Bill Ashurst

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Bill Ashurst
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Frank Ashurst
Born(1948-04-12)12 April 1948
Ince-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, England
Died14 June 2022(2022-06-14) (aged 74)
Playing information
PositionCentre, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1968–73 Wigan 165 67 142 485
1974–76 Penrith Panthers 46 19 51 6 165
1977–78 Wigan 21 7 4 6 35
1978–84 Wakefield Trinity 32 5 15 10 55
1988 Runcorn Highfield 1 0 0 0 0
Total 265 98 212 22 740
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1971–72 Lancashire 2 0 0 0 0
1971–72 Great Britain 3 3 0 0 9
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1981–82 Wakefield Trinity
1987–89 Runcorn Highfield
Total 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2][3]

William Frank Ashurst (12 April 1948 – 14 June 2022)[4] was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Lancashire, and at club level for Wigan (two spells),[5] the Penrith Panthers, Wakefield Trinity, and Runcorn Highfield, as a centre, or second-row,[1] and coached at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Runcorn Highfield and Wigan St Patricks ARLFC (Under-16s).[2]

Early life

Ashurst was born on 12 April 1948, the son of Frank Goulding and Mary Anne Ashurst. He grew up in Ince-in-Makerfield, living with his mother and three elder sisters, and attended Rose Bridge Secondary Modern School.[3]

Ashurst was first introduced to

1958 Challenge Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1958. During his school years, he represented the Wigan Schoolboys teams in both rugby and football, and was offered a trial by Blackburn Rovers before deciding to focus on playing rugby league.[3]

Playing career

Ashurst was signed by Wigan from Rose Bridge in August 1968.[6]

Ashurst played left-

1977 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1977–78 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington
, on Saturday 29 October 1977.

Penrith Panthers

"His attacking talent was almost otherworldly. When he was in the mood, he kicked the ball to make it bounce like a trained poodle. He usually found a way through an impenetrable wall of defenders. Every long pass he threw found the fingertips of the intended receiver."

−Roy Masters[9]

In 1973, Ashurst was signed by the Penrith Panthers for a record fee of £15,000,[10] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £241,100 in 2013).[11] While he played three seasons in the NSWRL, he became a popular figure with the new club and was notable for his prowess as a goal-kicker. This was partially due to his style of kicking: in an era where most Australian goal-kickers would approach the ball straight-on and use their toe to kick, Ashurst went "around the corner" and contacted the football with his instep, soccer-style. This produced both more power and a higher level of accuracy, and by the late 1980s most native Australian goal kickers (save for Mal Meninga) switched over to this method. In 2006, Ashurst was named in the Penrith's "Team of Legends".[12]

Wakefield Trinity

Ashurst returned to Wigan in 1977, but was sold to

1979 Challenge Cup Final during the 1978–79 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979, in front of a crowd of a crowd of 94,218.[13]
He retired from playing in 1982 due to a knee injury.

International honours

Bill Ashurst won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1971 against Australia, and in 1972 against France (2 matches).[1]

Coaching career

Ashurst coached Wakefield Trinity while still playing during the 1981–82 season. He then joined Wigan as assistant coach to Alex Murphy. Ashurst also coached Runcorn Highfield between 1987 and 1989. Due to a players' strike, Ashurst came out of retirement to play in a match against former club Wigan in 1988. He was sent off during the game, and made no further appearances as a player.[6]

Honours

Club

Wigan

League Leaders Trophy (1): 1970–71

Lancashire League (1): 1969–70

1971

1968

Individual

Harry Sunderland Trophy (1): 1971

References

  1. ^ a b c "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-1909885066
    .
  4. ^ In Memoriam: Bill Ashurst
  5. ^ "Heritage Numbers - In Debut Order". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7524-3470-4
    .
  7. ^ "1968-1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. ^ "1971–1972 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. ^ Roy Masters. "Panthers legend Ashurst the best footballer no-one knew about". Sydney Morning Herald.
  10. ^ "Panthers Flashback: 1974". Penrith Panthers. 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Measuring Worth – Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  12. ^ "History". Penrith Panthers. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  13. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
Achievements
Preceded by Rugby league transfer record
Wigan to Penrith Panthers
1973 		Succeeded by

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Ashurst&oldid=1211112209"