Non league club Weymouth sacks their radio commentator Ben Ashelford over comments he made while on air during an FA Trophy tie.
The Terras currently sit 17th in the Southern League – Premier South table with 9 points from 10 games played, 2 points above the drop zone.
Their matchday radio commentator, Ben Ashelford, is no longer in the role after he criticised the club’s board during a live broadcast of a 2-0 FA Trophy loss to Wimborne.
Ashelford, who took the unpaid job back in August 2019, vented his frustration over what he called “six years of abject crap” and challenged board members to a podcast debate, mistakenly believing some had left the stadium early.
The club deemed his comments unprofessional and confirmed his dismissal, noting disappointment in his tone and misrepresentation of events.
Club Statement: Radio Terras.
Following a review of this week’s radio commentary, Weymouth Football Club confirms that it has parted company with Ben Ashelford. Ben will no longer be commentating on matches or participating in any official club activities.
While we recognise… pic.twitter.com/6dFMMaulsT
— Weymouth FC (@theterras) October 6, 2025
— Thaddis0n (@Thaddis0n) October 6, 2025
On the recording, the commentator is heard saying: “Can’t hide from it, none of you. It’s your fault. You’ve done this. Six years of abject crap.
“I’m deadly serious as well. I will invite any member of the board of directors, current or relatively past, I’ll invite you onto a podcast.
“At least the fan representative on the board from the Supporters Association, Pete Nash, is to my right still watching the game, still staying to the bitter end. Where’s everybody else?
“But I extend that challenge. I extend that challenge to you. Any one of you. Any one of you. Want to come onto a podcast and debate me? Do it. I’ll set it up. I’ll take the financial hit. And I’ll tell you the truth.
“But as I suspect, there’s not a set of nuts between you. So we both know it’s not going to happen.”
After the game, he tweeted: “Well another big thank you to everybody that tuned in today. Maybe I need a break. I seem to have come away with a feeling of resignation. The problems are there for all to see. It’s not that I can’t see a quick fix, it’s that I can’t see any fix. Frustration and real fear.
Well another big thank you to everybody that tuned in today.
Maybe I need a break. I seem to have come away with a feeling of resignation. The problems are there for all to see. It’s not that I can’t see a quick fix, it’s that I can’t see any fix.
Frustration and real fear.
— Ben Ashelford (@BenAshelford1) October 4, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
Following a review of this week’s radio commentary, Weymouth Football Club confirms that it has parted company with Ben Ashelford. Ben will no longer be commentating on matches or participating in any official club activities.
While we recognise that football often evokes passionate opinions, we are disappointed by the tone and content of Ben’s recent remarks, as well as the subsequent misrepresentation of events.
We extend our thanks to Ben for his time and dedication over the years. His commentary has been enjoyed by many supporters, and we acknowledge the contribution he has made to the club’s media presence.
The club will now begin the process of identifying a suitable replacement to continue delivering engaging and professional matchday coverage.
No further comments will be made on this matter, which is now considered closed.
Weymouth Football Club Board of Directors.
Ashelford has since apologised: “As you all may well have seen, Today I was dismissed from my role as club commentator at Weymouth football club.
“The dismissal follows comments I made on Radio Terras at the back end of Saturday afternoons match day coverage.
“I would like to publicly stress that I was mistaken when I thought I saw two people leaving the ground early. This mistake led me to start a rant and releasing my own frustration of the running of the club over the past few years.
“I accept that I made a mistake and I accept that I was wrong. I also accept that a rant of that kind of criticism has no place at all coming from the club’s official media station.
“After six years, my journey with the club has come to an irrevocable end. I have many incredible memories and have met some wonderful people. I would to thank every listener, every supporter and every volunteer for the wonderful time that I have spent at this club. Without you, Radio Terras would have been nothing.
“Together, I believe we created something that the club can be extremely proud of.
“I will support this football club until my dying day and wish the club nothing but the very best. For what it’s worth, I truly believe in Steve Claridge, my final message is to get behind him. Be loud, be proud and focus on the football.”
