Ferris Ashton

Ferris Ashton(Sydney, Australia), born in August of 1926 Ashton was An Australian rugby league footballer who represented his country in 8 test matches. Ferris was also a member of the Royal Australian Navy(RAN)during the Second World War.

Ashton began his rugby league career playing with the Bondi United club at a junior level. In 1950 the burly forward began his senior career with Eastern Suburbs. A loyal clubman, Ashton played 87 matches for Easts in the years (1950-56), captaining the side in many of those years and has now been made a life member of that club.

In 1951 he played for NSW 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 years end he was selected for the 1952/53 Kangaroo 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 onboard the destroyer HMAS Quickmatch and served with the British Fleet in the Pacific Ocean.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 breaking he knee.He met Patty Brennan,Miss Bondi 1946, and later married in 1950.Michael was born in 1951 and in July 52 he was selected for the Kangaroo tour 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 53 and played his last test,due to some nazi Queensland team manager causing trouble for Ferris and Albert Paul.He never played for his country again.In 1953 the American All Stars toured Australia with Ferris partnering Jack Gibson in the second-row for NSW.He Captain-coached the Roosters in 1954 and finishing his career in 57 when taking a job offer as safety manager for the Snowy Mountains Scheme.Patty had Michelle in 1954,Kelly in 55 and the cute one,Greg in 57.Ferris moved his family back to Sydney in 1962 settling on the Northern Beaches at Allambie Heights where he still resides,He will be 82 this August and everything is going fine except the hips are starting to play up

A former first grade cricketerwith Waverley Ashton was a wicketkeeper/batsman with 106 not out his highest score.He was a regular on the rugby league television program Controversy Corner with Rex Mossop,Alan Clarkson,Col Pearce and Noel Kelly discussing pertinent Rugby League matters.The show ran for 19 years.

"From early days i was the keenest of [Sydney Roosters| [Eastern Suburbs] fans. Many, many times I sat on the hill at the sports ground and SCG and watched Easts in there 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.