The staff and players at Oxford City are no strangers to huge club milestones, especially after welcoming Reece Fleet to the ‘400 Club’ earlier this season.
The latest player to show their dedication to the club by reaching a landmark number of appearances is midfielder Josh Ashby, with 250 in total for the Hoops.
City celebrated the milestone with an announcement on the no.4's birthday, and with such an achievement, his dedication to the club is to be admired.
He has been a key player in Jenkins’ side this season, cementing his name in the starting 11, having made 27 appearances in City’s debut Vanarama National League season.
In this, he has also captained his side in the absence of Reece Fleet, showing his natural leadership within the squad, most recently in City’s 1-3 loss at home to Bromley FC on April 16th.
There is almost no doubt that the key central player would have made a number more appearances in the stripes this season if it weren’t for a spell on the sideline with injury, with over 15 games missed, but upon his return, he was quick to reinstate his importance in City’s midfield.
The 28-year-old joined City in 2018, firstly on a one-year contract, before extending his deal the following season.
There is no doubt that the midfielder has had some memorable moments during his time at City, and one that will stick in the memory for a long time will be etching his name into history with a goal in the National League South Play-Off Final last May.
McEachran’s driving run into the box and pass to Ashby set the no.4 up perfectly, and Ashby’s strike was placed into the far corner with ease, extending City’s advantage to three at the half-hour mark.
This goal in such a huge fixture remains a testament to the role that Ashby plays in City’s midfield, and he went on to describe the win as “one of the best days of my life!”.
The importance of his role not only refers to the current season but also the previous campaigns as part of the squad. In total, he has scored 23 goals in the National League South, with a further 2 this season in the National League.
Reflecting upon his time at City, he stated “There’s a core group of local lads who have been together for four to five seasons, and it’s great to play the game you love with your best mates”.
He believes that these friendships are key to creating strength in the squad, and, despite relegation, it is clear that these bonds will play an integral part in the squad bouncing back next season.