Iain Hesford
Iain Hesford (4 March 1960 – 18 November
Iain Hesford
2014)[2][3] was an English professional footballer. He
played as a goalkeeper for teams including Personal information
Blackpool, Eastern, Sunderland and South China. Date of birth 4 March 1960
Place of birth Ndola, Northern Rhodesia
Date of death 18 November 2014 (aged 54)
Early career Height 6 ft 11⁄2 in (1.87 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Hesford began his career at Blackpool, where he
Senior career*
played more than 200 games and won seven caps for
Years Team Apps (Gls)
the England Under-21 team. When he made his
debut, against Oldham Athletic on 20 August 1977, 1977–1983 Blackpool 202 (0)
aged 17, he became the youngest goalkeeper ever to 1983–1986 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
1985 → Fulham (loan) 3 (0)
play for Blackpool in a League game.[4] As he ran out
for the second half, he offended the Latics support by 1985 → Notts County (loan) 10 (0)
flashing them a "V" sign.[4] In 1983, he was signed 1986–1988 Sunderland 97 (0)
by Sheffield Wednesday, but didn't play a single game 1988–1991 Hull City 91 (0)
for the Owls. In 1986, he moved to Sunderland, 1991–1992 Maidstone United 42 (1)
where he played for two and a half seasons, before he 1992–1996 Eastern
moved to Hull City in December 1988, in a deal that 1996–1997 Sing Tao
saw Tony Norman move in the opposite direction. He 1997–1998 South China
was part of the Hull side that were relegated from the International career
old Division 2 in 1991. He left the club, whereupon 1978 England Youth 1 (0)
he signed for Maidstone United, who were also 1981–1982 England U21 7 (0)
struggling at the time. He scored the winner in a 3–2 *Club domestic league appearances and goals
home win for Maidstone against Hereford United on
a windy day in 1991, with a massive drop-kick from his own penalty area.
Career in Hong Kong
Hesford's career in Hong Kong started in July 1992 when he joined Eastern. He played for the club for 4
years before he moved to Sing Tao in 1996–97 season and later South China in 1997–98. During his time
at Eastern, the club captured 5 trophies including the Hong Kong Senior Shield, FA Cup and the league
championship. He was elected as the best foreign player in the league in 1992. He was also in the
HKFDL Team of the Year for three seasons (1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95). While at Eastern, he went
827 minutes (over ten games) without conceding a goal, setting a HKFDL record before Loh Wai Chi
scored for South China in a second round match.
He played for Hong Kong XI ('Hong Kong Golden Select') against England in a friendly which the
visitors won 1–0.
He left Hong Kong in 1998 and started his career as a coach in England. He ran a hotel in Littleborough,
near Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England.
Death
On 20 November 2014, the body of Hesford was discovered.[5] The local newspaper, the Blackpool
Gazette, noted a "suspected heart attack."[6]
References
1. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81 (https://archive.org/details/ro
thmansfootball00roll). London: Queen Anne Press. p. 70 (https://archive.org/details/rothman
sfootball00roll/page/70). ISBN 0362020175.
2. "Obituary News - Blackpool Gazette" (https://archive.today/20141126012733/http://announc
e.jpress.co.uk/39673441-obituary-hesford-iain). Blackpool Gazette. Archived from the
original (http://announce.jpress.co.uk/39673441-obituary-hesford-iain) on 26 November
2014. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
3. "Iain Hesford: 1960-2014" (https://web.archive.org/web/20141121192352/http://www.hullcityt
igers.com/news/article/iain-hesford-1960-2014-2094053.aspx). Hullcitytigers.com. Archived
from the original (http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/article/iain-hesford-1960-2014-209405
3.aspx) on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
4. Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures
from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.
5. "Sad News" (http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/article/sad-news-2093726.aspx).
Blackpoolfc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
6. "Tributes to 'larger than life' Pool legend" (http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/tributes-t
o-larger-than-life-pool-legend-1-6979125). Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
External links
HKFA website (http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4351) (in
Chinese) 聯賽不失球紀錄的保持者─希福特
Iain Hesford (http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/iainhesford.html) at Post War
English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
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