Harry Ascroft

{{short description|Australian professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Harry Ascroft

| fullname = Harry Andrew Ascroft

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|7|1}}

| birth_place = Sydney, Australia

| height = {{height|m=1.83}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Dandenong Thunder

| clubnumber = TBA

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Bankstown City

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Sydney University

| years1 = 2013

| caps1 = 19

| goals1 = 0

| clubs1 = Sydney University

| years2 = 2013–2015

| caps2 = 7

| goals2 = 0

| clubs2 = VVV-Venlo

| years3 = 2015–2017

| caps3 = 35

| goals3 = 4

| clubs3 = Central Coast Mariners

| years4 = 2018

| caps4 = 4

| goals4 = 0

| clubs4 = Balzan

| years5 = 2019

| caps5 = 16

| goals5 = 2

| clubs5 = Finn Harps

| years6 = 2020–2023

| caps6 = 65

| goals6 = 4

| clubs6 = Dandenong Thunder

| years7 = 2024–

| caps7 = 27

| goals7 = 1

| clubs7 = Hume City

| nationalyears1 = 2014

| nationalteam1 = Australia U-20

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| club-update = 12 September 2024

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Harry Andrew Ascroft (born 1 July 1995) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a centre back or central midfielder for Hume City in the National Premier Leagues.

Ascroft was born in Sydney, and played youth football with Bankstown City FC before starting his senior career with Sydney University. In 2013, he moved to the Netherlands to play for VVV-Venlo in the Eerste Divisie and later moved back to Australia to play for Central Coast Mariners in 2015.

He has represented Australia at under-20 level.

Club career

In late 2013, aged 18, Ascroft signed with Dutch Eerste Divisie side VVV-Venlo.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/turramurra-teenager-harry-ascroft-signs-for-dutch-club-vvvvenlo/story-fngr8h9d-1226775725406|title=Turramurra teenager Harry Ascroft signs for Dutch club VVV-Venlo|date=5 December 2013|author=Oliver Murray|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=29 July 2015}} He was released by VVV along with fellow Australian Travis Cooper in early 2015 due to the club's financial difficulties{{cite news|url=https://omroepvenlo.nl/nieuws/artikel/3892854/ascroft-en-cooper-weg-bij-vvv|title=Ascroft en Cooper weg bij VVV|publisher=omroepvenlo|date=13 January 2015|accessdate=29 July 2015|language=Dutch}}

On 29 July 2015, Ascroft was signed by Central Coast Mariners on a three-year deal. Ascroft made his Mariners debut against the Perth Glory as the Mariners stole three points in the 3–2 win. He netted his maiden A-League goal as the Mariners were plundered 4–1 by Sydney FC in Round 12.{{cite news|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/07/29/mariners-sign-aussie-young-gun-ascroft|title=Mariners sign Aussie young gun Ascroft|publisher=The World Game|date=29 July 2015|accessdate=29 July 2015}}

On 18 January 2018, Ascroft was released by Central Coast Mariners to join Maltese club Balzan.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/22138373/mariners-release-ascroft-balzan-fc|title=Mariners release Ascroft to Balzan FC|newspaper=ESPN|date=17 January 2018}}

On 18 January 2019, Ascroft signed for League of Ireland side Finn Harps on a one-year deal, joining up with former Balzan team-mate Jacob Borg at the newly promoted Premier Division side.{{cite news|url=http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/?p=6838|title=Harps sign Harry Ascroft|publisher=Finn Harps|date=18 January 2019|accessdate=18 January 2019}}

International career

Ascroft was called up to the Australia U-20 team for the 2014 AFF U-19 Youth Championship.{{cite news|url=http://www.venlonaren.net/harry-ascroft-geselecteerd-voor-australie-onder-19/?lang=en|title=Harry Ascroft selected for Australia under 19|publisher=Venlo Aren|date=4 September 2014|accessdate=29 July 2015}} Ascroft made his debut for the side in the tournament's group stage, scoring a goal in a loss to Japan.{{cite news|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/thriller-between-young-socceroos-and-japan/ld03nubgtfr516xss0doaww6v|title=Thriller between Young Socceroos and Japan|publisher=Football Federation Australia|date=8 September 2014|accessdate=29 July 2015}}