Chairman Ralph Ricardo said, as reported by Dorset Echo: “Towards the end of Saturday’s game against Wimborne, Ben’s commentary allowed his passion to carry him a little further than would normally be expected from a commentator at a football match.
“Football is, of course, a passionate sport — one that inspires both personal and professional opinions in all of us. However, within the context of official matchday commentary for the club, those boundaries were crossed.
“Ben is someone who holds himself and others to high standards, and when he reflected on the situation, he recognised that he had let himself and the club down. After discussions with other directors, it was mutually agreed that his position as commentator had become untenable, and the outcome was therefore inevitable.
“To clarify the actual events rather than rely on subjective opinions or second-hand gossip, Ben allowed some of his personal views to surface during commentary — particularly regarding the work of both current and former directors.
“His comments touched not only on recent years but also on the longer period since the club’s time in the National League and the subsequent challenges that followed.
“Ben expressed his view that mistakes made along the way have contributed to where we find ourselves today. While we may not fully agree with everything he said, or while his intentions may have been easily misunderstood, we recognise that no one is immune to criticism, and constructive criticism has its place when shared through the right platform.
“However, as a club with an official media presence, there are boundaries that exist to protect both individuals and the organisation from potential legal implications. When those boundaries are crossed, the impact can extend beyond internal discussions and into public perception — and it is for that reason that such limits are in place.
“On a personal note, I remain very good friends with Ben. The context of relationships inside and outside the parameters of football can often be quite different from what people may perceive from the outside. Hopefully, this will serve as a learning experience for all of us. This is not a final goodbye — rather, it is simply an adjournment for the time being.”
Twitter users gave their reaction after the non league club sacks their radio commentator over comments made on air..
— Midfieldgeneral (@Midfieldgen1995) October 6, 2025
@FeedTheBear14: The egos on the board of this club is quite something to behold. Frankly, it stems to the immediate family of the board members too. A real dark day when a true servant of the club like Ben is silenced for having an opinion. Yet again, zero transparency. #UpTheTerras 🔥
@Nathan_Rodd: Absolute joke. Ben was a passionate and avid fan who had nothing but truth and best intentions for the club. The board know he is bang on so have silenced him. He isnt the one who should be leaving.
@Gaz_THFC: Bunch of cowards and shithouses. Ben done an awful lot for the club and not just the commentary on match days. The club clearly want control and restrictions on what a non paid commentator can say on his radio channel, even if and when he’s speaking the truth.
@McDscrote: Weymouth Comedy Club now open. Full of jokers and clowns running it. Your volunteers are the lifeblood of your Club. You don’t just get rid because you disagree with comments they’ve made. Ever think that he could be right? Results suggest so. 🙄🤬
@JamieCowley100: I thought the Welling United/North Korea was bad but this is simply embarrassing. These people who run their clubs so so poorly really don’t like hearing some honest truths do they??? Absolutely two bob
@paulvmtufc: Sad that it’s come to this. Have always been made welcome when I’m working at Weymouth and Ben always made sure we were looked after if he was there. A real character and best wishes to him and the club.
@rob_pavey: Ben spoke out and gas been silenced. This says more about the board than Ben. Ben is passionate about the club like many of us and his frustration in the downward spiral that is WFC is shared by many others. A change in direction is needed and quick!
@toby_trott1: Yet again the club makes the wrong decision?? Ben was one of the good guys at the club. This board is ROTTEN
@NJONES1969: Disgraceful decision, does the club actually pay the bloke!!! Good luck trying to find someone who’s willing to travel miles on a Tuesday night to provide commentary
@George_Parkss1: Crikey getting rid of a volunteer for voicing an opinion of the many attending fans. Look at the attendance drop each week. And the state of the club currently. The club right now feels rotten very very rotten.
@terrabulldan: Enormous egos in the boardroom, time for a reality check and severe shake up.
@OwenStaples4: Should focus on winning games with the first team before u worry about the media team 🤣
@RachelVillavox: Honesty not always the best policy but I feel Ben Ashelford’s frustrations as Weymouth supporters well know when Torquay United were going through the mire. Weymouth fans & the club were very supportive towards us then. I do hope fortune changes and kismet shines favourably.💛💙
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