Ian Filby

Ian Frederick Filby (born 9 October 1954) is an English retired professional football forward who played professionally in England, South Africa and North America.

Ian Filby
Personal information
Full name Ian Frederick Filby[1]
Date of birth (1954-10-09) 9 October 1954
Place of birth Woodford, England
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1971–1972 Orient
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1972–1975 Orient 0 (0)
1973 → Montreal Olympique (loan) 19 (3)
1974 → Brentford (loan) 3 (0)
1974 → St Mirren (loan) 0 (0)
→ Romford (loan) 5 (1)
1976–1978 Durban City
1979 Lusitano
1979–1980 Sacramento Gold 42 (25)
1980 Pennsylvania Stoners
1981 California Surf 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Orient

Filby began his career in the youth system at Second Division club Orient and signed his first professional contract on his 18th birthday in October 1972.[2] He later won the London Challenge Cup with the reserve team in 1972 and 1973.[1] He failed to make a first team appearance for the club before departing in 1975.[2]

Montreal Olympique (loan)

Filby moved to Canada to join North American Soccer League club Montreal Olympique on loan for the 1973 season.[3] Manager Graham Adams commented that Filby was faster and had better ball control than the previous season's highly rated Scottish player Graeme Souness.[4] Despite the build-up, Filby managed just three goals in Olympique's 19 regular season games.[3]

Brentford (loan)

Filby joined Fourth Division club Brentford on loan in September 1974 and made just three appearances during his spell.[1]

Further loans

Filby had loans at Scottish club St Mirren and Southern League Premier Division club Romford during the 1974–75 season.[5]

South Africa

Filby moved to South Africa in 1976 and played for National Football League and National Premier Soccer League clubs Durban City and Lusitano.[3]

Sacramento Gold

Filby returned to North America to sign for American Soccer League club Sacramento Gold in 1979.[3] He had a good 1979 season, finishing the campaign as the league's top scorer (with 45 points) and winning the championship (after a 1–0 victory over Columbus Magic in the final) and being named on the league's All-Star team.[6] Filby scored 11 goals in the 1980 season, before departing midway through the campaign.[3]

Pennsylvania Stoners

Filby signed for American Soccer League club Pennsylvania Stoners during the 1980 season and won his second successive championship, beating former club Sacramento Gold 2–1 in the final.[7]

California Surf

Filby returned to the North American Soccer League to sign for California Surf in 1981.[3]

Later career

After retiring from professional play, Filby remained in Northern California and continued to play in the amateur Central California Soccer League.[8]

Honours

Orient Reserves

Sacramento Gold

  • American Soccer League (1): 1979[6]

Pennsylvania Stoners

  • American Soccer League (1): 1980[7]

Individual

  • American Soccer League All-Star (1): 1979[6]

Personal life

Filby's brother Malcolm was also a footballer and the pair played together at Sacramento Gold and California Surf.[9][10][11]

Career statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Montreal Olympique (loan) 1973[3] North American Soccer League 19 3 — — 19 3
Brentford (loan) 1974–75[12] Fourth Division 3 0 — — 3 0
Sacramento Gold 1979[3] American Soccer League 26 14 — — 26 14
California Surf 1981[3] North American Soccer League 1 0 — — 1 0
Career total 49 17 0 0 — 49 17

References
  1. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 56. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  2. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 272. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  3. "NASL Soccer North American Soccer League Players". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  4. "The Montreal Gazette – Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  5. "Scottish Football Historical Archive – F". p. 231. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  6. "The Year in American Soccer – 1979". sover.net. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  7. "The Year in American Soccer – 1980". homepages.sover.net. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  8. FILBY FINDS A HAPPY HOME AT TURN VEREIN SACRAMENTO BEE – Sunday, 5 October 1986
  9. "June 8, 1977 – Sacramento Spirits vs. Los Angeles Skyhawks – Fun While It Lasted". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  10. "Malcolm Filby". www.footballzz.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  11. "NASL Soccer North American Soccer League Players-Malcolm Filby". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  12. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 393. ISBN 0951526200.
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