Lee Ashcroft
Encyclopedia
Lee Ashcroft is a former footballer turned manager who is currently managing Northern Premier League
side Kendal Town
. In his playing career he played as a striker for Preston North End
, West Bromwich Albion
and Grimsby Town
, having also played for Notts County
, Wigan Athletic
, Port Vale
, Huddersfield Town
, Southport
and Chorley
before ending his career with a six year spell with Kendal Town
. He has managed Kendal Town since 2006.
. He played for England under-21s whilst at Preston. In August 1993 he moved to West Bromwich Albion
for £250,000. He scored a vital headed goal on the final day of the 1993-94 season, in a 1-0 win at Portsmouth, to keep Albion in the First Division. Ashcroft was loaned out to Notts County
in 1995. He was loaned out again in 1996, this time to his former club Preston North End, whom he then re-joined on a permanent deal.
After Preston, Ashcroft moved to Grimsby Town
for £500,000. He was not a particularly popular figure at Grimsby, due mainly to a poor first season during which he was frequently injured, and did no justice to his large transfer fee, which is still the Grimsby record. In his second season, he found form and started scoring goals, but a falling out with his manager, Alan Buckley
, led to a cut-price transfer at the end of the season, when he moved to Wigan Athletic
for £350,000.
While at Wigan, Ashcroft was loaned out to Port Vale
in October 2002, followed by another loan move, to Huddersfield Town
in December of the same year. Huddersfield were so short of funds at the time that the loan could only go through when a wealthy supporter agreed to pay Ashcroft's wages. Wigan eventually released Ashcroft on 6 February 2003, signalling the end of a professional career in which he had scored a total of 75 league goals. Later in the month he moved down to non-league Southport
, taking up the role of player-coach at the age of 30. A year later he moved to Kendal where he scored 23 goals in the 2004-05 season
. In November 2006, Ashcroft, the club captain, was appointed manager.
, Ashcroft came on as a substitute for his only under-21 cap against Hungary
in a 2-2 draw. He played alongside several future full internationals including Ian Walker and Andrew Cole.
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
side Kendal Town
Kendal Town F.C.
Kendal Town F.C. is an English football club based in Kendal, Cumbria. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League and play at Parkside.-History:...
. In his playing career he played as a striker for Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, having also played for Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
and Chorley
Chorley F.C.
Chorley Football Club are a football club from Chorley, Lancashire, England. They were founded as a rugby union club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. They have reached the FA Cup second round twice in 1986–87 and 1990–91. Their best performance in the FA Trophy was in 1995–96 when they...
before ending his career with a six year spell with Kendal Town
Kendal Town F.C.
Kendal Town F.C. is an English football club based in Kendal, Cumbria. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League and play at Parkside.-History:...
. He has managed Kendal Town since 2006.
Club career
He made his Football League debut aged 18 in 1990 for Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. He played for England under-21s whilst at Preston. In August 1993 he moved to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
for £250,000. He scored a vital headed goal on the final day of the 1993-94 season, in a 1-0 win at Portsmouth, to keep Albion in the First Division. Ashcroft was loaned out to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in 1995. He was loaned out again in 1996, this time to his former club Preston North End, whom he then re-joined on a permanent deal.
After Preston, Ashcroft moved to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
for £500,000. He was not a particularly popular figure at Grimsby, due mainly to a poor first season during which he was frequently injured, and did no justice to his large transfer fee, which is still the Grimsby record. In his second season, he found form and started scoring goals, but a falling out with his manager, Alan Buckley
Alan Buckley
Alan Peter Buckley is an English football manager. He was manager of League Two side Grimsby Town until his dismissal in September 2008...
, led to a cut-price transfer at the end of the season, when he moved to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
for £350,000.
While at Wigan, Ashcroft was loaned out to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in October 2002, followed by another loan move, to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in December of the same year. Huddersfield were so short of funds at the time that the loan could only go through when a wealthy supporter agreed to pay Ashcroft's wages. Wigan eventually released Ashcroft on 6 February 2003, signalling the end of a professional career in which he had scored a total of 75 league goals. Later in the month he moved down to non-league Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
, taking up the role of player-coach at the age of 30. A year later he moved to Kendal where he scored 23 goals in 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...
. In November 2006, Ashcroft, the club captain, was appointed manager.
International career
On 12 May 1992 in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Ashcroft came on as a substitute for his only under-21 cap against Hungary
Hungary national under-21 football team
The Hungary national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team for Hungary and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Hungarian Under-21 team was formed...
in a 2-2 draw. He played alongside several future full internationals including Ian Walker and Andrew Cole.