Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:13 pm  

I vaguely remember Bill playing for Trinity being only very young but everybody who saw he him play say what a skilful player he was then I have just seen this on total rl forums.. http://www.totalrl.com/forums/index.php/topic/214229-bill-ashursthow-many-games-would-this-warrent-today/ jeeessssussss! thats what I call a head case..

I vaguely remember Bill playing for Trinity being only very young but everybody who saw he him play say what a skilful player he was then I have just seen this on total rl forums.. http://www.totalrl.com/forums/index.php/topic/214229-bill-ashursthow-many-games-would-this-warrent-today/ jeeessssussss! thats what I call a head case..

Re: Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:45 pm  

Wakefield No 1 wrote: I vaguely remember Bill playing for Trinity being only very young but everybody who saw he him play say what a skilful player he was then I have just seen this on total rl forums.. http://www.totalrl.com/forums/index.php/topic/214229-bill-ashursthow-many-games-would-this-warrent-today/ jeeessssussss! thats what I call a head case.. Bill was a very skilful player and a cracking second row forward. I remember his debut for us at Fev. Every time he touched it he seemed to score or put someone through a gap, and we still lost Unfortunately he was a bit of a nutter as well. (but it's ok when the nutters play for you It's when they play for the opposition you tut tut at what they get up to )

Wakefield No 1 wrote: I vaguely remember Bill playing for Trinity being only very young but everybody who saw he him play say what a skilful player he was then I have just seen this on total rl forums.. http://www.totalrl.com/forums/index.php/topic/214229-bill-ashursthow-many-games-would-this-warrent-today/ jeeessssussss! thats what I call a head case.. Bill was a very skilful player and a cracking second row forward. I remember his debut for us at Fev. Every time he touched it he seemed to score or put someone through a gap, and we still lost Unfortunately he was a bit of a nutter as well. (but it's ok when the nutters play for you It's when they play for the opposition you tut tut at what they get up to )

Re: Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:53 pm  

remember watching bill well..when he wasn't injured or resting at the request of the rfl!

Re: Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:02 pm  

tamargrace wrote:

remember watching bill well..when he wasn't injured or resting at the request of the rfl!

Or visiting a specialist in Middlesbrough.

Re: Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:10 pm  

Remember once when he did Mumby with some ball skills that was more magic circle than rl. When he sold a dummy most of the crowd took it as well. On his day one of the finest, without doubt. Ashurst took plenty shots as well as giving them.

Re: Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:15 pm  

Bill lived in Crofton I remember he got his face smashed by Wigan I think just prior to the Cup Final in 1978. Was a massive signing at the time. I understand he is a born again christian now.

Re: Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:36 pm  

Spent a week in Paris with Bill back in 1981. Off the field he was a very funny, kind and gentle giant with everybody. On the field he was a hard man playing a hard mans game, just like a lot of other players at that time.

Re: Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:02 pm  

TRT wrote:

Spent a week in Paris with Bill back in 1981. Off the field he was a very funny, kind and gentle giant with everybody. On the field he was a hard man playing a hard mans game, just like a lot of other players at that time.

I remember that trip well, Bill was indeed the father figure on that trip and held sway in the local bars while us young kids enjoyed a bier! I was just 16 and because Bill had a good relationship with Andrew he spent a fair bit of time making sure I was looked after.

One particular barman was too scared to shut the bar while Bill was in and we a few late nights in his place.

On the field he was peerless at times with a slight of hand that any ball playing forward in the games history would be proud of. His kicking game was pinpoint often uncanny and his physical stature meant he could mix it with anyone including the likes of big Jim Mills.

Re: Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:35 pm  

When BA got a broken cheek bone it was an 'off the ball' elbow from the Wigan forward Steve Breheney (sp), I seem to recall he only got a couple of matches from the RFL. Magnificent skills had BA. I remember one particular game against Bradford (could be the same as mentioned above), when attacking on their 25 he threw out 3 dummies, chipped over the defence the ball bouncing up into his midriff, he then went on to round the fullback and under the sticks.
Another time was away at Featherstone when he was player-coach and we fielded a very young and inexperienced side which included Hopkinson at prop (he went into the police force mounted section and then had heart problems at a young age). Bill led that team round the field that day, he was on one leg because of his knee injury that ended his career, but he wouldn't give up and I seem to recall him being involved in every play, coaching and telling players where to run and line up etc. I can't recall one player dominating a game so much as BA that day - I think we lost, he ran out of steam.

Re: Bill Ashurst.. : Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:02 pm  

REDWHITEANDBLUE wrote:

Bill lived in Crofton I remember he got his face smashed by Wigan I think just prior to the Cup Final in 1978. Was a massive signing at the time. I understand he is a born again christian now.

he did and the cock and crown was his local, he tried to entice me back to the club after I broke my ankle in the colts,

I wish I had listened to him now

had some great nights though at the bar