Player #403 for Aston Villa, Derek Ashton, nicknamed Paleface, played as a full back for the club. Derek played for Villa between 1946-47 and 1948-49 making 8 appearances.

Derek was born in Kiverton Park, Sheffield on 4 July 1922 and made his debut appearance for Villa on Saturday, 21 September 1946 at the age of 24.

Derek, as a native of Kiverton Park, Sheffield, played for the Park team as a youth in his teens and was spotted by Wolves in 1941 whilst still working as a miner in a Yorkshire coalfield.

Derek was with Wolves for a season or two before joining Villa in August 1946, and as a 24 year old hard kicking full back, who could also acquit himself well in the centre half position, he went on to make a single appearance in his debut season

Derek had a cool and stylish approach to football that enabled him to make the breakthrough into the first team in the 1948-49 season.

1948-49 saw Derek return to the first team with 7 league appearances as Villa went on to finish 10th however he would play his final game on Saturday, 30 October 1948 aged 26 before moving on to Wellington Town in August 1951.

Derek would miss a significant proportion of the 1949-50 season due to a cartilage operation.

Derek played under Villa manager Alex Massie.

Derek passed away in Telford on 16 February 1997 aged 74.