Ian Leonard Osborne (born 28 October 1952) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham City and Port Vale.

Ian Osborne
Personal information
Full name Ian Leonard Osborne[1]
Date of birth (1952-10-28) 28 October 1952 (age 72)
Place of birth Leicester, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Full back
Youth career
1968–1970 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1976 Birmingham City 10 (0)
1976–1977 Port Vale 15 (0)
Hillingdon Borough
Westfields
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Osborne was born in Leicester. When he left school in 1968, he joined Birmingham City as an apprentice and turned professional two years later.[3] A pacey full back, he spent a long time in the reserve team before eventually making his debut in the First Division on 16 August 1975, the opening game of the 1975–76 season, in a 3–3 draw at Leicester City. Osborne played a few more games that season, deputising for Ray Martin who was nearing the end of his Birmingham career,[4] but his defending was not considered up to standard and he was allowed to leave.[3] He then spent a season with Port Vale where he played the opening six games of the season for the Third Division side. After losing his place in September 1976, he did not get another game until April the next year, though he did play nine of the last ten games. He left on a free transfer in May 1977, moving into non-League football with Hillingdon Borough[5] and Westfields.[6]

Career statistics

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Source:[7][5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 1973–74 First Division 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
1974–75 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975–76 First Division 10 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
Total 10 0 1 0 1 0 12 0
Port Vale 1976–77 Third Division 15 0 0 0 2 0 17 0

References

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  1. ^ "Ian Osborne". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack; Dunk, Peter (1976). Rothmans football yearbook. 1976-77. London : Queen Anne Press. ISBN 978-0-362-00259-1. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  4. ^ Matthews, pp. 110, 211.
  5. ^ a b "Ian Osborne". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 221. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  7. ^ Ian Osborne at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)