Ian Wallace (footballer)

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Personal information
Ian Wallace
Full name	Ian Wallace
Date of birth	May 23, 1956 (age 50)
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Retired
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
	Dumbarton Coventry City Nottingham Forest Brest Sunderland
National team
1978-1979	Scotland	03 (1)
Teams managed
1996-1999	Dumbarton
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Ian Wallace, (born May 23, 1956 in Glasgow), was a professional Scottish footballer who had great success in the late 1970's when he played for top flight English clubs.

Wallace was playing for Scottish league side Dumbarton when he was purchased for the princely sum of £70,000 by the then Coventry manager Gordon Milne.

Wallace soon settled into the Coventry side with his small frame perfectly complimenting his larger strike partner Mick Ferguson. He was adored by the Coventry City faithful and his heroic antics both one and off the field endeared him to the fans and his classic ginger curly perm haircut made him stand out as much as his acrobatic goals. He emerged from a bad car accident whilst at the club sporting a deep scar on the forehead and also detached a retina whilst playing for Coventry at Norwich.

He was sold to neigbouring midlands club Nottingham Forest in July 1980 for the then massive sum of £1.25 million and when on top be Forest's top scorer for two seasons running.

He subsequently moved to French club Brest before returning to English football with Sunderland in the years 1985-1986.

He had spells with clubs in Portugal and Australia before returning to Dumbarton as manager. He was dismissed from this job in 1999 under rumours of heavy drinking.

[edit] International Career

Wallace played three times for his country representing Scotland in the years 1978-1979. He scored his one international goal in the meeting with Bulgaria in February 1978.

[edit] Controversy

Wallace appeared in Dumbarton Sheriff's Court on a charge of assault after a dispute with his partner. At this time Wallace was an alcoholic and had appeared at an earlier hearing drunk.