Hurst Cross, home to Evo Stik Northern Premier Division side Ashton United, is one of the oldest football grounds still in use, a stadium brimming with history and inundated with passion.

The club began playing at Hurst Cross in 1880 records state, originally playing under the name Hurst FC, a club founded in 1878. They originated from Hurst Cricket Club which was an act seen regularly in those days with cricket clubs looking to expand to another consuming activity in order to keep their societies running and busy throughout the winter months.

Having spent a few years playing at various other local locations (Rosehill, Holebottom) Hurst FC made Hurst Cross their home in 1880 and the stadium has been in use for football and other sporting activities ever since. Ashton, a market town in Tameside, Greater Manchester, regenerated by the cotton trade and factory system has had a local club to be proud of since 1878 and a stadium that has built up a rich and proud history over time.

The noted record attendances highlights impressive numbers for a non-league club regardless of the period with the club as Hurst FC bringing in 9,001 for a Lancashire Senior Cup 2nd round tie against Blackburn Rovers on the 18th of November 1885. As Ashton United, the club brought in 7,824 for their record attendance for an FA Cup 1st round replay against Halifax Town in November 1952.

Locating at Hurst Cross for around 135 years, the ground is certainly one of the oldest Football homes still in use today, up there with historic locations such as Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane where they have played since 1855 and Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground, their home since 1877.

With that 135 year history comes an abundance of stories from the yesteryears, particularly the fact floodlights were first installed at the ground in 1953 and used in a game against Wigan Athletic on the 29th of September of which Ashton won 4-3, club record goalscorer Stuart Dimond getting the first goal under the lights.

Hurst Cross may not have been the first stadium to install floodlights, however it was the first to stage a FA approved floodlight competition, the Lancashire and Cheshire Floodlit Cup, with many local sides such as Hyde United and Mossley AFC taking part.

Many famous names have appeared at the ground for the home and away teams, and even a rather prestigious referee. 40 Year old Arthur Ellis refereed a Lancashire and Cheshire cup tie against Nelson in October 1954 having previously featured at three World Cups and holding the claim of refereeing the first European Cup Final.

Well-capped England players such as Alan Ball and Dixie Dean have also graced the Hurst Cross turf, with Dean a former player at the club. 5,600 people caved into the ground for Dean’s debut on August 26 1939 against Stalybridge Celtic, sadly the prolific goalscorer only played a handful of times for the club before war broke out and he never wore the shirt again.

The stadium really has been a part of the local community of Ashton-under-Lyne throughout its whole existence with local schools using it for Athletic days as well as other local communities using it for various sporting events, the ground also hosting Baseball in the 1950’s!

Another record Hurst Cross holds falls in line with a cup competition the club have done very well in this season, the FA Cup! The ground actually became the first to host a Manchester club in a home FA Cup tie, with Hurst FC’s victory over Turton on 20 October 1883 the first local club FA Cup fixture at home. Ashton have their name further etched in FA Cup history with the quickest goal in the competition scored by Gareth Morris against Skelmersdale United in 2001, that goal coming after four seconds.

History and passion formulates the very service of Hurst Cross, with occasions of playoff victories, promotions and heartbreak all in equal measure having occurred on the pitch and off the pitch the stadium really has developed over the years.

New terracing and a recently refurbished sponsors lounge shows how well the club is doing to keep with the times as much as possible and highlights the attempt the club is making to bring things forward. All the refurbishments made possible by volunteering and fundraising, adding value to the community feel of the club.

Hurst Cross is deep in history and tradition, nowadays those factors adding to its very charm. The stadium and the club are still standing strong and long may that continue!

Special thanks to Jez Sayle for his extensive knowledge of all things Ashton and Hurst Cross!