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| Full name | Ferris Arthur Ashton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 21 August 1926 Sydney, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 29 January 2013(2013-01-29) (aged 86) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Second-row | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ferris Arthur Ashton (21 August 1926 – 29 January 2013) was an Australianrugby league footballer[3] who represented his country in 8test matches. Ferris was also a member of theRoyal Australian Navy (RAN) during theSecond World War.
Ashton was born inSydney,New South Wales, and began his rugby league career playing with theBondi United club at a junior level. In 1950 the burlyforward began his senior career withEastern Suburbs. A loyal clubman, Ashton played 87 matches forEasts in the years (1950–56),[4] captaining the side in many of those years and has now been made a life member of the club.
In 1951 he played forNSW before gaining selection for Australia the following year in the series against New Zealand. Ashton made a stunning debut giving the final pass for three tries. At the years end he was selected for the 1952/53Kangaroo Tour. On tour he played in twenty-two matches including five tests. His final test appearance was in 1953 when he was Australias' sole try scorer in the side that was defeated by New Zealand.
During the Second World War, Ferris served on board the destroyerHMAS Quickmatch and served with theBritish Fleet in the Pacific Ocean.[3] Ferris was also a very good boxer, taught by Major Francis O'Connor, having been undefeated in 19 amateur fights. He beat the best of the U.S. Navy when in Tokyo Harbour after the surrender. After the war, Ferris was on leave getting ready to go back to Japan when he slipped down some stairs, leading to a broken knee.[3]
In July '52 he was selected for the Kangaroo tour[3] and spent the next 8 months in England and France. The boat took 6 weeks to get there and 7 to get back. Ferris made the test team to tour N.Z. in 1953 and played his last test. He is listed on theAustralian Players Register as Kangaroo No.289.[5]
Ferris met Patty Brennan, Miss Bondi, in 1946 and married in 1950, Michael was born in 1951. Michelle was born in 1954, Kelly in 1955 and Greg in 1957.
In 1953 the American All Stars toured Australia with Ferris partneringJack Gibson in the second-row for NSW.
He Captain-coached the Roosters in 1954 and finishing his career in 1957 when taking a job offer as safety manager for theSnowy Mountains Scheme. Ferris moved his family back to Sydney in 1962 settling on the Northern Beaches atAllambie Heights.
A former first gradecricketer with Waverley, Ashton was a wicketkeeper/batsman with 106 not out his highest score.
He was a regular on theSeven Network rugby league television program 'Controversy Corner' withRex Mossop, Alan Clarkson,Col Pearce andNoel Kelly discussing pertinent Rugby League matters. The show ran for 19 years.
"From early days i was the keenest ofEastern Suburbs fans. Many, many times I sat on the hill at thesports ground andSCG and watched Easts in their red, white and blue. When I look back now I'm very, very proud of the fact that I never played with another club. They were my club."
– Ferris Ashton.
On 24 October 2000, Ashton was awarded theAustralian Sports Medal for his rugby league achievements.[6]The Ashton-Collier Medal is awarded to the 'man of the match' on the annualAnzac Day clash betweenSydney Roosters andSt George Illawarra Dragons, and the medal is co-named in the honour of Ferris Ashton andBill Collier.
Ferris Ashton died on 29 January 2013.
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