Funeral for women’s football hero Ashleigh Young at Norwood after her asthma death

Local women’s football hero Ashleigh Young will remain “forever young”, as mourners bid farewell at her funeral and said they’d be “forever changed”.

Ashleigh Young’s parents Graham and Bronwyn Young at their daughter’s funeral at Norwood on Friday. Picture: Matt Loxton

Family and friends of women’s sport advocate Ashleigh Young have remembered her as a devoted colleague who will remain “forever young” in their memories.

On Friday afternoon, more than 500 people attended her funeral at Norwood Football Club where she worked as the women’s football co-ordinator.

The 31-year-old was admitted to hospital on December 14 with asthma complications and died surrounded by loved ones.

Ashleigh’s coffin, emblazoned with the words “forever young”, was carried onto the pitch by parents and siblings.

Ashleigh was a much-loved member of the Norwood Football Club community. Picture: Norwood Football Club

In a eulogy delivered by a funeral director, parents Graham and Bronwyn Young said they often asked themselves, “Why was she taken at such a young age?”

They revealed Ashleigh suffered her first asthma attack at only 11 months old.

However, she played a number of sports up until a leg injury in her teens encouraged her to focus on sports administration.

“She started playing cricket, and one day she said she wanted to play cricket with the boys’ team,” the eulogy said.

“The opposition boys scoffed at a girl playing, but she proceeded to take four or five wickets, and that soon silenced the boys.”

They also said she was devoted to her footy club and “nothing made her happier than seeing Norwood girls being drafted in AFLW teams”.

Brother Chris Young told mourners that their lives were “forever changed”.

“It will be extremely hard for us to find happiness,” Mr Young said.

“However, we need to go on knowing she is watching over us.

“It’s not often in our lives we come across someone who stays with you forever – Ashleigh was that person.”

Best friend Tiarn Powell said she first met Ashleigh ten years ago when they both worked at Football SA.

“I’ll be forever grateful for coming to Adelaide and sharing this short time with you,” Ms Powell said.

“I’ll miss you every day. This is not goodbye – I’ll see you later.”

Former Wilderness School co-worker Brad Snell said Ash was “not just an administrator, but a caring and supportive part of the (school) community”.

“The office door was always open and students would drop by for a chat, which is a reflection on the impact she had on their lives,” he said.

After Ashleigh died, the National Asthma Council of Australia sounded a warning on the “unacceptably high” number of deaths associated with the disease.

South Australia had 49 deaths from asthma last year, compared to 26 in 2021.

Across the country, 467 people died from asthma in 2022, up from 355 the year before.