Neil Aspin (born 12 April 1965) is an English part-time player-manager at Northern Premier League Division One North club F.C. Halifax Town he is also a former defender at Leeds United, Port Vale, Darlington, Hartlepool United and Harrogate Town.

[edit] Playing career

[edit] Leeds United

Born in in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, Aspin began his career as a trainee at Leeds United, making his debut at right-back in the 1981–82 season as a 16 year old. Under the management of Allan Clarke he went to make the right-back position his own, until he fell out of favour under Howard Wilkinson, losing his place to new signing Mel Sterland. Having played 207 league games for the club he was sold to Port Vale for £150,000 in July 1989.

[edit] Port Vale

At Port Vale, Aspin became a firm favourite of the supporters, taking the club's player of the year award in his first season and playing a leading role in the victorious Football League Trophy campaign of 1992–93.^[1] The player of the year award was also gained the following season as Vale secured promotion from the Second Division. He was also elected to the divisional team of the season as voted for by the Professional Footballers' Association. Aspin continued to be a regular fixture in the Vale side for a number of seasons to come (making 348 league appearances) and even enjoyed a testimonial featuring Vale supporter Robbie Williams before being allowed to leave in 1999.

[edit] Darlington, Hartlepool & Harrogate

Following his departure from Vale, Aspin remained in the Football League with Darlington, managing 51 appearances for the club before a free transfer to Hartlepool United in 2001. Aspin saw out the season at United before leaving the league to sign for Harrogate Town as a player coach, he remained with Town until 2004 when he retired.

[edit] FC Halifax Town

On Monday 2nd November 2009 Neil Aspin came out of retirement at age 44 to play for F.C. Halifax Town they were against Harrogate Railway in a west riding county cup 1st round match which F.C. Halifax Town won 1-0.

Neil Aspin was wearing the number 4 shirt for F.C. Halifax Town and also played the full 90 mins.

[edit] Managerial career

[edit] Harrogate Town

Aspin was back at Harrogate halfway through the 2004–05 season as manager a stay that would last for 4 and a half years. In this time he consistently kept the North Yorkshire side in the top half of the Blue Square North and pushing for promotion to the Premier division. The closest they came to this was in his first full season 2005–06 when they qualified for the end of season playoffs but lost 2-1 to Stafford Rangers on aggregate in the semi finals. In the three following seasons Harrogate finished 6th twice(1 place outside the playoffs) and 9th in 2008–09 which was to be his last with the club. However he did manage his first success as a manager at the end of the 2007–08 season as Harrogate won the West Riding County Cup.

[edit] FC Halifax Town

Aspin confirmed he would leave Harrogate at the end of the 2008–09 season in April 2009 after a discussion with the club chairman, Aspin decided he could not take the club any further with the budget on offer.^[2] He went on to join Northern Premier League Division One North club F.C Halifax Town shortly after on 28 April 2009.^[3]

[edit] Honours

[edit] As a player

with Leeds United

• Second Division Play-Off Final runner-up: 1986–87

with Port Vale

• Second Division runner up: 1993–94
• Football League Trophy winner: 1993
• Anglo-Italian Cup runner-up: 1995–96

with Darlington

• Third Division Play-Off Final runner-up: 1999–2000

with Harrogate Town

• Northern Premier League First Division title winner: 2001–02
• West Riding County Challenge Cup winner: 2001–02, 2002–03

[edit] As a manager

Harrogate Town

• West Riding County Challenge Cup winner: 2007–08

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Neil Aspin career stats at Soccerbase