Croxford leaves for Ashford (24.12.02)

LOCAL lad Steve Croxford has left Maidenhead United to join Division 1 side Ashford Town in Middlesex.
The 30-year-old central defender – a born and bred Maidonian – has made this decision to hopefully extend his 1st team playing days.
Croxford has only played about half the games this season, and this added to the fact that Ashford have apparantly also offered him an increase in wages, has tempted the no-nonsense defender to move on, the fourth player to leave the club in the last month.
Croxford, with over 200 appearances for the club in two spells, at one stage formed a formidable double act with fellow centre half Tim Cook, but like the former Magpies legend, he has decided to try his luck elsewhere.
However unlike Cook, his departure has been done on amicable grounds as manager Alan Devonshire was eager to explain.
He said: “I’m sad to see the lad go, but I wish him all the best. I understand his decision and I’ve told him that the door is always open for him to return.
“He will be training with us tonight (Monday) and say goodbye to the boys, and then he will play for Ashford on Boxing Day.”
Meanwhile Devonshire is still annoyed that Saturday’s clash at Sutton United was called-off just 20 minutes before kick-off by the referee because parts of the ground were, in his opinion, deemed unplayable.
Devonshire commented: “I thought there was nothing wrong with the pitch. The ref said he would play the game if both managers agreed.
“I agreed and then walked away, but when I came back the ref said it was off.
“I don’t know what happened."