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Craig Mahon explains his decision behind leaving Curzon Ashton for AFC Fylde

Craig Mahon explains his decision behind leaving Curzon Ashton for AFC Fylde ahead of the 2025/26 National League North season.

The appointment comes after leading Curzon Ashton to its highest-ever finish in 2024 and a record 77 points in the National League North in 2025, narrowly missing the playoffs.

Chairman John Clayton expressed disappointment at Mahon’s move to AFC Fylde but praised his dedication, leadership, and role in building the β€œCurzon Family.”

The club will instead be trusting the existing management team (Mark Bradshaw, Jack Salkeld, Kieran Bentley) to continue their progress.

CURZON ASHTON STATEMENT:

Since joining the club as a player at the beginning of the 2020 season, Craig has gone on to make over 200 appearances for The Nash and subsequently managed over 100 games in his role as player/manager when he took the reigns in 2023 following the departure of Adam Lakeland.

Craig has been instrumental to the continued development of the club guiding Curzon to their highest ever finish in 2024 and helping them achieve their highest points tally in the National League North in 2025, which saw the Nash finish just outside the play-offs with 77 points.

Commenting on the news, Chairman John Clayton said:

On behalf of myself and The Board of Directors we are disappointed to be losing Craig Mahon to AFC Fylde, however we wish Craig the very best of luck in his new venture. Over the past five seasons Craig has played over 200 games for The Nash, becoming first the Captain and for the last eighteen months Player Manager, he has always given 110% and led, not only by example but always with a smile on his face. He has been instrumental in helping build what we at The Tameside Stadium call β€œThe Curzon Family” and he will be very much missed, not only Craig but also Laura and the boys, but we all hope to see them again but in their new capacity.

Although Craig has left we will not be actively pursuing a replacement as we have the utmost faith in the rest of our Management team, Mark Bradshaw, Jack Salkeld and Kieran Bentley, who are already working together to complete the signing of new players to allow us to look forward, with great optimism to another successful season in The National League North.

Whilst everyone associated to Curzon Ashton will be understandably disappointed we would like to take this opportunity to thank Craig for all his hard work, dedication & contributions to the club over the last 5 years both on and off the pitch and wish him the very best for the future.
Thanks you, Craig

CRAIG’S MESSAGE TO CURZON ASHTON

To everyone connected with Curzon Ashton Football Club,

The time has come for me to say goodbye β€” a decision that certainly hasn’t been easy.

Since the moment I arrived, Curzon Ashton has felt like more than just a football club. It’s been a family, a home, and a place where I’ve been able to grow as a coach, a manager, and more importantly, as a person.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to the club for the opportunity to lead this team. It’s been an incredible journey filled with unforgettable memories, challenges that have made us stronger, and moments of real pride on and off the pitch.

To the supporters β€” thank you. Your backing, passion, and belief in what we were building together meant everything. Whether it was a big win, a tough night, your support was felt and appreciated more than you’ll ever know.

To the players, staff, volunteers, and everyone behind the scenes β€” thank you for your trust, your efforts, and your commitment to the badge. We broke numerous club records over the last two season, we did it as one, and I will always be proud of the standards we set and the culture we created.

Curzon Ashton will always hold a special place in my heart. I leave with lifelong friendships, a deep respect for the people at the club, and immense pride in what we’ve achieved together.

I’ll be watching, cheering, and always wishing this club nothing but success.

Thank you for everything.
Craig

AFC FYLDE’S STATEMENT:

AFC Fylde are delighted to announce the appointment of Craig Mahon as the club’s new Head Coach.

The 35-year-old joins from fellow National League North side Curzon Ashton where he has spent the last five years as both player and coach before being appointed permanent manager in 2024.

As a player, Mahon was an Irish youth international who came through the ranks at fellow North West side Wigan Athletic.

A move into the Non-League pyramid followed, with a three-year spell at Vauxhall Motors before spending seven years with Chester where he clocked up over 200 appearances. Mahon has made over 400 appearances in total across the National League and National League North, including a spell with the Coasters in 2013 when the club was still at Kellamergh Park.

Through these experiences, Mahon has built up an extensive knowledge and network within the National League pyramid. He joined Curzon in 2020, initially as a player before becoming interim manager over two spells and later landing the top job on a permanent basis. All this helped him to establish Curzon as a club who have consistently outperformed expectations.

The Irishman was in a player/coach role up until the end of last season, and made 27 National League North appearances whilst guiding the Nash to an impressive eighth-place finish, narrowly missing out on the play offs.

Speaking on his appointment, Mahon said: β€œI’m over the moon to be here. I’m really grateful to be given the opportunity and I’m looking forward to being a part of something special.

β€œThere’s a lot of work to do but I’m really excited to be a part of this football club. It’s an exciting project and when you look around the place, you can see the potential AFC Fylde has.

β€œWe’ll be looking in the next few weeks to build a squad, as well as a culture, that can bring the positive times back to the club and have a team the supporters can be proud of. ”

AFC Fylde Chairman David Haythornthwaite added: β€œIt’s been a long and thorough search to find Kevin Philips’ replacement and I think that reflects on the importance of the decision. We started with a list of around ten people we thought would fit the bill. As a result of past mistakes, we had several non-negotiables which we were determined to stick to.

β€œThe first was a requirement to live within 60 mins driving distance of Mill Farm. It was essential the new Head Coach immersed themselves into the club and community alike. To this end, they would have to move their families to the North West, preferably the Fylde Coast, and this ruled out several candidates at an early stage.

β€œThe second was the brand of football we wanted to play, expansive, energetic, high press, possession-based football that gets the crowd on their feet. Several candidates told us or indicated that you couldn’t get out of the NLN playing that way, so they eliminated themselves.

β€œIn the end it came down to three and Craig was the clear favourite based on his achievements at Curzon and both the way his teams played and achieved with a very limited budget.

β€œCraig shared our vision regarding on how we wanted to play and act, both on and off the field and the high standards we expect him to set.

β€œWe now move to the next stage which is assembling a team to support him and several announcements on this front will be made next week.”

Everyone at AFC Fylde is delighted to welcome Craig to the club and we wish him all the best ahead of the new campaign.

The club would also like to place on record it’s gratitude to Curzon Ashton Football Club for their professionalism and co-operation during this period.

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