Ashley Sestanovich
Encyclopedia
Ashley Shane Sestanovich (born 18 September 1981 in Lambeth
) is an English
former professional footballer
of Croatian and Grenadian
descent.
In 2006 he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to rob, and in April 2007 was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison.
and Millwall
before moving to Belgium
where he had a short spell with Royal Antwerp. He then ended up in France
where he had trials with Metz
.
After this, Ireland
called and Sestanovich found himself as part of a bizarre 'Dream Team' attempt to get League of Ireland
status for Mullingar Town, a small team who operated from the County Westmeath capital town Mullingar
but Mullingar Town failed in their League of Ireland
bid despite Moore's millions .
Sestanovich dipped his toes in non-League football
, when he signed for Isthmian League
club Hampton & Richmond
in the Summer of 2002. From there, he was scouted and sold to Sheffield United
, (despite considerable interest from other teams such as Stockport County
).
Sheffield United considered that it was in his and their best interests to loan Ashley out to other clubs to gain some experience. He went on a successful loan spell to non-League Scarborough
, helping them reach the Fourth Round of the FA Cup
where they narrowly lost to Chelsea
1–0 in a televised game. In all he played 12 games (league and cup) and scored three goals. He returned to Sheffield United and played two games in April 2004, before his second loan spell at the then cash-strapped Grimsby Town
(for 2004–05 season). This was ended prematurely due to, amongst other things, Sestanovich refusing to act as a substitute and leaving the ground before a match had started, verbally abusing a referee (for which he was given a four game ban) and getting sent off 4 minutes after coming on as a substitute in a later match. After a successful spell at Farnborough Town
, he was sold to Grays Athletic
in June 2006, but his contract was terminated after he was arrested. Grays were ordered by The FA
to pay Sestanovich five months outstanding wages for while he was on remand
.
advert in Rome. The boyhood Arsenal
fan told the BBC
at the time: "I met Thierry Henry
when I was filming an advert for a Nike commercial in Rome and I played the part of his body double. I met all the players - the likes of Ronaldo
, Ronaldinho
and Luis Enrique
were all there. Sylvain Wiltord
, Patrick Vieira
and Thierry Henry
were there from Arsenal and it was great to see them face-to-face - but I would like to meet them on the pitch at some point."
Ashley Sestanovich also acted as Thierry Henry's body double for a series of TV adverts for Renault
cars.
. As a result, he was included in the first ever "Team Of The FA Cup" for the 2003–04 season, with, amongst other players, Lee Trundle
.
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
) is an English
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...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
of Croatian and Grenadian
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
descent.
In 2006 he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to rob, and in April 2007 was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison.
Previous clubs
Sestanovich has played for many teams in his career and had short spells with Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
before moving to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
where he had a short spell with Royal Antwerp. He then ended up in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where he had trials with Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
.
After this, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
called and Sestanovich found himself as part of a bizarre 'Dream Team' attempt to get League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
status for Mullingar Town, a small team who operated from the County Westmeath capital town Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
but Mullingar Town failed in their League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
bid despite Moore's millions .
Sestanovich dipped his toes in non-League football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
, when he signed for Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
club Hampton & Richmond
Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C.
Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. are an English football club based in the suburb of Hampton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. They were founded in 1921 and formerly known as Hampton F.C. until 1999 when they changed their name in an attempt to draw a wider support base from around the...
in the Summer of 2002. From there, he was scouted and sold to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, (despite considerable interest from other teams such as Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
).
Sheffield United considered that it was in his and their best interests to loan Ashley out to other clubs to gain some experience. He went on a successful loan spell to non-League Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
, helping them reach the Fourth Round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
where they narrowly lost to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
1–0 in a televised game. In all he played 12 games (league and cup) and scored three goals. He returned to Sheffield United and played two games in April 2004, before his second loan spell at the then cash-strapped 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 2004–05 season). This was ended prematurely due to, amongst other things, Sestanovich refusing to act as a substitute and leaving the ground before a match had started, verbally abusing a referee (for which he was given a four game ban) and getting sent off 4 minutes after coming on as a substitute in a later match. After a successful spell at Farnborough Town
Farnborough Town F.C.
Farnborough Football Club is an English football team currently in the Conference South after finishing top of Southern League Premier Division in 2009–10. Their home ground is known as the Rushmoor Stadium, formerly Cherrywood Road, based in Farnborough, Hampshire...
, he was sold to Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
in June 2006, but his contract was terminated after he was arrested. Grays were ordered by The FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
to pay Sestanovich five months outstanding wages for while he was on remand
Detention of suspects
The detention of suspects is the process of keeping a person who has been arrested in a police-cell, remand prison or other detention centre before trial or sentencing. One criticism of pretrial detention is that eventual acquittal can be a somewhat hollow victory, in that there is no way to...
.
Thierry Henry body double
Perhaps his most famous moment prior to the armed robbery charge came when he stood in for Thierry Henry during filming for a NikeNike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
advert in Rome. The boyhood Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
fan told the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
at the time: "I met Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
when I was filming an advert for a Nike commercial in Rome and I played the part of his body double. I met all the players - the likes of Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima , commonly known as Ronaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who last played for Corinthians. Ronaldo is widely considered to be the greatest 'pure' striker in the history of the modern game, and by some accounts, in the history of football. Ronaldo was one of the...
, Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira , commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Flamengo and the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year...
and Luis Enrique
Luís Enrique Martínez García
Luis Enrique Martínez García , known as Luis Enrique, is a retired Spanish footballer, and the current head coach of Serie A club A.S. Roma...
were all there. Sylvain Wiltord
Sylvain Wiltord
Sylvain Claude Wiltord is a French footballer who currently plays for FC Nantes. With the French national team, Wiltord has won Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup....
, Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira is a retired French footballer of Senegalese descent who is the Football Development Executive at Manchester City....
and Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
were there from Arsenal and it was great to see them face-to-face - but I would like to meet them on the pitch at some point."
Ashley Sestanovich also acted as Thierry Henry's body double for a series of TV adverts for Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
cars.
Awards
Sestanovich was voted "Player Of The Round" for his display against Port Vale (where he scored the winner for Scarborough) in the second Round Proper of the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. As a result, he was included in the first ever "Team Of The FA Cup" for the 2003–04 season, with, amongst other players, Lee Trundle
Lee Trundle
Lee Christopher Trundle is an English footballer who currently plays for Neath.-Career:Trundle was a late entrant into professional and league football, playing for non-league teams Burscough, Stalybridge Celtic, Southport, Bamber Bridge and Chorley before joining Welsh Premier League club Rhyl in...
.