Born inClacton-on-Sea, Westlake progressed through the youth ranks atIpswich Town, at the club's reserves and academy.[3] At one point, he helped the under-17 team to the league title.[4] Westlake then signed his professional forms with the club during the summer of 2002.[5] Westlake reflected: "I might never have played professional football had it not been for relegation. Administration meant the club were forced to sell players and that opened the door for people like myself,Darren Bent andDarren Ambrose. It gave us our chance and, as odd as it sounds, I personally feel I owe my career to relegation."[5]
Westlake made his debut forIpswich Town, coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 home defeat toGillingham on 26 October 2002.[6] Having spent months at the club's reserves, he made his return to the first team, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute, in a 1–0 win againstSheffield Wednesday on 15 March 2003.[7] Westlake made a further three appearances for Ipswich Town during the2002–03 season.[8]
At the start of the2003–04 season, Westlake made his first appearance of the season, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 1–1 draw againstCoventry City on 23 August 2003.[9] Seven days later on 30 August 2003, he made his first start for Ipswich Town, as they lost 2–1 againstWest Ham United.[10] Westlake then scored his first goal for the side during the 3–4 home defeat toGillingham on 1 November 2003.[11] Three weeks later on 22 November 2003, Westlake scored his second goal for the club, in a 3–0 win againstSheffield United.[12] Initially, his playing time mostly comes from the substitute bench but soon make number of starts as the season progressed.[13] On 31 January 2004, he scored his third goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Coventry City.[14] Westlake scored two more goals in February, coming againstBradford City andPreston North End.[15] His seventh goal of the season came on 30 April 2004 against Sheffield United, drawing 1–1.[16] Westlake played in both legs of the Division One Play–Offs against West Ham United, as Ipswich Town lost 2–1 on aggregate.[17] At the end of the 2003–04 season, he made a further 43 appearances for the club and also scored 7 goals,[18] For his performance, Westlake was awarded Ipswich Town Player of the Year.[19][20]
In August 2004, Westlake was called up to theEngland Under-21 national team.[21] Amid to the international call up, he continued to establish himself in the starting eleven, playing in the midfield position at the start of the 2004–05 season, though his performance failed to recapture the same levels as he did with the previous season.[22] In his 50th appearance for Ipswich Town againstDerby County, Westlake set up the club's first goal of the game, in a 3–2 loss.[23] In a follow–up match againstCardiff City, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–1 win and scored again four days later on 25 August 2004, in a 2–0 win againstBrentford in the second round of the League Cup.[24] Westlake scored four more goals by the end of the year.[25] His performance led ManagerJoe Royle saw in a potential in him, saying he could one day captain the club.[26] Westlake then signed a contract with Ipswich Town, keeping him until 2008.[27] Since the start of the 2004–05 season, Westlake started in every match until he missed one match, due to suspension.[28] After serving a one match suspension, Westlake returned to the starting line–up againstReading on 21 January 2005, as the club drew 1–1.[29] He later scored two more goals for Ipswich Town againstNottingham Forest andRotherham United, adding his tally to eight goals this season.[30] Westlake set up the club's first two goals in the match, winning 5–1 againstCrewe Alexandra on 30 April 2005.[31] He, once again, played in both legs of the Championship Play–Offs against West Ham United, as Ipswich Town lost 4–2 on aggregate.[32] Despite suffering injuries later in the 2004–05 season, Westlake went on to make fifty appearances and scoring eight times in all competitions.[33]
At the start of the 2005–06 season, Westlake started in the first seven matches of the season, playing in the midfield position and scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 win against Sheffield Wednesday on 20 August 2005.[34] This lasted until Westlake suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for six weeks, eventually sidelined for two months.[35] He didn't make his return to the first team until on 5 November 2005, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute, in a 3–1 win againstPlymouth Argyle.[36] After making two more appearances since returning from injury, Westlake suffered ankle injury once again and was out for a week.[37] He didn't make a return to the first team until on 10 December 2005 againstQueens Park Rangers, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 2–2 draw.[38] Westlake then scored his second goal of the season, in a 1–0 win againstLuton Town on 31 December 2005.[39] Since returning from injury, he regained his first team place for Ipswich Town, playing in the midfield position.[40] This lasted until Westlake suffered injuries on two occasions towards the end of the 2005–06 season.[41] At the end of the 2005–06 season, he made twenty–eight appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.
