Farnborough have summarily pulled out of the pre-season match that was arranged sometime ago, following the appointment of their new manager and with no explanation, but that’s their business.

One further match has now been definitely arranged when a rejuvenated Slough Town side under the new managership of Steve Bateman will be visiting Ashford on Saturday 8 August.  Hopefully we will see a decent crowd for that one.

Some supporters may be unaware, so this will come as sad news, but Paul Burgess (pictured) has decided to hang up his boots having made a record 651 appearances for the Club, since joining in time for the 1990-91 season.  As has been pointed out, he started with a clean sheet against Cranleigh in August 1990, Ashford’s first season in the Combined Counties League and finished likewise with a clean sheet against Ramsgate in his final match last month.  It was hoped that Paul would join the coaching staff but he wishes to have a complete break although doubtless we will still see plenty of him.

There is news of other departures as well:  Pat Munns, our main keeper prior to the Burgess era and sponge man and distinguished goalkeeper coach in recent seasons, is also standing down after an extensive career at the Club which started way back in 1967.  Also leaving is Under-18 manager Mick Snowden who announced his intentions at the start of the season, after several years of managing the Under-18’s so successfully and seeing so many of them through to senior football.  Mick is another long time servant of the Club and a previous 1^st team manager back in the 80’s and 90’s when Ashford were first emerging as a senior club.  Much of the credit for that can be laid at Mick’s door, one of his first acts being to cut out the practice of a pre-match pint amongst some of the players at the time!

Finally, to get it all over at once, we are also saying goodbye to Reserve Team manager Glynn Stephens, who has managed the Suburban side with dedication and no little success in recent seasons.  As a club we probably didn’t give the Reserve side as much support last season as they should have had and Glynn has been offered the 1^st Team manager’s job at CCL side Chessington & Hook United, much closer to his home.  It is an excellent opportunity we understand he is going to take up and we wish him absolutely every success in the new job.

Losing four able and immensely popular individuals at once is never easy, especially at Ashford where a quiet continuity has been the key for many years.  However, it is also an opportunity for others, either in or outside the Club, to stake their claim and manager Mark Butler will shortly be announcing details of the new staff who will be coming in.

In the meantime, a farewell evening is being arranged for all those off to new pastures, to take place at the Club on Friday 26 June, starting at 7.30 p.m.  It is hoped that as many present members of the Club and as many “old” players as possible will attend and this article can be taken as a general invitation to come along, to all friends of Paul, Pat. Mick and Glynn.