Former Norwich and West Ham striker Dean Ashton saw an incredibly promising career cut short through the caprice of injury back in 2009. Ashton scored 15 goals in 46 league appearances for West Ham - along with a goal in the 2006 FA Cup final against Liverpool - only to be forced to call it a day owing to an ankle injury at the age of just 26. Ashton sustained the injury during his only international appearance with England in 2008.
West Ham fans were given further cause to rue Ashton's injury-shortened career today, as their former striker scored this fantastic overhead kick during Mark Noble's testimonial game this afternoon:
One fan in the crowd caught a fantastic angle of the strike:
Noble is celebrating ten years at the club with a game between West Ham and a West Ham All Stars XI. Along with what might have been, Hammers fans were given a reminder of what once was, as Paolo Di Canio also scored a solo goal that perhaps owed more to the opposition's unwillingness to tackle him:
With their side flying high in the league - and a move to the Olympic Stadium on the horizon - West Hams fans have plenty of reason to look forward with optimism. Today, they are looking back with more than a tinge of regret.
