View source for Eric Ashton

{{Short description|England rugby league footballer (1935–2008)}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name                = Eric Ashton
|fullname            = 
|image               = Eric Ashton - Wigan.jpeg
|image_size          = 192
|caption             = 
|birth_date          = {{birth date|df=y|1935|1|24}}
|birth_place         = [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]], England
|death_date          = {{death date and age|df=y|2008|3|20|1935|1|24}}
|death_place         = [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]], England<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hadfield|first1=Dave|title=Eric Ashton: Great Britain rugby captain|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/eric-ashton-great-britain-rugby-captain-800234.html|website=The Independent|access-date=21 May 2018|date=25 March 2008}}</ref>
|height              = 
|weight              = 
|position            = {{rlp|CE}}
|club1               = [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
|year1start          = 1955
|year1end            = 68
|appearances1        = 497
|tries1              = 231
|goals1              = 448
|fieldgoals1         = 0
|points1             = 1589
|teamA               = [[Lancashire rugby league team|Lancashire]]
|yearAstart          = 1954
|yearAend            = 61
|appearancesA        = 11
|triesA              = 8
|goalsA              = 3
|fieldgoalsA         = 0
|pointsA             = 30
|teamB               = {{nowrap|Rest of World}}
|yearBstart          = 1957
|yearBend            = 
|appearancesB        = 1
|triesB              = 1
|goalsB              = 0
|fieldgoalsB         = 0
|pointsB             = 3
|teamC               = {{nowrap|GB & France}}
|yearCstart          = 1957
|yearCend            = 
|appearancesC        = 1
|triesC              = 5
|goalsC              = 5
|fieldgoalsC         = 0
|pointsC             = 25
|teamD               = [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]
|yearDstart          = 1957
|yearDend            = 63
|appearancesD        = 26
|triesD              = 14
|goalsD              = 1
|fieldgoalsD         = 0
|pointsD             = 44
|teamE               = [[England national rugby league team|England]]
|yearEstart          = 1962
|yearEend            = 
|appearancesE        = 1
|triesE              = 1
|goalsE              = 0
|fieldgoalsE         = 0
|pointsE             = 3
|coachteam1          = [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
|coachyear1start     = 1963
|coachyear1end       = 73
|coachgames1         =
|coachwins1          =
|coachdraws1         =
|coachlosses1        =
|coachpremierships1  =
|coachteam2          = [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]]
|coachyear2start     = 1973
|coachyear2end       = 74
|coachgames2         =
|coachwins2          =
|coachdraws2         =
|coachlosses2        =
|coachpremierships2  =
|coachteam3          = {{nowrap|[[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]}}
|coachyear3start     = 1974
|coachyear3end       = 80
|coachgames3         =
|coachwins3          =
|coachdraws3         =
|coachlosses3        =
|coachpremierships3  =
|coachteamA          = [[England national rugby league team|England]]
|coachyearAstart     = 1979
|coachyearAend       = 80
|coachgamesA         = 2
|coachwinsA          = 2
|coachdrawsA         = 0
|coachlossesA        = 0
|coachteamB          = {{nowrap|[[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]}}
|coachyearBstart     = 1979
|coachyearBend       = 
|coachgamesB         = 6
|coachwinsB          = 2
|coachdrawsB         = 0
|coachlossesB        = 4
|new                 = yes
|retired             = yes
|updated             = 12 December 2023
|source              = <ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/eric-ashton/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Ashton&submit=Go&c=England|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924000936/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Ashton&submit=Go&c=England|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Ashton&submit=Go&c=GB|title=Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/eric-ashton/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref>RL Record Keepers' Club</ref>
}}

'''Eric Ashton''' [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (24 January 1935 – 20 March 2008) was an English [[Rugby League World Cup|World Cup]] winning professional [[rugby league]] footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and [[Coach (sport)|coach]]ed in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

He played his whole top flight football career for [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] along with at times both captaining and coaching them; his position of choice was at {{rlp|ce}}. Over the span of his career he came to be known as one of the best centres in the modern game and formed a devastating partnership with [[Billy Boston]] somewhat because of this combination he went on to represent the [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] national side making his début in 1957. After his retirement from playing rugby league in 1969, Ashton went on to coach Wigan as well as [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]], [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]], [[England national rugby league team|England]] and [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]]; he also had a brief stint as chairman of St Helens in 1996.<ref>{{Cite news 
| last = news.bbc.co.uk
| title = Cup heroes: Eric Ashton
| work = BBC Sport
| place = UK
| publisher = BBC
| date = 27 February 2004
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/3361205.stm
| access-date = 6 March 2011}}</ref> He was a member of the St Helens board for fifteen years.

