Samuel Kenneth Ashford (born 21 December 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre forward or winger for club South Shields.
He played for Tottenham Hotspur's academy before starting his career non-league football with Maldon & Tiptree in 2014. He later played for Heybridge Swifts, Stansted, Witham Town and Brightlingsea Regent before joining National League South side East Thurrock United in 2019. He also played at this level with Concord Rangers and Hemel Hempstead Town before joining EFL League Two club Crawley Town in summer 2020. He had a loan spell at Woking in the National League in 2021 before joining Scottish Championship club Ayr United in January 2022. He is a former England C international.
Early life Ashford was born in Chelmsford.
Club career Ashford joined the academy of Tottenham Hotspur at the age of 8 before being released by the club at under-14 level.
After spells with Maldon & Tiptree, Heybridge Swifts and Essex Senior League side Stansted, where he scored 32 goals in 68 appearances, Ashford joined Witham Town in 2017. In November 2017, Ashford joined Brightlingsea Regent, before leaving the club in February 2018, having made only a handful of appearances as a result of injury. He rejoined Witham Town later that year.
In January 2019, Ashford joined National League South side East Thurrock United, before joining fellow National League South side and local rivals Concord Rangers later that year, where he made 8 appearances, scoring 3 goals. While signed to Concord Rangers he returned briefly to Witham Town for the final game of the 2018–19 season, scoring in that game, after Concord failed to make the play-offs. Ashford signed for fellow National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town in the summer of 2019. Ashford scored for Hemel on the opening game of the 2019–20 season in a 4–1 victory over Hungerford Town. He scored 10 goals in 29 league appearances across the 2019–20 season.
Following the expiry of his contract at Hemel Hempstead Town, Ashford joined League Two side Crawley Town in summer 2020 on a two-year contract. On his debut for the club on 5 September, Ashford scored Crawley's only goal of their 3–1 home defeat to Millwall in the EFL Cup. After 14 appearances for Crawley, Ashford joined Woking on loan until the end of the season on 5 March 2021. He scored his first goal for Woking the following day on his debut, heading in the opening goal of a 3–0 win over King's Lynn Town. He scored his first league goal for Crawley in a 2–2 draw with Harrogate Town on 21 September 2021. He scored twice in 15 matches for Crawley during the 2021–22 season.
On 29 January 2022, Ashford signed for Scottish Championship club Ayr United on a free transfer. He signed an 18-month contract with the club. He made his debut later that day as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Hamilton Academical, and scored Ayr's equaliser 7 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
On 23 August 2023, Ashford signed for NIFL Premiership club Cliftonville. He scored 8 goals in 29 matches in all competitions, including one in the 2023–24 Irish Cup final which Cliftonville would win 3–1, before leaving the club at the end of the season.
On 20 June 2024, Ashford joined National League side Wealdstone on an initial one-year deal.
On 24 March 2025, Ashford returned to fellow National League side, Woking on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee. On the 27 November 2025, Ashford went out on loan to National League South side AFC Totton to get some match fitness after he had suffered a broken collar bone earlier in the season. On 2 January 2026, he joined Hampton & Richmond Borough on loan for the remainder of the season. On 10 March 2026, Ashford’s loan at Hampton & Richmond Borough was terminated early due to injury problems within the Woking squad. On 7 May 2026, it was announced that Ashford would leave the club at the end of his contract in June.
On 30 June 2026, Ashford joined National League North club South Shields.
International career He made two appearances for the England C team in 2018.
Playing style Ashford plays as a centre forward and winger.
Personal life His father Mark Ashford is manager of non-league club Witham Town; Sam played under Mark at the club.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMaldon & Tiptree2014–15Isthmian League Division One North8000—0080Heybridge Swifts2014–15Isthmian League Division One North5000—00502015–16Isthmian League Division One North2000—1030Total7000001080Stansted2015–16 Select season via dropdown menu.Essex Senior League31800—403582016–17Essex Senior League281300—102913Total59210000506421Witham Town2017–18Isthmian League Division One North8111—30122Brightlingsea Regent2017–18Isthmian League Premier Division12100—00121Witham Town2018–19Isthmian League North Division17810—332311East Thurrock United2018–19National League South10200—00102Concord Rangers2018–19National League South8300—0083Witham Town2018–19Isthmian League North Division1100—0011Hemel Hempstead Town2019–20National League South291010—543514Crawley Town2020–21League Two802011301412021–22League Two121001120152Total201202250293Woking (loan)2020–21National League14400—10154Ayr United2021–22Scottish Championship1320000001322022–23Scottish Championship3224130304232023–24Scottish Championship2000400060Total474417030615Cliftonville2023–24NIFL Premiership236421010298Wealdstone2024–25National League28730—20337Woking2024–25National League8000—00802025–26National League8200—20102Total16200—20182AFC Totton (loan)2025–26National League South4000—0040Hampton & Richmond (loan)2025–26National League South6000—0060Career total3167116410231737584
Honours
Cliftonville Irish Cup: 2023-24
References
External links