Bill Asprey

William Asprey (11 September 1936 – 25 May 2025) was an English football player and manager. A defender, he made 418 league appearances in a 15-year career in the Football League. He then had a 25-year career as a coach.

Asprey spent 1953 to 1965 at Stoke City, making 341 appearances in all competitions. He helped the "Potters" to the Second Division title in 1962–63 and also played in the 1964 League Cup final. He spent 1965 to December 1967 at Oldham Athletic before he was sold to Port Vale for a £2,000 fee. He left the "Valiants" in December 1968 to become a full-time coach.

He coached at various clubs across the world, as well as the national teams of Rhodesia and Syria. He was given his first chance as a manager in England at Oxford United in July 1979. He was not overly successful and was sacked in December 1980. He returned to Stoke City as manager in December 1983 but was sacked in April 1985 after leading the club to the bottom of the First Division.

Born in Wolverhampton, Asprey joined Stoke City on amateur terms from his local club Wolverhampton Wanderers in May 1953. He made his first-team debut in the 1953–54 season under the management of Frank Taylor after turning professional at the age of 17. He played a further three Second Division games in 1955–56, before making nine appearances in 1956–57, and then breaking into the first-team with 28 appearances in 1957–58. He scored his first senior goal on 9 September 1957 in a 5–3 home defeat to Bristol Rovers. He made 44 appearances in the 1958–59 campaign, scoring six goals, including one in a 4–3 win over Liverpool at Anfield. During the campaign, he played in five positions: right-back, right-half, centre-half, inside-right and inside-left. He played 38 times in 1959–60, before new manager Tony Waddington began to play him in an attacking role in 1960–61. During the campaign, he scored seven goals in 40 games, scoring twice in a 9–0 thrashing of Plymouth Argyle and hitting a hat-trick past Charlton Athletic in a 5–3 home win on 16 January 1961. He made 47 appearances in 1961–62, scoring four goals.

The "Potters" were crowned champions of the Second Division in 1962–63, and Asprey was a vital part of the club's success, making 44 appearances in league and cup competitions. He played at right full-back behind Stanley Matthews on the wing. He was limited to 29 First Division appearances in 1963–64, but managed to pick up a League Cup runners-up medal. In the first leg of the final, his 30 yards (27 m) shot was parried by Leicester City goalkeeper Gordon Banks, and Keith Bebbington put the loose ball into the net. Stoke drew 1–1 at the Victoria Ground, but lost the encounter at Filbert Street 3–2. Asprey posted 43 appearances in 1964–65, but featured just twice in 1965–66. In total, he played 341 league and cup games for the club.

Asprey moved on to Oldham Athletic after former Stoke teammate turned newly appointed Oldham manager Jimmy McIlroy purchased him for a £19,000 fee in January 1966. Oldham finished the 1965–66 season just one place and one point above the Third Division relegation zone. The "Latics" rose to tenth in 1966–67 in McIlroy's first full season as manager. Asprey made 83 league appearances during his time at Boundary Park.

Asprey was purchased by Port Vale for a £2,000 fee in December 1967. He made 22 Fourth Division appearances under "Valiants" manager (and former Stoke teammate) Stanley Matthews in 1967–68, but featured just eleven times in 1968–69 under new boss Gordon Lee. He departed Vale Park when he retired as a player in December 1968, at the age of 32.

Asprey was versatile and appeared in almost every outfield position for Stoke. He made most of his appearances at full-back, despite his tall and heavy frame (6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 12 stone (170 lb; 76 kg)). He was noted for his tough-tackling ability.