Ian Ure
Encyclopedia
John Francombe "Ian" Ure (born 7 December 1939) is a Scottish
former footballer. Ure began his career in his native Scotland with Dundee
, before moving to England to play for Arsenal
and Manchester United
. After eight years in England, Ure returned to Scotland with St. Mirren
; however, after two years with St. Mirren, Ure had only made three appearances and went into management with East Stirlingshire
. During his time with Dundee and Arsenal, Ure also made 11 appearances for the Scottish national team
.
, Ure started his career as a centre half
with Ayr Albion. In 1958, he joined Dundee
, for whom he played for five seasons. During that time, the club won its one and only First Division
title in 1961–62, and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup
in 1962–63, losing 5–2 on aggregate to eventual champions Milan
. During this time Ure also won eight caps for Scotland
, his debut coming against Wales
on 8 November 1961, a game Scotland won 2–0.
He moved south of the border in 1963 for a transfer fee of £62,500 to play for Arsenal
. He only missed one match for Arsenal in his first season (and won a further two caps for Scotland), but injury and a loss of form restricted his appearances in 1964–65 and 1965–66, although he still managed more than 20 matches each season. Ure was restored to the Arsenal lineup by Bertie Mee
, however, and played 44 matches in 1966–67; he won his eleventh and final cap for Scotland against Northern Ireland
on 21 October 1967.
Ure continued to feature regularly for Arsenal as the 1960s went on, but during this time built a reputation for errors, exemplified by his mistake in the 1969
League Cup
final against Swindon Town
, which allowed Roger Smart
to score Swindon's opening goal; Swindon went on to win 3–1 after extra time. Ure's reputation was sufficient enough to be noted by Nick Hornby
in his book, Fever Pitch
:
Despite his reputation, Ure played 202 matches for Arsenal in defence over the course of six years, scoring two goals, and picking up two League Cup runners-up medals (having also played in the 1968 Final
as well). However, with Frank McLintock
and Terry Neill
competing for the centre half position, Ure found himself being squeezed out towards the end of that decade, and he left Arsenal in August 1969 to join Manchester United
. The only major signing made by manager Wilf McGuinness
, Ure spent two seasons at Manchester United before returning to Scotland to play for St. Mirren
.
After retiring from playing, he spent some time as a coach, including a spell as manager of East Stirlingshire, but later left the game completely. He is currently employed as a social worker in Kilmarnock
.
|1958–59||rowspan="5"|Dundee
||rowspan="5"|Division One
||2||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1959–60||7||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1960–61||32||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1961–62||34||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1962–63||32||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1963–64||rowspan="7"|Arsenal
||rowspan="7"|First Division
||41||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1964–65||22||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1965–66||21||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1966–67||37||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1967–68||21||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1968–69||23||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1969–70||3||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1969–70||rowspan="3"|Manchester United
||rowspan="3"|First Division
||34||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1970–71||13||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1971–72||0||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1972–73||rowspan="2"|St. Mirren
||rowspan="2"|Division Two
||3||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1973–74||0||0||||||||||||||||
110||0||||||||||||||||
215||3||||||||||||||||
325||3||||||||||||||||
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former footballer. Ure began his career in his native Scotland with Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, before moving to England to play for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. After eight years in England, Ure returned to Scotland with St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
; however, after two years with St. Mirren, Ure had only made three appearances and went into management with East Stirlingshire
East Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
. During his time with Dundee and Arsenal, Ure also made 11 appearances for the Scottish national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
.
Career
Born in AyrAyr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, Ure started his career as a centre half
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
with Ayr Albion. In 1958, he joined Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, for whom he played for five seasons. During that time, the club won its one and only First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
title in 1961–62, and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 1962–63, losing 5–2 on aggregate to eventual champions Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. During this time Ure also won eight caps for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, his debut coming against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 8 November 1961, a game Scotland won 2–0.
