
Thanks to Dave Rowntree for many of the player images after 1984.
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JON ASHTON
Born: 04 August 1979
Came from: Trainee Went to: Exeter City
First game: 26 August 1997 Last game: 06 May 2000
Appearances: 44 (35/9) Goals: 0
Born in Plymouth and a defender, Ashton came through the youth ranks as a trainee at Home Park, and at one stage had even been a mascot for a match. He signed full professional forms at Home Park in July 1997.
Thought to have exceptional promise, he only played occasionally in three seasons at the club. Selected only once by Mick Jones - his debut at just 18 years old - the remainder of his appearances for the club came under Kevin Hodges.
Ashton even once donned the keeper's gloves for Argyle, when Jon Sheffield was injured in an away game at Chester City in which he was knocked unconscious. Having come on earlier as a sub, he then took over in goal, but was powerless to stop a City come back as three goals shipped made for a 3-2 comeback win for the home team.
After 44 appearances in green, he then joined Exeter City on a free transfer in the summer of 2000, playing in 13 league games during his one season with the club. Having left St James Park he then spent a year with Conference side Hayes, making 22 appearances in all competitions. Ashton then went on to play for Dulwich Hamlet, before returning to the South West for spells with Bodmin Town, Bridgwater Town and Paulton Rovers.
Rovers proved to be his last club, an Achilles injury forcing his retirement from the game aged just 26, and he has since continued to live locally, working in the financial services sector since 2003. He has been a match-day guest of the club, via Forever Green (the former players' association) and as regular supporter, is a familiar face amongst the Green Army at both home and away games.
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APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in the following selected competitions: Southern & Western Leagues, English Football League, Football League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Minor Cups
Excluded: Football League (1939), War Leagues
I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
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