 Askey as manager ofYork City in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Colin Askey | ||
| Date of birth | (1964-11-04)4 November 1964 (age 60) | ||
| Place of birth | Stoke-on-Trent, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger,striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Truro City (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1979–1982 | Port Vale | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1982–1983 | Port Vale | 0 | (0) |
| 1983–1984 | Milton United | ||
| 1984–2003 | Macclesfield Town | 511 | (109) |
| Total | 511 | (109) | |
| International career | |||
| 1990 | England Semi-Pro | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2003–2004 | Macclesfield Town | ||
| 2013–2018 | Macclesfield Town | ||
| 2018 | Shrewsbury Town | ||
| 2019–2021 | Port Vale | ||
| 2021–2022 | York City | ||
| 2023 | Hartlepool United | ||
| 2024– | Truro City | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
John Colin Askey (born 4 November 1964) is an English professionalfootball manager and formerplayer who is the manager ofNational League clubTruro City.
Able to play as awinger or as astriker, Askey had pace and intelligence. A former youth team player atPort Vale, he joinedMacclesfield Town fromMilton United in 1984. During his time at the club, Macclesfield spent six seasons inthe Football League and won theNorthern Premier League title in 1986–87, theFootball Conference title in 1994–95 and 1996–97, andpromotion out of theThird Division in 1997–98. Town also won theNorthern Premier League Challenge Cup,Northern Premier League President's Cup,Bob Lord Challenge Trophy,Cheshire Senior Cup andStaffordshire Senior Cup. In 19 seasons at the club, he scored 155 goals in 679 league and cup appearances, becoming the club's record appearance holder and fourth-highest goalscorer; he was named as the club'sPFA Fans' Favourites and was later rewarded with the freedom ofMacclesfield in August 2018.
Askey stayed on at Macclesfield Town as acoach after retiring as a player and was appointed as manager in October 2003. He was replaced as manager in April 2004 but stayed on at the club as a coach before he was appointed as manager for a second time in April 2013. He coached Macclesfield to the2017 FA Trophy final, in which they were beaten byYork City. The following season, 2017–18, he led the team back into the Football League as champions of the National League despite having one of the division's lowest budgets. Following this achievement, he managedShrewsbury Town in June 2018, before his dismissal five months later. He was appointed as Port Vale manager in February 2019 and remained in the job until January 2021. He took up the management position at York City in November 2021 and led the club to promotion out of theNational League North via the play-offs at the end of the 2021–22 season. He was appointed as manager of League Two club Hartlepool United in February 2023 but was unable to keep Hartlepool inLeague Two. He was dismissed as Hartlepool manager in December 2023 and took charge at Truro City six months later. He led Truro into the fifth tier for the first time as 2024–25 champions of theNational League South.
John Colin Askey was born on 4 November 1964 inStoke-on-Trent.[2] His father,Colin, made over 200 appearances forPort Vale in the 1950s.[3][4] Askey was one of five children; Bob, Mark, Steve, and Joanne.[5] He played youth teamfootball for Milton Spurs, Milton schools, Hanley schools and Stoke-on-Trent schoolboys, before joining Port Vale's youth team at the age of 15.[5] He was never handed afirst-team debut atVale Park and rejectedmanagerJohn McGrath's£5-a-week offer following the conclusion of his six-monthYouth Training Schemecontract.[5] After leaving the club he spent a year working as a labourer for a pottery firm inTunstall, before entering the insurance industry at the age of 19.[6] He also played amateur football forMilton United – managed by his father – and Miners Arms Milton.[5]
Askey first joinedMacclesfield Town, alongside his brother Bob, to fill a gap when the club were short of players. He scored on his debut during the1984–85 season, coming on as asubstitute away atMorecambe on 29 December.[7] He went on to score one goal in three appearances as Macclesfield finished as runners-up toStafford Rangers in theNorthern Premier League. He featured 13 times in the1985–86 season, before scoring seven goals in 17 appearances as Macclesfield won the Northern Premier League title in1986–87. Macclesfield went on to secure a treble after winning theNorthern Premier League President's Cup and beatingBurton Albion 2–0 in theNorthern Premier League Challenge Cup final atMaine Road.[7]