He moved south of the border in 1963 for a transfer fee of £62,500 to play for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. He only missed one match for Arsenal in his first season (and won a further two caps for Scotland), but injury and a loss of form restricted his appearances in 1964–65 and 1965–66, although he still managed more than 20 matches each season. Ure was restored to the Arsenal lineup by Bertie Mee
Bertie Mee
Bertram "Bertie" Mee OBE was an English football player and manager, noted for managing Arsenal to their first Double win in 1971. He was the younger brother of fellow footballer Georgie Mee.-Early life:...
, however, and played 44 matches in 1966–67; he won his eleventh and final cap for Scotland against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
on 21 October 1967.
Ure continued to feature regularly for Arsenal as the 1960s went on, but during this time built a reputation for errors, exemplified by his mistake in the 1969
1969 Football League Cup Final
The 1969 Football League Cup Final took place on 15 March 1969 at Wembley Stadium. It was the ninth final and the third to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Arsenal and Swindon Town.-Pre-match:...
League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, which allowed Roger Smart
Roger Smart
Roger Smart is a retired football Inside Forward.He made his way from schoolboy teams to work up through the youth ranks at Swindon Town before making his début in the reserves in April 1960....
to score Swindon's opening goal; Swindon went on to win 3–1 after extra time. Ure's reputation was sufficient enough to be noted by Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby is an English novelist, essayist and screenwriter. He is best known for the novels High Fidelity, About a Boy, and for the football memoir Fever Pitch. His work frequently touches upon music, sport, and the aimless and obsessive natures of his protagonists.-Life and career:Hornby was...
in his book, Fever Pitch
Fever Pitch
Fever Pitch: A Fan's Life is the title of a 1992 autobiographical book by British author Nick Hornby. The book is the basis for two films: Fever Pitch was released in 1997, and Fever Pitch in 2005...
:
Despite his reputation, Ure played 202 matches for Arsenal in defence over the course of six years, scoring two goals, and picking up two League Cup runners-up medals (having also played in the 1968 Final
1968 Football League Cup Final
The 1968 Football League Cup Final took place on 2 March 1968 at Wembley Stadium. It was the eighth final and the second to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Arsenal and Leeds United....
as well). However, with Frank McLintock
Frank McLintock
Francis "Frank" McLintock MBE is a Scottish former football defender who played for Leicester City, Arsenal and QPR.-Leicester City:...
and Terry Neill
Terry Neill
William John Terence "Terry" Neill is a Northern Ireland former football player and manager.-Playing career:Born in Belfast, Neill played as a youth for Bangor, before moving in December 1959 to Arsenal. He spent a year in Arsenal's youth side, before making his debut against Sheffield Wednesday...
competing for the centre half position, Ure found himself being squeezed out towards the end of that decade, and he left Arsenal in August 1969 to join Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. The only major signing made by manager Wilf McGuinness
Wilf McGuinness
Wilfred "Wilf" McGuinness is a former English football player and manager, who played twice for England. He is best known for taking over from Matt Busby as manager of Manchester United...
, Ure spent two seasons at Manchester United before returning to Scotland to play for St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
.
After retiring from playing, he spent some time as a coach, including a spell as manager of East Stirlingshire, but later left the game completely. He is currently employed as a social worker in Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
.
Career statistics
|-|1958–59||rowspan="5"|Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
||rowspan="5"|Division One
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
||2||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1959–60||7||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1960–61||32||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1961–62||34||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1962–63||32||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1963–64||rowspan="7"|Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
||rowspan="7"|First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||41||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1964–65||22||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1965–66||21||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1966–67||37||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1967–68||21||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1968–69||23||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1969–70||3||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1969–70||rowspan="3"|Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
||rowspan="3"|First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||34||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1970–71||13||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1971–72||0||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1972–73||rowspan="2"|St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
||rowspan="2"|Division Two
Scottish Football League Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
||3||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1973–74||0||0||||||||||||||||
110||0||||||||||||||||
215||3||||||||||||||||
325||3||||||||||||||||