RIP Len Ashurst

JohnnyMars · **Joined:** Tue Jun 12, 2007 10:24 am **Posts:** 2474

Sad to report that, just days after his former assistant Tony Toms death, former manager Len Ashurst has also passed away.

Len was Pools manager between 1971 and 1974 and was responsible for a miraculous turnaround in the teams performance when he arrived. He came initially as a player manager and was what could be described as an uncompromising left back.

I remember going to Pools to get a signed copy of his autobiography, he was a real gentleman. Thanks for getting me into Pools Len, RIP.

derwent · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:59 pm **Posts:** 12367

R I P Mr Ashurst. I remember when he was manager and non league Boston United knocked us out of the cup at their place in 1972 I think it was. He came out at full time and apologised to us. Very sincere man.

Grayhoundend · **Joined:** Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:13 pm **Posts:** 7495

Massive Man total respect, RIP.

Flying Hogans · **Joined:** Tue Nov 05, 2019 10:29 pm **Posts:** 5529

RIP.

Saw him play for Sunderland quite a bit in the late 60s, when they were a really strong division one side with the likes of Charlie Hurley, Bobby Kerr (who also had a spell at Pools) and the brilliant Jim Baxter playing for them.

My best memories of him will always be the way he turned Pools' 1971/72 season around.

Mr Irrelevant · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:25 pm **Posts:** 22665

RIP Len he was manager when I started going to Pools as a kid. I'll never forget that real great escape.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 37445

derwent wrote:

R I P Mr Ashurst. I remember when he was manager and non league Boston United knocked us out of the cup at their place in 1972 I think it was. He came out at full time and apologised to us. Very sincere man.

It was bloody cold there as well. Respect to Len, a breath of fresh air as soon as he arrived.

Essex poolie · **Joined:** Wed Oct 12, 2016 7:42 pm **Posts:** 883

A true gentleman of football very humble and gracious at all times. When he was playing seemed to turn into a monster as he crossed the touchline . A loyal servant to Sunderland and Pools and all the teams he went on to manage. RIP Len.

Poolie_on_Tyne · **Posted:** Sun Sep 26, 2021 8:27 am

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... ts-7999403

458 appearances for Sunderland, & was a manager for 1,089 matches which included taking Newport County to the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup

RIP great man

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 19738

Essex poolie wrote:

A true gentleman of football very humble and gracious at all times. When he was playing seemed to turn into a monster as he crossed the touchline . A loyal servant to Sunderland and Pools and all the teams he went on to manage. RIP Len.

great summing up that.

ToTheHartlepool2-0 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:08 pm **Posts:** 1333

RIP Len. A stalward full back for Sunderland and a Scouser when their team seemed mostly Scots or Irish. Did a good job at Pools when things were difficult (when has it been any different).

RIP Len Ashurst

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