David Layne
Encyclopedia
David "Bronco" Layne is a former English
footballer most famous for playing for Sheffield Wednesday
and his involvement in the British betting scandal of 1964
.
Layne started his career playing part-time for Rotherham United
in the summer of 1957. He only played eleven matches for the Millers over two seasons, but still managed to score four goals before he was given a free transfer and joined Swindon Town
. Layne became a prolific goalscorer whilst at Swindon, netting 28 goals in 41 games and attracting the attention of Bradford City
who paid a club record £6,000 for his signature midway through the 1960–61
season.
Layne broke the Bantams' goalscoring record in 1961–62
scoring 34 league goals over the course of the season. His goalscoring prowess was now attracting the attention of bigger clubs and he moved to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1962. Bradford recouped £22,500 for Layne, setting the record for highest fee received by the club at the time.
Layne spent two seasons at Hillsborough
and was the club's top scorer in both with 58 goals in 81 games over the two year period. Layne's career was however cut short in its prime when he became involved in the British betting scandal of 1964
. Layne was found guilty of match fixing and betting against his own team and along with several other players was jailed and banned from football for life.
The ban was later lifted and Layne rejoined Wednesday in 1972 but failed to earn a place on the team and was sent on loan to Hereford United
. After only four games at the club he retired from league football and joined Matlock Town
where he spent the rest of his career before being forced to retire through injury.
In 2006, it was reported that he was working as a pub landlord in Sheffield.
Layne's nickname was inspired by a popular American Western
TV series, Bronco
which was broadcast in the UK just as Layne was establishing his career. The protagonist, Bronco Layne, was played in the series by Ty Hardin
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer most famous for playing for 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...
and his involvement in the British betting scandal of 1964
British betting scandal of 1964
The British betting scandal of 1964 was a scandal in English association football in which eight professional players were jailed for offences arising from match fixing....
.
Layne started his career playing part-time for Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
in the summer of 1957. He only played eleven matches for the Millers over two seasons, but still managed to score four goals before he was given a free transfer and joined Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. Layne became a prolific goalscorer whilst at Swindon, netting 28 goals in 41 games and attracting the attention of Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
who paid a club record £6,000 for his signature midway through the 1960–61
1960-61 in English football
The 1960–61 season was the 81st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season was a historic one for domestic football in England, as Tottenham Hotspur F.C. became the first club in the twentieth century to "do the Double" by winning both the League and the FA Cup competitions...
season.
Layne broke the Bantams' goalscoring record in 1961–62
1961-62 in English football
The 1961–62 season was the 82nd season of competitive Football in England.-Overview:The season was notable for the remarkable achievement of Ipswich Town winning the League Championship. Under the managership of Alf Ramsey, the club progressed from the old Third Division South to the First Division...
scoring 34 league goals over the course of the season. His goalscoring prowess was now attracting the attention of bigger clubs and he moved to Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1962. Bradford recouped £22,500 for Layne, setting the record for highest fee received by the club at the time.
Layne spent two seasons at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
and was the club's top scorer in both with 58 goals in 81 games over the two year period. Layne's career was however cut short in its prime when he became involved in the British betting scandal of 1964
British betting scandal of 1964
The British betting scandal of 1964 was a scandal in English association football in which eight professional players were jailed for offences arising from match fixing....
. Layne was found guilty of match fixing and betting against his own team and along with several other players was jailed and banned from football for life.
The ban was later lifted and Layne rejoined Wednesday in 1972 but failed to earn a place on the team and was sent on loan to Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
. After only four games at the club he retired from league football and joined Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
where he spent the rest of his career before being forced to retire through injury.
In 2006, it was reported that he was working as a pub landlord in Sheffield.
Layne's nickname was inspired by a popular American Western
Western fiction
Western fiction is a genre of literature set in the American Old West frontier and typically set from the late eighteenth to the late nineteenth century. Well-known writers of Western fiction include Zane Grey from the early 1900s and Louis L'Amour from the mid 20th century...
TV series, Bronco
Bronco (TV series)
Bronco is a Western series on ABC from 1958 through 1962. It was shown by the BBC in the United Kingdom. The program starred Ty Hardin as Bronco Layne, a former Confederate officer who wandered the Old West, meeting such well-known individuals as Wild Bill Hickok, Billy the Kid, Jesse James,...
which was broadcast in the UK just as Layne was establishing his career. The protagonist, Bronco Layne, was played in the series by Ty Hardin
Ty Hardin
Ty Hardin, born Orison Whipple Hungerford, Jr., is a former American actor best known as the star of the 1950s ABC western television series Bronco.-Early life:...
.