Bill Asprey played 341 games for Stoke before he masterminded a top flight final day 'great escape'

'Tough tackling' right back lined up alongside Stan Matthews

- Peter Smith

BILL Asprey, a Stoke City stalwart and promotion winner as a player who returned for a turbulent time as manager, has died at the age of 88.

Asprey grew up in Wolverhampton and supported his local club but he was still lured to Stoke from under the nose of Stan Cullis and went on to play 341 games for the club, putting him 23rd in the list of all-time appearances.

He made his debut at 17 and was establishing himself as a first team regular in the late 1950s, going on to help Stoke win promotion to the top flight in 1963 and stay up there, as well as reach the 1964 League Cup final.

The defender was a key player in that Division Two title-winning team under Tony Waddington, an ever-present along with Don Ratcliffe and Jimmy O'Neill while stars like Jackie Mudie, Dennis Viollet, Eddie Stuart and Jimmy McIlroy saw the Potters back to the big time.

The ace in the pack was Stanley Matthews, who played in front of tough-tackling Asprey on the right wing.

Asprey and fellow full-back Tony Allen once spotted him dragging his feet while walking from a pre-match meal to the Victoria Ground, so Stan took off his shoes and showed them how he had cut holes in his heels and filled them with lead to make his feet and legs feel lighter when he put his boots on.