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Neil Aspin

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Neil Aspin
Personal information
Full name Neil Aspin[1]
Date of birth (1965-04-12)12 April 1965(age 59)[1]
Place of birth Gateshead,England[2]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1979–1982 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1989 Leeds United 207 (5)
1989–1999 Port Vale 348 (3)
1999–2001 Darlington 50 (0)
2001 Hartlepool United 10 (0)
2001–2004 Harrogate Town
2009–2014 FC Halifax Town 0 (0)
Total 615 (8)
Managerial career
2005–2009 Harrogate Town
2009–2015 FC Halifax Town
2015–2017 Gateshead
2017–2019 Port Vale
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Neil Aspin(born 12 April 1965) is an Englishfootballmanagerand former player.

A defender who could play atcentre-backandright-back,he was amarkerand antackler.He made his debut in theEnglish Football LeagueforLeeds Unitedat the age of 16 in February 1982, which would be his only appearance in theFirst Division(first tier). He spent seven seasons in theSecond Division(second tier) with the club, making 244 league and cup appearances and being named the club's Player of the Year for the 1984–85 season. He was sold toPort Valefor a£150,000 fee in July 1989 and would go on to make 410 appearances in all competitions during a ten-season stay atVale Park.He was named the club'sPlayer of the Yearin the 1989–90 season and helped the "Valiants" to win theFootball League Trophyin1993.The following season, 1993–94, he was named on thePFA Team of the Yearas he helped Vale to winpromotionout of the Second Division (third tier), and he again won the Port Vale Player of the Year award. He also played in the1996Anglo-Italian Cupfinal defeat toGenoa.He spent July 1999 to January 2001 withThird Division(fourth tier) sideDarlington.Then he spent the second half of the 2000–01 season atHartlepool United.He played inplay-offfinal defeats with Leeds, Port Vale and Darlington.

He playednon-League footballatHarrogate Townuntil retiring as a player in 2004, and then managed the club from January 2005 to April 2009. He was appointed as manager ofFC Halifax Townin April 2009. He managed Halifax to three successive promotions in his first four seasons at the club, taking them from the second tier of theNorthern Premier Leagueto theConference Premierby winning the Northern Premier League Division One North and Premier Division titles in 2009–10 and 2010–11 and then theConference Northplay-offs in 2013; he also won thePeter Swales Shieldin 2011 and theWest Riding County Cupin 2013, as well as numerous Manager of the Month awards. However, he was sacked in September 2015 after a series of poor results, and two months later took charge atGateshead.He spent two years at Gateshead before he was installed as Port Vale manager in October 2017. He steered the club away fromrelegationat the end of the 2017–18 season before tendering his resignation in January 2019.

Playing career

[edit]

Leeds United

[edit]

Born inGateshead,County Durham, Aspin began his career as a trainee atLeeds United,a club he supported as a boy despite its distance from his hometown.[4]He signed with the club as a schoolboy at the age of 14 and became an apprentice at age 16.[5]He attendedHeathfield Senior High Schooland won Durham County Schools honours and had trials forEngland Schoolboys.[6]He became the secondyoungest ever débutantefor the club, behindPeter Lorimer,when he played in a 2–0 defeat toIpswich TownatElland Roadon 20 February 1982 at the age of 16 years, 10 months and 9 days; he was selected bymanagerAllan Clarkedue to suspension toKenny Burnsand injuries toTrevor Cherry,Brian GreenhoffandNeil Firm.[4][6]He was the subject of a documentary in theRowan's Reportseries, aired onITVon 9 August 1982, a series which focused on some of the country's most successful children.[7]He signed professionally at the age of 17.[5]

Leeds wererelegatedout of theFirst Divisionat the end of the1981–82season. Aspin made his second appearance for the "Whites" on 4 December 1982, in a 1–0 home defeat byQueens Park Rangers,his first start under new managerEddie Gray.[8]He went on to make a further 14Second Divisionappearances during the1982–83season, with the club posting an eighth-place finish in their first season back in the second tier for 19 years. Aspin scored his first senior goal on 17 March 1984, helping to secure a 2–1 home win overGrimsby Town.[9]He featured 26 times throughout the1983–84season and 33 times in the1984–85campaign, scoring his second goal career atCarlisle United;he was voted the club's Player of the Year in 1985.[10][11]He posted 42 appearances in the1985–86campaign, scoring in away wins atStoke CityandBradford City,though Leeds slipped down to 14th in the table as new managerBilly Bremnerstarted to rebuild the team.[12][13]

