Ian Hathaway
Encyclopedia
Ian Ashley Hathaway is an English
former professional football midfielder.
Hathaway began his career as an apprentice with West Bromwich Albion
after youth training with Wolverhampton Wanderers
. He began his apprenticeship late due to a broken arm, but in 1986 was released by new manager Ron Saunders
without making the grade at the Hawthorns. He joined Wolves on a weekly contract, playing alongside Dean Edwards
and Micky Holmes but was released when Graham Turner
took over as manager from Brian Little
.
He began working in an engineering factory, joining non-league Stourbridge
before moving to Bedworth United
. Whilst at Bedworth he attracted the attention of a number of league sides before Ian Greaves
offered him a contract with Mansfield Town
in March 1989. Despite the fact that Greaves was sacked within days the new manager George Foster
also wanted to sign him and he duly moved to Mansfield for a fee of £8,000, making his league debut as a substitute on the 11th of March in a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Preston North End
. He chose an apt time to score his first league for Mansfield when at the end of the season he scored against local rivals Chesterfield
, the goal preserving Mansfield's Third Division status and relegating Chesterfield.
He played 44 games for the Stags (23 as a substitute), scoring twice, before joining Rotherham United
in March 1991 with Steve Spooner
moving in the opposite direction. Towards the end of the following season he contracted pneumonia
and after failing to regain his place after his eventual recovery was released, joining Torquay United
in July 1993 and quickly establishing himself as a regular member of Don O'Riordan
's side. In March 1996 he joined Chesterfield
on loan, but returned to Torquay without appearing in the Chesterfield first team. He spent four years at Plainmoor
, scoring 14 times in 140 league games, before joining Colchester United
on a free transfer on the 5th of June 1997 after being released by Kevin Hodges
. He played only 12 times for Colchester before moving to Aldershot Town
in September 1998, playing a major role as the 'Shots attempted to climb back towards their former league status. He left Aldershot in May 2001 when his contract expired.
He worked as a postman and in October 2001 joined Andover
. He played just once for Andover and in December 2001 was named as manager of Hampshire Division Two side Broughton.
He returned to Aldershot in July 2004 for Jason Chewins' testimonial.
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...
former professional football midfielder.
Hathaway began his career as an apprentice with West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
after youth training with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. He began his apprenticeship late due to a broken arm, but in 1986 was released by new manager Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders is a retired English football player and former successful manager. He remains the only manager to have taken charge of Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, normally bitter rivals....
without making the grade at the Hawthorns. He joined Wolves on a weekly contract, playing alongside Dean Edwards
Dean Edwards (footballer)
Dean Stephen Edwards who played as a forward. He scored for Torquay United in two different Wembley appearances.-Playing career:...
and Micky Holmes but was released when Graham Turner
Graham Turner
Graham John Turner is an English former footballer who became a manager. He is currently manager of League Two club Shrewsbury Town. His son Mark was also a professional footballer....
took over as manager from Brian Little
Brian Little (footballer)
Brian Little is an English former football player and manager who is currently without a job after being relieved of his duties as manager of Gainsborough Trinity on 22 August 2011. Little has previously managed Darlington, Leicester City, Aston Villa, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Hull City,...
.
He began working in an engineering factory, joining non-league Stourbridge
Stourbridge F.C.
Stourbridge Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Stourbridge, West Midlands. The club currently plays in the Southern League Premier Division.-Early years:The club was founded in 1876 and was originally known as Stourbridge Standard...
before moving to Bedworth United
Bedworth United F.C.
Bedworth United Football Club is a football club based in Bedworth, Warwickshire, England, currently playing in the Southern League Division One Central....
. Whilst at Bedworth he attracted the attention of a number of league sides before Ian Greaves
Ian Greaves
Ian Denzil Greaves was an English football player and manager. He was born in Crompton, Lancashire. He won a League Championship medal and an FA Cup runners-up medal while playing fullback for Manchester United between 1953 and 1960...
offered him a contract with Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in March 1989. Despite the fact that Greaves was sacked within days the new manager George Foster
George Foster (footballer)
George Walter Foster is a retired English footballer and manager, who spent the majority of his career at Plymouth Argyle and Mansfield Town...
also wanted to sign him and he duly moved to Mansfield for a fee of £8,000, making his league debut as a substitute on the 11th of March in a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. He chose an apt time to score his first league for Mansfield when at the end of the season he scored against local rivals Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, the goal preserving Mansfield's Third Division status and relegating Chesterfield.
He played 44 games for the Stags (23 as a substitute), scoring twice, before joining 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 March 1991 with Steve Spooner
Steve Spooner
Steve Spooner is an English footballer who played as a central midfielder.Spooner began his career with Derby County but got his breakthrough with Halifax Town, where in the 1982-83 season he was a key player in midfield in Halifax's highest League finish of the decade...
moving in the opposite direction. Towards the end of the following season he contracted pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and after failing to regain his place after his eventual recovery was released, joining Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in July 1993 and quickly establishing himself as a regular member of Don O'Riordan
Don O'Riordan
Donald Joseph O'Riordan is an Irish former professional footballer and football manager currently in charge of American side FC New York. O'Riordan notably played for Grimsby Town amongst others and has previously been on the coaching staff at Sheffield United, in the role of technical...
's side. In March 1996 he joined Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
on loan, but returned to Torquay without appearing in the Chesterfield first team. He spent four years at Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
, scoring 14 times in 140 league games, before joining Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
on a free transfer on the 5th of June 1997 after being released by Kevin Hodges
Kevin Hodges
Kevin Hodges is a retired English footballer and manager who played as a midfielder, and now works as a coach. He spent the majority of his playing career with Plymouth Argyle of the Football League, where he is the club's all-time appearance record holder...
. He played only 12 times for Colchester before moving to Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
in September 1998, playing a major role as the 'Shots attempted to climb back towards their former league status. He left Aldershot in May 2001 when his contract expired.
He worked as a postman and in October 2001 joined Andover
Andover F.C.
Andover F.C. was a football club based in Andover, Hampshire, established in 1883. Since the 2007–08 season, Andover had been a member of the Southern League Division One South and West at Step 4 of the National League System...
. He played just once for Andover and in December 2001 was named as manager of Hampshire Division Two side Broughton.
He returned to Aldershot in July 2004 for Jason Chewins' testimonial.