Jon Ashton

Early career

Ashton began his career at Leicester City's youth academy and signed his first professional contract in January 2001. He made his senior debut in the Premier League on 23 March 2002, playing the full match in a 2–0 defeat to Leeds United at Filbert Street, and featured in six more matches towards the end of the 2001–02 season. Following Leicester's relegation, he signed a new three-year contract on 31 May 2002. Ashton started the opening match of the 2002–03 season, a 6–1 defeat to Ipswich Town, but only made one further appearance before joining Notts County on a one-month loan on 8 November 2002. He played four matches for Notts County and, upon returning to Leicester, was made available for transfer at the end of the season.

Oxford United

Ashton joined Third Division club Oxford United on a one-month loan ahead of the start of the 2003–04 season and made his debut in a 1–0 victory against Lincoln City on the opening day. After seven appearances during an unbeaten start to the season, the move was made permanent on 8 September 2003. He established himself as a regular that season, making 38 appearances as Oxford finished ninth in Division Three. He continued to feature consistently during the 2004–05 season, playing 31 matches in all competitions, and was sent off for the first time in his career in a 4–0 defeat to Southend United on 6 November 2004. In the 2005–06 season, under manager Brian Talbot, Ashton made 34 appearances and scored his…

Ashton was called up to the England C team, who represent England at non-League level, in May 2007 for the Four Nations Tournament in Scotland. He earned three caps during the competition, scoring once in a 3–0 victory over Scotland on 25 May 2007. The following month, he won a fourth cap in a friendly against Finland under-21s.

Following his retirement, Ashton returned to Stevenage as first-team fitness coach in June 2018, reuniting with manager Dino Maamria, who had been his assistant manager during his playing career at Stevenage. The two had also previously worked together at Nuneaton Town, where Maamria was manager and Ashton served as assistant manager. He remained at Stevenage for three seasons before joining Ipswich Town as first-team fitness coach in May 2021.

He was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, and grew up in Whitestone, attending St Thomas More Catholic School.