The league started in 1922 but the Ash preferred to arrange their own mid-week fixtures.

When the Ash eventually joined the league, success wasn't immediate, but when it came it was spectacular!

The 1953 season saw the Ash team in the Second Division with local rivals Beckwithshaw, Gas Sports, GPO, Bilton 'B', Police Sports, St George's and G Atkinson's. They managed to go through the season unbeaten to storm to a Division 2 title success and to win the prestigious Addison Cup, as described in the 1953 cup double page.

Relegation followed a few years later before another Division 2 title success in 1965 saw a brief 2 year visit to the top division.

Trophies were hard to come by until 1987 when a Division 3 title success and a runners' up spot the following year saw a one season return to the top division.

Back Row (l to r)      K Crawley       G Irvin      G Little       T Milne       A Greenwood        M D Turner       R Bullock
Front Row (l to r)      D Sanders      ??       C King      ??       C Greenwood       P Bainbridge       A Reid       ??

A notable achievement was to take a point off champions Harrogate. It might have been due to canceling the game due to rain, but it was the only point they dropped all season!

A gradual slide down the league ensued until a purple patch in the 1990's saw a Division 6 title in 1996 followed immediately by a Division 5 title in 1997.

1997 was also the year which saw a George Greaves Cup win against Yorkshire Electricity at Spofforth Cricket Club and made up for the disappointment of losing the 1995 final to Follifoot 'B' at Beckwithshaw.

Back Row (left to right)      J Thompson       M Hartigan        R Parker       R Johnstone       D Oram       M J Turner
Front Row (left to right)      J Stracey       S Dobson       P Robinson (c)        M D Turner       L Bramham

A Division 4 title in 1999 saw the Ash rise to Division 3 where they stayed for a number of years before a lack of players of a suitable standard caused the disbandment of the team.

The Ash regrouped in the 'B' team, which had been started in 1983 and, except for a couple of years, had always played in the bottom division.

A positive season in 2006 gives hope for another climb up the league ladder.

 

 

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