Ian Purdie
FullnameIan Purdie[1]
Birth date7 March 1953 (age 73)
Birth placeBellshill, Scotland
Height1.75 m[2]
PositionWinger
Youthclubs 1Larkhall Thistle
Years 11971–1975
Clubs 1Aberdeen
Caps 139
Goals 110
Years 21975–1977
Clubs 2Dundee
Caps 259
Goals 27
Years 31977–1978
Clubs 3Motherwell
Caps 316
Goals 33
Years 41978–1979
Clubs 4Wigan Athletic
Caps 455
Goals 412
Years 51979–1980
Clubs 5Portsmouth
Caps 55
Goals 51
Years 61981–1982
Clubs 6Canberra City
Caps 643
Goals 613
Years 71983
Clubs 7Footscray JUST
Caps 714
Goals 71
Nationalyears 11974
Nationalteam 1Scotland U23
Nationalcaps 11
Nationalgoals 10

Ian Purdie (born 7 March 1953 in Bellshill) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a winger.

He started his professional career at Aberdeen before moving on to Dundee and then Motherwell.

Following a disagreement with his manager at Motherwell,[3] Purdie moved to Wigan Athletic, and was the club's first signing after being elected into the Football League. He made his debut in the club's first ever Football League game against Hereford United, and in October 1978, he became the scorer of Wigan's first successful penalty in the Football League against Northampton Town.[4]

Purdie signed for Portsmouth in October 1979 for a fee of £20,000, but made just five appearances for the club. However, he did score the crucial 2nd goal when Portsmouth beat Northampton 2–0 on 3 May 1980 to secure promotion to Division 3. He moved to the Australian capital in 1981 to play for Canberra City in the National Soccer League, before transferring to Melbourne-based Footscray JUST in 1983. And if he ever reads this, perhaps he'll return the only autographed copies of 'The League at Last' that he 'borrowed' ...

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ "Ian Purdie". motherwellnet.com. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  3. ^ Cherry, D. B. (1979). The League: At Last. D.B.C. Enterprises. p. 112.
  4. ^ "Latics A–Z". Ye Olde Tree and Crown. Retrieved 11 November 2010.[dead link]