Aston was a strong, tough-tackling left-back who also played as a centre forward for his club on occasion.
He was forced into retirement in 1954 after contracting tuberculosis,[1] having scored 30 goals in 284 appearances for Manchester United.
Because of the tuberculosis, he had to have a lung removed; he was offered treatment in Switzerland or North Wales, and chose the latter due to its proximity to home and family.
[2] On 25th April 1956 a John Aston testimonial game was held against an all star x1 at Old Trafford.
Aston returned to the club as youth team coach in the early 1960s and was then chief scout under new manager Wilf McGuinness in 1969, and had a three-year spell in the position before being sacked along with McGuinness's successor, Frank O'Farrell in late 1972.