Bradford City loanee and Newcastle United player Harrison Ashby on tough love from his dad and running the gauntlet on derby day

The Bradford City loanee might just sample a bit more if he gets the nod at Huddersfield Town's Accu Stadium on Saturday, when the Kilner Bank and home patrons in the lower tier of the main stand are highly likely to give stick to the nearest Bantams players in close proximity.

Ashby has previously run the gauntlet at Millwall, as a QPR loanee with West Ham connections. People in that part of London simply don't forget.

For the 24-year-old, from a football family, it's part and parcel of being a professional.

But in his eyes, if you can cope with your 'old man' venting his spleen at you when he is in close attendance, then you can cope with most things.

In fairness, it was done from a good place, certainly in his early years and it ultimately proved to be tough love.

Ashby's father Barry was a teak-tough central defender of some repute in the lower divisions.

His standing is such that he even has a suite named after him at Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium where he was a playing legend for the Kent club, while also representing Brentford and Watford.

Now a fair while retired, Ashby senior now follows the progress of his boy and has been with him every step of the way.

It was he who convinced his young son to stick with football when he wavered as a youngster. His words proved to be sage ones and fell on receptive ears.

Recalling the time when he thought about quitting football, Ashby – who recently joined City on loan for the rest of the campaign from Newcastle United and made his debut from the bench in last weekend's home reverse to Cardiff – said: “It was probably when I was around 12 or 13.

“I was obviously a young lad. Your emotions are everywhere.

“I basically said: 'I don't really want to do it any more. I'm going to play for my local team'.

“And my dad said: 'Listen, you've got the ability to be better than what I was and I've played in the Championship and in League One’.

“After about two weeks of convincing, to be fair to him I went back in and about eight months later, I got my scholarship (at West Ham).

“So, if it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be where I am today.

“There's one thing I do have over him, he has never played in the Premier League! So, I'll hold him to that. But then he has played 600 times. So, that's the one he has over me.”

On the influence of his father, he continued: “He does tell me quite a lot, to be fair to him.

“But I think for him, it's not living through me. I think he's just trying to push me for even more and even more. Because that's kind of been the trend since I was even a little one. Even in games, he's the one on the side who is screaming and shouting for me to get back.

“I don't think I'd be as much of a runner as I am now if it wasn't for my dad. Because he'd make me run in the game…

“Proper ‘run’ in a game as well.. If not, I'd be sitting in the back of the car on my own.”

So it's clear that Ashby can handle noise from the sidelines and if he does feature on derby day, he will take it in his stride.

On the latest rivalry he is about to walk into as a Bantams player, he added: “I've obviously watched highlights and videos on social media.

“I think for me, it would probably be similar to when I was playing at Millwall. Obviously being at West Ham and you're getting all sorts of and ‘you know what’.

“For me, it's motivation as much as anything.”

With his tongue firmly pressed into his cheek, he quipped: “It was great (at Millwall). I was getting lovely compliments all day.…

“I think the biggest thing is kind of not reacting to all the stuff that goes on outside of the pitch.

“As long as you're winning on the pitch, nothing else matters.

“So I think they can waste their breath and say what they want, but it's not going to make a difference.”

Ashby is also made of the right stuff. After moving from West Ham to Newcastle in January 2023 due to a lack of opportunities in East London, the wing-back has similarly struggled to make an impact on Tyneside, with some untimely injuries having not helped.

Some injury misfortunate also hampered him during a loan spell at Swansea City as well. His strong mindset has enabled him to stay in a mentally good place.

The Milton-Keynes born player said: “You see a lot of players that have obviously been released who you look at, like (Eberechi) Eze.

“He got released by three or four clubs and now he's playing for Arsenal and on God knows how much money.

“Setbacks are part of football and I think it will always be a part of football.”