following the abolition of the maximum wage in january 1961, ashurst signed a new contract at £40-per-week the following summer. he went on to make 458 appearances for the club; putting him second in the all time appearances list in sunderland's history, and one of only two outfield players to top 400 appearances. he scored four sunderland goals during his time at the club. in the late sixties, alongside jimmy montgomery, cecil irwin, martin harvey, charlie hurley and jim mcnab, ashurst formed one of the most notable and most settled back fives in sunderland's history.