Eric Ashton MBE is a former English rugby league player who played for Wigan RLFC. His position of choice was right centre three-qaurter Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand Cross... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Rugby league is a team sport played by two teams of 17 players, with 13 on the field at any one time and 4 on the bench (reserves). ...

Wigan RLFC

Born in 1935 in St. Helens Ashton had been a keen admirer of the game and signed for the St.Helens schoolboys before joining the Army. In 1955 Ashton left National Service and signed for Wigan in 1955 for £150. 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... St Helens is the name of several places: St Helens, Merseyside, which is the home of rugby team St Helens RFC and football (soccer) team St Helens Town F.C. St Helens, Isles of Scilly St Helens, Isle of Wight St. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... National Service is a common name for compulsory or voluntary military service programs. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ashton linked up with Welsh Rugby League winger Billy Boston and formed one of the most devastating right-wing-three-quarter partnerships of recent years. Such was the impact of both Ashton and Boston it led to Ashton being promoted as captain of the Wigan side after just two years at the club, at the tender age of 22. It was a position he would go onto hold for 12 years. Billy Boston MBE is a Welsh rugby league footballer. ... This article concerns the rank and title of Captain. ...

Ashton's honours and achievements are nothing short of impressive, with 3 victorious Wembley Challenge Cup Finals (out of 6 in total), a RL Championship in 1966, a Lancashire Challenge Cup and two Lancashire League Championships as well as a BBC Floodlit Trophy. Wembley is a place in the London Borough of Brent. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ...

Ashton was a true professional in every sense, being sent off just twice in his whole career and due to his professionalism, talent and intelligence he was awarded a call up to the international scene.

International career

Ashton totalled 26 caps for Great Britian with his first tour of Australia coming in 1957 with the World Cup and with a touring Lions. He was one of the players involved in the all conquering side of 1960, captianing Great Britian to victory over the Kangaroos For the Great Britain and Ireland Lions rugby union football team of the same name, go to British and Irish Lions Great Britain team shirt Great Britain is one of the major national teams playing rugby league. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The original World Cup, first lifted in 1954 by Great Britain The Rugby League World Cup, is a tournament in which a number of the strongest rugby league nations participate in, to determine which nation is supreme in the sport. ... For the Great Britain and Ireland Lions rugby union football team of the same name, go to British and Irish Lions Great Britain team shirt Great Britain is one of the major national teams playing rugby league. ... For the Great Britain and Ireland Lions rugby union football team of the same name, go to British and Irish Lions Great Britain team shirt Great Britain is one of the major national teams playing rugby league. ... The Australian Rugby League (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. ...

Its usually said that Ashton's greatest moment would have come in 1962 when captaining Great Britian to almost completing a whitewash over the Australians, but a last minute refereeing decision ruined the chance of this happening. In total Ashton captainied the team 15 times.

Honours

Due to his heroics in the southern hemisphere Eric Ashton was the first rugby league player to be honoured by the Queen. He was awarded the MBE in June 1966 June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with a length of 30 days. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ...

Coaching

His achievements did not stop when he finally retired after making 497 appearances and scoring 231 tries and 448 goals. He coached Wigan from 1963 to 1973, moved on to coach Leeds for the 1973-74 season before taking over at St. Helens where he twice took them to Wembley. He also coached Great Britain on the 1979 tour down under. He ended his coaching days in 1980, becoming a director of St Helens in 1982, and being chairman of the club between 1993 and 1997, seeing them do the double in 1996. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Statistics Population: 443,247 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SE297338 Administration Metropolitan borough: City of Leeds Metropolitan county: West Yorkshire Region: Yorkshire and the Humber Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: West Yorkshire Historic county: Yorkshire (West Riding) Services Police force: West Yorkshire Police Fire and... St Helens Rugby League Football Club or simply Saints are a professional rugby league club from St Helens, England. ... Wembley is a place in the London Borough of Brent. ...