Tommy Asher

Thomas Asher (21 December 1936 – 11 March 2017) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Notts County. He also played for Peterborough United, Illkeston Town, Ransome & Marles, Grantham Town, Eastwood Town and Keyworth United.[1] During his youth footballing days Tommy represented England Schoolboys and played alongside the famous Manchester United player, Duncan Edwards.[2]

Tommy Asher
Personal information
Full name Thomas Asher
Date of birth (1936-12-21)21 December 1936
Place of birth Dunscroft, Yorkshire, England
Date of death 11 March 2017(2017-03-11) (aged 80)
Position(s) Inside forward
Youth career
– Doncaster Schoolboys
– Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1954–1959 Notts County 31 (4)
1959–1960 Peterborough United 40 (30)
1959–1960 Peterborough United 2 (0)
1960– 1962 Ilkeston Town 30 (8)
1963–1964 Ransome & Marles
1964–1966 Grantham Town
1966–1967 Keyworth United
Total 103 (42)
National team
– England Schoolboys 3
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early life

Asher was born and raised in Dunscroft in Yorkshire.

Youth career

Doncaster Schoolboys

As a young boy, Asher rose to prominence as a young player of great promise and his performances with Doncaster Schoolboys. After impressing the England coaches by his ability, he was called up to play for his country at Schoolboy level. He went on to play three times for England during his youth. As Schoolboy football was so popular, Asher's England appearance against Scotland Schoolboys was attended by over 50,000 people.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

When Asher was in his mid-teens, he was approached by top clubs who wanted to sign him to their team. In the end, it was a two horse race between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The great Sir Matt Busby visited Asher and his family at his home in Dunscroft in an attempt to secure his services. At the time, Wolves were the more successful team which is what turned Asher's head. He signed for the club's youth team and was a key figure in the 1954 team that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup against Manchester United, but was injured so couldn't participate. He scored twice in the cup run, against Derby County and Spalding United. As well as this, he assisted the Wolves youth team in winning the Birmingham and District League title in the same season. At the end of a successful season for Asher, he desired to play football professionally and when Notts County asked for his signature, he joined.

Club career

Notts County

Asher joined Notts County in 1954 and played there for 5 years. In that time he made 31 first-team appearances and scored 4 goals. To build up his confidence and ability, the club's coaches urged Asher to play in the team's reserve team before his debut. He agreed and spent three seasons with the reserves. Asher made his senior debut in a home game against Swansea Town (as they were then) in September 1957. Notts were beaten 4–2, but gained revenge in the return fixture a week later, winning 3-1 when Tommy scored the first of his four goals for the Magpies. He continued to be a squad player for until 1959 when he left the magpies to join Peterborough United.

Peterborough United

Asher then dropped out of League football and moved to non League club Peterborough United, in 1959. At the time, they competed in the Midland League.[3] Due to the sheer brilliance of rival inside forward Dennis Emery, Asher struggled to forge a first team position so competed frequently for the reserves. He was described as "a clever little player who certainly knew how to score" and he showed that during his one and only season for the Posh as he scored 30 goals. He was a prolific goal scorer for the reserves and even scored 4 goals in one match against Harwich & Parkeston on 10 October 1959 in the Eastern Counties League.

He made two first-team appearances for the Posh, the first a 2–1 loss against Ashington. Asher kept his place for the next Posh game, away at Spennymoor Town, which Posh won 3–1, but it proved to be his final first-team game for the club as he left at the end of the season to join Illkeston Town.

Illkeston Town

After spending just one season at the Posh, he returned to Nottinghamshire to join Ilkeston Town in the Central Alliance League in 1960. He joined up with the squad just before the start of the 1960/61 season and scored the winning goal on his debut in an away win against Nottingham Forest. His footballing artistry was seen at first hand but not frequently enough which resulted in his release in 1961. His final appearance was against Sutton Town on 14 October 1961. Asher went on to appear for Ransome & Marles, Grantham Town and Eastwood Town before playing for his final full-time club, Keyworth United in 1966.

Post-football career

After leaving Keyworth, Asher continued to play amateur football in Nottingham where he resided. Funnily, he discovered that he could make more money being a postman than he could a footballer. He then pursued this for many years. After moving to Gotham Village in Nottinghamshire, he became heavily involved in and around the village community. He was a popular figure around the area, being a school governor. To make some extra income and for his love of music, he became a DJ, spinning the discs at discos and parties around the Gotham area. Due to his footballing background and likeable nature, he became the manager and coach of the local children's football team 'Gotham Rangers F.C.'

Personal life

In 1957, aged 21, he married Glennis May Asher. They had three children together: Neil, Tracey and Sally. Their children are Tom, Poppy, Milly, Charlotte, Alex, Jack and Katie. Towards the end of his life, he became a great-grandad to Kieran and Evie-May.

Death

Tommy Asher died at the age of 80 on 11 March 2017 in his home in Gotham, Nottinghamshire.

References
  1. "Notts County Former Players' Association Members List". Notts County Former Players' Association. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  2. "Club Historian Pays Tribute To Tommy Asher". Peterborough United F.C. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  3. "Local sporting highlights from this week in years gone by". Peterborough Telegraph. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
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