Jason Ainsley

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jason Ainsley

| fullname =

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1970|7|30}}{{cite news|url=http://inthemadcrowd.co.uk/UI/Person.aspx?oid=3 |title=Jason Ainsley |publisher=In The Mad Crowd |access-date=17 April 2021}}

| birth_place = Stockton-on-Tees, England{{cite news|url=http://inthemadcrowd.co.uk/UI/Person.aspx?oid=3 |title=Jason Ainsley |publisher=In The Mad Crowd |access-date=17 April 2021}}

| currentclub = Spennymoor Town (head of football)

| position = Midfielder

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| clubs1 = Guisborough Town

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| clubs2 = Spennymoor United

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| clubs3 = Bishop Auckland

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| years4 =

| clubs4 = Spennymoor United

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| years5 = 1994–1995

| clubs5 = Hartlepool United

| caps5 = 15

| goals5 = 1

| years6 =

| clubs6 = Inglewood Kiev

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| clubs7 = Spennymoor United

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| clubs8 = Blyth Spartans

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| years9 = 1999

| clubs9 = Jurong FC

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| clubs10 = Gateshead

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| clubs11 = Balestier Khalsa

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| years12 =

| clubs12 = Barrow

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| clubs13 = Bishop Auckland

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| years14 =

| clubs14 = Spennymoor United

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| clubs15 = Durham City

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| years16 =

| clubs16 = Spennymoor United

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| manageryears1 = 2006–2020

| managerclubs1 = Spennymoor Town

| manageryears2 = 2022–2023

| managerclubs2 = Spennymoor Town

}}

Jason Ainsley (born 30 July 1970) is an English football manager and former player who is currently Head of Football of Spennymoor Town F.C., which compete in the National League North, in the English football league system.

Playing career

Ainsley signed for Football League Third Division side Hartlepool United from Spennymoor in June 1994.{{hugman|112|access-date=17 February 2019}} In October 1994, Ainsley scored his only professional goal for Hartlepool in a 3–1 victory against Preston.{{cite news|url=http://inthemadcrowd.co.uk/UI/Match.aspx?oid=3613 |title=Hartlepool 3-1 Preston |publisher=In The Mad Crowd |access-date=17 April 2021}} After leaving Hartlepool, Ainsley played for several English non-league sides as well as for clubs in Australia and Singapore.{{cite news | url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jason-god-ainsley-reaches-career-4392319 | title=Jason 'God' Ainsley reaches a career pinnacle | work=The Journal | date=4 May 2013 | access-date=18 August 2014 | author=Brown, Steve | archive-date=5 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305034346/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jason-god-ainsley-reaches-career-4392319 | url-status=dead }}

Coaching career

In 2006, Ainsley was appointed as manager of Northern League Division Two (the tenth tier of English football) side Spennymoor.{{cite news|url=https://spennymoortownfc.co.uk/2018/05/25/time-to-transfer-to-non-league-the-a-z-of-spennymoor-town/ |title=Time to transfer to Non-League? |publisher=Spennymoor Town FC |date=25 May 2018 |access-date=17 April 2021}} Ainsley was manager of {{English football updater|SpennymT}} club Spennymoor Town from 2006 until 2020.{{cite news| url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/5098/sleague/2013/10/30/4368356/former-sleague-star-jason-ainsley-named-northern-non-league | title=Former S.League star Jason Ainsley named Northern Non-League Manager of the Year | work=Goal.com | date=30 October 2013 | access-date=18 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spennymoortownfc.co.uk/club-info/players-information |title=Players Information |publisher=Spennymoor Town FC |access-date=18 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719132213/http://www.spennymoortownfc.co.uk/club-info/players-information |archive-date=19 July 2014 }}

Ainsley was the longest-serving manager in the top seven divisions of English football when he left Spennymoor in 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18936780.long-serving-manager-jason-ainsley-leaves-spennymoor-town-fc/ |title=Long-serving manager Jason Ainsley leaves Spennymoor Town FC |author=Catherine Priestley |publisher=The Northern Echo |date=11 December 2020 |access-date=17 April 2021}} Ainsley won 11 trophies whilst at Spennymoor in more than 770 matches.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18936780.long-serving-manager-jason-ainsley-leaves-spennymoor-town-fc/ |title=Long-serving manager Jason Ainsley leaves Spennymoor Town FC |author=Catherine Priestley |publisher=The Northern Echo |date=11 December 2020 |access-date=17 April 2021}} Ainsley guided Spennymoor to the National League North (6th tier), the highest division in their history.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18936780.long-serving-manager-jason-ainsley-leaves-spennymoor-town-fc/ |title=Long-serving manager Jason Ainsley leaves Spennymoor Town FC |author=Catherine Priestley |publisher=The Northern Echo |date=11 December 2020 |access-date=17 April 2021}}

In October 2022, Ainsley returned to Spennymoor Town as manager until the end of the 2022–23 season. {{cite web|url=https://spennymoortownfc.co.uk/2022/10/11/statement-football-management-update/|title=Statement: Football Management Update|website=spennymoortownfc.co.uk|date=11 October 2022|accessdate=14 October 2022}} Having missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the season, he returned to his role of Head of Football in May 2023. {{cite web|url=https://spennymoortownfc.co.uk/2023/05/18/chandler-named-as-spennymoor-manager/|title=Chandler Named As Spennymoor Manager|website=spennymoortownfc.co.uk|date=18 May 2023|accessdate=18 May 2023}}

Personal life

Ainsley is also a teacher and head of year at Mortimer Community College.{{Cite web |title=Backtrack: Jason Ainsley - the manager guiding Spennymoor Town to unknown heights has "settled down a bit" |first=Mike |last=Amos |work=The Northern Echo |date=25 January 2018 |access-date=17 February 2019 |url= https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/15897813.backtrack-jason-ainsley-the-manager-guiding-spennymoor-town-to-unknown-heights-has-settled-down-a-bit/}}