Players - Charlie Ashcroft

Charlie Ashcroft
Birthdate: 3 July 1926
Birthplace: Chorley, Lancashire, England
Date of death: 13 March 2010
Other clubs: Eccleston, Chorley (1944-45), Ipswich Town (1955-57), Coventry City (1957-58), Chorley (2 / 1958-61)
Liverpool debut: 07.09.1946
Last appearance: 12.03.1955
Contract expiry: 06.06.1955
Win ratio: 34.83% W:31 D:28 L:30
Wartime games/goals: 10 / 0
League games / goals: 87 / 0
Total games / goals: 89 / 0
League clean sheets: 15
Total clean sheets: 15

Player Profile

Cyril Sidlow was replaced by Ashcroft in the 1951/52 season having only featured in nine first-team matches since the resumption of League football following World War II. Ashcroft earned the distinction of saving a penalty from Preston legend Tom Finney on the opening day of the 1952/53 season and was first choice until December 1952 when he lost his place to Russell Crossley after a disastrous spell for the club. The arrival of Dave Underwood in December 1953 further restricted his chances. Liverpool were relegated in the spring and South African Doug Rudham was signed at the start of the 1954/55 season. Ashcroft still managed 15 games in his final season despite battling for one position with Underwood and Rudham.

Ashcroft was then signed by future England World Cup-winning coach Sir Alf Ramsey for Ipswich Town who played in Third Division South. After only seven games he broke his arm in a reserve game and left for Coventry the following summer. He only stayed at the Sky Blues for one season as his break hadn't healed properly so City had effectively signed a 'keeper who couldn't straighten his arm! He dropped into non league football with Chorley, spending thirty years working for the Royal Ordnance factory at Euxton near Preston. He died in 2010.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 87 2 0 0 0 89
1945-1946 0 0 0 0 0 0
1946-1947 2 0 0 0 0 2
1947-1948 0 0 0 0 0 0
1948-1949 0 0 0 0 0 0
1949-1950 0 0 0 0 0 0
1950-1951 7 0 0 0 0 7
1951-1952 34 1 0 0 0 35
1952-1953 24 0 0 0 0 24
1953-1954 6 0 0 0 0 6
1954-1955 14 1 0 0 0 15
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
6 540 Stoke City
6 540 Manchester United
5 450 Newcastle United
5 450 Preston North End
5 450 Burnley
5 450 Tottenham
4 360 Bolton Wanderers
4 360 WBA
4 360 Arsenal
4 360 Chelsea
4 360 Portsmouth
3 270 Aston Villa
3 270 Middlesbrough
3 270 Charlton Athletic
3 270 Manchester City
3 270 Fulham
2 180 Sheffield Wednesday
2 180 Wolves
2 180 Notts County
2 180 Huddersfield Town
2 180 Bury
2 180 Derby
2 180 Sunderland
1 90 Lincoln City
1 90 Plymouth Argyle
1 90 Swansea City
1 90 Rotherham United
1 90 Luton Town
1 90 Bristol Rovers
1 90 Hull City
1 90 Blackpool
Total Venue
47 Home
42 Away
Total Competition
87 League
2 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
85 30 26 29 35.3% Don Welsh
4 1 2 1 25% George Kay
Clean sheets per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 15 0 0 0 0 15
1945-1946 0 0 0 0 0 0
1946-1947 0 0 0 0 0 0
1947-1948 0 0 0 0 0 0
1948-1949 0 0 0 0 0 0
1949-1950 0 0 0 0 0 0
1950-1951 3 0 0 0 0 3
1951-1952 7 0 0 0 0 7
1952-1953 4 0 0 0 0 4
1953-1954 0 0 0 0 0 0
1954-1955 1 0 0 0 0 1
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season Appearances Goals
1945-1946 10 0
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 07.09.1946 Chelsea Anfield League
50 10.09.1952 Tottenham Anfield League
Related Articles
Arsenal bid for Ashcroft

The Daily Express on 23 December, 1953.

Black eye Reds

Daily Express report on Notts County 0 - 3 Liverpool on 03.03.1955.

Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Eccleston N/A N/A N/A N/A
Chorley YMCA League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Ipswich Town 1955-1956 England Third Division South 7 0 7 0
Coventry City 1957-1958 England Third Division South 19 0 19 0
Chorley 1958-1960 Lancashire Combination N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total 26 0 26 0