United came close topromotionin the1986–87season, with Aspin missing only one league game to make a total of 54 league and cup appearances and scoring goals againstOldham AthleticandShrewsbury Town;Leeds secured aplay-offplace with a fourth-place finish, but lost 2–1 toCharlton Athleticin theplay-off finalreplayatSt Andrew's.[14][15][16]John Sheridanhad put Leeds ahead inextra time,only forPeter Shirtliffto score in the 113th and 117th minutes to deny United a return to the top tier. This followed disappointment in theFA Cup,where Leeds had reached thesemi-finals,only to suffer defeat toCoventry CityatHillsborough,again in extra time.[17]Aspin played in the game after he postponed his wedding, which had been scheduled to take place on the day of the semi-final.[4]He featured 30 times during the1987–88season and 39 times in the1988–89campaign, before he was allowed to leave the club by new managerHoward Wilkinsonafter losing his place to new signingMel Sterland.He was sold toPort Valefor a£150,000 fee in July 1989, choosing theMidlandsclub ahead of a move toLondon-basedCharlton Athletic.[4][5]Vale had offered £75,000 a year earlier, which had been rejected by Leeds.[18]

Port Vale

[edit]

Port Vale were preparing for their first Second Division campaign in 32 years when Aspin arrived at the club. He played 51 games in the1989–90season, as the club recorded an eleventh-place finish. He immediately established himself as a firm favourite with the supporters atVale Park,taking theclub's player of the year awardand most of the other club's awards at the end of the campaign.[19]He was also entrusted with the club'scaptaincy.[4]He played 46 games in the1990–91season, and scored his first goal for the "Valiants" in a 3–2 win overPortsmouthon 19 January. He was consistent again in the relegation season of1991–92,making another 46 appearances. On 24 November 1992, he was hospitalised in a 3–1 win overPotteries derbyrivalsStoke Cityfollowing a knee-high challenge fromSteve Foley,though Aspin later said "it was a fantastic night, a great atmosphere and I still remember the ball sticking in the mud".[18]He played 48 games in the1992–93season and played a leading role in the club's victoriousFootball League Trophycampaign.[20]Thefinalwas played atWembley Stadium,and Aspin played alongsidePeter SwanandDean Gloverto help Vale record a 2–1 win overStockport County.[21]Vale finished third in the league, just one point second-placedBolton Wanderers,and reached Wembley again after beating Stockport County in the play-off semi-finals. However, they suffered a 3–0 defeat toWest Bromwich Albionin theplay-off final.

Vale secured promotion into the First Division at the end of the1993–94season. Aspin was voted Player of the Year for a second time for his performances across 51 appearances that season.[22]He was also elected to the divisionalTeam of the Season,as voted for by members of theProfessional Footballers' Association.[23]He scored just the eighth goal of his career on 12 March 1994, in a 4–1 win atHartlepool United.Vale retained their second-tier status in1994–95,with Aspin featuring in 40 games. He was reduced to 30 appearances in the1995–96campaign, though did play in the1996 Anglo-Italian Cup final,as Vale lost 5–2 toSerie BsideGenoa.[24]He scored the third and final goal of his Vale career on 16 April 1996, in a 1–0 home win overGrimsby Town.

He made 38 appearances in the1996–97campaign, as the club posted their highest ever post-warfinish, eighth in the second tier. He played 29 games in the1997–98and 32 games in1998–99seasons. He was then handed afree transferby new managerBrian Horton,who had replaced long-servingJohn Rudgein January 1999.[25]Aspin had made 410 league and cup appearances in his ten years at the club and enjoyed atestimonial matchfeaturing Vale supporting pop-starRobbie Williams.[26]

Later career

[edit]

Aspin remained in theEnglish Football Leagueafter leaving Port Vale, signing withDarlingtonin July 1999.[25]He made 34 appearances, helpingDavid Hodgson's "Quakers" to reach theThird Divisionplay-off final in2000after overcoming Hartlepool United in the play-off semi-finals following their fourth-place finish at the end of the1999–2000season. However,Peterborough Unitedwon the play-off final 1–0, leaving Aspin with three defeats from his three play-off final appearances.[27]Darlington struggled in the2000–01season, and Aspin left the club in January 2001 to sign for Hartlepool United. He played ten league games as the "Pools" reached the Third Division play-offs, where they were defeated byBlackpoolat the semi-final stage. At the end of the campaign Aspin joinedNorthern Premier LeagueFirst Division sideHarrogate Townas a player-coach.[25]