==Background==
Ashton was born and brought up in [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]], [[Lancashire]], England.

He began playing rugby league at an early age and it was not long before his talent became noticeable; he was signed to the [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] schoolboys side before joining the [[British Army|army]] not long after.

==Playing career==

===1950s===
In 1954, Ashton was spotted playing rugby union during his [[national service]] in the [[Royal Artillery]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/obituaries/eric-ashton-1-2495629|title=Eric Ashton|website=www.yorkshirepost.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Denis Whittle |url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/2148656.OBITUARY__RL_world_mourns_death_of_legend_Eric_Ashton/ |title=OBITUARY: RL world mourns death of legend Eric Ashton (From St Helens Star) |publisher=Sthelensstar.co.uk |date=2008-03-26 |access-date=2017-05-14}}</ref> and was subsequently invited for a trial with [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]. He attended the trial and was seen by the directors of the club as being a player with exceptional talent, after Wigan offered him a spot in their top-level side he offered his home town club [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] the chance to sign him but they passed and he then signed for Wigan in 1955 for £150. He made his first representative later that year, appearing for [[Lancashire rugby league team|Lancashire]] against New Zealand.<ref name="morris">{{cite book|last=Morris|first=Graham|title=Wigan Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats|year=2005|publisher=Tempus Publishing|location=Stroud|pages=10–11|isbn=978-0-7524-3470-4}}</ref> He represented Rest of the World in the 11–20 defeat by Australia at [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] on 29 June 1957, and represented Great Britain & France in the 37–31 victory over New Zealand at [[Carlaw Park]], [[Auckland]] on 3 July 1957. After signing for Wigan he quickly linked up with Welsh [[winger (rugby league)|winger]] [[Billy Boston]], and formed one of the most devastating right-hand side [[Rugby league positions#threequarters|threequarters]] partnerships of modern times. Ashton played at {{rlp|ce}} in the 8–13 defeat by [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]] in the [[1956–57 Lancashire Cup]] Final during the [[1957–58 Northern Rugby Football League season|1957–58 season]] at [[Station Road, Swinton]] on Saturday 19 October 1957. He played {{rlp|ce}} and was [[Captain (sports)|captain]] in the 13–9 victory over [[Workington Town]] in the [[1957–58 Challenge Cup]] Final during the [[1957–58 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1957–58 season]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 10 May 1958, in front of a crowd of 66,109,<ref name="1957-1958 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=436|title=1957–1958 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012|archive-date=8 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908025828/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=436|url-status=dead}}</ref> such was the impact of both Ashton and Boston it led to Ashton being promoted as [[Captain (sports)|captain]] of the Wigan side after just two years at the club at the age of 22. It was a position he would go on to hold for the next twelve years. He made his international début at the age of 22 for the [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] side against [[France national rugby league team|France]] in 1957. He would go on to collect a total of 26 caps for the [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] side with his first [[Southern Hemisphere]] tour coming in 1957 as the British side competed in the [[1957 Rugby League World Cup|World Cup]]. He was a true professional in every sense, being sent off just twice in his whole career and due to his professionalism, talent and intelligence he would go on to achieve a long and distinguished footballing career. Ashton's honours and achievements are nothing short of impressive, with 3 victorious [[Wembley Stadium]] [[Challenge Cup]] finals (out of a possible six), a [[Rugby Football League Championship|Championship]] in 1960, a Lancashire Challenge Cup and two Lancashire League Championships as well as a BBC Floodlit trophy. He played {{rlp|ce}}, and was [[Captain (sports)|captain]] in Wigan's 30–13 victory over [[Hull F.C.]] in the [[1958–59 Challenge Cup]] Final during the [[1958–59 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1958–59 season]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 9 May 1959, in front of a crowd of 79,811.<ref name="1958-1959 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=437|title=1958–1959 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012|archive-date=2 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222948/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=437|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===1960s===
Ashton would become somewhat immortalised as one of the players involved in the all-conquering British side of 1960, captaining [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] to victory over the [[Australia national rugby league team|Australians]] on several occasions. It's usually said that Ashton's greatest moment could have come in the 1962 tour to [[Australasia]] when while captaining Great Britain to an almost complete whitewash over the Australians, a last minute refereeing decision ruined the chance of this occurring. In total Ashton captained [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] 15 times. He was [[Coach (sport)|coach]] and [[Captain (sports)|captain]], played at {{rlp|ce}} and scored a [[Try (rugby)|conversion]] in the 20–16 victory over [[Hunslet F.C. (1883)|Hunslet]] in the [[1964–65 Challenge Cup]] Final during the [[1964–65 Northern Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1964–65 season]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] on Saturday 8 May 1965, in front of a crowd of 89,016.<ref name="1964-1965 Challenge Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=439|title=1964–1965 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004343/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=439|url-status=dead}}</ref> Due to his heroics in the [[Southern Hemisphere]], Eric Ashton was the first rugby league player to be honoured by the Queen. He was awarded the [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]] in June 1966. Eric Ashton played at {{rlp|ce}}, and scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]] in [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]'s 16–13 victory over [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]] in the [[1966–67 Lancashire Cup]] Final during the [[1966–67 Northern Rugby Football League season|1966–67 season]] at [[Station Road, Swinton|Station Road]], [[Swinton, Greater Manchester|Swinton]], on Saturday 29 October 1966.<ref name="1966-1967 Lancashire Cup Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=440|title=1966–1967 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012|archive-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716170330/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=440|url-status=dead}}</ref> Eric Ashton played {{rlp|ce}}, and was the [[coach (sport)|coach]] in [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]'s 7–4 victory over [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] in the [[1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final during the [[1968–69 Northern Rugby Football League season|1968–69 season]] at [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]] on Tuesday 17 December 1968.<ref name="1968-1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final">{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=441|title=1968-1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|access-date=1 January 2012|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211418/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=441|url-status=dead}}</ref> Eric Ashton's [[Testimonial match]] was a [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]] born XIII against a [[Wigan]] born XIII (but including the [[Tiger Bay]], [[Cardiff]] born [[Billy Boston]]) at [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]] on [[Whitsun]] Monday 26 May 1969.

