Lee Ashcroft (Scottish footballer)

Lee Ashcroft (born 29 August 1993) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a defender for Dundee. Ashcroft previously played for Kilmarnock and Dunfermline Athletic.

Lee Ashcroft
Personal information
Full name Lee Ashcroft
Date of birth (1993-08-29) 29 August 1993
Place of birth Barrhead, Scotland[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Dundee
Number 14
Youth career
Barrhead Boys Club
2009–2010 Hillwood Boys Club
2010–2013 Kilmarnock
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Kilmarnock 66 (4)
2016–2020 Dunfermline Athletic 129 (7)
2020– Dundee 77 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 12 August 2023 (UTC)

Career

Kilmarnock

Raised in Barrhead, Ashcroft was not picked up by a professional club as a youth and had transitioned into local amateur leagues when he signed for Kilmarnock in 2010.[2] He made his senior debut for the club on 11 May 2013, as a substitute in a 3–2 victory against Dundee in the Scottish Premier League[3] and then four days later scored his first career goal in a 3–1 loss against Hibernian.[4] On 14 May 2013, Ashcroft signed a new contract with Kilmarnock, keeping him at the club until 2016.[5] He captained Kilmarnock for the first time on 4 April 2015, aged 21, in a 2–1 defeat to Motherwell at Rugby Park.[6] On 23 May 2016, he was one of six players released at the end of their contract.[7]

Dunfermline Athletic

On 25 May 2016, Ashcroft signed for recently promoted Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic,[8] making his first start for the club in a 3–0 victory over Arbroath in the Scottish League Cup.[9] His first goal for the club was versus Fife rivals Cowdenbeath in the same competition, where he scored from a Kallum Higginbotham free-kick.[10] Ashcroft's first league match for the Pars was versus Dumbarton, and saw him concede a late penalty and receive a straight red for his last-man challenge on former Dunfermline striker Robert Thomson, though Dunfermline ended the match as 4–3 winners.[11]

Ashcroft spent four seasons with the Pars and captained the club for the 2018–19 season.[12] He was released by the club in May 2020 following the expiry of his contract, having appeared in over 160 matches.[13]

Dundee

In July 2020, Ashcroft signed a two-year deal with Dundee.[14] A regular starter throughout the season, Ashcroft scored his first competitive goal for the Dee in a Scottish Cup win against Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic.[15] Ashcroft would score his first and second league goals for them in an away win against Alloa Athletic.[16] At the end of the league season, Ashcroft was awarded the Andrew De Vries Player of the Year award, as well as the Player's Player of the Year award.[17] Ashcroft was also named to PFA Scotland's Championship Team of the Year for 2020–21.[18] Along with his impressive defensive performances, Ashcroft would amass 7 goals in all competitions, including one in the 2nd leg of the Premiership play-offs final, and was a major factor in helping Dundee gain promotion to the Scottish Premiership.[19] Ashcroft would also be named to the SPFL's Championship Team of the Season.[20]

During a game against Motherwell in December 2021, Ashcroft would damage a tendon in his hamstring which would require surgery and keep him out for approximately 3–4 months.[21] While out with injury, Ashcroft would sign a contract extension with Dundee, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2023.[22] Ashcroft made his return from injury off the bench in a league game against Hibernian in March 2022.[23] After just two starts however, Ashcroft would experience a recurrence of the hamstring injury against Rangers that would end his season and required surgery again.[24]

Ashcroft would make his return for Dundee off the bench in an away league win over Raith Rovers in August.[25] He would score in his first start of the season in a Scottish League Cup win over Falkirk.[26] Ashcroft would start every game after in a very successful season which would culminate in scoring a goal in the win over Queen's Park which clinched the Scottish Championship title for the Dark Blues.[27] Ashcroft would be named to PFA Scotland's Scottish Championship Team of the Year at the end of the season, as well as being named in the SPFL's Championship Team of the Season.[28][29]

