Dean Ashton: I tried to get into coaching but it brought back too many bad memories

Former West Ham striker says he has found it hard to return to the game after injury ended his career at just 26
Giuseppe Muro13 November 2013

Still two weeks shy of his 30th birthday, Dean Ashton should be at the peak of his career and preparing to lead England’s forward line at the World Cup next summer.

But instead of being called-up by Roy Hodgson for the friendlies with Chile and Germany, the former West Ham man has been left contemplating what might have been.

Ashton was forced to retire in 2009. A tackle by Shaun Wright-Phillips during training with England three years earlier shattered his left ankle and he was never the same player before eventually calling it a day at the age of just 26.

Once touted as the man to partner Wayne Rooney at major tournaments for years to come, Ashton only played 45 minutes of international football.

“There is not a day that goes by that I do not wish I could still play,” says Ashton, whose solitary England appearance was in a 3-0 friendly win against Trinidad and Tobago in 2008. “When there are still people in the game that you played with, you are bound to feel a little bit bitter. It is hard not to.

“It is even more difficult in a World Cup year. I got one cap, which was great but it is always going to be in the back of my mind that I should have played more for my country. Who knows what might have happened? I do not think there is any harm in feeling like that. It is only natural. You have got to get to a point where you can’t let it eat you up. Of course I wish it was me going to Brazil next summer but it is not to be.”

Ashton had scored in West Ham’s FA Cup Final defeat to Liverpool when he sustained his injury ahead of Steve McClaren’s first game as England manager in August 2006. It would be a year before he played again. He did return for West Ham and earn that one cap but the problem with his ankle recurred and he was advised to quit or risk being unable to walk later in life.

Ashton says he has never received an apology from Wright-Phillips, then at Chelsea. He had an operation after retiring to fuse the bones in his ankle to ease the discomfort and, while he can no longer run without “looking weird”, he is free of any pain.

“I had a good 10 years in the game and the experience was fantastic but when I first finished it was pretty horrible,” says Ashton. “Not only did I have to get over the injury but I had to get over another big operation and I was on crutches for about six months. I moved to Norwich and cut everyone off. It sounds a bit horrible but that is what it was like at the time. I needed to cut it all off and forget about it.”

Ashton spent two-and-a-half years away from football — playing golf and doing some media work — while coming to terms with not fulfilling his obvious potential. He is still rediscovering his love for the game.

He took tentative steps towards a return last year but four months spent doing his coaching badges at Norwich brought back too many bad memories. For now, some punditry with BT Sport is as close as he gets to the action.

“I enjoyed being back at a football club and Norwich were great at helping me but being around the training pitch was bringing back too much,” said Ashton. “It was making me feel down and I do not think I had the passion for the tactical side of things. I have lots of time to think about that when I’m older.

“I have always loved football and I will always want to be involved in it but it is nice to have other interests away from it. Golf has been brilliant for me since I have been finished, in terms of giving me something to focus on and enjoying sport.”

Ashton received compensation after he retired but the money he earned from football was not enough to make him comfortable for the rest of his life.

“Of course I did well out of football and I am very grateful for that but nowhere near enough so that I do not have to work again,” he adds. “I did have six to nine months knowing that I was going to retire to get things in order and that helped.”

Ashton has some advice for current West Ham forward Andy Carroll, who has not played since May because of a persistent heel injury. He says: “Andy has to be patient and not worry about what anyone is saying. It is about concentrating on making sure the injury is right.”

Carroll is expected to return in the New Year and will be in contention for a place in the England squad for the World Cup in Brazil. Sadly, of course, Ashton will not.

Dean Ashton was talking on behalf of Aviva ahead of Financial Planning Week in November. To find out more about savings and investments visit aviva.co.uk/savings-and-investments

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