==Coaching career==
In 1963 he was appointed [[player-coach]] of the Wigan club, a position that he held for a further six years before hanging up his boots as a player in 1969. He would continue on his managerial role at the club for another four years.

Eric Ashton was the coach in [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]'s 6–11 defeat by [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]] in the [[1969 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final during the [[1969–70 Northern Rugby Football League season|1969–70 season]] at [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]] on Tuesday 16 December 1969.

Following the 1973 season Ashton resigned his post as Wigan coach and moved to [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] for a short spell before moving on to coach [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] from May 1974 to May 1980, including two [[Challenge Cup]] finals in 1976 and 1978.

Eric Ashton was the [[coach (sport)|coach]] in [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens']] 22–2 victory over [[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]] in the [[1975 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final during the [[1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season|1975–76 season]] at [[Knowsley Road]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]] on Tuesday 16 December 1975, was the [[coach (sport)|coach]] in [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]' 11–26 defeat by [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] in the [[1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final during the [[1977–78 Northern Rugby Football League season|1977–78 season]] at [[Old Craven Park|Craven Park]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] on Tuesday 13 December 1977, and was the [[coach (sport)|coach]] in [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]' 7–13 defeat by [[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]] in the [[1978 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] Final during the [[1978–79 Northern Rugby Football League season|1978–79 season]] at [[Knowsley Road]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]] on Tuesday 12 December 1978.

In 1996 he was appointed chairman of [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]], and was at the helm when they won the double that year.

In 2005 Ashton was also inducted into the [[Rugby League Hall of Fame]], and the [[British Rugby League Hall of Fame]]. He is also an inductee of the [[Wigan Hall of Fame]]. Prior to his death, Ashton was a [[board of directors|director]] at St. Helens for almost fifteen years.

