Ian Lawther (footballer)

Ian Lawther (born 20 October 1939 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) was a Northern Irish footballer who played for Sunderland and the Northern Ireland national football team as a forward.

Club career

Lawther started his footballing career in his native Northern Ireland, with Crusaders before moving to England, with Sunderland in 1959.cite web|url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2007/01/ian-lawther.html|title=Ian Lawther|publisher=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats|accessdate=2008-08-06] He made his debut for Sunderland on 31 August 1959 against Aston Villa in a 3–0 at Villa Park. [cite web|url=http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Imatchdets/IMD2177.asp|title=Aston Villa 3-0 Sunderland|publisher=The Stat Cat|accessdate=2008-08-06] In total, he made 75 league appearances, scoring 41 goals from 1959 until 1961 at his time at Sunderland. [cite web|url=http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Mplayers/MPG519.asp|title=Ian Lawther|publisher=The Stat Cat|accessdate=2008-08-06] He then signed for Blackburn Rovers for £18,000 in 1961 making 59 appearances scoring 21 goals at his time there.

He then moved to Scunthorpe United 1963 for £12,000 and scored 22 goals for the Lancashire based club in 60 league appearances. Following this, he joined Brentford for £15,000 in 1965, and went on to make 138 appearances scoring 43 goals for the club. Halifax Town was his next club as he signed for £3,000 in 1968, he played for two seasons scoring 24 goals in 87 league appearances. The club he served longest for was Stockport County, but was far less productive at his time there than with other clubs, he scored 29 goals in 158 appearances. He finished up his playing career in Northern Ireland with Bangor City before retiring.

International career

He won his first international cap for Northern Ireland on 6 April 1960 against Wales in a 3–2 defeat. He won three further caps for his country, making a total of four appearances without scoring a goal.

References