Ian Westwater Explained

Ian Westwater
Birth Date:8 November 1963
Birth Place:Loughborough, England
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:1979–1985
Clubs1:Hearts
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:1985–1991
Clubs2:Dunfermline
Caps2:192
Goals2:0
Years3:1991–1994
Clubs3:Falkirk
Caps3:67
Goals3:0
Years4:1994
Clubs4:Dundee
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:1994–2000
Clubs5:Dunfermline
Caps5:111
Goals5:0
Years6:2000–2004
Clubs6:Hibernian
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Totalcaps:372
Totalgoals:0

Ian Westwater (born 8 November 1963) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, spending the majority of his career with Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic.

Playing career

Westwater was born in Loughborough, England. He started his career with Scottish Premier Division side Hearts, making his debut for the Tynecastle side at just 16 years of age.[1] He went on to play only one other game for the side, before being signed by Dunfermline Athletic for £4,000 in March 1985.[1] It was with Dunfermline that Westwater would be most prosperous, playing in over 190 games in his first spell at the club. His debut came against Stranraer in April 1985.[2]

Westwater moved to local rivals Falkirk in a player swap deal in August 1991,[1] where in his first season he helped the club gain promotion to the Scottish Premier Division. After being relegated in 1993, he again helped the side in 1994 in their promotion winning season before moving on a short-term deal to Dundee.[1]

After playing no games for Dundee,[1] Westwater moved back to Dunfermline Athletic for his second spell with the club, signing for £15,000. He stayed with the Pars, helping them achieve promotion to the Scottish Premier Division in 1996. He played in over 110 league games in his second spell but towards the end of his Dunfermline career, he was ousted by younger goalkeepers. He made the short move across the River Forth to Easter Road side Hibernian in 2000, where he would fail to play any matches before hanging up his gloves in 2004.

Coaching career

During his spell with Hibernian, Westwater was the goalkeeping coach for the Leith side. He had to retire from football completely in 2005 due to injury and was replaced by Gordon Marshall as Hibs' goalkeeping coach.[3]

Honours

Dunfernline Athletic

1988–89, 1995–96[4]

1985–86[4]

Falkirk

1993–94[5]

Scotland U18

1982[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ian Westwater. dafc.net. 1 October 2008.
  2. Web site: Westwater, Ian. parsdatabase.co.uk. 1 October 2008.
  3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/4422944.stm Marshall parting Well for Hibees
  4. Web site: IAN WESTWATER . DAFC . 30 June 2022 .
  5. News: David . McKinney . Football: Falkirk find their fire . The Independent . London . 13 December 1993 . 22 April 2021 .