Only two men have played in, and [[Coach (sport)|coach]]ed [[Rugby League World Cup]] winning [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] sides, they are; Eric Ashton, and [[Jim Challinor]].<ref name="HALL OF HEROES: Warrington Wolves' Jim Challinor, World Cup winning footballer, and [[Coach (sport)|coach]]">{{cite web|url=http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sport/14973140.HALL_OF_HEROES__Jim_Challinor__World_Cup_winning_player_and_coach|title=HALL OF HEROES: Warrington Wolves' Jim Challinor, World Cup winning footballer, and coach |publisher=warringtonguardian.co.uk|date=31 December 2015|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>

On 20 March 2008 it was announced that Eric had died at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer.<ref name="Club Mourn The Loss Of A Great">{{cite news
| title      = Club Mourn The Loss of a Great
| url      = http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=3699
| publisher      = [[Wigan Warriors]] Official Website
| date      = 20 March 2008
| access-date      = 20 March 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="Rugby League legend Ashton dies">{{cite news
| title      = Rugby League legend Ashton dies
| url      = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/wigan/7307189.stm
| publisher      = [[BBC Sport]]
| date      = 20 March 2008
| access-date      = 20 March 2008}}</ref>

== Honours ==
[[File:Detail of the rugby league statue at Wembley - geograph.org.uk - 4971687.jpg|thumb|Ashton is one of five rugby league players immortalised with a statue at [[Wembley Stadium]]]]
'''As a player'''

* '''Wigan'''
** [[Rugby Football League Championship|Championship]] (1): [[1959–60 Northern Rugby Football League season|1959–60]]
** [[Challenge Cup]] (3): 1958, 1959, 1965 
** [[RFL Lancashire League|Lancashire League]] (2): [[1958–59 Northern Rugby Football League season|1958–59]], [[1961–62 Northern Rugby Football League season|1961–62]]
** [[RFL Lancashire Cup|Lancashire Cup]] (1): [[1966–67 Lancashire Cup|1966–67]]
** [[BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] (1): 1968
* '''Great Britain'''
** [[Rugby League World Cup]] (1): [[1960 Rugby League World Cup|1960]]

'''As a coach'''

* '''Wigan'''
** [[League Leader's Shield|League Leaders Trophy]] (1): [[1970–71 Northern Rugby Football League season|1970–71]]
** [[RFL Lancashire League|Lancashire League]] (1): [[1969–70 Northern Rugby Football League season|1969–70]]
** [[RFL Lancashire Cup|Lancashire Cup]] (1): [[1971–72 Lancashire Cup|1971–72]]
* '''Leeds'''
** [[RFL Yorkshire Cup|Yorkshire Cup]] (1): [[1973–74 Yorkshire Cup|1973–74]]
* '''St Helens'''
** [[Rugby Football League Championship|Championship]] (1): [[1974–75 Northern Rugby Football League season|1974–75]]
** [[Challenge Cup]] (1): 1976
** [[Rugby League Premiership|Premiership]] (2): [[1975–76 Northern Rugby Football League season|1975–76]], [[1976–77 Northern Rugby Football League season|1976–77]]
** [[BBC2 Floodlit Trophy]] (1): 1975

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*(archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070824235150/http://www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMember.asp?teamid=5&id=93 Eric Ashton official Wigan profile]
*[http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=116 Eric Ashton Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826220902/http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=116 |date=26 August 2009 }}
*[http://web.me.com/steve.newcombe/Rugby_League_Hall_of_fame/Eric_Ashton_MBE.html Book of Condolence]
*[http://www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/st-helens-news/Eric-Ashton-dies-aged-73.3898125.jp ''Eric Ashton dies aged 73'' – article at The St. Helens Reporter, 20 March 2008]
*[https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVAC369SKQW8TPKY7ML4J2UPMDXH-UK-ENGLAND-RUGBY-LEAGUE-CUP-FINAL RUGBY LEAGUE FINAL 1963]
*{{dead link|date=July 2016|bot=|fix-attempted=yes}} ĎŔƑ [http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=3699 Wigan Warriors]
*Obituaries:
**[http://sport.guardian.co.uk/obituary/0,,2267153,00.html ''The Guardian'', 21 March 2008]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20100525052022/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3606385.ece ''The Times'', 23 March 2008]
**[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2008/03/25/db2501.xml ''The Daily Telegraph'', 25 March 2008]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashton, Eric}}
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