Ashley Westwood

Ashley Michael Westwood (born 31 August 1976) is an English footballer who plays as a central defender. He is spending August 2011 on trial at Northampton Town.

A graduate of the Manchester United Academy, he signed with Crewe Alexandra in 1995. Three years later he moved on to Bradford City. Winning promotion to the Premier League with the Bantams, he transferred to Sheffield Wednesday in 2000. He moved on to Northampton Town in 2003, where he stayed for three years. Signing with Chester City in 2006, he was loaned out to Swindon Town and Port Vale in 2007, before joining Wrexham via Stevenage Borough the following year. He spent the 2010–11 season with Kettering Town, before returning to Crewe Alexandra for a brief spell in 2011.

Playing career

Born in Bridgnorth, Westwood started his career as a trainee at Manchester United, and was part of the FA Youth Cup winning side of 1995. He never made a first team appearance for the Red Devils, but Dario Gradi spotted the youngster's potential, and secured Westwood's services for Crewe Alexandra for a £40,000 fee.

Westwood slotted in well to the Second Division side. He played fifty games in the 1996–97 season, including the 1–0......
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