Eric Ashton MBE was an English World Cup winning professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
16 Facts About Eric Ashton
2.
Eric Ashton played his whole top flight football career for Wigan along with at times both captaining and coaching them; his position of choice was right-centre.
3.
Eric Ashton was a member of the St Helens board for fifteen years.
4.
Eric Ashton was born and brought up in St Helens, Lancashire, England.
5.
Eric Ashton 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 schoolboys side before joining the army not long after.
6.
In 1954, Eric Ashton was spotted playing rugby union during his national service in the Royal Artillery and was invited for a trial with Wigan.
7.
Eric Ashton made his first representative later that year, appearing for Lancashire against New Zealand.
8.
Eric Ashton made his international debut at the age of 22 for the Great Britain side against France in 1957.
9.
Eric Ashton would go on to collect a total of 26 caps for the Great Britain side with his first Southern Hemisphere tour coming in 1957 as the British side competed in the World Cup.
10.
Eric Ashton 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.
11.
Eric Ashton would become somewhat immortalised as one of the players involved in the all-conquering British side of 1960, captaining Great Britain to victory over the Australians on several occasions.
12.
Eric Ashton's Testimonial match was a St Helens born XIII against a Wigan born XIII at Central Park, Wigan on Whitsun Monday 26 May 1969.
13.
Eric Ashton would continue on his managerial role at the club for another four years.
14.
In 2005 Eric Ashton was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame, and the British Rugby League Hall of Fame.
15.
Eric Ashton is an inductee of the Wigan Hall of Fame.
16.
On 20 March 2008 it was announced that Eric Ashton had died at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer.