Jon Ashton

Early career

Ashton started his career at Leicester City as part of the club's youth system. After progressing through the YTS ranks at the club, he signed his first professional contract in January 2001. He made his first-team debut for Leicester in the Premier League in March 2002, playing the whole match in a 2–0 defeat to Leeds United at Filbert Street. Despite the defeat, Ashton continued to impress manager Micky Adams, and played a further six matches towards the latter stages of the 2001–02 season. Although the club were relegated to the First Division, Ashton signed a new three-year deal at the end of the season. He started in the club's first match of 2002–03, a 6–1 defeat against Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Subsequently, Ashton only played one further match for Leicester, before being loaned out to Notts County on a one-month deal in November 2002. A day after completing his loan move, he made his Notts County debut in a 2–2 draw against Mansfield Town, and played a further three games before returning to his parent club. On his return to Leicester, Ashton made one further appearance for the club, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in the team's 1–1 draw with Norwich City. At the end of the season, Leicester made Ashton available for transfer.

Oxford United

Ashton joined Third Division club Oxford United on an initial one-month loan deal just before the start of 2003–04, making his debut on the opening day of the season in a 1–0 win against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank. After making seven appearances in all competitions during the first month of the season, with Oxford remaining unbeaten during that period, his move to the club was made permanent in September 2003. He played regularly during the season, making 38 appearances, as Oxford finished just shy of the play-off places despite a strong start to their league season. He continued to hold down a regular place in the Oxford squad the following year, and made 31 appearances in all competitions, with Oxford finishing the season in a mid-table position. During the season, Ashton received the first red card of his career when he was sent-off after receiving two yellow cards in Oxford's 4–0 defeat to Southend United on 6 November 2004. Just over a month later, he was sent-off once again, again for two bookable offences, against Swansea City at the Kassam Stadium. Under the new management of Brian Talbot, Ashton played 34 games during the club's 2005–06 season, scoring his first goal for Oxford, and the first of his professional career, in a 1–1 draw with Rochdale in February 2006, netting with a right-footed shot from just inside the area. However, after being openly criticised by Talbot following a 2–1 defeat at Stockport County, Ashton did not feature as regularly in the first team, making just one further appearance that season. In May 2006, Ashton was released by new manager Jim Smith, ending his three-year tenure at the club.

Rushden & Diamonds

A month after being released, he signed for Conference National club Rushden & Diamonds, and made his debut on the opening day of 2006–07 in a 1–0 defeat to Crawley Town. He was a regular in central defence for Rushden throughout the season, and he scored his first goal in the club's 4–1 away victory against Tamworth on 12 September 2006. The goal was scored from the penalty spot late on in the second half to round off a comfortable victory. Ashton added one further goal to his tally during the season, "powering home" Curtis Woodhouse's cross to ensure Rushden ended their four-game streak without a win with a 2–0 victory at Forest Green Rovers in March 2007. Despite playing regularly, Ashton was transfer-listed by new Rushden manager Garry Hill in April 2007, and was later told he was free to find a new club. He played 42 games for Rushden during his only season with the club, scoring twice.

Grays Athletic

A month later, he joined fellow Conference Premier club Grays Athletic on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. Ashton made his Grays debut in a 0–0 draw away to recently relegated Torquay United, playing the whole match. Two weeks later, he scored his first goal for the Essex team in a 1–0 win against Altrincham, heading in Charley Hearn's left-wing cross to give Grays the lead in the second-half. He scored one further time that season, scoring just before half-time as Grays secured a 2–0 home victory over Torquay United on 1 March 2008. He made 47 appearances in all competitions during a season that witnessed Grays finish tenth in the Conference Premier. Ashton impressed in central defence during 2007–08, and the defender was named as the Players' Player of The Year and Supporters' Player of The Year. He played a further 19 matches for Grays during the first half of the 2008–09 season, but was placed on the transfer list by Grays following discussions with the club in which the player stated he would not be staying at the club for 2009–10.

Stevenage

Ashton joined Stevenage Borough on 29 January 2009, signing for an undisclosed fee. The move reunited him with manager Graham Westley, who had previously managed Ashton during his brief stint at Rushden & Diamonds. He made his Stevenage debut in a 1–0 victory over Woking at Broadhall Way in February 2009, making 13 appearances for the Hertfordshire club during 2008–09. The following season, Ashton scored his first goal for Stevenage in a 2–0 victory over Eastbourne Borough, scoring with a header from Joel Byrom's cross. He followed this up with another headed goal two months later in a 2–0 win against Kidderminster Harriers at Broadhall Way. Ashton added a third to his goal tally in the same season, sweeping home Stacy Long's corner to score the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win over Histon in March 2010, securing Stevenage a vital three points, a win that moved them four points clear at the top of the league. He made 45 appearances in his first full season with Stevenage, scoring three times, as the club won the Conference Premier by 11 points, earning promotion into the Football League for the first time in their history. During the season, Stevenage had the tightest defence in the league, conceding just 24 goals in 44 games, and keeping 27 clean sheets.

He played his first match of 2010–11 in Stevenage's first ever Football League victory, a 3–1 win over Stockport County. Ashton scored his first goal of the season in a 4–1 away win at Edgar Street against Hereford United, scoring a glancing header from Lawrie Wilson's driven corner. Similarly to 2009–10, Stevenage's success was built on a tight defence, with the club conceding the fewest goals during the 2010–11 League Two season, keeping 19 clean sheets during the season. He made 38 appearances for Stevenage during the season, scoring once, as Stevenage earned promotion to League One in their first Football League season. At the end of the season, Ashton was voted Players' Player of the Year and Player of the Year.

Ashton played in Stevenage's first ever League One fixture as Stevenage opened 2011–12 with a 0–0 home draw against Exeter City. He signed a new two-year contract with the club in September 2011. Ashton scored his only goal of the season in April 2012, scoring with a header in Stevenage's 6–0 away win over Yeovil Town. He made 53 appearances in all competitions, as Stevenage were beaten in the play-off semi-finals after finishing sixth. Stevenage's defence was, once again, particularly strong, with only league champions Charlton Athletic conceding fewer goals throughout the course of the season. He remained at Stevenage for 2012–13, with the club stating that they had rejected several bids for him in the summer, along with fellow defensive partner Mark Roberts, from Doncaster Rovers. Ashton made his first appearance of the new season in the club's 1–0 away victory over Leyton Orient on 21 August 2012, and played in eight further matches as Stevenage remained unbeaten in the league during the first two months of the season. However, he suffered an achilles injury during Stevenage's 2–2 draw with Bury at Broadhall Way on 29 September, the game turned out to be his last of the season. Although he returned to first-team training in January 2013, he ruptured his achilles in a training session, ultimately ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Following the departure of manager Gary Smith in March 2013, Ashton was named as part of the club's coaching staff while the board appointed a new manager. At the end of the season, with Ashton's contract expiring in June, it was announced that he had signed a new two-year deal with Stevenage, keeping him contracted to the club until the summer of 2015.

Ahead of 2013–14, Ashton was appointed club captain following the departure of his predecessor, Mark Roberts. On appointing Ashton as captain, Stevenage manager Graham Westley described him as "the ideal man to lead our team forward. He has a great history at the club, he wins football matches and he leads men. As one fantastic captain departs, so another one is born. He symbolises the desire to succeed that is at the heart of Stevenage and his ambition is stronger than ever".

On 17 May 2014, Ashton signed a new one-year contract at Stevenage.

Later career

After six years at Stevenage he left the club in the summer of 2015, and joined League Two club Crawley Town on a one-year contract on 8 July 2015. Ashton signed for National League club Braintree Town on 19 July 2016.

After a spell on loan with Grays Athletic on loan in 2016–17, Ashton signed for the Isthmian League North club permanently on 8 July 2017. However, Ashton was offered a role as player/assistant-manager at National League North club Nuneaton Town and joined them on 2 August.

International career

Ashton was called up to the England C team, who represent England at non-League level, in May 2007, for the Four Nations Tournament in Scotland. He featured three times in the tournament, making his England C debut in a 5–0 win over a Republic of Ireland XI. He scored in the following game in a 3–0 victory over Scotland. He continued his run in the England C team, playing in a 1–0 victory over Finland C in June 2007.

Personal life

He was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, and grew up in Whitestone attending St Thomas More Catholic School. Ashton's father is an artist.

In May 2007, Ashton was arrested with Danny Foster, facing three counts of vandalism after the pair danced in the streets of a Scottish Highlands town wrapping themselves in lager advertising banners.

Career statistics

Honours

Stevenage

Individual