Jon Ashton

Jon Ashton

Jonathan James "Jon" Ashton (born 4 October 1982 in Nuneaton, England) is an English footballer, currently playing for League One side Stevenage.

Ashton was part of Leicester City's youth academy, progressing through the youth system for six years after joining the club at the age of 12. He made seven Premier League appearances during Leicester's 2001–02 campaign, playing a total of 10 games for the club. During his time at Leicester, Ashton was loaned out to both Notts County and Oxford United respectively, joining the latter permanently in September 2003 after his successful loan spell. He played over 100 games for the club spanning over three league seasons, before being released in May 2006.

He signed for Rushden & Diamonds ahead of the 2006–07 season, spending one season at the club before joining Essex side Grays Athletic on a free transfer in May 2007. He spent one and a half years with Grays, before signing for Stevenage for an undisclosed fee in January 2009. Ashton was an important part of the side's defence during the club's successful 2009–10 campaign, a season in which Stevenage would earn promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history. The following season, Ashton played a key part in Stevenage earning back-to-back promotions to League One following their sixth place finish and subsequent League Two play-off victory in May 2011. Ashton has also earned four caps for the England C team, three of which game in the Four Nations Tournament in Scotland in May 2007.