RIP Ian Warburton

We have only recently learned of the death of Ian Warburton at the age of 68 who was Southport’s reserve centre-forward in 1974/75.

Born in Haslingden, Ian started with  Haslingden St James in the Blackburn Combination  as a sixteen year old  while serving his time as a draughtsman. He moved to  West Lancashire League side Haslingden and scored a hat-trick on his debut on 16^th October 1971 and won a President’s Cup winners medal in 1972.

Invited for trials by Bury he burst onto the scene by scoring a hat-trick on his Central League debut at Huddersfield. After scoring six goals in six  Central League appearances he  made his first team bow for the Shakers against Bradford City at Gigg Lane on 24^th October 1972.Although he was retained  for the following season his only first team appearance was a League Cup tie  against Oldham Athletic on 28^th August 1973.

Ian, a tall fair haired centre-forward, joined Southport in July 1974  and made  a scoring  debut against Chester on 11^th October 1974 but  his first team opportunities were limited and he made just five  Fourth Division League  and two substitute appearances. His last full game  was the FA Cup tie at his old Club, Bury.

Ian played for a number of  non- League clubs in East Lancashire including Accrington Stanley  for whom he won a Cheshire County League Second Division medal in 1980-81. Until his retirement in 2017 Ian was employed as a design engineer for various companies. He leaves a widow Ann, children Mark and Lauren and three grandchildren to whom we send our condolences.