Asa Hall
Encyclopedia
Asa Philip Hall is an English
footballer who plays for Oxford United
as a midfielder
.
, West Midlands
, Hall was in the youth system at Wolverhampton Wanderers
before moving to Birmingham City
, where he signed his first professional contract at the age of 17, and by 18 was a regular in the reserve team
. Birmingham's Academy
director Stewart Hall described him as "the outstanding prospect in the under-18 group" and he was expected to challenge for a first team place. In March 2005 he made his debut for England under-19s
, and at the end of the 2004–05 season
he was named Birmingham's young player of the season. Later that year he played for England under-20s
.
He spent three months on loan at League Two
side Boston United
in the 2005–06 season
where he made 12 appearances in the Football League
. He signed a one-year contract with Birmingham before the 2006–07 season
, spent the last month of the season on loan at Ashford Town (Kent)
, and signed a further year's contract with Birmingham before the 2007–08 season
.
In January 2008, Hall joined Shrewsbury Town
of League Two on loan for the remainder of the season.
He made his debut for the Shrews on 19 January 2008 against Morecambe
, and scored the first goal in a 2–0 win.
Hall was offered a permanent deal with Shrewsbury by their manager Gary Peters
before his sacking in March. In May, when Hall was released by Birmingham, Peters' replacement Paul Simpson
also offered him a contract. The player appeared keen to sign but eventually rejected the offer.
in August 2008. He was a regular member of the first team, and helped the club reach the final of the Football League Trophy
in 2009, scoring in the penalty shootout to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion
in the semi-final. The next season, Hall was again a regular player, though the arrival of Simon Heslop
in March saw him demoted to the bench by new Luton manager Richard Money. On 7 May 2010, Hall was released from his Luton contract, having made 89 appearances and scored 17 goals in his tenure at the club.
on a two-year deal.
His first goal of the 2011-12 season proved to be the winner in a 1-0 away win against Dagenham & Redbridge on the 13th September 2011. He performed the same feat against Hereford United on 1st October 2011, as well as scoring in Oxford's 2-1 away win against Aldershot Town in the St. Johnstone's Paint Trophy Match on 4th October 2011.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Birmingham City
Born in West BromwichWest Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, Hall was in the youth system at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
before moving to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, where he signed his first professional contract at the age of 17, and by 18 was a regular in the reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
. Birmingham's Academy
Birmingham City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Birmingham City F.C. Reserves and Academy are the reserve team and the youth development system respectively of Birmingham City Football Club. The reserve team, established in 1879, played in the Premier Reserve League South in the 2009–10 season but have not entered a league since...
director Stewart Hall described him as "the outstanding prospect in the under-18 group" and he was expected to challenge for a first team place. In March 2005 he made his debut for England under-19s
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
, and at the end of the 2004–05 season
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
he was named Birmingham's young player of the season. Later that year he played for England under-20s
England national under-20 football team
- Round of 16 :-Friendlies:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup running from 29 July to the 20 August 2011.-Recent call-ups:...
.
He spent three months on loan at League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
in the 2005–06 season
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
where he made 12 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He signed a one-year contract with Birmingham before the 2006–07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
, spent the last month of the season on loan at Ashford Town (Kent)
Ashford Town F.C. (Kent)
Ashford United F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Kent. The 'new' United was formed in 2011 . Between 1930 and 2010 the town was represented by Ashford Town FC, before it ultimately went into administration...
, and signed a further year's contract with Birmingham before the 2007–08 season
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
.
In January 2008, Hall joined Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
of League Two on loan for the remainder of the season.
He made his debut for the Shrews on 19 January 2008 against Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
, and scored the first goal in a 2–0 win.
Hall was offered a permanent deal with Shrewsbury by their manager Gary Peters
Gary Peters (footballer)
Gary David Peters is an English former professional footballer and now manager. He is currently Director of Football at Hereford United.-Playing career:...
before his sacking in March. In May, when Hall was released by Birmingham, Peters' replacement Paul Simpson
Paul Simpson (footballer)
Paul David Simpson is an English former footballer and manager. His son Jake is also a professional footballer.-Manchester City:...
also offered him a contract. The player appeared keen to sign but eventually rejected the offer.
Luton Town
Hall joined Luton TownLuton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in August 2008. He was a regular member of the first team, and helped the club reach the final of the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
in 2009, scoring in the penalty shootout to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in the semi-final. The next season, Hall was again a regular player, though the arrival of Simon Heslop
Simon Heslop
Simon James Heslop is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Oxford United in Football League Two.-Barnsley:...
in March saw him demoted to the bench by new Luton manager Richard Money. On 7 May 2010, Hall was released from his Luton contract, having made 89 appearances and scored 17 goals in his tenure at the club.
Oxford United
On 20 May 2010 Hall signed for newly promoted Oxford UnitedOxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
on a two-year deal.
His first goal of the 2011-12 season proved to be the winner in a 1-0 away win against Dagenham & Redbridge on the 13th September 2011. He performed the same feat against Hereford United on 1st October 2011, as well as scoring in Oxford's 2-1 away win against Aldershot Town in the St. Johnstone's Paint Trophy Match on 4th October 2011.
Honours
Luton Town- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
winner: 2008–092008–09 in English footballThe 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...