Non league club sacks radio commentator over comments made on air

Non league membership Weymouth sacks their radio commentator Ben Ashelford over feedback he made whereas on air throughout an FA Trophy tie.

The Terras presently sit seventeenth within the Southern League – Premier South desk with 9 factors from 10 video games performed, 2 factors above the drop zone.

Their matchday radio commentator, Ben Ashelford, is now not within the function after he criticised the membership’s board throughout a dwell broadcast of a 2-0 FA Trophy loss to Wimborne.

Ashelford, who took the unpaid job again in August 2019, vented his frustration over what he referred to as “six years of abject crap” and challenged board members to a podcast debate, mistakenly believing some had left the stadium early.

The membership deemed his feedback unprofessional and confirmed his dismissal, noting disappointment in his tone and misrepresentation of occasions.

Membership Assertion: Radio Terras.

Following a assessment of this week’s radio commentary, Weymouth Soccer Membership confirms that it has parted firm with Ben Ashelford. Ben will now not be commentating on matches or taking part in any official membership actions.

Whereas we recognise… pic.twitter.com/6dFMMaulsT

— Weymouth FC (@theterras) October 6, 2025

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– Thaddis0n (@thaddis0n) October 6, 2025

On the recording, the commentator is heard saying: “Can’t conceal from it, none of you. It’s your fault. You’ve completed this. Six years of abject crap.

“I’m lethal severe as properly. I’ll invite any member of the board of administrators, present or comparatively previous, I’ll invite you onto a podcast.

“At the very least the fan consultant on the board from the Supporters Affiliation, Pete Nash, is to my proper nonetheless watching the sport, nonetheless staying to the bitter finish. The place’s all people else?

“However I lengthen that problem. I lengthen that problem to you. Any one in every of you. Any one in every of you. Need to come onto a podcast and debate me? Do it. I’ll set it up. I’ll take the monetary hit. And I’ll inform you the reality.

“However as I think, there’s not a set of nuts between you. So we each comprehend it’s not going to occur.”

After the sport, he tweeted: “Nicely one other huge thanks to all people that tuned in at this time. Perhaps I want a break. I appear to have come away with a sense of resignation. The issues are there for all to see. It’s not that I can’t see a fast repair, it’s that I can’t see any repair. Frustration and actual worry.

Nicely one other huge thanks to all people that tuned in at this time.

Perhaps I want a break. I appear to have come away with a sense of resignation. The issues are there for all to see. It’s not that I can’t see a fast repair, it’s that I can’t see any repair.

Frustration and actual worry.

— Ben Ashelford (@BenAshelford1) October 4, 2025

CLUB STATEMENT:

Following a assessment of this week’s radio commentary, Weymouth Soccer Membership confirms that it has parted firm with Ben Ashelford. Ben will now not be commentating on matches or taking part in any official membership actions.

Whereas we recognise that soccer typically evokes passionate opinions, we’re dissatisfied by the tone and content material of Ben’s current remarks, in addition to the following misrepresentation of occasions.

We lengthen our because of Ben for his time and dedication through the years. His commentary has been loved by many supporters, and we acknowledge the contribution he has made to the membership’s media presence.

The membership will now start the method of figuring out an appropriate alternative to proceed delivering participating {and professional} matchday protection.

No additional feedback shall be made on this matter, which is now thought of closed.

Weymouth Soccer Membership Board of Administrators.

Ashelford has since apologised: “As you all could properly have seen, At this time I used to be dismissed from my function as membership commentator at Weymouth soccer membership.

“The dismissal follows feedback I made on Radio Terras on the again finish of Saturday afternoons match day protection.

“I wish to publicly stress that I used to be mistaken once I thought I noticed two individuals leaving the bottom early. This error led me to start out a rant and releasing my very own frustration of the working of the membership over the previous few years.

“I settle for that I made a mistake and I settle for that I used to be fallacious. I additionally settle for {that a} rant of that type of criticism has no place in any respect coming from the membership’s official media station.

“After six years, my journey with the membership has come to an irrevocable finish. I’ve many unimaginable reminiscences and have met some fantastic individuals. I’d to thank each listener, each supporter and each volunteer for the fantastic time that I’ve spent at this membership. With out you, Radio Terras would have been nothing.

“Collectively, I consider we created one thing that the membership could be extraordinarily happy with.

“I’ll assist this soccer membership till my dying day and want the membership nothing however the perfect. For what it’s price, I really consider in Steve Claridge, my closing message is to get behind him. Be loud, be proud and concentrate on the soccer.”

