Forced to retire at 26.
And he's only just turned 26 as well. No age at all.
Remember him as a teenager for Crewe single-handedly destroying Luton in our own backyard 4-0. Great player on his day.
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Dean Ashton
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He was in lengthy talks with Stoke over the summer, with a fee of about £7m being (allegedly) agreed at one point. Thankfully our medicals have got more advanced than the the tickle-him-with-a-feather-duster-and-if-he-can-still-walk-he's-match-fit approach we used to employ.
He's had a seriously tough time with injuries and, like Jarv says, he was a great player when fit. Not sure how well he'd have coped being head-butted by a naked Tony Pulis, mind.
Sad news for him, fully fit he could well have been looking forward to the World Cup with England. Same age as Celtic's John Kennedy who also had to retire recently. Tragic!
John Sludden wrote: Sad news for him, fully fit he could well have been looking forward to the World Cup with England. Same age as Celtic's John Kennedy who also had to retire recently. Tragic!
Totally agree. He was often compared to Teddy Sherringham. Not the quickest player but had a clever and quick brain. On his day he was as good as youre get and Im sure he would have been an England regular. Such a shame and illustrates how fickle the life as a footballer can be. I certainly dont begrudge their high salaries cos it could end tomorrow for them.
quality player, very fleet of foot,do the conservatives know about the lowering of retirment age
goaaaaaaaaaaaaoooooooooooollllll!!
Gazman wrote: It was on SSN there that Rankgers have just put in a bid for him....
wheeen the ball hits your head and you're sat in row Z, thats sam-aras
Before this post, 8 posts in this thread about an English footballer, who had played his entire professional career in England. Yet almost half the posts have some reference to Celtic or Rangers. A sad state of affairs.
Ashton was a hell of a player and is a great loss to the game. Personally, I think he should've gone to the World Cup in 2006, sad that he didnt.
As much as I dont rate him as a footballer, I hope for everybodys sake that Shaun Wright Phillips doesnt get sued over. Thats the last thing the game needs.
Didnt west ham threaten to sue a newspaper in the summer over them reporting that ashton was on the verge of having to jack it in ? he was certainly being touted as having a bright future in an england shirt when he got crocked. excellent striker,big shame :(
Sad news about Ashton. I liked him alot as a player,I even had him in my fantasy team at the start of the season. 
What this also shows, is how bad England is at producing home grown talent.
What has happened to the big clubs playing English strikers?(apart from Rooney).
10 years ago England had a wealth of strikers- Owen, Fowler, Wright, Cole, Sheringham and Shearer
Now if Rooney is unfit next year ,it could be a Sunderland and a West Ham striker leading the attack in the World Cup.
On the plus side ,at least England have a good choice of goalkeepers 
The Teacher wrote:
As much as I dont rate him as a footballer, I hope for everybodys sake that Shaun Wright Phillips doesnt get sued over. Thats the last thing the game needs.
NO Regret wrote: I certainly dont begrudge their high salaries cos it could end tomorrow for them.
Isn't it right Ashton's getting 3 million as a 'final year's salary' from West Ham, and his insurance payout is something like 7 million as well?
And he's still considering suing Chelski as Wright-Phillips was their player at the time.
The poor love. I'm thinking of sending a donation to help the Ashton cause, to help him through these difficult times. Who's with me? 
Ger Boy wrote: Sad news about Ashton. I liked him alot as a player,I even had him in my fantasy team at the start of the season.
What this also shows, is how bad England is at producing home grown talent. What has happened to the big clubs playing English strikers?(apart from Rooney). 10 years ago England had a wealth of strikers- Owen, Fowler, Wright, Cole, Sheringham and Shearer Now if Rooney is unfit next year ,it could be a Sunderland and a West Ham striker leading the attack in the World Cup. On the plus side ,at least England have a good choice of goalkeepers
Id put Defoe, Crouch, Owen and even Heskey above Bent and Cole.