Harrogate topped the table by a ten-point margin in the2001–02season and spent the2002–03campaign in the Premier Division. The club was invited to join the newly formedConference Northafter a fifth-place finish in the2003–04season. Aspin worked as managerJohn Reed's assistant as he wound down his playing career to focus on coaching.[28]He was expected to return to Darlington as a defensive coach,[29]only for the move to fall through after the club reversed its decision.[30]

Style of play

[edit]

A soliddefenderwho could play at centre-back and right-back, Aspin was a goodmarkerand an adepttackler.[31]He was popular with supporters due to his commitment and hard-working style of play, which made up for his lack oftechnical skill.[6]He was nicknamed "Skull" by Leeds fans, having suffered fromhair lossat an early age.[32]In May 2019, he was voted into the "Ultimate Port Vale XI" by members of theOneValeFansupporter website.[33]

"Aspo was one of those guys who played with a very basic philosophy. Either the ball or the player could pass him, but never both – and he often preferred to clear the player rather than the ball."

— Robbie Earlewriting in 2012.[34]

Managerial career

[edit]

Harrogate Town

[edit]

Aspin returned to former clubHarrogate Townin his first management role on 18 January 2005. He secured a 5–1 win overAshton Unitedon 12 February, and Town ended the2004–05season in sixth place, just one point outside theConference Northplay-offs. They secured a play-off place in his first full season,2005–06,but lost out 1–0 toStafford Rangersin the semi-finals.[35]Harrogate also played their first match against Football League opposition, takingTorquay Unitedto a replay in the first round of theFA Cup.[36]They again finished in sixth-place in the2006–07and2007–08seasons, missing out by one and then two points respectively. Following a ninth-place finish at the end of the2008–09campaign, Aspin decided he could not take the club any further with the budget on offer and announced his decision to leave.[37]

FC Halifax Town

[edit]

On 28 April 2009, Aspin was appointed manager ofNorthern Premier LeagueDivision One North clubFC Halifax Town.[38]In his first season with the "Shaymen",2009–10,he led them to the Division One North title, winning the league with 100 points, with the team scoring 108 goals. He was named as Manager of the Month for September after his team secured six wins in seven games.[39]He managed Halifax to back-to-back promotions as they secured the Northern Premier League Premier Division title with 98 points in the2010–11campaign, again scoring 108 goals. In his first two seasons, the team had only lost six league games, allowing Aspin to pick up several Manager of the Month awards, as well as the Non-League Paper Manager of the Year award.[40]In August 2011 he soldJamie VardytoFleetwood Townfor an initial fee of £150,000, which later rose to around £500,000. He had signed Vardy fromStocksbridge Park Steelsfor £16,000 just over 12 months previously.[41]

After defeatingAshton Unitedon penalties in thePeter Swales Shield,[42]Aspin led his team to the FA Cup first round for the first time in the club's brief history, where they lost at home toCharlton Athletic.[43]He was named as Manager of the Month for October 2011 after winning five of their six games.[44]However, a third consecutive promotion eluded him in the2011–12season; Halifax secured a play-off place with a third-place finish, but were beaten 3–2 onaggregatebyGainsborough Trinityat the semi-final stage. Aspin went on to say "we deserved to win the game today there is no question about that. We had more possession, more shots on goal, more corners, hit the woodwork twice and we dominated play. However, if you don't score in football, unfortunately you don't win matches and it wasn't to be. You need some luck to win the play-offs and we didn't get it."[45]Aspin picked up another Manager of the Month award after Halifax scored 14 goals in their two league and two FA Cup matches in November 2012.[46]Halifax secured a play-off spot at the end of the2012–13season, and won a third-successive promotion with a 1–0 victory overBrackley Town.[47]He also added theWest Riding County Cupto the club's trophy cabinet with a 1–0 victory overGuiseley.[48]

In the club's first season in theConference Premier,he led Halifax to a fifth-place finish, securing a play-off spot. They lost out toCambridge Unitedat the play-off semi-final stage, squandering a 1–0 first-leg lead afterLee Gregoryhad scored from thepenaltyspot.[49]Halifax had a great start to the2014–15season and Aspin was named as the division's manager of the month after leading the club to five wins in six games in August.[50]During that same month he signed a new two-yearcontractwith the club.[51]On 1 October, now aged 49, he played himself as a 69th-minutesubstituteforLee Noganin a 3–0 defeat at Guiseley in the first round of the West Riding County Cup.[52]He was again named as Manager of the Month for February after Halifax rose to fourth-place with 14 points from an available 18, including four away victories.[53]Halifax's promotion push collapsed at the end of the season, and they ended in ninth place on a run of just one win in their final 15 games.[54]He was sacked on 17 September 2015 following what the board described as "a prolonged period of indifferent results stretching back to February 2015".[55]

