Asa Hall

Asa Philip Hall (born 29 November 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League South club Torquay United.

Asa Hall
Hall playing for York City in 2017
Personal information
Full nameAsa Philip Hall[1]
Date of birth (1986-11-29) 29 November 1986 (age 37)[1]
Place of birthDudley, England
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position(s)Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Torquay United
Number8
Youth career
Wolverhampton Wanderers
0000–2004Birmingham City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2004–2008Birmingham City0(0)
2006Boston United (loan)12(0)
2007Ashford Town (Kent) (loan)10(1)
2008Shrewsbury Town (loan)15(3)
2008–2010Luton Town74(15)
2010–2012Oxford United75(11)
2012–2014Shrewsbury Town32(2)
2013Aldershot Town (loan)16(0)
2013Oxford United (loan)19(3)
2014–2017Cheltenham Town45(3)
2017York City (loan)13(1)
2017–2018Barrow37(3)
2018–Torquay United174(39)
International career
2005England U191(0)
2005England U201(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:46, 26 April 2024 (UTC)

Hall turned professional with Birmingham City, but never played for their first team. He went on to play in the Football League for Boston United, Shrewsbury Town (on loan), Luton Town and Oxford United before rejoining Shrewsbury Town in 2012. He spent time on loan at Aldershot Town and back at Oxford United in 2013.

He represented England at under-19 and under-20 level.

Career

Birmingham City

Hall was born in Dudley, West Midlands.[1] He played football in the youth system at Wolverhampton Wanderers before moving to Birmingham City,[2] where he signed his first professional contract at the age of 17.[3] By 18 he was a regular in the reserve team.[4] Birmingham's Academy director Stewart Hall described him as "the outstanding prospect in the under-18 group" and he was expected to challenge for a first team place.[2] In March 2005 he made his debut for England under-19s,[5] and in May, he was named Birmingham's young player of the 2004–05 season.[6] Later that year he played for England under-20s.[7]

Loan spells

Hall made 12 appearances during three months spent on loan at League Two club Boston United in the 2005–06 season.[8] He signed a one-year contract with Birmingham before the 2006–07 season,[9] spent the last month of the season on loan at Ashford Town (Kent),[10] and signed a further year's contract with Birmingham before the 2007–08 season.[11]

In January 2008, Hall joined Shrewsbury Town of League Two on loan for the remainder of the season.[12] He made his debut for the Shrews on 19 January against Morecambe, and scored the first goal in a 2–0 win.[13] Hall was offered a permanent deal with Shrewsbury by their manager Gary Peters before his sacking in March. In May, when Hall was released by Birmingham, Peters' replacement Paul Simpson also offered him a contract. The player appeared keen to sign but eventually rejected the offer.[14]

Luton Town

Hall signed for Luton Town in August 2008.[15] He was a regular member of the first team,[16] and helped the club reach the 2009 Football League Trophy Final, scoring in the penalty shoot-out to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion in the semi-final.[17] The next season, Hall was again a regular player, though the arrival of Simon Heslop in March saw him demoted to the bench by new Luton manager Richard Money.[citation needed] Hall was released from his Luton contract at the end of the season, having made 89 appearances and scored 17 goals in his time at the club.[18]

Oxford United

On 20 May 2010, Hall signed for Oxford United, newly promoted back to the Football League, on a two-year deal.[19]

Hall decided not to renew his contract with Oxford, preferring to return nearer his Midlands home.[20]

Shrewsbury Town

Hall playing for Oxford United in 2013

In May 2012, Hall agreed to rejoin Shrewsbury Town in July after his Oxford contract expired,[20] and made his second Shrewsbury debut as a substitute in a League Cup match against Leeds United on 11 August.[21] In February 2013 Hall moved to Aldershot Town on loan; he made 16 league appearances before returning to Shrewsbury at the end of the season. In May 2013, Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner said he intended to talk to Hall about his future with the club,[22] and he was sent on another loan spell at Oxford United on 3 July.[23]

Hall returned to Shrewsbury at the end of his loan in January 2014, with Turner indicating he was no longer part of his plans and was available for transfer.[24] Despite this, he was allocated a squad number and appeared as a substitute in Shrewsbury's next match against Leyton Orient.[25] With Turner departing the club later that month, Hall expressed his desire to stay at Shrewsbury and fight for his place, despite interest from his former Oxford manager Chris Wilder to sign him at his new club Northampton Town.[26]

Following Shrewsbury's relegation, Hall was released at the end of his contract.[27]

Cheltenham Town

On 28 May 2014, Hall signed for League Two club Cheltenham Town on a two-year contract.[28] He tore his calf four minutes into his debut, and complications from that injury kept him out for a year.[28][29]

On 23 February 2017, Hall joined National League club York City on a one-month loan.[30] On 21 May 2017, he started as York beat Macclesfield Town 3–2 at Wembley Stadium in the 2017 FA Trophy Final.[31] Hall was released by Cheltenham at the end of 2016–17.[32]

Barrow

Hall signed for National League club Barrow on 23 June 2017.[33] He was made available for transfer at the end of the 2017–18 season.[34]

Torquay United

Hall signed for newly relegated National League South club Torquay United on 21 June 2018.[35]

Career statistics

As of end of 2023–24 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Birmingham City2005–06[36]Premier League00000000
Boston United (loan)2005–06[36]League Two120120
Ashford Town (Kent) (loan)2006–07[37]Isthmian League Division One South101101
Shrewsbury Town (loan)2007–08[38]League Two153153
Luton Town2008–09[16]League Two421020205[a]15111
2009–10[39]Conference Premier325511[b]0386
Total74157120618917
Oxford United2010–11[40]League Two414102000444
2011–12[41]League Two34710102[a]0387
Total75112030208211
Shrewsbury Town2012–13[42]League One15210101[a]1183
2013–14[43]League One170170
Total322101011353
Aldershot Town (loan)2012–13[42]League Two160160
Oxford United (loan)2013–14[43]League Two19300101[a]0213
Cheltenham Town2014–15[44]League Two1000000010
2015–16[45]National League342201[c]0372
2016–17[46]League Two10100102[d]0131
Total453201030513
York City (loan)2016–17[45]National League1313[c]0161
Barrow2017–18[45]National League373001[c]0383
Torquay United2018–19[45][47]National League South326311[c]0367
2019–20[45]National League194001[c]0204
2020–21[45]National League3810234[e]24415
2021–22[45]National League3060000306
2022–23[45]National League3084100349
2023–24[45][48]National League South255102[c]0285
Total174391058219246
Career total522812268025457791

Honours

Luton Town

Cheltenham Town

York City

Individual

References