Kevin Ashcroft

Last updated

Kevin Ashcroft
Personal information
Born (1944-06-05) 5 June 1944 (age 79)
Newton-le-Willows, England
Playing information
Position Hooker
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1964 Dewsbury 51003
1964–67 Rochdale 822006
1967–72 Leigh 198+51912081
1972–75 Warrington 123+120023101
1975–77 Leigh 5860624
1978–81 Salford 55+540416
Total532521233231
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1969–74 Lancashire 41003
1968–74 Great Britain 5+11003
1968–74 GB tour games 153009
1965 GB Under 24 10000
Coaching information
Club
YearsTeamGmsWDLW%
1975–77 Leigh 593722063
1980–82 Salford 482412350
1982–84 Warrington 905053556
1984–89 Salford 1758538749
1991–92 Leigh 332201167
2005 Blackpool Panthers 0000
Total4052181117654
Source: [1] [2]

Kevin Ashcroft (born 5 June 1944) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Lancashire, and at club level for the Rochdale Hornets, Dewsbury, Leigh, [3] [4] [5] Warrington and Salford, as a hooker. [1] and coached at club level for Leigh (two spells) and Salford. [6] Ashcroft is a Warrington Hall of Fame inductee. [7]

Contents

Playing career

Rochdale Hornets

Ashcroft played hooker in Rochdale Hornets' 5-16 defeat by Warrington in the 1965 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1965–66 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Friday 29 October 1965.

Leigh

Ashcroft played prop in Leigh's 5-8 defeat by Castleford in the 1967 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1967–68 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 16 January 1968, played prop in the 11-6 victory over Wigan in the 1969 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1969–70 season at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 16 December 1969.

He played hooker in Leigh's 2-11 defeat by Swinton in the 1969 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1969–70 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 1 November 1969, and played hooker in the 7-4 victory over St. Helens in the 1970 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 28 November 1970.

Ashcroft played hooker in Leigh's 24-7 victory over Leeds in the 1971 Challenge Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 15 May 1971, in front of a crowd of 85,514.

Warrington

He played hooker in Warrington's 24-9 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1974 Challenge Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1974, in front of a crowd of 77,400, and played hooker in the 7-14 defeat by Widnes in the 1975 Challenge Cup Final during the 1974–75 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1975, in front of a crowd of 85,998.

He played prop in Warrington's 0-0 draw with by Salford in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1974–75 season at The Willows, Salford on Tuesday 17 December 1974, played prop in the 5-10 defeat by Salford in the 1974 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final replay during the 1974–75 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Tuesday 28 January 1975.

Ashcroft played hooker, was captain, and was man of the match in Warrington's 27-16 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1973–74 Player's No.6 Trophy Final during the 1973–74 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 9 February 1974, Ashcroft gave his £25 man of the match prize to Wigan's groundsman Billy Mitchell who had managed to get the water-logged pitch into a playable condition, [8] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £442.70 in 2014). [9]

Ashcroft played hooker in Warrington's 4-0 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1973–74 Captain Morgan Trophy Final during the 1973–74 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 26 January 1974, in front of a crowd of 5,259.

Return to Leigh

Ashcroft played prop, was the coach, and scored a drop goal in Leigh's 4-12 defeat by Castleford in the 1976 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1976–77 season at Hilton Park, Leigh on Tuesday 14 December 1976.

International honours

On 3 April 1965, Ashcroft played in the first ever Great Britain under-24 international match in a 17–9 win against France under-24's. [10]

Ashcroft won caps for Great Britain while at Leigh in the 1968 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, in 1968 against France, in 1969 against France, in the 1970 Rugby League World Cup against France, and New Zealand, and on the 1974 Great Britain Lions tour against New Zealand (interchange/substitute). [1]

Coaching career

County Cup Final appearances

Ashcroft was the coach in Warrington's 16–0 victory over St. Helens in the 1982 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1982–83 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 23 October 1982, and the coach in Salford's 17–22 defeat by Wigan in the 1988 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 23 October 1988. [11]

Related Research Articles

Thomas Kelvin Coslett is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached rugby league in the 1970s and 1980s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Aberavon RFC and Llanelli RFC, as a goal-kicking full-back, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for St. Helens (captain), and Rochdale Hornets, as a toe-end kicking style goal-kicking fullback, prop, second-row, or loose forward, and coached at club level for Rochdale Hornets, Wigan and St. Helens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Egan (rugby league)</span> Former GB & England international rugby league footballer

Joseph Egan was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England and Lancashire, and at club level for Wigan from 1938 to 1950, Oldham and Leigh, as a hooker, or second-row, i.e. number 9, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums, and coached at club level for Leigh, Wigan, Widnes, Warrington and Blackpool Borough. Egan is a Wigan Hall of Fame inductee, and was a life member at Wigan, Egan later became coach of Wigan, taking them to Championship success in the 1959–60 season.

