Lawson: Frederick Ian Allison (Ian)

1962-1966 (Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Ouston, Co Durham: 24-03-1939

Debut: v Huddersfield Town (a): 03-03-1962

5’11” 11st 8lb (1963)

Lawson joined Burnley from Pelton School in March 1956, an England Youth International he made a sensational start to his professional football career when he scored four times on his debut for Burnley against Chesterfield in a 7-0 FA Cup winin 1957 when he was seventeen. The strength of the Burnley squad was such that his first team chances were limited and he played only eight games when Burnley lifted the First Division Championship in 1959-60. After scoring seven times in twenty-three League appearances for Burnley, Leeds signed him for £20,000 in March 1962. He became a valued member of the squad which won the Second Division title in 1963-64. However as the Leeds team became more sophisticated in the top flight with the addition of class players such as Alan Peacock, Jim Storrie and Don Weston, and the emergence of young forward stars from the juniors, Lawson was marginalised. In June 1965 he moved to Crystal Palace for £9,000 and was the first Palace player to be substituted, but he did score six times in fifteen starts and two substitute appearances in the League. He later had spells with Port Vale, who paid £1,000 for his services, in August 1966, but he failed to score in eight appearances, one of which was off the bench. He joined Barnsley in August 1967 but did not make a senior appearance at Oakwell.