Alan Ainscow

Alan Ainscow (born 15 July 1953) is an English former professional footballer who made more than 450 appearances in the Football League.

Playing career Born in Bolton, Lancashire, Ainscow began his career with Blackpool as an apprentice, making his debut when then-Seasiders manager, Bob Stokoe, picked him to play in the 1971 Anglo-Italian Cup. Ainscow played in the competition's final, on 12 June 1971 against Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, which Blackpool won 2–1 after extra time. Still without a league appearance, Ainscow played the whole game before being substituted prior to the end of extra time due to exhaustion. The following month he signed his first professional contract with the club.

His league debut came at the start of the 1971–72 season when he scored in a Second Division match against Swindon Town at Bloomfield Road.

It took a while for him to become a regular in the Blackpool first team; though after the departure of Tommy Hutchison, he became almost an ever-present in the line-up.

In July 1978, after 192 league appearances for Blackpool and 28 goals, for £40,000.

In August 1981, he joined Everton for a fee of £250,000.

In 1989, he moved to Rochdale, and in 1990 he moved into non-League football with Horwich RMI.

Coaching career After a long spell out of the game, Ainscow was appointed as joint coach to the under-17 team of Burscough in August 2005.

Honours

Blackpool Anglo-Italian Cup winner: 1971

Blackburn Rovers Full Members' Cup winner: 1986–87