wealth of experience to bear as he tasks himself with, in his<br />
own words ‘reviving the sleeping giant’ and make the Colliers a force to be<br />
reckoned with once again.<br />
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