708 Ian Ormondroyd

Biography

Lanky left winger Ian Ormondroyd joined City on loan in February 1995 as manager Terry Dolan tapped his links with Bradford City, the club where Ormondroyd had started his league career ten years earlier. The big man left a lasting impression during his ten games for the Tigers – he scored twice on his debut in a 4-0 win over Cardiff City then added two more later in February 1995 in a 3-2 win at Bournemouth. Further goals against Bristol Rovers and Plymouth Argyle followed but after two months Ian returned to parent club Leicester City. Any thoughts of a permanent transfer for Ormondroyd were scuppered by City’s parlous financial position and the offer of a move back to Bradford City during the 1995 close season.

Ian Ormondroyd started his career in the non-league scene with local league side Manningham Mills and Northern Counties East League side Thackley. In September 1985 Ormondroyd was offered a professional contract at Bradford City, the club he supported as a boy, and he made his debut in an October 1985 Full Members Cup tie against Hull City. He scored his first goal for the Bantams in his third senior appearance, a March 1986 victory over local rivals Huddersfield Town, as Ian spent the last two months of the 1985/86 season as a first team regular. He played in the Reserves at the start of the 1986/87 season but returned to regular first team contention in December 1986 and netted successive braces in January 1987 against Millwall and Oldham Athletic. After two months without a goal Ormondroyd joined Division Two side Oldham Athletic on loan in March 1987 and scored once in 11 appearances, starting the second leg of the end of season play-offs that Leeds United won on penalties.

Ormondroyd returned to Valley Parade at the start of the 1987/88 season and his breakthrough came under Terry Dolan’s stewardship – the big man started regularly and scored twelve goals as Bradford City reached the play-offs only to lose the semi-final to Middlesbrough. Again amongst the goals in the 1988/89 season, Ormondroyd’s last match for Bradford City in January 1989 – an FA Cup defeat to Hull City, the same opponent he made his debut against – took his tally over four years to 27 goals in 117 senior appearances.

In February 1989 Ormondroyd joined Division One side Aston Villa for a £650,000 fee, he was the Birmingham side’s record signing at the time. Under Graham Taylor’s management Ormondroyd thrived, scoring his first goal against Everton on Valentine’s Day 1989 and proving an effective presence on the left side of the attack, albeit one that sometimes frustrated the Villa Park faithful. In the 1989/90 season Aston Villa finished runners-up in Division One, Ian was involved in the first team squad throughout and was part of the side that reached the Full Members Cup final only to lose out to Middlesbrough. In September 1990 Ian played twice in UEFA Cup ties against Czech side Banik Ostrava, but as the 1990/91 season progressed Ormondroyd was used less often and in the early weeks of the 1991/92 season he made only one senior appearance, taking his tally to ten goals for Aston Villa in 74 appearances.

In September 1991 Ian moved to Division Two side Derby County, initially on loan before signing a permanent deal in December 1991 for a £350,000 fee. His six months at promotion challengers Derby reinvigorated Ian’s career as he struck nine goals in 31 appearances. In March 1992 he switched to Division Two promotion rivals Leicester City, with strikers Phil Gee and Paul Kitson heading to the Baseball Ground in return. Both Derby and Leicester finished the season in the top four of Division Two, Leicester reached the play-off final after thumping Cambridge United over two legs but lost the Wembley final to Blackburn Rovers – Ormondroyd started all three ties. Ormondroyd’s Leicester spent the next two seasons challenging at the top of the second tier table, reaching the play-offs two more times – in May 1993 the Foxes lost a breathless final against Swindon Town with Ormondroyd an unused substitute, then in May 1994 they went one better and defeated Derby County to reach the recently formed Premier League. Ormondroyd was a key part of the Leicester side in both seasons, scoring in the tight May 1994 play-off semi final victory over Tranmere Rovers. Elevated to the Premier League, Leicester used Ormondroyd sparingly in 1994/95 season and his loan to Hull City was a successful attempt to rekindle his goalscoring form. He left Leicester City in July 1995 having scored twelve goals for the Foxes in 96 appearances.

In July 1995 Ormondroyd rejoined Bradford City, now a League Division 2 side, and during the 1995/96 season he scored ten goals in all competitions and came on as substitute in the play-off final, his fourth Wembley appearance, that saw the Bantams beat Notts County and win promotion to League Division 1. He made two appearances for Bradford at the start of the 1996/97 season, which took his tally in his second spell at Valley Parade to ten goals in 52 appearances.

In September 1996 he joined League Division 1 rivals Oldham Athletic, the club where he spent two months on loan ten years earlier, and scored eight goals in 32 appearances for the Latics as they were relegated to League Division 2. In September 1997 he joined League Division 3 side Scunthorpe United, but worsening problems with arthritis in his left ankle meant he was used mainly as an impact substitute in his only season at Glanford Park, making 26 goalless appearances. Ian retired in the 1998 close season.

Ormondroyd then returned to his home city Bradford and in 1999 he was appointed Chief Executive of the Bradford City Community Foundation, a football in the community charity building strong links between schools and the football club. As well as performing that role for over twenty years, Ormondroyd provided regular punditry for local radio station Pulse. His son Jack was a rugby league professional for many years after debuting for Featherstone Rovers in 2015.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 22 September 1964, Bradford
Hull City First Game: 4 February 1995, Cardiff City H (League Division 2), 30 years, 135 days old
Hull City Final Game: 28 March 1995, Chester City A (League Division 2), 30 years, 187 days old

Clubs

Manningham Mills, Thackley (1984-1985), Bradford City (1985-1989), Oldham Athletic (1987, loan), Aston Villa (1989-1991), Derby County (1991, loan), Derby County (1991-1992), Leicester City (1992-1995), Hull City (1995, loan), Bradford City (1995-1996), Oldham Athletic (1996-1997), Scunthorpe United (1997-1998)

Hull City Record

Career: 10 apps, 6 goals

Ian Ormondroyd
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1994/9510 (0)6

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