Luton – The Legends Series – Ian Buxton

For the latest in our ongoing series covering those who have achieved legendary status among the support, we feature another former player who became a fans favourite.

Following on from those already covered – John Moore, David Preece, Mal Donaghy, Brian Lewis, Bruce Rioch, Fred Jardine, Brian Horton, Kevin Nicholls, Tony Read and Steve Foster and Mike Keen

The latest Hatter to be featured is Ian Buxton, as suggested by Philip Carter.

At the bequest of Philip we’re returning to the 1967/1968 season, my first season visiting Kenilworth Road on a regular basis, to cover the Luton Town career of Ian Buxton.

Just recently, while revisiting a pile of programmes I keep in a cupboard, I came across one dated Monday 27th November 1972 relating to a testimonial fixture between Luton Town and Derby County.

The testimonial was for the subject of this article, Ian Buxton, a sportsman who certainly did not have all his apples in one basket.

Buxton was a rare breed, 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.

In the summer of 1967 Buxton signed for the hatters, from Derby County, for the princely sum of £11,000.

Ian was to go on to play a key part in what was to be a promotion season with Allan Brown’s side achieving promotion from the old Division 4, billed as the final piece of the promotion jigsaw, Buxton went on to make 36 appearances finding the net a very respectable 13 times.

However, Ian’s time at Kenilworth Road was relatively short with the leaving, in December 1969, to join Port Vale, but I’ll remember his time at Kenilworth with great affection, with the balding inside forward showing bravery, skill and a willingness to succeed.

Sadly, he only made 48 league appearances scoring 14 goals, I always felt he could have stayed a little longer but his contribution to Derby County and Luton Town was recognised by the aforementioned testimonial.

Derby County, one of the elite teams in the country, at the time, field such luminaries as David Nish, Roy McFarland, Colin Todd, John McGovern, Archie Gemmill and Kevin Hector in their side.

But I always wondered whether his other sporting love, cricket, was his preferred sport.

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.

Ian Buxton – Mini Fact File

Name – Ian Ray Buxton

Date of Birth – 17-April-1938

Place of Birth – Cromford, England

Position – Inside Forward

Career – Derby County, Luton Town, Notts County, Port Vale, Ilkeston

If you feel able to share any of your thoughts or memories on the Hatters career of Ian Buxton, please feel free to do so in the comment facility beneath this article.

If you can think of anyone who deserves nominating for coverage in this ongoing series, please drop their name into the comment facility beneath this article.

My thanks go to those who have already nominated faces from the past, they will all be covered, in time.

Next up in the series will be – Lars Elstrup suggested by David Howard

COYH’s

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Luton – Something For The Weekend Sir – 25th February 2023