Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2003 10:31 pm Posts: 19783 Member for 19 years
News circulating on social media that Bill Ashurst has sadly passed away today. Legendary player with a fierce reputation but off the pitch was the sweetest man you could meet, an absolute gentleman.
RIP Bill.
WIGAN RLFC - SL ERA
WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS 2017
SUPER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 1998, 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2018
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL WINNERS 2002, 2011, 2013 & 2022
LEAGUE LEADERS CHAMPIONS 2010, 2012 & 2020
ACADEMY GRAND FINAL WINNERS 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 & 2019
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:25 am Posts: 4509 Location: Just about to go do some work! Member for 16 years
Can honestly say that he was one of the nicest men you could ever wish to meet. Spoke to him regularly when I lived over in Poolstock. A true gentleman. RIP Bill.
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:44 am Posts: 1095 Location: Australia Member for 11 years
Was at his first game for Penrith in 1974 when he debuted with Mike Stephenson and at the Panthers became a huge fan favourite. In 2006 to celebrate their first 40 years in the NSWRFL Panthers picked a team of club legends that had played in that period with Bill being selected( but not Stevo). A huge mural of the team members was subsequently displayed in the foyer of the Panthers Leagues Club for almost 30 years before being moved to the entrance of the adjacent A$22 Million Academy when it was opened in 2016.
Being here since 1968 I have seen all of the UK players that have played here and Bill was in the top tier. He was the first in Aus to use the round-the -corner goal kicking style which pleased me because in the 50 and 60's I used the same technique when I played Rugby in England. I have him in the team as the best I have seen that have played for Wigan.
RIP Bill. Your song has ended but your melody will linger on.
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:15 am Posts: 418 Location: Egham-ish Member for 14 years
Sad news indeed. I never saw him play but it's obvious from the way people talk about him that he was a genuinely great player.
"I have this system where I support England first, then the other Home Nations, then the rest of the Commonwealth, then the rest of the World, then France."
I met Bill through work a few years back. He sat in the kitchen here talking about rugby and relaying stories with his wife and daughter patiently sat next to him clearly hearing them for the 100th time! A genuinely nice bloke but with bags of character. I'll treasure the signed copy of his autobiography that he gave me. RIP Bill