|
|
|
Jimmy
Ashcroft |
Woolwich Arsenal FC
3 appearances,
2 goals against
2 clean
sheets
P 3 W 2 D 1 L 0 F 7:
A 2
67% successful
1906
captain: none
minutes played: 270 |
|
 |
|
Timeline |
| |
James Ashcroft |
|
Birth |
Thursday, 12 September
1878 in Liverpool, Lancashire |
|
|
registered in West Derby & Toxteth Park
October-December 1878 |
|
Baptism |
Sunday, 6 October
1878 at St. Oswald's Church in Liverpool |
|
|
According to the 1881 census,
James lives at 3
Pringle Street in West Derby. The youngest of five children to Henry
and Elizabeth (née Preston). His father is a greengrocer. |
|
|
According to the 1891 census,
James is an errand boy, and the only one of the children to still be
living at 80 New Road, West Derby, with his parents. His father is a labourer.
(His father died in early 1895) |
|
|
According to the 1901 census,
James is a plumber. Living with two Woolwich Arsenal trainers in 38 Conway
Road, Plumstead, London. He is residing with the Shoebridge's. |
|
Marriage |
to Bertha Abram,
in Liverpool, summer 1901 |
|
|
registered in West Derby & Toxteth Park
July-September 1901 |
|
Children |
Jimmy
and Bertha Ashcroft have four children together. Bertha Agnes
(b.1903), Henry James (b.21 May 1909), John Herbert (b.1914)
and Hazel Irene
(b.6 August 1917). |
|
|
Ashcroft
had his medal haul stolen from his house in Conway Road on 9 April 1906.
According to the 1911 census,
James is now married to Bertha and they have two children,
Bertha and Henry. He is a Professional Footballer, and is
visiting his in-laws, the Abram's, at this time, who live at 26 Dunluce Street in
Walton, Liverpool. |
|
|
"J.Ashcroft,
Goalk'r, Blackburn Rov., Open for Engagement; free transfer.—Willaston-rd, Walton, Liverp'l." - Athletic News, Monday,
21 April 1913 |
|
|
According to the 1921 census, James, now a
plumber, is still married and they have two more children, John
and Hazel They live at 16 Willaston Road in Walton along with his
father & sister-in-law. |
|
|
According to the 1939 register, James, a
master plumber, remains married to Bertha, and they live at Lomondive, on
Long Lane in the Fazakerly area of Liverpool. |
|
Death |
Tuesday,
6 April 1943,
in the Pavilion, Walton Hospital, Rice Lane, Liverpool, Lancashire, of
'Pulminary tuberculosis'.
Living at Jesmond Dene, Long Lane in Fazakerly |
|
aged 64 years 207 days |
registered in
Liverpool North April-June 1943 |
|
"DEATHS |
ASHCROFT—April
6, in hospital, after long suffering, patienetly borne, aged 64 years,
JAMES, the beloved husband of Bertha Ashcroft and dearly-loved father of
Bertha, Hazel, Harry (H.M.F.), and Jack (H.M.F., overseas)...." |
|
Obituary |
"DEATH OF JIM ASHCROFT.
"The death
has taken place in a Liverpool hospital, of Jimmy Ashcroft, the former
Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper. A professional for over twenty
years, he represented England on several occasions, assisted Liverpool
during the last war, and finished his football career with Tranmere
Rovers. He was a native of Liverpool."
- The Liverpool Echo, Thursday, 8 April 1943. |
|
Funeral |
Friday, 9 April 1943,
cremated at Anfield Crematorium, Priory Road, Liverpool.
"...Cremation at Anfield Crematorium, on Friday next, at 11 a.m. (Flowers,
in bunches, for the hospital, please)."
- The Liverpool Echo,
Wednesday, 7 April 1913 |
|
"CONDOLENCE |
ASHCROFT—Mrs. ASHCROFT
and Family desire to thank relatives, friends and neighbours, Mr. Marriott
and staff of the Pavilion, Walton Hospital, also Mrs. Paynter, Admin. staff,
Stores Office, Store Accounts, Provision Section, Stocktakers, Mrs.
Blaylock and staff of R.O.F., for the kind expressions of sympathy and
beautiful floral tributes received during their recent sad bereavement."
- The Liverpool Echo, Monday, 12 April 1913 |
|
Source |
 Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
|
Playing Career |
Club(s) |
Played his
youth football with Wilbyn's United FC, Anfield Recreation Club and
Garston Copper Works, all in Liverpool.
"The Gravesend
United goal will be entrusted to the charge of Ashcroft, late of Garston
Copperworks, whom Everton were anxious to keep after a trial."
