Ian Britton, Scottish football player and manager, Died at 61

Ian Britton was born on May 19, 1954, and died on March 31, 2016.

He was a Scottish footballer.

He played in the midfielder’s position for clubs in England and Scotland, including Chelsea, Blackpool and Burnley.

Then, he started out his career with Scottish junior side Hillside Rangers.

At age 17, Ian signed as an apprentice with Londoners Chelsea in the summer of 1971, making his debut during the 1972–73 season.

In 1975, With Chelsea’s relegation from the First Division, which saw the departure of many of the club’s established players, Britton became a regular in the first team.

Ian Britton was a key part of manager Eddie McCreadie’s young side, alongside the likes of Ray Wilkins, Steve Finnieston and Tommy Langley, which won progression back to the topflight in 1976–77.

After Ian played two games for Arbroath at the beginning of the 1983–84 season, Ian joined Blackpool in November, the team he had scored against on his League debut for Chelsea during December 1972.

The loan deal was initially one-month, he impressed the manager Sam Ellis, who then signed him permanently for a small fee when his loan period expired.

He was a participant on the Blackpool side that won promotion from the Fourth Division in 1985, swapping places with his next club Burnley, whom he joined in August 1986.

After ended his professional career, Ian Britton became involved in local semi-professional football, briefly managing Nelson in the mid-1990s.

Ian resided in East Lancashire where he was the manager of the Seedhill Athletics and Fitness Centre operated by Pendle Leisure Trust.

Ian Britton passed away at 61 yrs old.