Jim "Big Jim" Mills is a Welsh former rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. A Wales and Great Britain international representative prop, "Big Jim" as he was known, played club rugby in England with Halifax, Salford, Bradford Northern, Widnes and Workington Town, and also in Australia for North Sydney. He is the father of former Widnes forward David Mills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffrey Clarkson</span> English rugby union & league footballer

Geoffrey "Geoff" Clarkson was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Bradford Northern, Leigh, Warrington, Leeds, York, Bramley, Hull Kingston Rovers, Oldham and Featherstone Rovers, as a second-row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Chisnall (rugby league)</span> GB & England international rugby league footballer

David Chisnall was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Leigh, Warrington (captain), Swinton, St. Helens and Barrow, as a prop.

David Eckersley is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Leigh, St Helens, Widnes, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Fulham RLFC, as a goal-kicking fullback, centre or stand-off, i.e. number 1, 3 or 4, or, 6.

Keith Elwell, also known by the nicknames of "The Mole" or "Chiefy", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Widnes and on loan to Barrow, as a hooker.

William Benyon is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for St Helens, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Warrington, as a centre or stand-off, and coached at club level for St Helens and Leigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurie Gilfedder</span> GB international rugby league footballer (1935–2019)

Lawrence "Laurie"/"Gilly" M. Gilfedder was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Warrington RUFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Lancashire, and at club level for Warrington, Wigan, and Leigh, as a goal-kicking centre, second-row, or loose forward.

Derek Whitehead is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Lancashire, and at club level for Folly Lane ARLFC, Swinton, Oldham and Warrington, as a goal-kicking fullback.

Colin Clarke is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a hooker in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Wigan, Salford and Leigh, and coached at club level for Wigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parry Gordon</span> England international rugby league footballer

John Parry-Gordon was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for England and Lancashire, and at club level for Warrington, as a scrum-half.

Derek Noonan was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for St Helens RUFC, as a wing, i.e. number 11 or 14, and representative level rugby league (RL) for England and Lancashire, and at club level for Warrington, St. Helens and Fulham RLFC, as a centre, i.e. number 3 or 4.

Barry Philbin is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level for Swinton and Warrington, as a loose forward, i.e. number 13, during the era of contested scrums. He subsequently broke his leg, which he puts down to playing in jersey number unlucky 13.

Joseph Walsh was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Leigh, and Warrington, as a wing.

Frank Wilson is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Cardiff RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, Workington Town, Warrington, Salford and Cardiff City (Bridgend) Blue Dragons, as a wing, centre or stand-off, i.e. number 2 or 5, 3 or 4, or 6.

Alan Whittle is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at club level for St Helens, Barrow, Warrington, and Wigan, as a wing, centre, stand-off, or scrum-half.

Robert Wanbon was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Aberavon RFC, as a number eight, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for St. Helens and Warrington, as a prop, or second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.

Neil Anthony Harmon is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for Great Britain & Ireland as a British Lion on the 1996 Tour to Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand Ireland, and at club level for Warrington, Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants, Bradford Bulls, Salford City Reds and Halifax, as prop, or second-row.

Eric Prescott was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Widnes ICI RUFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Lancashire, and at club level for St Helens, Salford, Widnes and Runcorn Highfield, as a wing, centre, second-row or loose forward. He was the father of England international rugby league player, Steve Prescott.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ↑ RL Record Keeper's Club
  3. ↑ "Statistics at leighrl.co.uk". leighrl.co.uk. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "They Played For Leigh (Statistics) at leighrl.co.uk". leighrl.co.uk. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "Heritage Numbers at leighrl.co.uk". leighrl.co.uk. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Hall of Fame at Wire2Wolves.com (archived)". wire2wolves.com. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Harry Edgar Rugby League In The Seventies, Rugby League Journal Publishing, 29 November 2013. ISBN   978-0954835583. page-87.
  9. ↑ "Measuring Worth - Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  10. ↑ Saxton, Irvin (ed.). History of Rugby League: No.70 1964–1965. League Publications.
  11. ↑ "1988–1989 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2012.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.