- Athletic News, Monday, 28 August 1899.
He remained
with Gravesend United FC,
of the Southern League Division One and Thames & Medway Combination,
for the 1899-1900 season, from where he was spotted and then signed by Woolwich Arsenal FC in June 1900
"It is stated
that Everton are asking £150 for the transfer of Ashcroft, the Gravesend
custodian recently signed by Woolwich Arsenal. Yet Ashcroft played as an
amateur pure and simple when at Everton some years ago." -
Athletic Chat, Wednesday, 6 June 1900.
He was eventually sold for £25. There was an enquiry from
Everton to resign Ashcroft in March 1902, but he remained in Plumstead. He
did return north eventually when he joined Blackburn Rovers FC on 2 May 1908,
however, ill-health in the 1911-12
season meant he had little participation in the Championship winning side.
He was released at the end of following season with an agreement from
Cardiff AFC for him to be their player-manager should they be elected to
the Football League. He also received offer from Raith Rovers FC, as well
as an approach from Millwall FC, whom he reported to the FA after they
failed to act on an agreement to sign him, but Ashcroft joined Lancashire
Combination side, Tranmere
Rovers FC. He signed for the Prenton Road club on 6 June 1913, at the same
time as he was invited to become the new player-manager at Gillingham FC. Retirement soon followed.
Guested for Liverpool FC during November 1916. |
League honours
387 appearances |
Woolwich Arsenal FC 1900-08 273 appearances
debut
(division two): 15 September 1900 Burton Swifts FC 1 Woolwich Arsenal FC
0.
Blackburn Rovers FC 1908-13 114 appearances
debut: 1
September 1908 Blackburn Rovers FC 1 Bristol City FC 1.
last:
1 March 1913 Bolton Wanderers FC 1 Blackburn Rovers FC 1. |
|
Club honours |
Kent Senior Cup winners 1899-1900;
Football League Division Two third place 1902-03 (34ᵃ), runners-up
1903-04 (34ᵃ); Division One third place 1909-10 (35ᵃ),
Champions 1911-12 (8ᵃ);
FA Cup
semi-finalist 1905-06 (6ᵃ), 1906-07 (6ᵃ), 1910-11 (6ᵃ), 1911-12 (3ᵃ); |
|
Individual honours |
Football League
(two appearances); |
|
Distinctions |
None |
|
Height/Weight |
5' 10½", 12st. [1906]. |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One of
five who became the 312th players (312) to
appear for England. 35th goalkeeper to appear. |
|
Position(s) |
Goalkeeper |
|
First match |
No. 86, 16 February 1906,
Ireland 0
England 5, a British
Championship match at
Solitude Ground, Cliftonville, Belfast,
aged 27 years 157 days. |
|
Last match |
No. 88, 7 April 1906,
Scotland
2
England 1,
a British Championship match at
Hampden Park, Mount Florida, Glasgow,
aged 27 years 207 days. |
|
Major tournaments |
British Championship 1905-06; |
|
Team honours |
British Championship shared 1905-06; |
|
Individual honours |
The
South (two appearances
4ᵍᵃ, January 1906-January 1907) |
|
Distinctions |
Woolwich/Arsenal FC's
first English international. |
|
Beyond England |
|
Elected secretary of the Football
Player's Union on 27 January 1908. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming
(1990). Hatton Press, p.13/14. |
|
The Numbers |
|
parties |
Apps |
Comp
Apps |
minutes |
Goals
Against |
GA Av.
min |
Comp GA |
Clean
Sheets |
Cln
Sht Av |
captain |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
270 |
2 |
135 min |
2 |
2 |
66.7% |
none |
|
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation. |
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
GA |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
+5 |
0 |
2 |
2.333 |
0.667 |
66.7 |
+2 |
|
All of his matches were in the British Championship competition
and at an away venue |
Opposition Record
|
Opposition |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
GA |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
Scotland |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
0.0 |
-1 |
|
Wales |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
+1 |
0 |
1 |
1.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
| Ireland |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
+5 |
0 |
1 |
5.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
Tournament Record
|
British Championship Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
GA |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
BC 1905-06 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
+5 |
0 |
2 |
2.333 |
0.667 |
66.7 |
+2 |
|
BC All |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
+5 |
0 |
2 |
2.333 |
0.667 |
66.7 |
+2 |
|
All Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
GA |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
BC |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
+5 |
0 |
2 |
2.333 |
0.667 |
66.7 |
+2 |
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
+5 |
0 |
2 |
2.333 |
0.667 |
66.7 |
+2 |
Match History
|
apps |
match |
match details |
comp |
res. |
rundown |
pos |
|
|
England
Football Online