Len Ashurst

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Len Ashurst

| image =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1939|03|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Fazakerley, Liverpool, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|9|25|1939|03|10|df=y}}

| death_place =

| height =

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = 1954–1957| youthclubs1 = Liverpool

| youthyears2 = 1957 | youthclubs2 = Wolverhampton Wanderers

| youthyears3 = 1957 | youthclubs3 = Prescot Cables

| years1 = 1957–1970| clubs1 = Sunderland | caps1 = 409| goals1 = 4

| years2 = 1970–1973| clubs2 = Hartlepool United| caps2 = 46| goals2 = 2

| totalcaps = 455 | totalgoals = 6

| nationalyears1 = 1956–1957| nationalteam1 = England Youth |nationalcaps1 = 7| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1961 | nationalteam2 = England U23|nationalcaps2 = 1| nationalgoals2 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1971–1974| managerclubs1 = Hartlepool United

| manageryears2 = 1974–1975| managerclubs2 = Gillingham

| manageryears3 = 1975–1977| managerclubs3 = Sheffield Wednesday

| manageryears4 = 1978–1982| managerclubs4 = Newport County

| manageryears5 = 1982–1984| managerclubs5 = Cardiff City

| manageryears6 = 1984–1985| managerclubs6 = Sunderland

| manageryears7 = 1988–1989| managerclubs7 = Al-Wakrah

| manageryears8 = 1989–1991| managerclubs8 = Cardiff City

| manageryears9 = 1991–1992| managerclubs9 = Pahang

| manageryears10 = 1992–1993| managerclubs10= Weymouth

}}

Leonard Ashurst (10 March 1939 – 25 September 2021) was an English football player, manager and administrator.

He spent most of his playing career with Sunderland, making 458 appearances, the second most in the club's history. He retired at Hartlepool United, where he began managing. Ashurst also managed Sunderland, won the Welsh Cup with Newport County in 1980, and had two spells at Cardiff City.

Ashurst was inducted into the League Managers Association Hall of Fame in 2014. After his managerial career, he was an administrator at The Football Association and a match delegate for the Premier League.

Playing career

=Early career=

Leonard was born on 10 March 1939 in Fazakerley, Liverpool, to Elsie and Joseph Ashurst.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=38}} Initially a centre-half, he was moved to left-back by Liverpool Schoolboys as the team were short on naturally left-footed players, and helped the side to win the English Schools Trophy with an 8–1 aggregate win over Southampton Schoolboys.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=47}} He was signed to the ground staff at Liverpool in 1954. He also worked as an apprentice compositor in the printing trade.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=51}} He won seven caps for the England youth team in the 1956–57 season. Despite this international recognition he was not offered a professional contract by Liverpool manager Phil Taylor, and instead joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on amateur terms.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=52}} Whilst playing third team football for Wolves, Ashurst was approached by Sunderland coach George Curtis, who promised him a professional contract at the club.{{Cite web|access-date=27 September 2021|title= Face to face: Len Ashurst|date=31 May 2005|url= https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/face-to-face-len-ashurst-1577814|website=ChronicleLive}} In order to gain release from Wolves, Ashurst told manager Stan Cullis he wanted to leave professional football to continue his printing apprenticeship and to play for local Lancashire Combination team Prescot Cables; Cullis agreed, and Ashurst subsequently moved from Prescot Cables to Sunderland.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=55}}

=Sunderland=

Ashurst signed professional forms at Sunderland on 27 December 1957, and made his debut for the reserve team the following day.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=59}} Manager Alan Brown handed him his first team debut on 20 September 1958, in a 2–0 defeat to Ipswich Town at Roker Park; Jim McNab and Cecil Irwin also made their senior debuts in the match.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=60}} Brown was in the process of dismantling the team that had been relegated the previous season, and Ashurst went on to feature in a total of 33 Second Division matches across the 1958–59 campaign.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=61}} He was called up to the England under-23 team on 15 March 1961, in a 4–1 victory over Germany at White Hart Lane.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=63}}

Following the abolition of the maximum wage in January 1961, Ashurst signed a new contract at £40-per-week the following summer.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=67}} He went on to make 458 appearances for the club; putting him second in the all time appearances list in Sunderland's history, and one of only two outfield players to top 400 appearances.{{Cite web|title=Len Ashurst|website=League Managers Association |url= https://leaguemanagers.com/managers/len-ashurst/ |access-date=26 September 2021}} He scored four Sunderland goals during his time at the club.{{Cite web|date=25 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|website=Sunderland Echo|title= Watch the emotional tributes at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland fans pay respects to club legend Len Ashurst before Bolton Wanderers game |url= https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/watch-the-emotional-tributes-at-the-stadium-of-light-as-sunderland-fans-pay-respects-to-club-legend-len-ashurst-before-bolton-wanderers-game-3396609}} In the late sixties, alongside Jimmy Montgomery, Cecil Irwin, Martin Harvey, Charlie Hurley and Jim McNab, Ashurst formed one of the most notable and most settled back fives in Sunderland's history.{{Cite web|title= Len Ashurst: Former Cardiff City and Newport County manager dies, aged 82|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 September 2021|access-date=26 September 2021|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58690590}}

