Iain Hesford
Encyclopedia
Iain Hesford is an English footballer. He played as a goalkeeper for teams including Blackpool
, Eastern
, Sunderland
and South China.
, where he played more than 200 games and won seven caps for the England Under-21 team. When he made his debut, against Oldham Athletic on 20 August 1977, he became the youngest goalkeeper ever to play for Blackpool in a League game. As he ran out for the second half, he offended the Latics support by flashing them a "V" sign
. In 1983, he was signed by Sheffield Wednesday
, but didn't play a single game for the Owls. In 1986, he moved to Sunderland
, where he played for two and a half seasons, before he moved to Hull City
in December 1988, in a deal that saw Tony Norman
move in the opposite direction. He was part of the Hull side that were relegated from the old Division 2 in 1991. He left the club, whereupon he signed for Maidstone United, who were also struggling at the time. He scored the winner in a 3-2 home win for Maidstone against Hereford United on a windy day in 1991, with a massive drop-kick.
He played for Hong Kong XI ('Hong Kong Golden Select') against England in a friendly which the visitors won 1-0.
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 tropies 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 ('92-'93, '93-'94 and '94-'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 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.
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, Eastern
Eastern AA
Eastern Athletic Association is a football club and now plays in Hong Kong Third Division "A" League. It was a very successful team especially in the 1990s and was given the name 'Eastern Dynasty'. Eastern had originally competed in Second Division League during 2006/07 season and demoted to Third...
, Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and South China.
Early career
Hesford began his career at BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, where he played more than 200 games and won seven caps for the England Under-21 team. When he made his debut, against Oldham Athletic on 20 August 1977, he became the youngest goalkeeper ever to play for Blackpool in a League game. As he ran out for the second half, he offended the Latics support by flashing them a "V" sign
V sign
The V sign is a hand gesture in which the index and middle fingers are raised and parted, while the other fingers are clenched. It has various meanings, depending on the cultural context and how it is presented...
. In 1983, he was signed by Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, but didn't play a single game for the Owls. In 1986, he moved to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, where he played for two and a half seasons, before he moved to Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in December 1988, in a deal that saw Tony Norman
Tony Norman
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Norman is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Hull City, Sunderland and Huddersfield Town....
move in the opposite direction. He was part of the Hull side that were relegated from the old Division 2 in 1991. He left the club, whereupon he signed for Maidstone United, who were also struggling at the time. He scored the winner in a 3-2 home win for Maidstone against Hereford United on a windy day in 1991, with a massive drop-kick.
He played for Hong Kong XI ('Hong Kong Golden Select') against England in a friendly which the visitors won 1-0.
Career in Hong Kong
Hesford's career in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
started in July 1992 when he joined Eastern
Eastern AA
Eastern Athletic Association is a football club and now plays in Hong Kong Third Division "A" League. It was a very successful team especially in the 1990s and was given the name 'Eastern Dynasty'. Eastern had originally competed in Second Division League during 2006/07 season and demoted to Third...
. He played for the club for 4 years before he moved to Sing Tao
Sing Tao (football)
Sing Tao Sports Club is a now defunct Hong Kong football club which was dissolved after the 1998-99 season. The team was established by Aw Hoe in 1940 and made their first appearance in Hong Kong First Division League in 1940-41 season. The team reglated to Hong Kong Second Division League twice...
in 1996-97 season and later South China in 1997-98. During his time at Eastern
Eastern AA
Eastern Athletic Association is a football club and now plays in Hong Kong Third Division "A" League. It was a very successful team especially in the 1990s and was given the name 'Eastern Dynasty'. Eastern had originally competed in Second Division League during 2006/07 season and demoted to Third...
, the club captured 5 tropies including the Hong Kong Senior Shield
Hong Kong Senior Shield
Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield is the oldest football knockout inter-club competition in Asia. Usually only the teams in First Division would enter into the competition...
, FA Cup
Hong Kong FA Cup
Hong Kong FA Cup is a knockout cup competition in Hong Kong football, run by and named after The Hong Kong Football Association. The first edition of the competition was held in 1975, before then the cup was known as the Golden Jubilee Cup. The current season is the 33rd edition of the event...
and the league
Hong Kong First Division League
Hong Kong First Division League is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.-Competition format:...
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 ('92-'93, '93-'94 and '94-'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 left Hong Kong in 1998 and started his career as a coach in England. He ran a hotel in Littleborough, near Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England.
External links
- HKFA website (in Chinese) 聯賽不失球紀錄的保持者─希福特