Macclesfield played in theFootball Conference for the first time in the1987–88 season, and Askey scored 18 goals in 59 games as Town posted an 11th-place finish.[8] Macclesfield also reached the final of theCheshire Senior Cup, losing 2–1 toRuncorn atGresty Road.[8] He scored 13 goals in 51 matches in the1988–89 season as the club rose to seventh-place; he was named as the club's Player of the Year.[8] In a repeat of the previous year's Cheshire Senior Cup final, they again were beaten finalists by Runcorn. They rose to the fourth spot in1989–90, with Askey contributing 12 goals from 49 games. He also toured Japan with theMiddlesex Wanderers amateurs.[7] Macclesfield also reached the finals of both the Cheshire Senior Cup andStaffordshire Senior Cup, losing out toHyde United andNorthwich Victoria respectively. Askey made his only appearance for theEngland national semi-pro team on 6 March 1990 in a 0–0 draw withWales atPenydarren Park in afriendly.[9] His 15 goals in 46 games for Macclesfield in the1990–91 season left him as the division's joint-13th top-scorer.[10] Macclesfield also finally won the Cheshire Senior Cup, defeatingWitton Albion 2–0 in the final at Gresty Road. He reached ten goals in 47 games in the1991–92 season as Macclesfield dropped down to 13th place; they did, though, retain the Cheshire Senior Cup with another 2–0 win over Witton Albion, this time atPrenton Park.[citation needed]
The decline continued into the1992–93 season as Macclesfield finished just two points above therelegation zone. Askey scored 13 goals in 53 games in the1993–94 season, including ahat-trick in a 6–1 win overGateshead on 6 November; Macclesfield improved under new managerSammy McIlroy, finishing seventh and picking up a cup double, winning theBob Lord Challenge Trophy after beatingYeovil Town in the final and lifting the Staffordshire Senior Cup for the first time after defeatingWednesfield in the final.[11] He went on to score 12 goals in 41 league games as Macclesfield won the Conference title in1994–95. Still, the club failed to gainFootball League status asMoss Rose failed to meet the required capacity requirements.[12] Askey broke his leg in a pre-season friendly withWinsford United and missed the entire1995–96 season due to abroken leg, leaving him unable to play in theFA Trophy and Bob Lord Challenge Trophy finals.[13][7] He marked his return to fitness with 11 goals in 49 league games in the1996–97 season as Macclesfield won their second Conference title, this time securing a place in the Football League. Town also won the Staffordshire Senior Cup by beatingBilston Town and reached the finals of the Cheshire Senior Cup and Bob Lord Challenge Trophy, losing out to Hyde United andKidderminster Harriers respectively.[citation needed]
Macclesfield wonpromotion in their maiden Football League season, finishing runners-up toNotts County and thereby winning promotion out of theThird Division at the end of the1997–98 season. It was at this point that, at the age of 34, he finally turned fully professional; speaking in 2020, he said,"I just thought, well we are playing teams likeMan City,Stoke,Burnley andPreston. I'll just go full time for a year and enjoy myself and get myself really fit. That's what I did and I have been full time ever since."[5] However, they finished bottom of theSecond Division in1998–99, despite Askey contributing seven goals from 46 games. Again consistent back in the Third Division in the1999–2000 season, Askey was again named the club's Player of the Year after scoring 15 goals from 41 starts and four substitute appearances. The2000–01 season would prove his last as a key first-team member; however, his three goals in 43 games helped Town to a mid-table finish. He was limited to 19 appearances throughout the2001–02 season by new managerDavid Moss and he scored in his final match for the club on the last day of the2002–03 season, againstRochdale.[14] His total of 155 goals in 679 league and cup appearances made him the club's record appearance holder and fourth highest goalscorer.[15] He was voted as the club'sPFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero in 2005.[16]
Askey was a paceywinger with a high scoring rate.[17] A skilful and intelligent player, he was also adept as astriker.[7]
Askey worked at Macclesfield Town asreserve-team manager, leading the reserves to theFootball Combination Division Two title.[7] He went on to work as assistant manager to David Moss before taking over ascaretaker manager on 27 October 2003 when Moss was dismissed with the club in 20th place in theThird Division.[18] He was appointed permanently in December after winning three of his seven matches in caretaker charge.[19] Askey was demoted to assistant manager to new managerBrian Horton on 1 April 2004 with Macclesfield second from bottom of the Third Division.[20] Horton managed to steer the club out of the Third Division relegation zone.[citation needed] Askey stayed on as assistant manager and with the arrival ofPaul Ince, moved on to work as youth team manager.[citation needed]
