600 Billy Askew

Biography

Billy Askew joined the Tigers in August 1982 after a trial period and was new manager Colin Appleton’s only signing of the summer (loanee Billy Woof and experienced head Emlyn Hughes joined later in the season). Although signed as a wide midfielder the diminutive Askew was used primarily at left back during his first season as the Tigers powered to promotion out of Division Four – Billy did play a handful of matches on the wing towards the end of the season and contributed important goals in a 1-0 win over Crewe and a 2-2 draw against Mansfield. This set the tone for Askew’s second season in black and amber who was a regular pick in wide positions until December when he drifted out of the first team to be replaced by Brian Marwood and Andy Flounders. Billy returned in early March as the Tigers pushed for a second promotion in two years, though he missed the last game of the season at Burnley when elevation to the Second Division was missed by the finest margin.

During the 1984 close season Appleton departed and was replaced by Brian Horton as City manager, who moved Askew to a more central creative role. This invigorated Askew’s career, who started all 55 competitive matches in 1984/85 and was pivotal to the club’s promotion to the second tier. Billy scored seven times including a brace in an early season win over Gillingham and a tumultuous winner in a Yuletide win at York. Askew started 1985/86 in the first team but an injury in a September 1985 2-4 defeat at Bradford kept him out of the side for a month. Restored in October he retained his place for the rest of the season as City flirted briefly with promotion to the top flight and ended up 8th.

Billy was used more sparingly in the opening months of 1986/87 but was restored in January 1987 and missed only one game for the rest of the season, a run that continued until late February 1988. Askew played only once in the first team during the next 10 months and by the time he returned in January 1989 Horton was gone, replaced by ex-Leeds winger Eddie Gray, who used Askew on the wing. At the start of 1989/90 Appleton returned to the helm at Boothferry Park and Askew was one of the few remaining players from his first spell in charge. Appleton returned Askew to the right side of midfield and he retained that role when Appleton quickly departed and Stan Ternent took over. Billy performed well enough to attract the attention of bigger name clubs of the time and left in March 1980,

Billy Askew was born in Great Lumley, a village to the south of Chester-le-Street in County Durham. He served his apprenticeship at Middlesbrough and made his Ayresome Park debut in a First Division match against Arsenal in May 1980. Over the next two seasons Askew added a further 11 first team appearances for Middlesbrough before leaving at the end of his contract during the 1982 close season.

In March 1990 Askew joined Newcastle United for a substatial fee, but this big move to the First Division was a struggle as accumulated injuries and hot squad competition limited his game time. Askew managed only six starts for the Magpies and after a loan spell at Shrewsbury he retired from playing professional football in 1991, completing his career with spells at Gateshead and Irish side Waterford. He spent many years coaching and scouting for Darlington after his playing days ended, and in 2013 set up a soccer school for youngsters in Teesside.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 2 October 1959, Great Lumley
Hull City First Game: 28 August 1982, Bristol City A (Division Four), 22 years, 330 days old
Hull City Final Game: 20 March 1990, Stoke City H (Division Two), 30 years, 169 days old

Clubs

MIddlesbrough (1977-1982), Hull City (1982-1990), Newcastle United (1990-1991), Shrewsbury Town (1991, loan), Gateshead (1991-1994), Waterford (1994)

Hull City Record

Career: 300 apps, 20 goals

Billy Askew
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1982/8336 (0)61 (0)01 (0)0----
1983/8429 (4)12 (0)01 (0)0--3 (2)0
1984/8546 (0)63 (0)04 (0)0--2 (0)1
1985/8632 (1)23 (0)03 (0)0--4 (0)0
1986/8726 (1)03 (0)01 (0)0--1 (0)0
1987/8830 (0)33 (0)02 (0)0--1 (0)0
1988/8916 (0)03 (0)0------
1989/9032 (0)11 (0)02 (0)0--1 (0)0

4 thoughts on “600 Billy Askew”

  1. I grew up in the same village as Billy, we used to play football on the green together when we were kids & he used to kick lumps out of me! a lifelong friend and true character..

    Reply
  2. I know nothing about football (but my men folk are Hull City supporters down the generations). What I do know is that Billy Askew worked like a trojan, even I could see he was determined and how much effort he put in. Good man ??

    Reply
  3. What a player,with a wand of a left foot.
    He could open a tin of peas with it.
    Still remember his first goal for the club at Darlington,one long ago winter’s afternoon.
    They backed off and backed off and on he went and then bang.
    Goal ?

    Reply
  4. A great player and what a double act he was with Garreth Roberts. Billy was the magician for the 1980’s team as George Honeyman is today!

    Reply

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