Rooming with Andy Cole. Having ice cold buckets of water thrown over his head in training. Managing a team with 108 goals scored after 28 games. Lee Ashcroft has had plenty of experiences in football.
Ashcroft’s Longridge Town side currently sit top of the North West Counties Football League First Division, nine points ahead of second placed Avro who have played three games fewer.
They have achieved some remarkable results this season, winning 11-2 away at Harker Old Boys and a 8-1 defeat of Daisy Hill at the start of the year, culminating in a total of 108 league goals so far.
And an era where managers often switch between clubs, Ashcroft has been loyal to Longridge – he will celebrate his fifth anniversary here in July.
When he took over he said the club had huge potential to climb the leagues, and were promoted from the West Lancashire League Premier Division last season.
But the movement from league to league does come at a financial cost for those lower down the pyramid.
League requirements often mean ground improvements need to be made to play in a higher division, usually involving increasing the capacity.
Ashcroft explained: “We’ve come a long way in a short space of time, from the West Lancs league to spending money in the summer to get the ground right for the level we need to be at.
“To get to the next level we don’t need a whole lot doing.
“Then you go into the Evo-Stik where you need to do a lot more.”
The money spent in the summer was not limited to simply ground improvements, with the playing squad invested in as well.
The increase in numbers has allowed Longridge to challenge at the top of the table throughout the season, with Ashcroft hoping they can see it through.
“We’ve brought in eight or nine new players this season and they’re a good bunch to work with.
“They’re winners, they train well and they take what they’ve done in training into games.
“Winning breeds confidence and that’s what they’ve been doing.”
Longridge were taken over in the summer with a new chairman in place, and Ashcroft spoke positively about the influence he has had.
“I’m really pleased with the way the club has progressed,” the Longridge boss said.
“The new chairman came in with fresh new ideas and I love working with him.
“I have a great relationship with him and long may it continue.”
Longridge are Ashcroft’s third club as a manager, having spent time at Kendal Town – where he ended his playing days – and Northwich Victoria.
That came after a playing career which spanned over 20 years, both in the professional and non-league game.
He started his career at hometown club Preston North End, whom he left in 1993 to join West Brom shortly after John Beck took charge of the Lancashire club.
Ashcroft said of his time at PNE: “Obviously being a local lad and playing for your hometown club, you can’t better that.
“I’ve got good memories and I’ve got some good friends who I still keep in contact with to this day.”
Before his exit, however, he received his one and only England under 21 cap.
He said: “It was quite surprising as I was coming to the end of my time as an under 21 and it came out of the blue that they wanted me to go to Hungary (where the game was taking place).
“I didn’t have a passport so I had to fly and get one!
“I was lucky enough to room with Andy Cole, Jamie Redknapp was in the side, there were some big names.
“And there was me from Preston, no-one knew who I was.
“It was brilliant to represent your country and it was my one and only cap, no-one can take that away from me.”
Ashcroft returned to the club in 1996, working under the management of David Moyes towards the end of his second and last spell.
He said of Moyes: “I played with him as a player and was lucky enough to play under him as a manager.
“I 100% thought he would reach the top.
“He’s a winner, he has had a fantastic career and he’ll get another job and go and be successful again.
“He was an unbelievable manager and football coach to work under and wanted to make the best of what he could.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Ashcroft still follows North End to this day, the club that he helped bring some great memories to.
And he is confident that the current side can finish the season strongly.
“I think they’ll finish mid table and finish strongly.
“They seem to be better away from home than at home.
“They’ve got themselves a great manager (Alex Neil) there, he’s done really well.”
If Preston can push on in the league, alongside a Longridge promotion, it could be a perfect season for Lee Ashcroft.
Longridge are in action on Saturday 23rd February at home to Carlisle City, before they host second placed Avro under the lights the following Tuesday.
RS Sport 