AFC Totton
| Nationality | British |
|---|---|
| Date signed | 27th Nov 2025 |
| Sponsor | Available To Sponsor |
PLAYER BIOGRAPHY:
Sam Ashford, from a young age, was part of the youth setup at Tottenham Hotspur, joining the academy around age eight, though he was released at under-14 level, a setback that took him into the non-league football circuit.
He spent the early phase of his senior career with several non-league sides, including Maldon & Tiptree, Heybridge Swifts, Stansted FC, Witham Town F.C. and Brightlingsea Regent F.C. He gradually worked his way up the tiers and by 2019 he was playing in the National League South, first with East Thurrock United and later with Concord Rangers F.C.
His performances earned him a move to Hemel Hempstead Town F.C, where during the 2019–20 season he netted 10 goals in 29 league appearances. In the summer of 2020 Ashford made the leap into the professional football league when he signed for Crawley Town F.C. (then in League Two). On his debut for Crawley, he scored in an EFL Cup match against Millwall F.C, a notable milestone marking his first professional goal.
During his time at Crawley, Ashford spent a loan spell at Woking F.C. in early 2021. He marked his Woking debut with a goal, heading the opener in a 3–0 win over King's Lynn Town F.C. In January 2022 he moved north to Scotland, joining Ayr United F.C. on a free transfer, a move he described as a fresh opportunity to revive his career after the ups and downs of lower-league life.
Ashford’s journey then took him to Northern Ireland: in August 2023 he signed for Cliftonville F.C. in the NIFL Premiership. During his season there he scored 8 goals in 29 appearances, including a memorable goal in the 2023–24 Irish Cup final, helping Cliftonville secure their first Irish Cup in 45 years.
By June 2024 Ashford returned to England, signing with Wealdstone F.C. in the National League, before in March 2025 making a permanent switch back to Woking.