After remaining at the club asyouth and reserve-team manager, Askey was again given charge of the first-team at Macclesfield on a caretaker basis on 3 April 2013 when manager Steve King was dismissed.[21] His appointment was made permanent on 4 June despite him losing four of his five matches in caretaker charge.[22] He took the club to the third round of the FA Cup and 15th in theConference Premier in the2013–14 season, and was given a one-year rolling contract in the summer, though budget cutbacks meant that he lost the services of assistant managerEfe Sodje.[23][24] Named as Conference Premier Manager of the Month award for January 2015 after his team recorded three victories, he led the club to a sixth-place finish in the2014–15 season, finishing just one point outside of the play-offs, and signed a new extended contract in the summer.[25][26] He led the club to a tenth-place finish in2015–16.[citation needed]
His Macclesfield team beatLeague One clubWalsall in the first round of the2016–17 FA Cup, becoming the onlynon-League club to beat anEnglish Football League team in the opening round that season; Askey said "it is massive as it means we can pay theVAT bill this week".[27] Macclesfield finished the season in ninth place and also reached the2017 FA Trophy final atWembley Stadium, where they were beaten 3–2 byYork City.[28] However, many of the squad left at the end of the season as Macclesfield were unable to compete financially with many of their divisional rivals;George Pilkington,Mitch Hancox andDanny Whitaker being some of the few players who remained.[13] Macclesfield endued a difficult season off thepitch during the2017–18 season, as financial problems meant that players went unpaid in January despite the wage bill being one of the lowest in the division.[29] Despite these restrictions, Askey managed to guide Macclesfield to promotion back to the Football League as champions of theNational League on a budget of £350,000.[13][30]
On 1 June 2018, Askey succeededPaul Hurst as manager of League One clubShrewsbury Town. Signing a three-year contract, he said "My hopes are to get Shrewsbury promoted. Whether that will be next season, or in another year or two, you've got to aim high".[31] He appointedJohn Filan, whom he had previously worked with at Macclesfield, as his assistant,[32] whilst retaining the services ofgoalkeeping coachDanny Coyne and physiotherapist Chris Skitt as his backroom staff.[31] He was dismissed on 12 November 2018 following a 1–1 draw with non-LeagueSalford City in the FA Cup first round; he had won just five of his 21 matches in charge and left the club 18th in League One.[33]
"He inherited a squad that narrowly missed out on promotion to theChampionship in May, but in reality, he had a big rebuilding job to replace last season's stars –Jon Nolan,Dean Henderson,Toto Nsiala,Alex Rodman,Stefan Payne,Ben Godfrey andCarlton Morris. The timing of his appointment and the consequences of several high-profile departures in thetransfer window with just days to go all made Askey's job even harder to emulate the club's success under Paul Hurst."
— BBC Shropshire's Nick Southall felt that the Shrewsbury job something of apoisoned chalice for Askey.[33]
On 4 February 2019, Askey was appointed manager ofLeague Two club Port Vale on a contract until the end of the2018–19 season, and namedDave Kevan as his assistant.[34] He said joining the club "feels like coming home".[35] Vale boasted the tenth-largest playing budget in League Two but were underperforming in 18th-place.[36] There was no 'new manager bounce' as Vale fell to four defeats in his first four games, though his coaching methods eventually paid off with an impressive 2–1 win over promotion-chasingMansfield Town on 9 March.[37] He was named EFL manager of the week after he made two attacking substitutions and reorganised the team's 4–3–3 system to a 4–4–1formation following asending off forLeon Legge atNorthampton Town on 30 March, inspiring his team to come from 1–0 behind to win 2–1.[38] He was nominated for that month'sLeague Two Manager of the Month award, having secured 11 points from six games to ease relegation fears.[39] Vale ended the season in 20th-place after securing 16 points from Askey's 16 games in charge and he signed a new three-year contract in May 2019, two weeks afterCarol and Kevin Shanahan bought the club fromNorman Smurthwaite.[40]
