Ian Branfoot

Ian Grant Branfoot (born 26 January 1947^[1]) is an English former football player and manager.

Ian Branfoot

Personal information
Full name	Ian Grant Branfoot
Date of birth	(1947-01-26) 26 January 1947 (age 78)
Place of birth	Gateshead, England
Position(s)	Full-back
Youth career
	Gateshead
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1965–1969	Sheffield Wednesday	36	(0)
1969–1973	Doncaster Rovers	156	(5)
1973–1977	Lincoln City	166	(11)
Total		358	(16)
Managerial career
1984–1989	Reading
1991–1994	Southampton
1994–1996	Fulham
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Born in Gateshead, he played as a full-back, and after starting at Gateshead joined Sheffield Wednesday,^[1] making his Football League debut in 1965. After 42 senior appearances for the club he left in 1969–70 for Doncaster Rovers.^[1] He made over 150 League appearances for Rovers, and after moving to Lincoln City in 1973–74, he went on to make over 150 league appearances for the Imps as well.^[1]

Branfoot was manager of Reading from 31 January 1984 to 23 October 1989.^[2] He must rank as one of Reading's most successful managers, leading Reading to promotion from Division 4 to Division 3 in 1984 based on the good work of Maurice Evans, and then promotion from Division 3 to Division 2 as champions in 1986. This last achievement included a record breaking start to the season of 13 straight wins. The club maintained a 13th position the next season but were relegated in 1988. However, in the same season that they won the Full Members Cup beating Luton Town 4–1 at Wembley.^[3]

He became manager of Southampton in June 1991, remaining in this position until January 1994. He then managed Fulham between 1994 and 1996.^[2] Branfoot later had a spell at Sunderland as academy director and at Leeds United as a scout. He also coached at Winchester College.^[4]