Len Ashurst
Encyclopedia
Len Ashurst is a former footballer, manager and football administrator in England
.
. He joined Liverpool
in 1953 as an apprentice. After being released, he joined Sunderland
in 1957, where he would go on to spend 14 years. He made his debut the following year against Ipswich Town
and went on to make 458 appearances for the club; putting him 2nd in the all time appearances list in Sunderland's history, and one of only two outfield players to top 400 appearances. He scored four Sunderland goals during his time at the club.
In the late sixties, alongside Jimmy Montgomery
, Cecil Irwin, Martin Harvey
, Charlie Hurley
and Jim McNab
, Ashurst formed one of the most notable and most settled back fives in Sunderland's history.
After receiving a testimonial match
against Newcastle United
, Len was given a free-transfer to Hartlepool United
where he became a player-coach. After finally retiring from playing in 1973, Ashurst managed Gillingham
, Sheffield Wednesday
, Newport County
and Cardiff City
before returning to Sunderland as manager in March 1984.
Ashurst was appointed manager of Newport County in 1978 following the departure of Colin Addison
to West Bromwich Albion
. Ashurst was manager from 1978 to 1982, the most successful period in the club's history. Newport were promoted to the Third Division in the 1979–80 season
and won the Welsh Cup
, entitling them to play in the 1980–81 season European Cup Winners' Cup, reaching the quarter finals. Ashurst was sacked by Newport County in February 1982 and Addison returned as team manager. The team, largely assembled by Ashurst, attained Newport County's highest post-war finish in the 1982–83 season, 4th in the Third Division
, narrowly missing out on promotion.
His time as Sunderland manager was not successful, despite taking them to their first ever League Cup
final. Performance in the league was poor and Sunderland were relegated from the first division
. Ashurst was sacked in May 1985.
After the Sunderland job, Ashurst went on to become a coach with Kuwait national football team
and later the Qatar national football team
.
After returning to England, he was assistant manager of Blackpool
, and then in September 1989 he returned for a second spell as manager of Cardiff City
following the departure of Frank Burrows
. He spent two years in Ninian Park before resigning in 1991 as the team struggled both on and off the pitch. His last managerial role was a one year stay at Weymouth
.
Since the mid 1990s, Ashurst has been heavily involved in an administrator's role at the Football Association
specifically with regards to the Academy system.
Ashurst published his autobiography 'Left Back in Time' in March 2009.
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...
.
Career
As a player, Ashurst was a left-sided defenderDefender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He joined Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in 1953 as an apprentice. After being released, he joined Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in 1957, where he would go on to spend 14 years. He made his debut the following year against Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and went on to make 458 appearances for the club; putting him 2nd in the all time appearances list in Sunderland's history, and one of only two outfield players to top 400 appearances. He scored four Sunderland goals during his time at the club.
In the late sixties, alongside Jimmy Montgomery
Jimmy Montgomery
Jimmy Montgomery is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made a record 627 appearances for his hometown club Sunderland with 537 of these appearances being in the league, after joining the club as a youngster in 1960.-Football career:He made his debut aged only 18 against Walsall,...
, Cecil Irwin, Martin Harvey
Martin Harvey
Martin Harvey was a Northern Irish footballer who played for Sunderland and the Northern Ireland national football team as a wing half.-Club career:...
, Charlie Hurley
Charlie Hurley
Charles John Hurley born 4 October 1936) was a centre back. He began his career at Millwall, where his term at The Den was disrupted by injury which certainly delayed his debut on the international stage. Hurley is best remembered from his time at Sunderland, where he was named the Black Cats'...
and Jim McNab
Jim McNab
Jim McNab was a footballer with Sunderland, Preston North End and Stockport County.He began his career at Sunderland, making 285 League appearances and scoring 13 goals between 1958 and 1967...
, Ashurst formed one of the most notable and most settled back fives in Sunderland's history.
After receiving a testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Len was given a free-transfer to Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
where he became a player-coach. After finally retiring from playing in 1973, Ashurst managed Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
and Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
before returning to Sunderland as manager in March 1984.
Ashurst was appointed manager of Newport County in 1978 following the departure of Colin Addison
Colin Addison
Colin Addison is an English former professional footballer and manager.Addison has managed a wide variety of clubs in the UK, as well as in countries such as Spain, South Africa, Kuwait and Qatar. Notably he was the player-manager of Hereford United during their famous 1971-72 FA Cup run, which...
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...
. Ashurst was manager from 1978 to 1982, the most successful period in the club's history. Newport were promoted to the Third Division in the 1979–80 season
1979–80 Newport County A.F.C. season
The 1979–80 season was Newport County's 18th consecutive season in the Football League Fourth Division and their 52nd season overall in the Football League....
and won the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
, entitling them to play in the 1980–81 season European Cup Winners' Cup, reaching the quarter finals. Ashurst was sacked by Newport County in February 1982 and Addison returned as team manager. The team, largely assembled by Ashurst, attained Newport County's highest post-war finish in the 1982–83 season, 4th in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, narrowly missing out on promotion.
His time as Sunderland manager was not successful, despite taking them to their first ever 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...
final. Performance in the league was poor and Sunderland were relegated from the first division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. Ashurst was sacked in May 1985.
After the Sunderland job, Ashurst went on to become a coach with Kuwait national football team
Kuwait national football team
The Kuwait National Football Team is the national team of Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. They made one World Cup Finals appearance, in 1982, managing a draw with Czechoslovakia but losing to England and France. During the match against France, France scored a goal...
and later the Qatar national football team
Qatar national football team
The Qatar national football team is the national team of Qatar and is controlled by the Qatar Football Association. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup but are hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The team has also appeared in seven AFC Asian Cup tournaments and hosted the 2011 AFC Asian...
.
After returning to England, he was assistant manager of Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, and then in September 1989 he returned for a second spell as manager of Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
following the departure of Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows is a Scottish soccer manager, and former player.-Biography:Frank Burrows began his football career at Scottish club Raith Rovers. In 1965 he moved south to England and joined Scunthorpe United. Impressive performances as a defender for Scunthorpe led to him being signed by Swindon...
. He spent two years in Ninian Park before resigning in 1991 as the team struggled both on and off the pitch. His last managerial role was a one year stay at Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
.
Since the mid 1990s, Ashurst has been heavily involved in an administrator's role at the Football Association
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...
specifically with regards to the Academy system.
Ashurst published his autobiography 'Left Back in Time' in March 2009.