Askey let 14 players go and signed 14 new players for the2019–20 season, with big names departing, includingBen Whitfield,Luke Hannant andRicky Miller, whilst backup goalkeeperSam Hornby chose to leave after rejecting a new contract offer.[41][42][43] Coming into the club were goalkeeperJonny Maddison; defendersAdam Crookes,Kieran Kennedy andShaun Brisley; midfieldersScott Burgess,Ryan Lloyd,Callum Evans, Alex Hurst andJake Taylor (onloan); wingersDavid Amoo andRhys Browne; and strikersMark Cullen,Richie Bennett andJordan McFarlane-Archer.[44][45][46] He was again nominated for the League Two Manager of the Month, with the EFL writing that "Slow and steady has been Vale's progress under Askey's astute management this season. Their consistency in February – three wins, three draws and 12 goals from six games – finally lifted his side into theplay-off positions."[47] However, the club were one place outside the play-offs when the season was called off due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in England.[48]
Askey confirmed that eight players would be offered new contracts for the2020–21 season, whilst six players would be released.[49] He signed seven players to replace the departures:Devante Rodney,Zak Mills,Danny Whitehead,Theo Robinson,David Fitzpatrick,Dino Visser andHarry McKirdy.[50][51] He was nominated for the League Two Manager of the Month award for September after his team had secured seven points from nine without conceding a goal.[52] However, he came under pressure by the end of November after losing five matches in succession.[53] The losing run was ended with a 6–3 victory atBolton Wanderers on 5 December.[54] This was followed by two draws and then a 4–3 defeat to Walsall in which Askey's team lead 2–0 at the interval. This led to further mounting pressure with Askey calling their second-half performance as "schoolboy defending at its worst".[55] A 2–0 defeat toBarrow on 26 December led him to admit that "the wheels have just fallen off" the club's promotion campaign as they slipped to 17th in the table.[56] He was dismissed by Vale on 4 January 2021 after a six-match run without a win left the team 17th in League Two.[57] He returned toMacclesfield, now aphoenix club in theNorth West Counties League Premier Division, to mentor manager Danny Whitaker on a short-term basis in August.[58]
Askey joined the management team atNational League North club York City in November 2021 "to supportSteve Watson on a temporary basis" while assistant managerMicky Cummins was suspended pending betting charges.[59] The pair had previously worked together when Askey employed Watson as his assistant at Macclesfield. After just one match with this arrangement, Watson was dismissed on 13 November and Askey took over asinterim manager for the rest of the2021–22 season.[60][61] Askey was awarded the Manager of the Month award for February 2022 after leading his team to a 100% win record and the quarter-final of the FA Trophy.[62] He was named as the club's permanent manager on 24 March.[63] Having been eleventh when Askey arrived at York, they ended the 2021–22 season in fifth place to qualify for the play-offs.[64][65]
York advanced pastChorley andBrackley Town to reach theplay-off final. Askey admitted that "I didn't think we could do it" as they club had to play so much football after having many games called off over the Christmas period.[66][67] Promotion was then secured by beating Boston United 2–0 in the play-off final and Askey said that "to do it in the centenary year and in the new ground [York Community Stadium], hopefully this is a new start for the football club".[68] On 16 November 2022, Askey was dismissed with the club in 12th position of the National League.[69] The club statement admitted that: "Given John's popularity and his incredible success last season, we understand that many fans may be upset and confused by this decision".[70] Chairman Glen Henderson had previously admitted to rising tensions between the board and manager.[71]
Askey was appointed manager of League Two clubHartlepool United on 23 February 2023 afterKeith Curle was dismissed, with the club sitting just one point above the relegation zone but having played four more games than 23rd-placeCrawley Town.[72] Hartlepool remained unbeaten in Askey's first eight matches before a 2–0 defeat away toNewport County on 15 April.[73] However, Askey could not prevent Hartlepool from being relegated to the National League despite a 3–1 home victory against Barrow in the penultimate match of the season.[74]
After Hartlepool won three of their first four National League matches of the2023–24 season, Askey signed a new contract until the summer of 2026.[75][76] However, on 30 December 2023, Askey was dismissed as the Hartlepool manager following a defeat toOldham Athletic.[77] This defeat had left Hartlepool in 17th position in the National League having won three of their previous 19 league matches.[77]
On 6 June 2024, Askey was appointed manager ofNational League South sideTruro City on a multi-year contract with the expectation of a fight against relegation.[78][79] He was named as National League South Manager of the Week following a 1–0 win over league leadersHemel Hempstead Town on 5 October.[80] He signed a new multi-year contract in December with the club fourth in the table.[81] Truro ended the2024–25 season as champions with 26 wins from 46 games to win a place in the fifth tier for the first time in the history of Cornish football.[79] He was later named National League South Manager of the Season for his side's success.[82]
Askey has a reputation for playing attractive football and for managing teams on a budget by spotting ability in young players and helping revive the careers of players whose careers had stalled.[17] His favoured formation is a 4–3–3 and he prefers to play with a high-tempo, pressing style.[83] Former playerAdam Yates said that Askey was a hard working coach who was open to input from his players and did not hold a grudge; in terms oftactics he felt Askey was "quite fond of the three in midfield and three up top".[84] Macclesfield and Port Vale defender Kieran Kennedy said that Askey liked to playpassing football but also "he had a plan B, C and D which really helped us if we were up against it."[85] Football agentPhil Sproson described Askey as "an attack-minded manager".[86]
His father, Colin Askey, had a 15-year career in the Football League, spent mostly with Port Vale.[3] His brother, Bob Askey, managedNewcastle Town.[87]Macclesfield council named Askey 'Honorary Freeman of Macclesfield' in a ceremony in August 2018.[88] When Macclesfield Town was liquidated in September 2020 over debts exceeding £500,000, it was revealed that Askey was personally owed £173,000 by the club.[89]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup[a] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Port Vale | 1982–83[90] | Fourth Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Macclesfield Town | 1984–85[91] | Northern Premier League | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 1985–86[92] | Northern Premier League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 13 | 1 | |
| 1986–87[93] | Northern Premier League | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4[b] | 1 | 17 | 7 | |
| 1987–88[94] | Football Conference | 41 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8[c] | 3 | 59 | 18 | |
| 1988–89[95] | Football Conference | 35 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13[d] | 2 | 51 | 13 | |
| 1989–90[96] | Football Conference | 33 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13[e] | 3 | 49 | 12 | |
| 1990–91[97] | Football Conference | 39 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[f] | 1 | 46 | 15 | |
| 1991–92[98] | Football Conference | 33 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10[g] | 3 | 47 | 10 | |
| 1992–93[99] | Football Conference | 31 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2[h] | 0 | 45 | 8 | |
| 1993–94[100] | Football Conference | 30 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 13[i] | 5 | 53 | 13 | |
| 1994–95[101] | Football Conference | 30 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6[j] | 2 | 41 | 12 | |
| 1995–96[102] | Football Conference | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1996–97[103] | Football Conference | 37 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10[k] | 4 | 49 | 11 | |
| 1997–98[104] | Third Division | 39 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[l] | 0 | 42 | 6 | |
| 1998–99[105] | Second Division | 38 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 7 | |
| 1999–2000[106] | Third Division | 40 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[l] | 0 | 45 | 15 | |
| 2000–01[107] | Third Division | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1[l] | 0 | 43 | 3 | |
| 2001–02[108] | Third Division | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| 2002–03[109] | Third Division | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| Total | 511 | 109 | 40 | 9 | 39 | 13 | 89 | 24 | 679 | 155 | ||
| Career total | 511 | 109 | 40 | 9 | 39 | 13 | 89 | 24 | 679 | 155 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Macclesfield Town | 27 October 2003 | 1 April 2004 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 025.9 | [110] |
| Macclesfield Town | 3 April 2013 | 1 June 2018 | 267 | 120 | 58 | 89 | 044.9 | [21][110] |
| Shrewsbury Town | 1 June 2018 | 12 November 2018 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 023.8 | [110] |
| Port Vale | 4 February 2019 | 4 January 2021 | 91 | 34 | 25 | 32 | 037.4 | [110] |
| York City | 13 November 2021 | 16 November 2022 | 59 | 27 | 15 | 17 | 045.8 | [61][69][111] |
| Hartlepool United | 23 February 2023 | 30 December 2023 | 41 | 12 | 11 | 18 | 029.3 | [72][112] |
| Truro City | 6 June 2024 | Present | 69 | 32 | 16 | 21 | 046.4 | [110] |
| Total | 575 | 237 | 141 | 197 | 041.2 | |||
Macclesfield Town
Individual
Macclesfield Town
York City
Truro City
Individual
