Ian Wallace (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ian Wallace


fullname = Ian Andrew Wallace
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1956|05|23
cityofbirth = Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
height =
nickname =
position = Striker
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
years = 1974-1976
1976-1980
1980-1984
1984
1984-1986
1986-1987
clubs = Dumbarton
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
Brest
Sunderland
Marítimo
caps(goals) = 34 (11)
130 (58)
134 (36)
16 (3)
34 (6)
9 (0)
nationalyears = 1978-1979
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 03 (1)
manageryears = 1996-1999
managerclubs = Dumbarton

Ian Wallace, (born May 23 1956 in Glasgow), was a professional Scottish footballer who had great success in the late-1970's and early-1980s when he played for top flight English clubs.

Wallace was playing for Scottish league side Dumbarton when he was purchased for the princely sum of £70,000 by the then Coventry manager Gordon Milne.

Wallace soon settled into the Coventry side with his small frame perfectly complimenting his larger strike partner Mick Ferguson. He was adored by the Coventry City faithful and his heroic antics both one and off the field endeared him to the fans and his classic ginger curly perm haircut made him stand out as much as his acrobatic goals. He emerged from a bad car accident whilst at the club sporting a deep scar on the forehead and also detached a retina whilst playing for Coventry at Norwich.

He was sold to neighbouring Midlands club (and then European champions) Nottingham Forest in July 1980 for the then massive sum of £1.25 million and went on be Forest's top scorer for two seasons running.

He subsequently moved to French club Brest before returning to English football with Sunderland in the years 1985-1986.

He had spells with clubs in Portugal and Australia at the end of his playing career.

He returned to Dumbarton FC as manager in November 1996 replacing Jim Fallon . He was dismissed from this job in October 1999 under rumours of heavy drinking and was replaced by Jimmy Brown (footballer) .

International career

Whilst a prolific goalscorer with top-flight clubs Coventry City and Nottingham Forest, Wallace surprisingly only played three times for his country, representing Scotland in the years 1978-1979. He scored his one international goal in the meeting with Bulgaria in February 1978, which featured his Coventry team-mate Jim Blyth in goal.

Controversy

Wallace appeared in Dumbarton Sheriff's Court on a charge of assault after a dispute with his partner. At this time Wallace was an alcoholic and had appeared intoxicated at an earlier hearing.

External links

*Player page at Scottish Football Association [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/player_details.cfm?playerid=43227&CFID=1177570&CFTOKEN=49143212]
*Former footballer admits assault - Daily Record [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/features/tm_objectid=16570576&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=football--fallen-scotland-idol-s-knife-attack-on-lover--name_page.html]

he was still a brilliant player so remember him for that