Flicking through some old Luton Town memorabilia, I came across something that I hope you will find as interesting as I did.
Nesting among a pile of programmes was on dated Monday 27th November 1972 relating to a testimonial fixture between Luton Town and Derby County.
The testimonial was for one Ian Buxton, a sportsman who certainly did not have all his apples in one basket.
Buxton was somebody who played sport all year round, when not performing during the football season, he was playing first class cricket for Derbyshire.
It was a trait that only a select few managed and I cannot think of anybody who does such a thing these days.
Buxton signed for the hatters, from Derby County, in September 1967, for the princely sum of £11,000.
In that season, he helped Luton Town win promotion from Division Four making 36 appearances and scoring on 13 occasions that season.
However, he was not to remain at Kenilworth Road for awfully long, leaving to join Port Vale in December 1969.
The Derby County side who arrived at Kenilworth Road for that testimonial were a side that were flying high in English football and contained such luminaries as David Nish, Roy McFarland, Colin Todd, John McGovern, Archie Gemmill and Kevin Hector.
Away from football, Buxton had a more than decent career with Derbyshire County Cricket Club, making over 350 first team appearances and captaining the county from 1970-1972.
An all-rounder, Buxton batted in the middle order and during his career scored in excess of 11,000 runs and as a bowler he took in excess of 480 wickets. His highest batting score was 118 not out and his best bowling figures were 7 wickets for 33 runs.
Sadly, Buxton passed away on 01-October-2010 aged 72.
I cannot help wondering if Ian was one of a dying breed we will never see again, a fine exponent of two sports, football, and cricket, an all-year round sportsman.
COYH’s
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Hi mh, if memory serves carlisles Chris Balderstone was the last player to do it late 70s early 80s I think maybe. Players contracts nowadays mean they can no longer do it.
Good shout, Sir Ian Botham dabbled a bit, playing for Scunthorpe.
Hi mh, dabbled is right, I don’t think you could say he was a regular as football player. Unlike the others who truly did.
Going way back I remember Jim Standen who played a few games before moving on to West Ham (I think).
He played first class cricket for Worcestershire.
Good call Tony
Jim Cumbes is another and he was also a goalkeeper!