New book chronicles proud history

From Albion to Zazzera, written by the club’s former general secretary and current vice-president Gareth Coates, was launched before the club's 6-3 win over fellow high-flyers Barton Rovers in EVO-STIK League Southern Division One Central. As well as celebrating their history, the Tangerines also used the event to look forward to a bright future with 25 of their youth sides in attendance for the club's latest 'juniors day'.

The October 22 fixture was chosen for the launch as it fell the day before the anniversary of the highest-scoring match in the club’s history, a 13-6 win over Trinity Sports Reserves back in the 1960s. The victory saw Graham Atkin score eight times, still the highest individual tally by an Ashford player in a single game, and he was presented with a certificate before kick-off to mark his achievement by Jim Taylor, president of the Middlesex FA, pictured.

Available to buy in paperback at £9.99 and on Kindle at £4.99, From Albion to Zazzera traces the roots of the club from its formation in 1958, with a history of every campaign up to and including promotion from the Combined Counties League at the end of last season. The book also fills a significant gap, as prior to the start of the project, the club’s own records at the Robert Parker Stadium only dated back as far as 1982.

As well as featuring a foreword from club patron and television and theatre personality Russell Grant, the book contains profiles of other notable personalities who've been involved over the years and information about the seven venues the Tangerines are known to have played at since they were established in 1958 as Ashford Albion in the Hounslow & District League.

Coates called writing his history, which also contains profiles of the seven players who've gone on to play in the Football League or at an equivalent standard abroad and the nine footballers who've won caps for their country, a 'labour of love'.

The author said: “This project has been a real ‘labour of love’ and to see the book in print is a dream come true. It’s fantastic to know that there is a proper record of the club’s story available for anyone to read.

"It’s also been a fantastic opportunity to pay tribute to a handful of the many people who have helped to make the club the brilliant organisation that it is and I hope that the end result will bring pleasure to many people.”

Up to sixth in the table, the Middlesex club host Aylsesbury United in league action on Saturday.

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