ENGLAND RU head coach Brian Ashton has come a long way since he worked as a bank clerk in Bolton.

When he started his playing career for Tyldesley in 1964, the talented scrum-half was already being called an on-field general' for the way he controlled and organised the game.

Now, the modest Leigh-born rugby coach is being talked of a future Knight of the Realm if his England team can make history by retaining the Rugby World Cup in France tomorrow against South Africa - a team that has already thrashed his side 36-0.

But the president of Tyldesley RUFC, Terry Alexander, believes his former team mate will be more than ready for the challenge.

"He was a very good player. Even as a young player he could organise things. He was very much like Johnny Wilkinson is now. He was like an on-field general," said Mr Alexander, who encouraged him to play stand-off for his Chorley College team while he was a trainee bank clerk in Bolton.

Ashton, aged 61, spent much of his early years growing up in the Diamond Street area of Leigh before being educated at Leigh Grammar School.

"I had just finished playing when he came through and I was at college, but I could see that he was good and I asked him to play for the college team with me in Chorley. He did two years for us while working at a bank in Bolton," said Mr Alexander, aged 75, from Bromley Cross.

Ashton changed career and, like Mr Alexander, he became a teacher while his playing career moved on to Fylde and later Orrell. Overseas he played for Montferrand, Roma and Milan as well as representing Lancashire, Barbarians and North of England as well as touring Australia with England in 1975.

Ashton's coaching career began at Bath in 1989 before he was appointed Ireland's head coach for 1997-98.

He was England assistant for four years up to 2002 and then the RFU's National Academy manager until 2005.

Mr Alexander, who is a former deputy head teacher at Sharples High School, said Ashton did a lot to bring on the game in Italy and Ireland and now he was getting much-deserved success in England.

He said the Tyldesley club would be holding a party while all the members watch the game unfold with bated-breath.

"We are very proud of him. He acknowledges his roots. It was bedlam here last Saturday when we beat France and I'm sure it will be more of the same tomorrow," he added.

Earlier this week Ashton laughed off the idea that he could be guaranteed the tag Sir Brian', having led the defending champions to a second world title.

But after overseeing a remarkable transformation in the space of a month, Ashton would not bet against his side doing exactly that.

"I can't imagine this group of players would ever be satisfied just by getting to the final," he said.

"They have come so far on a very difficult journey during the World Cup. They want to create history."

He added: "We've got the players who know how to win a game. We have got the armoury within the side to get us in positions where we know we can win it."

South Africa have won the last four games against England, and they are the 2007 World Cup's solitary unbeaten team heading into the final.