Rushden & Diamonds | Club | A-Z of Diamonds | A-Z of Diamonds

Nick Ashby

Posted on: Tue 11 Oct 2011

Nick Ashby

Born 29 December 1970 (Age 24 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #50)

Total appearances 75 - 4 goals

(60 League, 8 FA Cup, 1 FA Trophy, 3 League Cup, 2 Hillier Senior Cup, 1 Maunsell Cup)

Debut:

31 July 1995 (Away Kettering Town)

Final game:

22 February 1997 (Away Gateshead)

Northampton born Nick was signed from Kettering Town in June 1995 for a £14,000 price tag and was considered one of the best left backs in non-league football. He was also the son of Diamonds manager Roger Ashby and his consistent performances were the backbone of the club's promotion into the Conference. He had begun his playing career under Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, with a brief spell at Northampton Town, before following his father to Rushden Town to continue in non-league football and combine a career in HR recruitment. After a move to Aylesbury United in 1991, he joined Kettering Town in 1994, where he won the first of five England 'C' caps. He actually made his debut against his former club in the Maunsell Cup Final Replay, and went on to make a total of 75 appearances.

Nick Ashby

He was released in May 1997 and joined Burton Albion and then moved on to Raunds Town and Stamford of the UCL. While at Stamford, he took up the position of assistant manager, learning the ropes with former Diamonds coach Billy Jeffery. He took over as player-manager at Raunds Town in January 2004, but left that position at the end of the season. He rejoined them midway through the following season, to guide them out of relegation. In May 2006, he took over as player manager at Wellingborough Town, where he remained until November 2007. He finished his playing career at Cogenhoe United during the 2008/09 season officially retiring in the summer of 2010. After a short break, Nick was appointed assistant manager (to Steve Farmer) at Southern League Division One Central side Bedworth United on 5 August 2011. He left after a few months, joining Watford as their non-league scout during early-October 2011.

Appearances

1995/1996

HSCFr

31.7.95

Kettering Town (A)

BHP

19.8.95

Salisbury City (H)

BHP

21.8.95

Chelmsford City(A)

BHP

26.8.95

Crawley Town (H)

BHP

28.8.95

Burton Albion (A)

BHP

2.9.95

Hastings Town (A)

NHP

5.9.95

VS Rugby (H)

1 goal

FAC1q

9.9.95

Grantham Town(H)

BHP

16.9.95

Worcester City(A)

BHP

19.9.95

Chelmsford City(H)

FAC2q

23.9.95

EastwoodHanley(H)

BHP

30.9.95

Cheltenham Tn(A)

FAC3q

7.10.95

Sandwell Boro (A)

BHP

14.10.95

Gresley Rovers(A)

FAC4

21.10.95

Purfleet (A)

FAC4r

24.10.95

Purfleet (H)

BHP

28.10.95

Merthyr Tydfil (A)

DMC1/1

1.11.95

Kings Lynn (H)

BHP

4.11.95

Stafford Rgrs (H)

FAC1

11.11.95

Cardiff City (H)

BHP

15.11.95

VS Rugby (A)

BHP

18.11.95

Gravesend&Nflt(A)

BHP

21.11.95

Burton Albion (H)

BHP

25.11.95

Atherstone Utd (H)

1 goal

BHP

28.11.95

Baldock Town (H)

BHP

2.12.95

Crawley Town (A)

DMC1/2

5.12.95

Kings Lynn (A)

BHP

9.12.95

Dorchester Tn (A)

BHP

12.12.95

Gloucester City (H)

BHP

16.12.95

Hastings Town (H)

BHP

23.12.95

Ilkeston Town (H)

BHP

13.1.96

Atherstone Utd (A)

FAT1

20.1.96

Purfleet (H)

HSCSF

30.1.96

Raunds Town (H)

BHP

3.2.96

Worcester City (H)

BHP

10.2.96

Gravesend&Nflt(H)

BHP

13.2.96

Baldock Town (A)

BHP

17.2.96

Cheltenham Tn (H)

BHP

24.2.96

Newport (A)

1 goal

BHP

5.3.96

Sudbury Town (H)

BHP

16.3.96

Cambridge City (A)

BHP

19.3.96

Halesowen Tn (A)

BHP

23.3.96

Ilkeston Town (A)

HSCF

26.3.96

Rothwell Town (A)

BHP

30.3.96

Halesowen Tn (H)

BHP

4.4.96

Dorchester Tn (H)

BHP

6.4.96

Cambridge City (H)

BHP

8.4.96

Sudbury Town (A)

BHP

13.4.96

Newport (H)

1 goal

BHP

16.4.96

Gresley Rovers (H)

BHP

20.4.96

Gloucester City (A)

BHP

24.4.96

Salisbury City (A)

1996/1997

Conf

17.8.96

Altrincham (A)

Conf

20.8.96

Slough Town (A)

Conf

24.8.96

Northwich Vic (H)

Conf

26.8.96

Hayes (A)

Conf

31.8.96

Stalybridge Cltc(H)

Conf

3.9.96

Macclesfield Tn(H)

Conf

7.9.96

Halifax Town (A)

Conf

9.9.96

Northwich Vic (A)

FAC1q

14.9.96

Westfields (A)

Conf

17.9.96

Farnborough (H)

Conf

21.9.96

Woking (A)

Conf

24.9.96

Stevenage Boro(H)

FAC2q

28.9.96

Gresley Rvrs (H)

Conf

19.10.96

Gateshead (H)

Conf

14.12.96

Bromsgrove Rvrs(H)

SC3

16.12.96

Kidderminster (A)

Conf

21.12.96

Kidderminster (H)

Conf

28.12.96

Stalybridge Cltc(A)

Conf

25.1.97

Farnborough Tn (A)

Conf

1.2.97

Morecambe (H)

Conf

8.2.97

Hednesford Tn (H)

Conf

15.2.97

Macclesfield Tn(A)

Conf

22.2.97

Gateshead (A)