Ivor Linton

Ivor Linton (born 20 November 1959) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa,[3] Peterborough United[4] and Birmingham City.[5] He played as a midfielder.

Ivor Linton
Personal information
Full name Ivor Linton[1]
Date of birth (1959-11-20) 20 November 1959
Place of birth West Bromwich, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1976–1977 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1982 Aston Villa 27 (0)
1982–1983 Peterborough United 27 (3)
1983–1984 Birmingham City 4 (0)
1984 Bilston Town
1984 LappBK 20 (4)
1985–1987 Kaskö IK
1988–1999 IF Kraft Narpes 243 (41)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Linton was born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire (now in the West Midlands). He joined Aston Villa as an apprentice in May 1976, and turned professional in September 1977.[6] He made his debut in the First Division on 16 May 1977, as a 17-year-old apprentice, as a substitute in a home game against Stoke City which Villa won 1–0.[7] In six years with the club he played regularly for the reserve team, and made 17 starts and 13 substitute appearances in all competitions for the first team,[1] one of which was in the first leg of the 1982 European Cup second round match against Dynamo Berlin, when he conceded a penalty with his first touch.[8][9]

In the 1982 close season he joined Peterborough United of the Fourth Division on a free transfer. Released by the club after 27 league games,[4] he returned to the First Division by way of a trial with Birmingham City, during which he played four league games[6] and became the first black player to appear for both major Birmingham-based clubs.[9] After a spell in non-league football with Bilston Town, Linton moved to Finland where he played for Kaskö IK[10] and then for many years for Kraft Närpes.[11]

He finally retired from the game at the age of 39 and returned home to West Bromwich where he worked as an electrician, and appeared for the Villa Old Boys team.[9]

References
  1. "Linton, Ivor". Aston Villa Player Database. Jörn Mårtensson. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  2. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 54. ISBN 0362020175.
  3. "Aston Villa : 1946/47–2007/08". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  4. "Peterborough United : 1960/61–2007/08". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  5. "Birmingham City : 1946/47–2007/08". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  6. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  7. "Ivor Linton – Aston Villa FC". Football-Heroes.net. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  8. "History: June 10". Aston Villa F.C. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  9. Clarkson, Ian (21 October 2003). "Ivor Linton never made the impact of 'The Three Degrees' but he created a spot of history too". Professional Footballers' Association. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  10. "Statistik" (in Swedish). Kaskö IK. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  11. "sida 605 Kraftspelarnas målstatistik 1976-08 (page 605 Kraft players goal statistics 1976-08)" (in Swedish). Närpes stad (Town of Närpes). Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
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