Ian Lawson (footballer, born 1939) explained

Ian Lawson
Full Name:Frederick Ian Allison Lawson
Birth Date:24 March 1939
Birth Place:Ouston, County Durham, England
Height:[1]
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:?–1956
Youthclubs1:Burnley
Years1:1956–1962
Clubs1:Burnley
Caps1:23
Goals1:7
Years2:1962–1965
Clubs2:Leeds United
Caps2:44
Goals2:17
Years3:1965–1966
Clubs3:Crystal Palace
Caps3:17
Goals3:6
Years4:1966–1967
Clubs4:Port Vale
Caps4:8
Goals4:0
Years5:1967–1968
Clubs5:Barnsley
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Totalcaps:92
Totalgoals:30

Frederick Ian Allison Lawson (24 March 1939 – February 2024) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for Burnley, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Port Vale in the 1950s and 1960s. He scored 34 goals in 99 league games in a 12-year career in the English Football League.[2] He won the First Division title with Burnley in 1959–60, and won the Second Division title with Leeds United in 1963–64.

Career

Burnley

Lawson started his career as an amateur at Burnley after being scouted in a local School's cup final, along with James Robson. He scored four goals on his debut in a 7–0 FA Cup victory over Chesterfield.[3] He followed this up with a hat-trick against New Brighton in the following round.[4] Despite some good times, including a purple patch in the "Clarets" 1956–57 FA Cup run, Lawson found it hard to break into the highly successful first-team. During this period Burnley were competing at the top of the First Division and were crowned champions of the English Football League in 1959–60 under the stewardship of Harry Potts. After spending six seasons at Turf Moor, during which he made only 23 appearances, the 23-year-old was sold to Leeds United for £20,000 in March 1962.[5]

Leeds United

Lawson joined Leeds as they battled to avoid relegation to the Third Division and went straight into Don Revie's first team, where he scored once in eleven games.[5] He made a bigger impact during the 1963–64 Second Division promotion season when he scored eleven goals in 24 matches. Still, his place in the first team was taken by Alan Peacock, who joined Leeds in February 1964, and Lawson made only three further appearances at Elland Road before joining Crystal Palace in June 1966 for a fee of £9,000.[5]

Later career

Dick Graham's Palace team finished 11th in the Second Division in 1965–66, and Lawson scored six goals in 17 league games at Selhurst Park. He was signed by Port Vale manager Jackie Mudie in August 1966 for a £1,000 fee.[6] He went straight into the first-team, making his debut at Vale Park in a 2–1 win over Southport on 20 August.[6] However, he lost his place the following month and was limited to one goal in ten league and cup games in the 1966–67 season.[6] He was given a free transfer to Fourth Division rivals Barnsley in May 1967.[6] He never made a first-team appearance for Johnny Steele's "Tykes" before announcing his retirement from professional football after leaving Oakwell.

Personal life and death

Lawson married Maureen and had a daughter, Sharon, and a son, Michael. Ian Lawson died in February 2024 at the age of 84.[7]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burnley1956–57First Division7248001110
1957–58First Division00000000
1958–59First Division00000000
1959–60First Division83100093
1960–61First Division820020102
Total23758203015
Leeds United1961–62Second Division1110000111
1962–63Second Division65002085
1963–64Second Division241131232915
1964–65First Division30000030
Total441731435121
Crystal Palace1965–66Second Division1760000176
Port Vale1966–67Fourth Division801110101
Barnsley1967–68Fourth Division00000000
Career total92309107310843

Honours

Burnley

1959–60[4]

Leeds United

1963–64[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: leeds-fans.org.uk: Leeds United Player Profile: Ian Lawson . www.leeds-fans.org.uk . 29 October 2022.
  2. Web site: Ian Lawson stats. Neil Brown's site. 17 May 2009.
  3. Web site: Leeds United F.C. History . www.ozwhitelufc.net.au . 29 October 2022.
  4. Web site: Scholes . Tony . Ex-Claret Ian Lawson passes away . UpTheClarets . 10 February 2024 . 9 February 2024.
  5. Book: Mourant, Andrew . Leeds United: Player by Player. Guinness Publishing Ltd . 1992 . 23 . 0-85112-568-9.
  6. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 169. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  7. News: RIP Ian Lawson (1939–2024) . 10 February 2024 . www.leedsunited.com . 10 February 2024 . en.