What more can be said - the most successful manager of Carlisle United ever. Alan Ashman was, quite simply, Carlisle United. A playing career that was hardly memorable, until he pulled on a United shirt that is, Ashman played for Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest, both in the wartime leagues and as an amateur. In June 1951 he signed for United and made a total of 207 appearances, scoring 98 goals, before he retired in 1958. It was then that Ashman embarked upon employment with which he is always linked, that of a poultry farmer, and whilst carrying out these duties he also managed Penrith FC. In February 1963 he was invited to take over as team manager of United. This offer was down to one of the clubs directors, Mr Monkhouse, who owned the poultry farm where Ashman worked, and he gave him the opportunity to prove himself.
It was initially a trial period - United were bottom of the League and clearly going down. In came Ashman and for a few weeks he transformed the style of play into neat passing interchanges. Telling the players to do the easy thing, which they obeyed, albeit they were still relegated.
Ashman's position was made permanent, and the following season United were again promoted, this time as runners-up in the Fourth Division. The following season they were crowned as Third Division Champions. Things did not end there, as United almost took the Second Division by storm, eventually finishing third. Alan Ashman was proclaimed as a managerial genius, and hero worshipped at Carlisle where nothing was deemed as being beyond his ability. The club were gunning for First Division football.
Just when things seemed right, the inevitable happened. Ashman was invited to take over as manager of another club - West Bromwich Albion. At the end of his first season at the Hawthorns the Baggies won the FA Cup and the following year they reached the quarter finals of the European Cup Winners Cup and were FA Cup semi-finalists. Football being what it is, Alan Ashman was on holiday in 1971 when a journalist contacted him and told him he had been replaced by Don Howe! Truly despicable treatment, but one which surprises no football supporter.
Ashman had no problems finding further employment, and had a spell in Greece with Olympiakos Piraeur where the club finished League runners up. In August 1972 Alan Ashman returned home and Brunton Park welcomed him with open arms. Ultimately he led United to Division One and for a proud few days the team topped the whole of the Football League. No matter what anyone may say or believe, you do not top any League without being the best, albeit shortlived - United were 'there'. They were heady days at Brunton Park. However, United struggled to score goals, and for some inexplicable reason Ashman refused to buy a proven young goalscorer, sticking with loyalty and the basic side which saw the team promoted, and which was to see them relegated. The following season Ashman resigned and later managed Workington and Walsall. He also acted as scout for Derby County and the Swallows of Walsall, and there were further brief spells as assistant manager at Derby and at Hereford United. A wonderful front man, he enjoyed getting out amongst the supporters and chatting to them about the game, the club, or football in general. An ambassador for the club, it was a great shame that he left the when he did, especially after the highlights of the previous season.
No matter what the future holds, Alan Ashman will always be remembered with fond memories at Brunton Park, and no praise is sufficient reward for what he achieved for the club and its supporters.