=Hartlepool United=

After receiving a testimonial match against Newcastle United, Ashurst was given a free-transfer to Hartlepool United where he became a player-manager.{{Cite web|title= Sunderland legend the late Len Ashurst was 'one of the few players to ever get the better of George Best'|url= https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/sunderland-legend-the-late-len-ashurst-was-one-of-the-few-players-to-ever-get-the-better-of-george-best-3396954 |date=25 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|website=The Shields Gazette}} He ended his playing career in the 1972–73 season while at Hartlepool, and subsequently remained manager until May 1974 when he was appointed manager of Gillingham.{{Cite web|title= Former Sheffield Wednesday manager dies just days after death of close friend and assistant|url= https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/former-sheffield-wednesday-manager-dies-just-days-after-death-of-close-friend-and-assistant-3396304|website=The Star|access-date=26 September 2021|date=25 September 2021}}

Managerial career

Ashurst managed Gillingham, Sheffield Wednesday, Newport County and Cardiff City before returning to Sunderland as manager in March 1984.{{Cite web|title=Clubs pay tribute to Len Ashurst|date=25 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|website=Enfield Independent|url= https://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/sport/national/19605213.clubs-pay-tribute-len-ashurst/}}

Ashurst was appointed manager of Newport County in 1978 following the departure of Colin Addison to West Bromwich Albion.{{Cite web|title= Former Cardiff City and Newport County boss dies|date=25 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|url= https://www.thenational.wales/ws/sport/national/19605299.former-cardiff-city-newport-county-boss-dies/ |website=The National}} Ashurst was manager from 1978 to 1982, the most successful period in the club's history.{{Cite web|title= Former Cardiff City and Newport County manager Len Ashurst dies |url= https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-cardiff-city-newport-county-21674932 |access-date=26 September 2021|date=25 September 2021|website=WalesOnline}} Newport were promoted to the Third Division in the 1979–80 season and won the Welsh Cup, entitling them to play in the 1980–81 season European Cup Winners' Cup, reaching the quarter-finals.{{Cite web |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland-newport-gillingham-sheffield-wednesday-hartlepool-b1926885.html |title= Clubs pay tribute to Len Ashurst |date=25 September 2021 |access-date=26 September 2021|website=Independent}} Ashurst was sacked by Newport County in February 1982 and Addison returned as team manager.{{Cite web|title=Former Newport County and Sunderland great Len Ashurst dies|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/19605086.former-newport-county-sunderland-great-len-ashurst-dies/|access-date=26 September 2021|date=25 September 2021|website=South Wales Argus}} The team, largely assembled by Ashurst, attained Newport County's highest post-war finish in the 1982–83 season, 4th in the Third Division, narrowly missing out on promotion.{{Cite web|title= Obituary - Len Ashurst|url= https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2021/september/obituary---len-ashurst/|publisher=Sheffield Wednesday|date=25 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021}}

His time as Sunderland manager was not successful, despite his taking them to their first ever League Cup final.{{Cite web|title= Sunderland AFC pay tribute to club legend Len Ashurst after his death |website=ITV |date=25 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|url= https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2021-09-25/sunderland-afc-pay-tribute-to-club-legend-len-ashurst-after-his-death}} Performance in the league was poor and Sunderland were relegated from the first division. Ashurst was sacked in May 1985.{{Cite web|title= Len Ashurst|website=Where are they now?|access-date=26 September 2021|url= https://www.where-are-they-now.co.uk/footballer/Ashurst+Len/5181}}

After the Sunderland job, Ashurst went on to become a coach with Kuwait national football team and later the Qatar national football team.{{Cite web|title= 'He was a winner' – Emotional tributes paid to club legend and former Sunderland player and manager Len Ashurst |website=Sunderland Echo|url= https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/he-was-a-winner-emotional-tributes-paid-to-club-legend-and-former-sunderland-player-and-manager-len-ashurst-3396306 |date=25 September 2021|access-date=26 September 2021}} He was manager of Qatari club Al-Wakrah and also coached in Malaysia.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19920116&id=DhFZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QpADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5740,2217221|title=Winning Airs from Ashurst|publisher=New Straits Times|date=16 January 1992|access-date=3 December 2014}}

