| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1935-08-16)16 August 1935 (age 90) | ||
| Place of birth | Wolverhampton, England | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1953–1954 | Leicester City | 0 | (0) |
| 1959–1964 | Lincoln City | 75 | (21) |
| 1964–1968 | Hereford United | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Brian Punter (born 16 August 1935) is an English formerfootballer who scored 21 goals from 75 appearances inthe Football League playing as acentre forward forLincoln City.[1]
Punter was born in Waterloo Road, inWolverhampton, Staffordshire. As a youngster he joined his local club,Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he played in the first leg of theFA Youth Cup Final in 1953, which Wolves lost 7–1 to aManchester United team containing many of the "Busby Babes". An ankle injury sustained early on in that game prevented Punter taking part in the second leg, so he was not presented with his runners-up medal at the time. Feeling that "it would be nice to have one to show to our grandchildren", he eventually applied tothe Football Association, and received his medal some 56 years after the event.[2] Punter was selected for the England youth team to play against their Scottish counterparts in February 1953,[3] one of his three international appearances made in the 1952–53 season.[2]
Wolverhampton Wanderers were pioneers offloodlit football in the 1950s, playingfriendly matches against top sides from Continental Europe. In the hope of offering better visibility under lights than their traditionalold gold kit, they developed afluorescent shirt, which was tried out in a youth team game. Only a single prototype shirt was initially produced, and Punter, who as awinger would be expected to play near the edge of the pitch and thus be noticeable, was chosen to wear it for the trial.[2][4]
After leaving Wolves, Punter was on the books ofLeicester City, but he moved on toLincoln City without appearing for Leicester's first team.[5] He made his debut on 12 December 1959 in a 1–0 home defeat toRotherham United in theFootball League Second Division. In the 1960–61 season, Lincoln finished bottom of their division. The following season, Punter, now playing as acentre forward, was the club's leading scorer, though with only eight goals as they suffered a second consecutiverelegation. He repeated the achievement the next season in the Fourth Division, this time with 17 goals in all competitions as Lincoln narrowly avoided having to apply for re-election. Punter played his last game for the club in April 1964.[1] He had remained asemi-professional player for the whole of his five years with Lincoln, while continuing his main career as a designdraughtsman.[2]
He returned to theMidlands to play forHereford United of theSouthern League,[5] where he remained until at least the 1968–69 season.[6] He also played for several other Midlands sides, includingKidderminster Harriers,Bromsgrove Rovers,Nuneaton Borough,Stourbridge andDarlaston.[2]
In later life, Punterscouted for Wolverhampton Wanderers'Academy.[2]