Ashton Get The Ground News They Desperately Wanted

The National League North club have signed a long-term lease on their Hurst Cross home which will safeguard the stadium until 2049.

A club statement confirmed: “Ashton’s Hurst Cross stadium is the second oldest continually played on stadium in the world, after Preston North End's Deepdale.

“After more than four and a half years of talks the club is delighted to announce that the tenure of the stadium has now been secured, for the next 30 years, through the signing of a new lease with landlords Tameside Borough Council.”

Chairman Terry Hollis said: “We have been frustrated for such a long time in trying to renegotiate our lease in order to make improvements to the stadium.

“Thanks to the support from our local Councillor, Mike Glover, and Angela Rayner MP the impasse was broken and a new lease has been signed.

“This is fantastic news for the club and local community, hot on the heels of our appointing two new directors, and will be the start of improvements to the infrastructure over the coming months and years.”