Chairman Ralph Ricardo stated, as reported by Dorset Echo: “In direction of the tip of Saturday’s recreation in opposition to Wimborne, Ben’s commentary allowed his ardour to hold him slightly additional than would usually be anticipated from a commentator at a soccer match.

“Soccer is, in fact, a passionate sport — one which evokes each private {and professional} opinions in all of us. Nonetheless, throughout the context of official matchday commentary for the membership, these boundaries had been crossed.

“Ben is somebody who holds himself and others to excessive requirements, and when he mirrored on the state of affairs, he recognised that he had let himself and the membership down. After discussions with different administrators, it was mutually agreed that his place as commentator had change into untenable, and the result was subsequently inevitable.

“To make clear the precise occasions reasonably than depend on subjective opinions or second-hand gossip, Ben allowed a few of his private views to floor throughout commentary — significantly concerning the work of each present and former administrators.

“His feedback touched not solely on current years but in addition on the longer interval for the reason that membership’s time within the Nationwide League and the following challenges that adopted.

“Ben expressed his view that errors made alongside the way in which have contributed to the place we discover ourselves at this time. Whereas we could not absolutely agree with every thing he stated, or whereas his intentions could have been simply misunderstood, we recognise that nobody is proof against criticism, and constructive criticism has its place when shared by the best platform.

“Nonetheless, as a membership with an official media presence, there are boundaries that exist to guard each people and the organisation from potential authorized implications. When these boundaries are crossed, the affect can lengthen past inside discussions and into public notion — and it’s for that purpose that such limits are in place.

“On a private word, I stay excellent pals with Ben. The context of relationships inside and outdoors the parameters of soccer can typically be fairly totally different from what individuals could understand from the surface. Hopefully, this can function a studying expertise for all of us. This isn’t a closing goodbye — reasonably, it’s merely an adjournment in the meanwhile.”

Twitter customers gave their response after the non league membership sacks their radio commentator over feedback made on air..

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— Midfieldgeneral (@Midfieldgen1995) October 6, 2025

@FeedTheBear14: The egos on the board of this membership is kind of one thing to behold. Frankly, it stems to the instant household of the board members too. An actual darkish day when a real servant of the membership like Ben is silenced for having an opinion. But once more, zero transparency. #UpTheTerras 🔥

@Nathan_Rodd: Absolute joke. Ben was a passionate and avid fan who had nothing however fact and finest intentions for the membership. The board know he’s bang on so have silenced him. He isnt the one who ought to be leaving.

@Gaz_THFC: Bunch of cowards and shithouses. Ben completed an terrible lot for the membership and never simply the commentary on match days. The membership clearly need management and restrictions on what a non paid commentator can say on his radio channel, even when and when he’s talking the reality.

@McDscrote: Weymouth Comedy Membership now open. Filled with jokers and clowns working it. Your volunteers are the lifeblood of your Membership. You don’t simply get rid since you disagree with feedback they’ve made. Ever suppose that he may very well be proper? Outcomes recommend so. 🙄🤬

@JamieCowley100: I assumed the Welling United/North Korea was unhealthy however that is merely embarrassing. These individuals who run their golf equipment so so poorly actually don’t like listening to some sincere truths do they??? Completely two bob

@paulvmtufc: Unhappy that it’s come to this. Have all the time been made welcome once I’m working at Weymouth and Ben all the time made certain we had been sorted if he was there. An actual character and finest needs to him and the membership.

@rob_pavey: Ben spoke out and fuel been silenced. This says extra in regards to the board than Ben. Ben is passionate in regards to the membership like many people and his frustration within the downward spiral that’s WFC is shared by many others. A change in path is required and fast!

@toby_trott1: But once more the membership makes the fallacious choice?? Ben was one of many good guys on the membership. This board is ROTTEN

@NJONES1969: Disgraceful choice, does the membership really pay the bloke!!! Good luck looking for somebody who’s keen to journey miles on a Tuesday evening to supply commentary

@George_Parkss1: Crikey eliminating a volunteer for voicing an opinion of the various attending followers. Have a look at the attendance drop every week. And the state of the membership presently. The membership proper now feels rotten very very rotten.

@terrabulldan: Huge egos within the boardroom, time for a actuality examine and extreme shake up.

@OwenStaples4: Ought to concentrate on profitable video games with the primary crew earlier than u fear in regards to the media crew 🤣

@RachelVillavox: Honesty not all the time the most effective coverage however I really feel Ben Ashelford’s frustrations as Weymouth supporters properly know when Torquay United had been going by the mire. Weymouth followers & the membership had been very supportive in direction of us then. I do hope fortune modifications and kismet shines favourably.💛💙