Crewe Who

My Bio

As I sit down and look out the window at the rain hitting the fresh cut green grass, I think back to my footballing days and how I loved the rain when I was playing matches. I look back over my youth career with both Stoke City And Crewe, But I knew I wanted to sign for Crewe deep down in my heart it was the right move. At the age of 16 I signed my scholarship forms in 2000 for Crewe.

At a young age I was been labelled as a hot player for the future, at the age of 18 I was playing for England under 21s, after playing for the 16s 17s 18s and 19s all in the space of a year. That year Crewe got promoted back to league one, with me scoring 16 goals. My manager at the time Dario Gradi had a lot of faith in me for such a young player, and I wanted to repay that faith.

The next year we were in division 1 and I was starting a lot more games still as a young player, I managed to get 19 league goals that season. Dario said to me at the end of the season there are a lot of big clubs looking at you, but your contract has 4 years left. He asked me to stay one more season; he said to me that clubs were offering 1 million pounds for me. But he told me I am worth more than that. So I stayed with the club for one more year.

My last season with Crewe I bagged another 19 goals for the club, and again clubs were watching Norwich were a good club back then in the premiership mid table most years. I had other offers but was not offered a starting place, but Norwich did offer me that so I moved there and Norwich broke there transfer record buying me for 3.5 million.

So with my new team, we were all looking forward to the premiership. But it was not to be are year as we went down, and again I was linked with a move back to the premiership. But again I stayed to try and win back promotion to the premiership. That season we did not get back and I scored 22 goals for the club, I felt the time was right to move on West Ham for 7.5 million.

My first season there I scored 14 goals in the premiership, and the fa cup run were we lost in penalties to Liverpool really hurt. Many said I should of been going to the 2006 world cup but I never got the call up, to be honest I was really upset. Later that year I got my one and only England call up were I got a broken ankle and missed the whole of the 2007 season, and that’s when things went downhill.

In 2008-09 season I made only 5 starts scoring 3 goals, and then I did my ankle in again. I tried to get fit but every time I got back to fitness the ankle went again. And after singing a new 5 year deal a few months before On the 11th of December I announced my retirement at the age of 26. In total I made 280 apps and scored 111 goals.

I just miss all the football the challenge, I have my coaching badges and I never used them maybe I need football in my life to be happy. I will start by looking for work doing anything with any team just to recap everything, I hope this works out for me.

Liking the history Looking forward to reading more.

An Old Friend

With the job search not going well I decided to take a drive to Crewe to talk to Dario Gradi, I wanted to see if he need help with anything, to be honest I was dying to do anything. We went for lunch had a chat to catch up, talking about my playing days been cut short, but that’s football. After lunch I asked him does he know any were looking to hire people Dario been Dario he called down the manager at the restaurant and asked if they would take me on as a chef, the manager laughed and walked away but at the same it was funny.

Dario said he was not too sure and he will ask around for me, the very next day he told me to get down to Crewe he wanted to talk to me about something. So driving to Crewe I started thing has he found me something, even in the under 19s would be great. I hope I got something it would be great. I phone Dario to tell him I am outside he tells me to go into reception he be there in 5 minutes.

As I make my way to reception I was greeted by John Bowler the chairman since 1987, he was happy to see me as was I with him, Dean its been a while how are you keeping, I am fine just looking to get back into football. Yes Dario was telling me please come up to my office. As I follow him to his office, I spot a pitcher of me when I was 18 on the wall, how young I was I just laughed.

Dean the reason Dario had you come into me today is your looking for a job, and we are looking for a new manager and Dario as said to me that he trust you to do the job he has been hear over 30 years now and I trust what he says to me. So this is what I am going to offer you a one year deal on 19,000 a week, and Dario is going be by your side for that year to help you out show you the ropes. After that year Dario will report back to me on how you are doing and we will take it from there.

Em I don’t know what to say, I was not expecting to be made a manager straight away. I was looking for something smaller, but if you trust me with that role I will give all I have to it. And I know under Dario I will learn a lot. I will accept the job offer, and I will show you that I can step up to this role.

That’s great dean we hope you do, all we want this year is to stay in the division. I am sure you can do it, I know this is sort notice but can you start next Monday we will call a press conference Monday morning announcing you the new club manager. This that sound ok to you.

Yes that’s fine with me; I will see you Monday morning. As I leave the office I have goose bumps all over I can’t believe what happened, Dario is waiting outside for me and says its going be a tough long year so get ready and then walked off. I better get ready, on the way home I think I can’t wait for this and role on Monday.

The Interview

As Monday came I did not know what I was going to say at the press conference, 4 days ago I did not even know if I would have a job never mind be a manager. As I drive up to the Reception area I am greeted by Dario, he says to me am I ready for this, I smile and take a breath and say yes lets go.

As I walk into the press conference room there are a lot of people hear, and Dario says into my ear don’t worry there is more press hear cause of who you are. I take my seat and have a drink of water and get ready for the next couple of minutes.


Sky Sports.
Dean welcome back to the football world, how does it feel to be back at the club that many believe, that is is where you played your best football.

Ashton
Well I am absolutely delighted to be back at Crewe, and to be back as a manager is something I will never forget. I yes I played some great football hear and it was the two men sitting beside me that gave me that chance then and are giving me the chance now.

Goal.com
Dean to be brought in as a manager with no experience, what can you bring to the club?.

Ashton
I know a lot about football and about this club, on how we use are youth players. I will be doing the same thing nothing will change that much I will put my stamp on some things, but won’t change the way the club has been going for the last 15 years.

Goal.com
Yes but dean you have never managed before some people will say the only reason you got this job is because of who you are.

Ashton
Well I can’t stop people for saying what they think, I understand I have not managed before but if you look at other great managers now ask them how they got there chance, and I bet you they say that someone took a gamble on them. Just like Crewe have done with me and this Gamble will pay of I promise you that.

Sky Sports News.
Dean what are you hoping for this season, in terms of the league.

Ashton
Well its simple really we want to stay up, and then we want to build on that. We also want to get a few more youth players up and ready for the first team I have not had time to look at the team yet and with only 2 more games to go in pre –season I need to get going. I want to thank you all for coming out.

John Bowler

I just have a few things to say, we are very happy that we have got dean back to manage the club, he was a great player for us and we no, we will become a great manager.

As of today we also have a new sponsor and will be revealing who that is in the next few days with a brand new kit. Crewe is going to keep growing and growing and with the new sponsor it just proves that.

This sponsor has never sponsored any football teams hear are over the world, we are the first one for them. We are not making money with them from are last sponsors’ but we wanted to go with them as they are known around the world. And we feel with them with us are club will grow.

So with that with dean and a new sponsor the club has already growing, now we just can’t wait to get the season started. We are a great club and with are fans and everything within the club maybe we can become one of the best in England.