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Bill Day

Posted : 05/11/2007 09:23

Subject : Ashford NOT Ants

Am I the only member who dislikes the sobriquet "Ants" that has become attached to Ashford Cricket Club in newspaper and website references?

I've checked with the KM Group sports editors, and none of them can explain why the assumed name "Ants" is used in reports of Ashford's Kent League matches.

As most ants become crushed underfoot, or are left trampled in the dust, I would have thought this is the last creature we would want to have tagged to the cricket club's name.

Any chance we can drop use of the word "Ants" and refer to our proper name Ashford, which I believe should be used at every opportunity to promote the club's name.

-President

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Mike Day

Posted : 06/11/2007 20:08

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

I agree 100% with you Bill where on earth did this name come from.In Dorset Ants are called Emmetts which I dont want to be I am a Member of ASHFORD Cricket Club and wish to
join with you in decrying this awful name.Older Members of the Club will remember the pride we used to have in saying we played for Ashford and the local press never called us ants.
Well done Bill for voicing your opinion and keep up the good work
PRO

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Julian Day

Posted : 07/11/2007 20:59

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Bill / Dad,

I have read the two e mails decrying the Ants nickname with interest.

The nickname started life on the Kent League forum, I believe, and was quickly taken up by all members of the first team.

Contrary to your statements that Ants get crushed underfoot, Ants are one of the most successful species in the history of the world. They are strong team players and fiercely loyal to their leaders. Both of these attributes are applicable in the world of team sports.

The bottom line is, it was a bit a fun that has taken hold and has given the players a joint identity. All of the players in my first team, and in other teams that represent the club, are proud to represent the club. I fully respect the past players who have represented this club with pride and have gone to lengths to involve them via the Legends Day and appointment of additional Vice Presidents, but they don't get too involved nowadays and times move on (as they will when I soon hang up my boots again)

It is easy to knock and mock but the bottom line is that the group of players we have at the moment have turned the club around from the brink of disappearance. The cry of 'come on the Ashford Ants' led our charge to the league title this year and long may it continue.

Ashford Cricket Club will never lose its identity, much like football clubs (West Ham - The Irons, Chelsea - The Blues etc) but to have a harmless nickname that all players enjoy is surely not a bad thing

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Public Ant No. 1

Posted : 07/11/2007 23:18

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Well said Julian!
Ants are highly organised, extremely sociable and top of their game!
It's a bit of fun.
Think of some of the names county sides have taken on in recent years.
"It's just not cricket."

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Bill Day

Posted : 09/11/2007 13:04

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Why "Ants", when the Ashford Cricket Club masthead on letter-heads and our official website, clearly depicts a leopard?

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Another Ant

Posted : 09/11/2007 15:11

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Perhaps it stands for Ashford Now Town Side!

It's great, however it came about.

C'mon the Ants.... (and C'mon the indoor ants this Sunday)

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Bill Day

Posted : 09/11/2007 15:39

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Are ants too shy to sign their names on website messages?

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Julian Day

Posted : 09/11/2007 16:53

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Looks like you've disturbed an Ant's nest here Bill. Let's hope they're not fire ants!

Yours,

Skipper Ant

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Ben Ealham

Posted : 09/11/2007 16:54

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Some may be Bill, not me though.
I'm not sure how this nickname came about but I have noticed how quickly the tag has been taken up by playing members of the club and that 'positive vibes' have come from using it.
I totally agree with Julian. It's harmless fun and I think something that the younger players in the club wil enjoy being a part of.
Is this such a bas thing?

COME ON THE ANTS!

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Bill Day

Posted : 09/11/2007 19:24

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

HELP! I feel like a leopard licking my wounds, with ants crawling all over me. How about Ants v Leopards, Cricket Week 2008?

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Julian Day

Posted : 13/11/2007 13:58

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

I see that there is now vote going on regarding the Ant nickname.

Regardless of the vote, I think you'll find that the players will continue to use the term.

Perhaps one of the other teams can be the Leopards, but I believe the two's go under the name of the 'Dinks' (as in Dinky do's = two's). That'll probably upset everyone now as well!

A small point, but why have we got a Leopard in our crest?

