Ian Snodin: Difference between revisions

==Early career==▼

Snodin started his career as a trainee at [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] along with his brother [[Glynn Snodin|Glynn]] under manager [[Billy Bremner]], playing in midfield for the club. In September 1982, he scored a [[Hat-trick (association football)|hat-trick]] in a 7-5 victory over [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] at [[Belle Vue (football)|Belle Vue]], claiming the match ball ahead of [[Kerry Dixon]] who had scored four for the visitors.<ref name="total">{{cite web|url=http://www.totalfootballmag.com/features/premier-league-features/kerry-dixon-torres-will-prove-his-worth-for-chelsea/ |title=Kerry Dixon: Torres will prove his worth for Chelsea |publisher=Totalfootballmag.com |date= |accessdate=2013-08-19}}</ref> It would prove to be the only hat-trick of Snodin's career.<ref name="total" /> Even though Doncaster were in the third division at the time, Snodin earned several call-ups to both the [[England national under-21 football team|England Under-21s]] and the under-23s due to being such a strong player at such a young age.<ref name="post">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds-united-nostalgia-sheridan-s-partner-in-crime-sold-for-profits-1-5964450 |title=Leeds United nostalgia: Sheridan’s partner in crime sold for profits |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post |date= |accessdate=2013-08-19}}</ref> He soon caught the interest of the [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] manager [[Eddie Gray (footballer)|Eddie Gray]] and was transferred to the club in the summer of 1985 for £200,000.<ref name="post" /> Bremner soon followed Snodin to Leeds and appointed him as captain, replacing Leeds' legend [[Peter Lorimer]] who had retired from the game.<ref name="post" /> Snodin added class and bite to United's midfield and became the key player in the side.<ref name="post" />▼

It wasn't long before [[Football League First Division|Division One]] clubs approached Leeds for his services. [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] both offered £840,000 in 1987, and cash-strapped Leeds accepted.<ref name="post" /> Snodin chose Everton as his next team despite having agreed terms with Liverpool, and moved to [[Goodison Park]] in January 1987. Snodin helped his new club to win the title in his debut season. His never-say-die attitude was well received by the Everton fans, but it wasn't until Snodin played as an emergency right-back that he flourished for the club. This transformation to defender happened so quickly and with such ease that in February 1989 he was called up into the full [[England national football team|England]] squad for a [[Exhibition game|friendly international]] against [[Greece national football team|Greece]]. Unfortunately Snodin was forced to withdraw due to injury and his problems worsened a few weeks later when he was carried off during a game against [[Sheffield Wednesday]] with a serious [[hamstring]] problem. Despite lengthy periods of rest and several operations, Snodin struggled to regain his fitness and spent the whole of the 1991–92 season on the sidelines.▼

In October 1994 he spent a while on loan with [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] and then in January 1995 he moved to [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]], ending an association of nearly eight years and almost 200 first team appearances. He later played at [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]] before returning to Doncaster Rovers in 1998 to manage his home town club. He managed the club for 18 months before moving into radio commentary.▼