Ashley Phillips: “This is just the start and I want to kick on”
A signing from Championship side Blackburn Rovers, on Saturday morning, Ashley put pen to paper on a contract with the Club which will run until 2028.
Joining us at the age of 18 and with just a season of first team football under his belt, the defender links up with us at the dawning of his professional career.
Now, as the 6ft 4in centre-back bids to continue his growth and development in Lilywhite, a new journey awaits him in north London, and it is one he is eager to get started on.
“It’s really amazing (to be here). It’s a really massive club.” Ashley said as he spoke to SPURSPLAY in his first interview. “I’ve always dreamt of being in the Premier League and this is just the start for me.
“There are really good players, really good staff – I’ll learn so much – and there’s an exciting future (here), so I’m really, really excited to get going. I can’t wait to get started!”
Young and driven, Ash has high hopes for his time in north London.
Having only made his first team debut in Rovers colours just under a year ago as he started a 4-0 Carabao Cup first round win over Hartlepool on 10 August, 2022, the centre-back enjoyed a promising first term as a professional, making 14 appearances for the storied Lancashire side, including eight appearances in the Championship.
And that productive first season was something the English Fooball League (EFL) recognised at the end of the campaign as Ashley was named the EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season.
Now beginning a new chapter of his story with us, the England youth international is relishing the challenge ahead.
Discussing his journey so far, Ash said, “I was playing grassroots then I got scouted by Blackburn when I was 12-years-old; I then worked my way up through the academy system. Then at 17, I got involved with the first team, made my debut and played 14 times for the club.
“That was really good experience (for me). Obviously, being so young, it’s sometimes tough to get your debut, but each game I felt like I was getting better and improving, playing against really physical, well-known strikers.
“Being named Apprentice of the Season was a great moment for me and my family. For me, personally, it shows that I’ve had a good start to football but this is just the start and I want to kick on.
“Now, I can’t wait to get started. I’ll learn so much from it. I hope to be involved in the first team environment, hopefully make some appearances and we’ll go from there.”