'....they're coming to get you, coming to get you - The rise of the Ants'

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Pecker

Posted : 18/11/2007 13:05

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Sorry Bill !

C'mon the ANTS.

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Mike Day

Posted : 18/11/2007 15:37

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

The Leopard in the Ashford crest came from the Town crest which I believe was the idea of Peter Nelson and Fred Holdstock.It also was incorporated into the Ashford Railway works Crest.

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Bill Day

Posted : 19/11/2007 14:27

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Electoral scrutineers need to investigate our so-called Great Debate. Ant v Leopard should be declared void if reports of dirty-work filtering from Ashford's table at the Kent League dinner are to be believed.

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Bill Day

Posted : 19/11/2007 14:29

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Yes, Ants is Pants!

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Simon Taylor

Posted : 20/11/2007 21:22

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

After completing my 20th and probably most enjoyable season at Ashford the nick name "The Ants" has brought the whole club together and resulted in 2 successful teams. "The Ants" has now been sewn into the colts way of thinking as well with 175 colts on a Sunday morning chanting Ants! Ants! Ants!. Have any of you notioced the new "Ant" watermark on the background of the website? look carefully it's next to the "leopardy thing".
Perhaps the ant can go on the club's new crest.....how good would that be!!!!!
Come on the ants!!!

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retired hoad ant

Posted : 22/11/2007 18:32

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Think its a good thing if the players like it. Isnt the ant the strongest pound for pound thing on the planet???

Anyway isn't the ashford emblem a griffin???
Rob H
Ps-well done on the promotion see u on the summer.

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Mike Day

Posted : 22/11/2007 19:23

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Leopard,Griffin or Ant it is still ASHFORD CRICKET CLUB.If I am to believe what is about to happen what do we call ourselves with the merger.Suggestions please

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Jubil-Ant ( Ben )

Posted : 22/11/2007 23:58

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Mike-I am not lucky enough to know the details of the 'merger' but am quite sure that the identity of ACC will not be lost! Also that of the Old Boys too!
We have to look to the future, as we have the last few seasons.
I m sure that no matter what might/will happen the name of Ashford will remain.
As an ex-OSCC player I do think that in some way a regular side should be fielded umder their banner.
We have to celebrate this opportunity and reap the rewards.

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Jubil-Ant ( Ben )

Posted : 23/11/2007 00:09

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Also, welcome back 'retired hoad ant'.
Would be great to see you back at the club!

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Bill Day

Posted : 23/11/2007 11:28

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Mike (Day), You're so right. Can you imagine a major sponsor wanting to lend his company's name to a team of "Ants". As Mike says, the flagship name is Ashford. How do you think we signed a £15,000 deal over three years with law firm Kingsfords a few years back? "Kingsfords Ashford" suited them, from a marketing viewpoint; suited us; and kept the club's accounts in the black. Can you imagine one of those Oribital ring-road garages agreeing to give us £20,000, if we insisted on being known as Toyota Ants.

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Retired Hoad Ant

Posted : 23/11/2007 12:59

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

I agree with you on the sponsorship front. However it didnt do 'The Anaheim mights ducks' any harm. As long as the official name remains Ashford and doesnt change I'll be happy.

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Judge Ant

Posted : 23/11/2007 18:02

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

It's a nickname for crying out loud, not a re branding!
CRS electricals are not known as Sparky electrcials and Mike Days' Petbitz in Dorset is not known as Coco the Clown pet supplies!

We ARE Ashford Cricket Club. The first team just has a nickname of The Ants, much the same as Kent County Cricket Club are The Spitfires and West Ham are The Irons.

Long live Ashford Cricket Club and long live The Ants.

Bring on 2008............

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Red Ant.

Posted : 03/12/2007 21:23

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

We need some more Red Ants.
As im with Jess i could start a colony.

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Judge Ant

Posted : 04/12/2007 14:13

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Leave it out. We've already got you, Crannis (greying now, bless him!), Rodders and Bucko.
We need some more bald ants..........

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Debut-Ant

Posted : 04/12/2007 23:43

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

Has the vote happened?

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Bill Day

Posted : 05/12/2007 16:35

Subject : Re:Ashford NOT Ants

The vote HAS happened - and it's not a pretty sight. A load of old pants, sorry ants, I reckon.