Ernie Phythian

Ernie Phythian

Personal information
Full name	Ernest Rixon Phythian[1]
Date of birth	(1942-07-16)16 July 1942
Place of birth	Farnworth, England
Date of death	3 August 2020(2020-08-03) (aged 78)
Place of death	Johannesburg, South Africa
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
	Bolton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1960–1961	Bolton Wanderers	10	(3)
1962–1965	Wrexham	134	(44)
1965–1968	Hartlepools United	124	(51)
	Southern Suburbs
Total		268	(98)
International career
	England Youth
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ernest Rixon Phythian (16 July 1942 – 3 August 2020) was an English professional footballer who played as a striker. Active between 1960 and 1968, Phythian made over 250 appearances in the Football League, scoring nearly 100 goals.

Early and personal life

Born in Farnworth, Phythian was related to footballer Jimmy Seddon and referee Ken Seddon.^[2]

Career

As a child he captained Farnworth Schoolboys and played for Lancashire Schoolboys.^[2] He also played cricket for North of England Schools and for various clubs around Bolton.^[2]

He began his career with Bolton Wanderers as an amateur at the age of 15, initially combining his football career with work as an apprentice toolmaker.^[2] He made his first-team debut in 1960, aged 17.^[2]

He later played for Wrexham and Hartlepools United before moving to South Africa to play with Southern Suburbs.^[1][3]

He was also an England Youth international.^[1]

Later life and death

He died on 3 August 2020, aged 78, in Johannesburg, South Africa.^[2][4]

References

1. "Ernie Phythian". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
2. "Tributes paid to former Wanderer Ernie Phythian who has died aged 78". The Bolton News.
3. Ernie Phythian at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
4. "Ernie Phythian: Ex-Wrexham, Hartlepool United and Bolton striker dies". BBC Sport. 12 August 2020.