| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ian Grant Branfoot | ||
| Date of birth | 26 January 1947 | ||
| 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 | |||
Ian Grant Branfoot (born 26 January 1947[1]) is an English former football player and manager.
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]