About Us

What we do | The Trustees

We are the bridge between Ashton United Football Club and the community. We aim to support the work of volunteers with the projects, events, and community activities that take place. As a focal point of the community of Hurst, we aim to tackle local issues identified through consultation with our users, and potential users. Through offering volunteering opportunities to local people we can help to improve their confidence, physical and mental health and wellbeing, and give them skills and knowledge that may lead to work opportunities. Together with volunteering at events taking place at Hurst Cross the volunteers will support a number of projects that tackle issues associated with the deprivation prevalent in the ward e.g. poverty, loneliness, isolation, poor health and wellbeing, community safety, lack of education, unemployment.

Hurst Cross - Home ground of Ashton United

Trustees

Trustees play a vital role in guiding the charity's efforts to create a positive impact in the community. They oversee operations, ensure financial and legal compliance, and make strategic decisions that help address local needs. Through their dedication and expertise, trustees help the charity deliver essential services, support volunteers, and drive initiatives that improve lives and strengthen the community.

Steve Hobson

Project Manager

Steve is a retired police officer with over 30yrs experience working with the community and voluntary sector. Steve is the Consultant Partner in a business offering capacity building, income generation and business support to charity's, sports clubs and non profit making organisations. He is a consultant to the Football Association on off field club matters.

Andy Clayton

Secretary / Trustee

Andy was born and bred in Saddleworth and now lives in Oldham with wife, Alison and grown-up son Matthew, he took early retirement in Dec 2020 after a long career in IT Hardware & Service Management within Computer Centre’s for a major British Telecommunications company, and brings a wealth of experience to the charity. He is a passionate Brass Band enthusiast with Greenfield Brass Band where he holds the organisational role of Secretary / Chairman of the Band. Andy commented ‘I hope that my business skillset will allow me to support and realise the ideas of the Trustees, and I look forward to working with them and the community’

Michael Brown

Trustee

Michael joined the charity at its inception as a Trustee and was appointed Secretary. Michael started at AUFC as a student volunteer, mainly involved with improving social media and covering match days. On the back of his success at AUFC he was offered a full time role as Manchester FA Media Manager, and has recently worked with the England Under 20’s team at tournaments in France. In June 2018 Michael was appointed as Head of Media at Southport FC but has since moved to Oldham Athletic FC.

He brings enthusiasm to the charity along with excellent contacts in the media and football world.

Jonathan Burke

Patron

Jonathan Burke – Jonathan became a Patron of the Charity in 2018, he is the joint chair of Ashton United F.C. which is his first position within a football club. Local to the area he is a lifelong supporter and his grandfather, Johnny Burke played over 400 games in the fifties and sixties. Jonathan played his only completive game for AFC Stanley Tigers U13's in the late nineties. He was brought on as a half time substitute and substituted shortly after. After his debut Accrington Stanley ended its official ties to the Team! Outside of football Jonathan is an internationally award-winning writer and actor and is the company director of Mischief having performed on the West End and Broadway. He is the co-author of 'The Play That Goes Wrong, 'Magic Goes Wrong' and 'The Comedy about a Bank Robbery' which have been performed all over the world in over forty different countries. He has also written and appeared in the BBC One sitcom The Goes Wrong Show.

David Burke

Trustee

David is the current joint Chairman of Ashton United FC with his son Jonathan. A commercial property developer is a big supporter of both the club and the charity.

His father an ex player at the club, holds the record for the most appearances at 410 games.

Julie Wilson

Trustee

Julie became involved with the charity in 2019 and supported the Trustee’s with a recruitment process before joining as a Trustee herself. She is a senior manager in a national charity and brings a wealth of experience in building networks between businesses, public services and the voluntary sector. She specialises in delivering complex projects, building and inspiring teams, and developing strategy.

Jill Tichborne

Trustee

Jill has been running the Ethical Education Enterprise CIC for 9 years, the last 6 years based in Tameside. Working in the community, Jill delivers training and support for third sector organisations, their staff, volunteers and clients. Prior to this Jill worked in finance for almost 20 years before embarking on a teaching career, studying at Manchester University. Having discovered an interest in youth football through her youngest daughter, she became the Welfare Officer for a girls’ team and, after a short break, is now volunteering with Ashton United FC as a Trustee. Jill is a single Mum with three wonderful children, a Bassett Hound, a Beagle and a crazy cat.

Eric Clegg

Trustee

Eric, local resident and retired police officer having served for 30yrs as a PC in Greater Manchester Police which included various roles Firearms, Identification Officer, Community Beat Officer, Response Officer, Bereavement Liaison Officer, Coroners Officer, C.I.D, Custody Officer. He was a trustee for the Joint Branch Board Greater Manchester Police Federation and for Constables Central Committee Police Federation of England and Wales. The role dealt with Income, Expenditure, Investments and Property preparation and presentation of reports made to national conference. Eric also held the position of No 1 Copperpot Credit Union Supervisor, in one of, if not the biggest Credit Union in the world a role that involved inspecting the securities, cash and accounts of the credit union; ensuring all officers, committees and employees of the credit union were in compliance with policies and regulations.

Pete O'Brien

Trustee

Pete joined the Trustees Board in September 2022 having volunteered as a
match day turnstile operator for several seasons at AUFC. Pete has worked
in Housing and Neighbourhood Management in communities for over 30
years including his chairing Community Regeneration Partnerships with
residents groups, local businesses, elected Councillors and National Funding
bodies.
With a keen interest in all sports Pete played a key role during the 2012
Olympics as LOCOG Accommodation Manager for the North West Football
Tournament and Paralympic Team Training Camps Programme. Pete also
managed the recruitment, training and daily deployment plans for over 200
hundred "Inspire Programme" Sports Volunteers welcoming and assisting
visitors to both the men’s and the women's Olympic football matches in
Manchester.
More recently following the resignation of John North, Pete has now taken
on the role of as AUITC Treasurer along with Jill Tichbourne.