BILLY Ashcroft was born less than 100 yards away from South Liverpool's football ground. At school he never took football seriously until towards the end of his time there, but in less than a year had signed for Blackpool as an associate schoolboy.

However, he left Bloomfield Road because of the travelling and his wish to concentrate on his studies.

Although he had trials with both Everton and Tranmere, both of which came to nothing, it was only after switching from playing wing-half to centre forward that he came to Wrexham's attention.

He made an immediate impact and signed for the Town straight from school in 1968, eventually being given professional terms by the club on his 18th birthday in 1970.

It was two days later that he made his Football League debut, before establishing himself in the team and as a firm favourite with the crowd. 

Billy shared in what it was arguably the club's most successful period in the 1970's scoring 96 goals in the process before his ex-manager John Neal, then at Middlesborough, returned to the Racecourse to sign his 'star pupil' for £120,000.

He went on to play in Holland with Twente Enschede before returning to these shores to turn out for Tranmere Rovers.

Once he retired from football, Billy moved into the licensing trade, running a pub in Southport.