Background
Ashurst was born on 12 April 1948, the son of Frank Goulding and Mary Anne Ashurst. He grew up in Ince, living with his mother and three elder sisters, and attended Rose Bridge Secondary Modern School.
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Bill Ashurst
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William Frank "Bill" Ashurst is an English professional rugby league football player of the 1960s, "70s and "80s, and coach of the 1980s playing at representative level for Lancashire and Great Britain, and at club level for Wigan, Penrith Panthers, Wakefield Trinity, and Runcorn Highfield, playing as a centre, or second-row, and at club level has coached for Wakefield Trinity, Runcorn Highfield, and Wigan Street Patricks ARLFC.
Career
Ashurst was first introduced to rugby league at the age of 10 when he watched the 1958 Challenge Cup final on television During his school years, he represented the Schoolboys teams in both rugby and football, and was offered a trial by Blackburn Rovers before deciding to focus on playing rugby league. Ashurst was signed by from Rose Bridge in August 1968. and played Left-second-row, and scored a try in the 13-16 defeat by Workington Town in the 1977 Lancashire Cup final during the 1977-1978 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington, on Saturday 29 October 1977.
Penrith Panthers In 1973, Ashurst was signed by Penrith Panthers for a record fee of £15,000, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £241,100 in 2013).
In 2006, Ashurst was named in the Panthers" "Team of Legends". Wakefield Ashurst returned to in 1977, but was sold to Wakefield Trinity for another record fee of £18,000 in March 1978, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £136,200 in 2013).
He played second-row in Wakefield"s 3-12 defeat by Widnes in the 1979 Challenge Cup final during the 1978-1979 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 5 May 1979. He retired from playing in 1982 due to a knee injury.
International honours Ashurst coached Wakefield Trinity while still playing during the 1981-1982 season.
He then joined as assistant coach to Alex Murphy. Ashurst also coached Runcorn Highfield between 1987 and 1989. Due to a players" strike, Ashurst came out of retirement to play in a match against former club in 1988.
He was sent off during the game, and made no further appearances as a player.
Club Individual.
Achievements
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Bill Ashurst won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1971 against Australia, and in 1972 against France (2 matches). Wigan League Leaders Trophy (1): 1970-1971 Lancashire League Championship (1): 1969-1970 Lancashire Cup (1): 1971 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy (1): 1968 Harry Sunderland Trophy (1): 1971.
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Born
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Nationality
Australia