Eric Ashton RIP

[Vambo]

St Helens' Life President and Director Eric Ashton MBE has died following a long illness.

Eric coached St Helens to the League ***le in 1974/75, Challenge Cup glory in 1976 and was Chairman in 1996 when the Club won the inaugural Super League and Challenge Cup double.

Eric is a Rugby League Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He made 571 appearances for Wigan and won 26 caps for Great Britain including 15 as captain. He captained Great Britain in their 1963 Ashes winning series in Australia.

Saints Chairman Eamonn McManus stated: “The Club and the game has lost one of its greatest ever players and greatest ever men. He was one of the best of the best during a golden era for British Rugby League.

“The Club intended to present Eric with a plaque commemorating five years as St Helens Life President at the Wigan game tomorrow; this will now be done privately with his family and a minute’s silence held in his honour, fittingly, at the Saints v Wigan Derby at Knowsley Road on Good Friday â€" a game which he graced as a player many times.

“All our thoughts are with Eric’s wife Doreen and his family.â€

A sad day for both St Helens & Wigan

 

[jeffb]

Sad day indeed for League.



RIP Eric

 

[wigan_rlfc]

One of Rugby League's greatest.

RIP

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Very sad day for all of us. Should be a great minutes silence tomorrow.

RIP Eric.

 

[Bullitt]

Was he anything to do with Chris Ashton?

 

[Vambo]

Was he anything to do with Chris Ashton?
[/b]

No.

 

[Bullitt]

Ah, some people on the Saints board seem to think he was his grandfather.

 

[Vambo]

The minute's silence came across brilliantly on TV and was a wonderful mark of respect to a man both teams hold dear :bravo:

 

[wigan_rlfc]

Yes perfectly obsereved. Fitting tribute to a man who has done so much for both teams.