Ian Bolton
Encyclopedia
Ian Robert Bolton is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
as a central defender
for Notts County
, Lincoln City
, Watford
and Brentford
.
Bolton was born in Leicester
and began his career as an apprentice with Birmingham City
. He turned professional on joining Notts County
in March 1972. He joined Lincoln City
on loan in August 1976 and transferred to Watford
in August 1977 for a fee of £12,500. He was described by manager Graham Taylor as the best signing he made and played for Watford, in both midfield and defence, as they climbed from the Fourth Division
to the top flight. His 'explosion' free kicks became legendary.
He moved to Brentford
in December 1983, subsequently playing non-league football for Barnet
and Kingsbury Town from whom he joined Hayes
in 1987. After leaving Hayes he joined Chalfont St Peter
.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
as a central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
and Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
.
Bolton was born in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
and began his career as an apprentice with Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. He turned professional on joining Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in March 1972. He joined Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on loan in August 1976 and transferred to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in August 1977 for a fee of £12,500. He was described by manager Graham Taylor as the best signing he made and played for Watford, in both midfield and defence, as they climbed from the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
to the top flight. His 'explosion' free kicks became legendary.
He moved to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in December 1983, subsequently playing non-league football for Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
and Kingsbury Town from whom he joined Hayes
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
in 1987. After leaving Hayes he joined Chalfont St Peter
Chalfont St Peter F.C.
Chalfont St Peter A.F.C. are a football club based in Chalfont St Peter, near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England.-History:The Club was formed in 1926 by a group of gentlemen including Fred Latham but had little appetite at the time for progress...
.