After returning to England, he was assistant manager of Blackpool, and then in September 1989 he returned for a second spell as manager of Cardiff City following the departure of Frank Burrows.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/arsenal-boss-arsene-wenger-presents-7999403|title= Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger presents award to Sunderland legend Len Ashurst|website=ChronicleLive|date=26 October 2014|access-date=26 September 2021}} He spent two years in Ninian Park before resigning in 1991 as the team struggled both on and off the pitch.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/1974-1989-727524.aspx |title=The seventies to the noughties |publisher=cardiffcityfc.co.uk |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627002053/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk//news/article/1974-1989-727524.aspx |archive-date=27 June 2016 |url-status=dead }} His last managerial role was a one-year stay at Weymouth.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--nonleague-notebook-ashurst-brings-breath-of-life-1564280.html |title=Ashurst brings breath of life |work=The Independent |date=18 December 1992 |access-date=9 October 2009 | location=London | first=Rupert | last=Metcalf}}

Football administration career

From the mid-1990s, Ashurst became heavily involved in an administrator's role at the Football Association specifically with regard to the Academy system.{{Cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/just-put-your-shirt-ashurst-2437144 |title=Just put your shirt on Ashurst |publisher=Western Mail |date=17 May 2004 |access-date=9 October 2009}} In 2002, he became a Premier League match delegate, and was tasked with assessing match officials.{{harvnb|Ashurst|2009|p=18}} He was inducted into the League Managers' Association Hall of Fame in 2014.{{Cite web|title= Sunderland legend Len Ashurst has died at the age of 82, the club has confirmed |access-date=26 September 2021|date=25 September 2021|url= https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-legend-len-ashurst-died-21674658 |website=ChronicleLive}}

Personal life

Ashurst married Valerie in her home village of East Rainton in May 1961.

He died on 25 September 2021, at the age of 82.{{cite web |title=1939–2021: Len Ashurst |date=25 September 2021 |url=https://safc.com/news/club-news/2021/september/len-ashurst-obituary |publisher=Sunderland AFC |accessdate=25 September 2021}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !rowspan="2"\|Division !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{ENFA}}
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="13"\|Sunderland \|1958–59	Second Division	33	0	1	0	0	0	34	0
1959–60	Second Division	32	0	2	0	0	0	34	0
1960–61	Second Division	40	1	5	0	1	0	46	1
1961–62	Second Division	42	0	4	0	5	0	51	0
1962–63	Second Division	40	0	4	0	7	0	51	0
1963–64	Second Division	42	1	6	0	1	0	49	1
1964–65	First Division	39	2	2	0	3	0	44	2
1965–66	First Division	37	0	1	0	2	0	40	0
1966–67	First Division	28	0	0	0	2	0	30	0
1967–68	First Division	24	0	0	0	1	0	25	0
1968–69	First Division	20	0	0	0	0	0	20	0
1969–70	First Division	32	0	1	0	1	0	34	0
colspan="2"\|Total !409	4	26	0	23	0	458	4
rowspan="4"\|Hartlepool \|1970–71	Fourth Division	13	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
1971–72	Fourth Division	26	2	2	0	2	0	30	2
1972–73	Fourth Division	7	0	3	0	0	0	10	0
colspan="2"\|Total !46	2	5	0	2	0	53	2
colspan="3"\|Career total !455	6	31	0	25	0	511	6

Managerial statistics

class=wikitable style="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
rowspan=2\|Team !rowspan=2\|From !rowspan=2\|To !colspan=5\|Record
{{abbr\|P\|Matches played}}	{{abbr\|W\|Matches won}}	{{abbr\|D\|Matches drawn}}	{{abbr\|L\|Matches lost}}	{{abbr\|Win %\|Win percentage}}
align=left\|Hartlepool \|align=left\|1 March 1971 \|align=left\|1 June 1974 {{WDL\|164\|50\|41\|73\|decimals=1}}
align=left\|Gillingham \|align=left\|1 June 1974 \|align=left\|15 October 1975 {{WDL\|60\|21\|20\|19\|decimals=1}}
align=left\|Sheffield Wednesday \|align=left\|15 October 1975 \|align=left\|5 October 1977 {{WDL\|104\|38\|28\|38\|decimals=1}}
align=left\|Newport County{{Soccerbase manager\|897\|Len Ashurst}} \|align=left\|1 June 1978 \|align=left\|8 February 1982 {{WDL\|194\|80\|48\|66\|decimals=1}}
align=left\|Cardiff City \|align=left\|3 March 1982 \|align=left\|1 March 1984 {{WDL\|102\|46\|19\|37\|decimals=1}}
align=left\|Sunderland \|align=left\|4 March 1984 \|align=left\|23 May 1985 {{WDL\|66\|21\|16\|29\|decimals=1}}
align=left\|Cardiff City \|align=left\|31 August 1989 \|align=left\|1 May 1991 {{WDL\|98\|30\|32\|36\|decimals=1}}
colspan=3\|Total {{WDLtot\|788\|286\|204\|298\|decimals=1}}

class=wikitable style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan=2|Team

!rowspan=2|From

!rowspan=2|To

!colspan=5|Record

align=left|Hartlepool

|align=left|1 March 1971

|align=left|1 June 1974

align=left|Gillingham

|align=left|1 June 1974

|align=left|15 October 1975