Mike Astbury

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Mike Astbury

| fullname = Michael John Astbury{{Hugman|596|accessdate=8 February 2020}}

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/150 150] |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/150 }}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1964|1|22}}

| birth_place = Kippax, England

| position = Goalkeeper

| years1 = 1980–1986

| clubs1 = York City

| caps1 = 48

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1986

| clubs2 = → Peterborough United (loan)

| caps2 = 4

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 1986–1987

| clubs3 = Darlington

| caps3 = 38

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 1987–1988

| clubs4 = Chester City

| caps4 = 5

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1988–1989

| clubs5 = Chesterfield

| caps5 = 8

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 1989

| clubs6 = Gainsborough Trinity

| years7 = 1989–1991

| clubs7 = Sliema Wanderers

}}

Michael John Astbury (born 22 January 1964), also known as Mick Astbury, was a professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for five Football League clubs.

Playing career

Astbury became York City's youngest ever goalkeeper when, as a 16–year old, he played in goal during City's 1–1 draw at AFC Bournemouth in the 1980–81 season.{{cite web|url= http://www.yorkcitysouth.co.uk/xdb-kp0104.htm | title= City's keepers 1970–94 | publisher= York City South| accessdate=8 February 2020}} He had spells in and out of the side over the next few years, with one of the highlights being playing in goal when York surprisingly knocked Arsenal out of the 1984–85 FA Cup, where some brave goalkeeping from Astbury kept City in the game before their late winner.

He moved to Peterborough United on loan in January 1986, two months before signing permanently for Darlington. Astbury moved on again in July 1987 to Chester City. Injured shortly after arriving,{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= 104 |isbn=1-874427-52-6}} Astbury had to wait until December 1987 for his first-team debut. He played in five successive games during the month but was never picked again, as Billy Stewart became the regular goalkeeper for the club.

Astbury was released at the end of the season and joined Chesterfield, where just eight league appearances were made in a relegation season from Football League Division Three. That marked the end of Astbury's professional career as he joined non–league side Gainsborough Trinity.{{cite web|url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player3/mikeastbury.html | title=Mike Astbury |website=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown | accessdate=8 February 2020}} He later emigrated to play in the USA.