This season was one in which the club struggled to survive, both on and off the pitch. Although planning permission had been granted for the long-awaited 3G pitch, work was delayed due to the calling of the 2024 General Election. By law, Surrey County Council was prohibited from releasing £99,000 of agreed funding, without which the project couldn’t start. Work eventually began in October, by which time the Women’s Team had agreed a season-long groundshare at Hanworth Villa and the Men’s Team had decamped to Cobham, after playing two ‘home’ matches at Ascot United and one at Bedfont Sports.

Playing 16 miles from home in a different County, the Men’s Team were drawing meagre crowds and battling not just to stay at Step 4 but to keep the club alive.

The Women’s Team had been significantly weakened by the departure of several players to Brentford, including club record goalscorer Ashley Cheatley. A difficult campaign saw them play a number of ‘big’ clubs, including Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers and London Bees. 

After staging 19 matches at Cobham, the Men’s First Team returned home on 12 April and although Moneyfields won the match 3-1, there was a substantial crowd present to see Archie Larkham become the first Ashford player to score on the new pitch.

Although both senior teams were relegated, by the season’s end there was new hope for a prosperous future.