Don Ashman

English footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Donald Ashman (9 October 1902 – 1984) was an English footballer who made 252 appearances in the Football League playing at left half or full back for Middlesbrough, Queens Park Rangers and Darlington in the 1920s and 1930s. He began his career in non-league football with Cockfield.[1]

Full name Donald Ashman[1]
Date of birth (1902-10-09)9 October 1902[1]
Place of birth Staindrop, County Durham, England
Date of death 1984 (aged 81)
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
Don Ashman
Personal information
Full name Donald Ashman[1]
Date of birth (1902-10-09)9 October 1902[1]
Place of birth Staindrop, County Durham, England
Date of death 1984 (aged 81)
Place of death Lancaster, England
Height 5 ft 10+1⁄2 in (1.79 m)[2]
Position
Youth career
Evenwood Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Cockfield
1924–1932 Middlesbrough 160 (2)
1932–1935 Queens Park Rangers 78 (0)
1935–1936 Darlington 14 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
Close

Life and career

Ashman was born in Staindrop, County Durham,[1] one of numerous children of Fred Ashman, a former professional jockey whose father had kept a livery stable in Paris,[3] and his wife Lavinia.[4] As a youngster, Ashman played football for Evenwood Juniors,[5] and went on to work as a miner, playing non-league football for Cockfield. In 1924, Second Division club Middlesbrough paid Cockfield a £10 fee and the promise of a friendly match for Ashman's services.[6]

Described on the club's website as a "composed half-back ... blessed with energy and stamina", Ashman went on to establish himself as a first-team regular as Middlesbrough won the 1926–27 Second Division title.[6] He appeared less frequently the following season as Middlesbrough failed to maintain their First Division status, and even less in 1928–29 as they again won the Second Division championship.[7] He played regularly in 1929–30, but after two more years during which he made just 23 appearances,[7] he moved to Queens Park Rangers for a £500 fee.[8]

He appeared intermittently during his first season with the club,[8] but in 1933–34 was ever-present in the left-back position in Third Division South matches,[9] and played in about half of the following season's fixtures.[10] He was transfer-listed in 1935, and was reported to be buying a newsagents in Barnard Castle, County Durham. In July, he was granted a free transfer, and amid interest from York City and other clubs,[11] signed for Third Division North club Darlington on a free transfer.[12] After playing in the first 15 matches of the season, Ashman sustained an injury and was replaced at left back by Charles Allan, who kept his place to the end of the season.[13][14] Ashman was released on a free transfer, and retired from football.[15]

Ashman married Alice Simpson, daughter of a local councillor, at Cockfield Church in June 1929.[16] The 1939 Register finds the family living in Horse Market, Barnard Castle: Ashman was a self-employed newsagent and member of the Police War Reserve, and Alice was an ambulance driver with the WVS.[17]

Ashman's death at the age of 81 was registered in the second quarter of 1984 in the Lancaster district of Lancashire.[18]

Statistics

More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Middlesbrough 1924–25[7] Second Division13000—130
1925–26[7] Second Division35010—360
1926–27[7] Second Division41130—441
1927–28[7] First Division15120—171
1928–29[7] Second Division3010—40
1929–30[7] First Division31060—370
1930–31[7] First Division4000—40
1931–32[7] First Division18010—190
Total 1602140—1742
Queens Park Rangers 1932–33[8] Third Division South15000—150
1933–34[9] Third Division South420401[a]0470
1934–35[10] Third Division South210103[a]0250
Total 7805040870
Darlington 1935–36[13] Third Division North140001[b]0150
Career total 2522190502762
Close

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI