The veteran defender has spoken honestly about his career
Ashley Young is enjoying a new lease of life at Everton FC. The 39 year-old has been maligned at times since joining The Toffees on a free transfer last summer but is enjoying his best spell at the club and could start again today as the Blues face West Ham at the London Stadium this afternoon.
While the former Manchester United man no longer flies forward frequently from full-back, Ashley has chipped in with three assists so far this season. He has enjoyed a successful football career, with trophies including the Premier League, Serie A and the Europa League in spells playing in England and Italy.
But it wasn’t entirely straightforward for Ashley growing up. He spent his youth career at Watford but was heartbroken when, aged 17, he was told he wouldn’t be getting a professional contract at the club. He said: “I hadn’t had the best season leading up to that but Watford had been my club since I was 10.
READ MORE: Everton FC’s Jordan Pickford’s life as name changed and wedding plans alteredREAD MORE: Liverpool FC’s Curtis Jones makes promise as he issues update on ‘proper Scouse mum’
“I knew every inch of the place. The news hit me like nothing before. I went home and just sat frozen in the same chair for the rest of the day, staring. I don’t think it sank in until the next morning.
“That was the biggest struggle for me. There were other clubs I could have gone to, I think, but Watford had said I would never be good enough to get in the first team and I was determined to prove them wrong.
“Most of the problem was my size. I wasn’t very tall and at the time there was a lot of emphasis on big, strong, physical players. It was all anyone talked about. Times have changed. But back then, a lot of decisions were made with that as priority.”
Instead of giving up, Ashley began playing with the under-18s team unpaid to show he had what it took to be a professional. Within a month Ashley was in the reserves and a year later he was offered a professional contract.
Away from the pitch, Ashley is married to his childhood sweetheart Nicky Pike. It’s been reported that they have been together since childhood, but little is known about Nicky, who has private Instagram and X/Twitter accounts.
Ashley and Nicky had planned a £200,000 wedding at The Grove Hotel in Watford back in 2011, but called it off just two days before. After getting back together shortly afterwards, they married in 2015 at a low-key ceremony Stoke Place hotel, Buckinghamshire.
Together, they have two children together – son Tyler and daughter Ellearna. 18 year-old Tyler seems set to follow in his father’s footsteps. Last month, he made his debut for Peterborough, coming on as a substitute in their 2-0 win over Stevenage in the EFL Cup.
Tyler was sent on by manager Darren Ferguson, himself the child of the legendary Sir Alex, who signed Ashley for United in 2011.Writing on Instagram about the achievement, Ashley said: “Proud doesn’t even begin to explain this moment for you. Congrats on your debut son and hopefully many many more to come.”