On 2 June 2023, Dundee announced that Ashcroft had signed a new two-year contract, keeping him there until the summer of 2025.[30]

Career statistics
As of 12 August 2023[31]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Kilmarnock 2012–13[32] Scottish Premier League 3100000031
2013–14[33] Scottish Premiership 251000000251
2014–15[34] 222000000222
2015–16[35][31] 15020202[lower-alpha 1]0210
Total 654202020714
Dunfermline Athletic 2016–17[36] Scottish Championship 35140413[lower-alpha 2]2464
2017–18[37] 33410504[lower-alpha 3]0434
2018–19[38] 36010502[lower-alpha 2]0440
2019–20[39] 25200501[lower-alpha 2]0312
Total 12976019110216410
Dundee 2020–21[40] Scottish Championship 25521204[lower-alpha 4]1337
2021–22[41] Scottish Premiership 161105100222
2022–23[42] Scottish Championship 34220214[lower-alpha 2]0423
2023–24[43] Scottish Premiership 2000400060
Total 778511328110312
Career total 2711913134320333826
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs
  2. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. Two appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs
  4. Appearances in the Premiership play-offs

Honours

Club

Dundee

Individual

Dundee

References
  1. "Lee Ashcroft player profile". Kilmarnock F.C. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  2. Killie kid Lee Ashcroft not worried about relegation.. he's just thrilled to be playing professional football, Gordon Parks, Daily Record, 3 May 2014
  3. "Dundee 2-3 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  4. "Kilmarnock 1-3 Hibernian". BBC Sport. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  5. "Rory McKenzie & Lee Ashcroft sign new contracts". kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  6. "Lee Ashcroft revels in role as Kilmarnock captain". Evening Times. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  7. "Player Contracts". Kilmarnock F.C. 23 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016.
  8. "Dunfermline sign former Kilmarnock defender Lee Ashcroft". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  9. "Dunfermline 3 Arbroath 0". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  10. "Cowdenbeath 0 Dunfermline 3". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  11. "Dunfermline 4 – 3 Dumbarton". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  12. Collin, Iain (26 July 2018). "Lee Ashcroft 'fits the bill perfectly' as Allan Johnston names ex-Kilmarnock defender as new Dunfermline captain". Deadline News. Capital City Press. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  13. "Dunfermline release 17 players to 'protect future of club'". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  14. "Lee is a Dee". Dundee FC. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  15. "Dundee v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic". BBC. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  16. "Alloa Athletic v Dundee". BBC. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  17. "Lee wins De Vries and Player's Player awards". dundeefc.co.uk. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  18. "PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year 2021". pfascotland.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  19. "Dundee promoted as Kilmarnock drop down for first time in 28 years". BBC. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  20. "Championship Team of the Season 2020/21". SPFL.co.uk. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  21. Cran, George. "Dundee dealt huge blow as defender Lee Ashcroft set for months on the sidelines". The Courier. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  22. "Lee extends deal". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  23. "Ten-man Hibs earn point at Dens Park". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  24. Cran, George. "Dundee dealt huge blow as Lee Ashcroft ruled out for season - but there's positive news on Charlie Adam". The Courier. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  25. "Raith Rovers v Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  26. "Dundee ease past Falkirk into League Cup last eight". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  27. "Dundee back in Premiership after eight-goal epic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  28. @PFAScotland (9 May 2023). "Your PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year - as voted for by the players" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 May 2023 – via Twitter.
  29. "cinch Championship Team of the Season 22/23 | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  30. "New contract for Ashcroft". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  31. Lee Ashcroft at Soccerway
  32. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  33. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  34. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  35. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  36. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  37. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  38. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  39. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  40. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  41. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  42. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  43. "Games played by Lee Ashcroft in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  44. "Lee wins De Vries and Player's Player awards". dundeefc.co.uk. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  45. "PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year 2021". pfascotland.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  46. "Championship Team of the Season 2020/21". SPFL.co.uk. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
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