Ron Ashman
Encyclopedia
Ronald George Ashman was an English
professional footballer
and football manager. Born in Whittlesey
, Cambridgeshire
, he spent his entire playing career with Norwich City F.C.
and was later their manager. He went on to manage Scunthorpe United
and Grimsby Town
.
Ashman played 662 games for Norwich, scoring 56 goals. 590 of those games were league appearances – a club record. He made his debut at Carrow Road
against Aldershot F.C.
on 4 October 1947. Ashman was a centre-forward at that early stage of his career, but went on to play at full-back for many years. He was the captain of the Norwich team that reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup
in 1959 as a third division side, won promotion to the second division in 1960 and won the Football League Cup
for the first time in 1962. He was selected to play for the Third Division South team
against the North in 1955/56. When George Swindin
resigned as manager in November 1962, Ashman was appointed acting manager and was eventually given the job on a permanent basis on Boxing Day
1963. By then, he had played his last game for the club on 19 October 1963. Ashman remained manager until the end of the 1965-66 season, when his departure ended twenty years of service to the club.
Ashman was manager of Scunthorpe United for six years from 1967 to 1973 and a further five years from 1976 to 1981. In between those two spells, he was Grimsby Town manager for two years.
In 2002, Ashman was made an inaugural member of the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame.
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...
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...
and football manager. Born in Whittlesey
Whittlesey
Whittlesey, historically known as Whittlesea as the name of the railway station is still spelt, or Witesie, is an ancient Fenland market town around six miles east of Peterborough in the county of Cambridgeshire in England...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, he spent his entire playing career with Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and was later their manager. He went on to manage Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
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...
.
Ashman played 662 games for Norwich, scoring 56 goals. 590 of those games were league appearances – a club record. He made his debut at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
against Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
on 4 October 1947. Ashman was a centre-forward at that early stage of his career, but went on to play at full-back for many years. He was the captain of the Norwich team that reached the semi-finals 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...
in 1959 as a third division side, won promotion to the second division in 1960 and won the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
for the first time in 1962. He was selected to play for the Third Division South team
Football League Third Division North vs. South Representative Games
The Third Division North and Third Division South of The Football League was a level in English association football, which ran from 1921 to 1958.From 1954–55 season until 1957–58 season, there was a series of games between teams representing the Third Division North and the Third Division South.-...
against the North in 1955/56. When George Swindin
George Swindin
George Hedley Swindin was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:A goalkeeper, Swindin was born in Campsall, Doncaster, Yorkshire. He played as an amateur for various local clubs, including Rotherham United, before turning professional in 1934 with Bradford City...
resigned as manager in November 1962, Ashman was appointed acting manager and was eventually given the job on a permanent basis on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1963. By then, he had played his last game for the club on 19 October 1963. Ashman remained manager until the end of the 1965-66 season, when his departure ended twenty years of service to the club.
Ashman was manager of Scunthorpe United for six years from 1967 to 1973 and a further five years from 1976 to 1981. In between those two spells, he was Grimsby Town manager for two years.
In 2002, Ashman was made an inaugural member of the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame.