Former Leeds United keeper, Jamie Ashdown today announced his retirement from football at the age of 34. Ashdown’s made 188 career appearances in a career that stretched over 15 years and saw him also turn out for Reading, Bournemouth, Rushden, Portsmouth and Norwich before he signed up as a White at Elland Road in 2012. Ashdown announced his retirement with the following Tweet linked to a Facebook story.
Big thanks to all over the years. Follow link. https://t.co/azOiqLM7jm
— Jamie Ashdown (@jamie_ashdown) August 14, 2015
Ashdown spent two seasons with Leeds United, between 2012-2014, during which time he aided the Elland Road outfit to a League Cup quarter-final and FA Cup Fifth round in his first season. This run of games game as he replaced then first-choice keeper Paddy Kenny for cup games. It was during his injury-hampered time at Elland Road, which ended with his release last summer, that Ashdown’s thoughts changed to life outside football. The then-injured keeper recognised a marketing niche for sports supplements and set up a new website called Trusted Pro Supplements in order to help athletes avoid the potential danger of taking banned supplements.
After Leaving Leeds United, Ashdown went on to have spells with Crawley Town and Oxford United before deciding to hang up his boots for good. Ashdown’s time at Leeds United ended in some acrimony after he found out that he was not being retained by Leeds United via an announcement on Twitter, with him not receiving official confirmation by letter until the following day. This left Ashdown, according to a report in the Yorkshire Post at the time, feeling put out and he said,
“A bit of respect is all you need. Every player wants that, no matter what contribution they have made to the club. You want to be treated similar. I got a letter a day after everyone else and that was my only gripe.” Jamie Ashdown: Yorkshire Post – May 20, 2014
With news his retirement, fans have come out on Twitter to relay their best wishes.
All the very best to @jamie_ashdown my ex roomy who's hung up his boots, best wishes in your new ventures 👊🏾👍🏾
— Dom Poleon (@MrPoleon) August 14, 2015
@jamie_ashdown all the best mate 👍 #lufc
— Adam Webster (@adswebbo) August 14, 2015
Good luck to @jamie_ashdown after announcing his retirement #LUFC
— White Knight LUFC (@WhiteKnightLUFC) August 14, 2015
Good luck Jamie Ashdown in your retirement from the ‘beautiful game’.