Gateshead

[edit]

On 27 November 2015, it was announced that Aspin was to be appointed manager ofNational LeagueclubGatesheadon 30 November after signing an 18-month contract.[56]He stated it was "lovely to come back" to his hometown club.[57]He led the "Tynesiders" to a ninth-place finish in2015–16.He signed an extended two-year contract in August 2016.[58]He was named National League Manager of the Month for February 2017 after leading Gateshead to within touching distance of the play-offs with a series of victories.[59]Gateshead ended the2016–17campaign in eighth place, 12 points outside the play-offs. At his departure, Gateshead were 15th in the National League table.[60]

Port Vale

[edit]

On 4 October 2017, Aspin was appointed as manager of former club Port Vale, who were 22nd inLeague Twoafter a poor start to the2017–18season; his former managerJohn Rudgealso returned to the club in an advisory role.[61]Aspin said that his new squad was too big with 33 senior professionals at the club, and added that he would try to find aformationto suit the players at his disposal and that he wanted the team to push further forward to support target-man strikerTom Pope.[62]He picked up his first win as Vale manager on 14 October, with Pope scoring a brace in a 3–1 home win overCheltenham Town.[63]Seven days later, Aspin was named as manager of the week after his side won 1–0 away atExeter City.[64]He went on to be nominated for theLeague Two Manager of the Monthaward after three wins in five games and five goals in the month of October.[65]He signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with the club in December 2017.[66]He was also nominated for that month's Manager of the Month award after collecting 13 points from Vale's five matches, including a 4–0 victory over league leadersLuton Townand a 1–0 win over promotion chasingCoventry City;However, the award instead went toDanny CowleyatLincoln City.[67]

In theJanuary transfer windowAspin allowed two departures, plusGavin Gunningleft the club after rejecting a contract offer and centre-backTom Andersonwas recalled from hisloan;incoming werenon-LeagueplayersDior Angus,Luke HannantandCallum Howe,as well as loaneesDonovan Wilson,Zak Jules,Charlie RaglanandKyle Howkins.[68]Aspin remarked that the four centre-backs brought in did not cost the club much financially, and that he would have liked to have strengthened in other areas "but for one reason or another it just hasn't happened".[68]However, he managed to convertCristian Montañofrom a winger to a left-back andAntony Kayfrom a centre-half to a central midfielder, and guided the club to safety with two games to spare.[69]Vale ended the campaign in 20th-place – the joint-lowest finish in theclub's history– with just one point above the relegation zone, having been out of the relegation zone ongoal differenceupon Aspin's arrival at the club.[70]

Building for the2018–19season, Aspin released ten players andtransfer-listed a further four whilst bringing in ten new signings and five loan players. Incoming were mostly free transfer signings and included promotedWycombe WanderersgoalkeeperScott Brown,Cambridge Unitedcaptain centre-halfLeon Legge,30-year-oldCarlisle Unitedcentral midfielderLuke Joyceand troubled but talentedPeterborough UnitedstrikerRicky Miller(signed for an undisclosed fee); also arriving wereAlfreton TownwingerBrendon Daniels,Aldershot TownPlayer of the YearManny Oyeleke,The New Saintscentre-backConnell Rawlinson,GatesheaddefenderTheo Vassell,StevenagemidfielderTom Conlon,and formerAFC BournemouthloaneeBen Whitfield,whilst former fan's favouriteLouis Dodds,teenage strikerIdris Kanu,forwardScott Quigley,full-backMitch Clarkand midfielderLewis Hardcastlealso joined on season-long loan deals.[71]The team had an indifferent start to the season, with the highlight being a 1–0 victory at local rivalsCrewe Alexandraon 22 September.[72]Having seen their team pick up just seven points from an available 27 in November and December, a section of travelling supporters booed and heckled Aspin during a 1–1 draw atLincoln Cityon New Year's Day; Aspin reacted badly to the fan's "lack of respect" towards him and considered quitting his role, but said that he decided to stay because he had the support of the players and chairmanNorman Smurthwaite.[73]However, he tendered his resignation on 30 January, stating that "I am very proud of the job we did in keeping the club in League Two and we leave the club in a better place on and off thepitch.I fully accept results from December have been poor and expected to be higher up the table and know the players are capable of doing that. "[74]He later did corporate work for Leeds United.[75]

Managerial style

[edit]

Aspin has stated that he wants his players to be "honest" by not feigning injury or otherwise attempting to cheat and that he tries to be respectful towards officials.[76]He also has a reputation for honesty in dealing with the media, giving fair assessments of his team's performances.[77]He does not allow his players to wear gloves during first-team matches.[78]He tends to prefer to play defensive football.[79]

Personal life

[edit]

He married Dianne and had a son, Alex, and daughter, Chloe.[80]

Career statistics

[edit]

Playing statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[13][81][82]
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leeds United 1981–82 First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1982–83 Second Division 15 0 4 0 0 0 19 0
1983–84 Second Division 21 1 3 0 2 0 26 1
1984–85 Second Division 32 1 1 0 0 0 33 1
1985–86 Second Division 38 2 1 0 3 0 42 2
1986–87 Second Division 41 1 5 0 8 1 54 2
1987–88 Second Division 26 0 1 0 3 0 30 0
1988–89 Second Division 33 0 2 0 4 0 39 0
Total 207 5 17 0 20 1 244 6
Port Vale 1989–90 Second Division 42 0 3 0 6 0 51 0
1990–91 Second Division 41 1 2 0 3 0 46 1
1991–92 Second Division 42 0 1 0 3 0 46 0
1992–93 Second Division 35 0 3 0 8 0 46 0
1993–94 Second Division 40 1 5 0 6 0 51 1
1994–95 First Division 37 0 2 0 1 0 40 0
1995–96 First Division 22 1 4 0 4 0 30 1
1996–97 First Division 33 0 1 0 4 0 38 0
1997–98 First Division 26 0 2 0 2 0 30 0
1998–99 First Division 30 0 1 0 1 0 32 0
Total 348 3 24 0 38 0 410 3
Darlington 1999–2000 Third Division 29 0 2 0 3 0 34 0
2000–01 Third Division 21 0 3 0 2 0 26 0
Total 50 0 5 0 5 0 60 0
Hartlepool United 2000–01 Third Division 10 0 0 0 1 0 11 0
FC Halifax Town 2014–15 Conference Premier 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Career total 615 8 46 0 65 1 726 9

Managerial statistics

[edit]
As of match played 29 January 2019
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L Win %
Harrogate Town 18 January 2005 26 April 2009 202 89 48 65 044.1 [83]
FC Halifax Town 28 April 2009 17 September 2015 332 178 78 76 053.6 [84]
Gateshead 27 November 2015 4 October 2017 94 37 28 29 039.4 [85]
Port Vale 4 October 2017 30 January 2019 78 24 23 31 030.8 [85]
Total 706 328 177 201 046.5

Honours

[edit]

As a player

[edit]

Port Vale

Harrogate Town

Individual

As a manager

[edit]

FC Halifax Town

Individual

References

[edit]
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  68. ^abBaggaley, Michael (1 February 2018)."Port Vale missed out on signings before deadline, Neil Aspin reveals".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved1 February2018.
  69. ^Baggaley, Michael (22 April 2018)."Comment: So many clubs would love a supporter like Port Vale's Tom Pope".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved22 April2018.
  70. ^Baggaley, Michael (5 May 2018)."Shocking performance at Cambridge sums up Port Vale's season".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved6 May2018.
  71. ^Baggaley, Michael (6 July 2018)."Are Port Vale stronger than last season after their 11 signings?".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved6 July2018.
  72. ^Baggaley, Michael (4 October 2018)."Neil Aspin selects highs and lows of his first 12 months in charge at Port Vale".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved6 October2018.
  73. ^"Neil Aspin: Port Vale manager opts to stay on and 'fight for job'".BBC Sport.4 January 2019.Retrieved4 January2019.
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  75. ^Scargill, Tom (9 June 2024).""We could have got promotion as a part-time team" - Neil Aspin on just missing out on the Football League, some of his favourite players at FC Halifax Town and his departure ".Halifax Courier.Retrieved11 June2024.
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  77. ^Baggaley, Michael (19 August 2018)."Port Vale 1, Crawley 0 Verdict: Important win but not a performance to swear by".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved20 August2018.
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