By the time Westlake departed Ipswich Town for Leeds United, he made a total of 125 appearances for the club, scoring 17 goals.[42]
Westlake made his debut on 5 August 2006, coming on as a substitute during the 1–0 home victory overNorwich City.[44] Since making his debut for the club, he became involved in the first team.[45] However, Westlake suffered a groin injury that kept him out for the rest of the season.[46] In total, Westlake made 29 appearances for Leeds during the2006–07 season, in which the Yorkshire club wererelegated from theChampionship.[47]
During the2007–08 season, Westlake made 23 appearances for Leeds and scored his only league goal for the club when netting the last-minute winning goal in a 1–0 away win atOldham Athletic on 2 October 2007.[48] He had earlier scored his first goal for Leeds in a 1–0 win at Macclesfield in the League Cup on 14 August 2007.[49] However, Westlake's first team opportunities soon became limited, due to competitions and his own injury concern.[50]
On 3 March 2008, it was revealed that Westlake had agreed an initial one-month loan deal atLeague One play-off rivalsBrighton & Hove Albion.[51]
Westlake made his Brighton & Hove Albion debut, starting the whole game, in a 4–2 win againstGillingham on 4 March 2008.[52] He then started in the next five matches before suffering a calf injury during a match againstSwindon Town on 22 March 2008 and was substituted in the 83rd minute as a result.[53] While on the sidelines, it was announced on 3 April 2008 that Westlake,Leeds United andBrighton & Hove Albion agreed that the player would remain on loan at theWithdean for the remainder of the2007–08 season.[54] After missing two matches from a calf injury, he made his return to the first team, starting a match againstPort Vale on 5 April 2008 and played 63 minutes before being substituted, in a 3–2 loss.[55] Seven days later on 12 April 2008, Westlake scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 win againstLuton Town.[56] His second goal for the club then came on 26 April 2008, in a 2–0 win againstBristol Rovers.[57] In total, he made 11 appearances for Brighton, scoring two goals.[58] Following this, Westlake returned to his parent club.[59]
On 24 October 2008, Westlake joinedLeague One sideCheltenham Town on an initial three-month loan deal.[60] It came after when he previously went on a trial with the club.[61]
Westlake made his debut the following day during the 3–1 away defeat toMK Dons.[62] During his loan spell at Cheltenham, Westlake played 14 games and scored 1 goal during the 2–1 away victory atLeyton Orient.[63] On 24 January 2009, Westlake had his contract terminated atLeeds United by mutual consent.[64] Later that day, Westlake signed a contract withCheltenham Town for the remainder of the2008–09 season.[65] Westlake also scored on the day of his permanent debut for Cheltenham during the 2–2 home draw withBrighton & Hove Albion.[66]
With Cheltenham Town suffering from financial difficulties, Westlake joinedLeague One sideOldham Athletic on loan for the remainder of the2008–09 season on 19 March 2009.[67] Westlake made his debut for Oldham on 25 March 2009, during a 2–0 home defeat toTranmere Rovers.[68] In total, Westlake made 5 appearances for the club.[69][70]
After missing the opening game of the season due to a hamstring injury, he made his debut for the club, starting a match and played 62 minutes before being substituted, in a 1–0 loss against Leeds United on 15 August 2009.[72] Westlake then set up the club's first goal of the game, as Wycombe Wanderers lost 3–2 against Gillingham on 10 October 2009.[73] However, he found himself out of the first team, due to being placed on the substitute bench.[74] Westlake also faced his own injury concern after suffering from ankle injury.[75] Despite this, he went on to make nine appearances in all competitions.
However in the 2010–11 season, Westlake's first team opportunities at the club and made no appearances for Wycombe Wanderers.[76] He was released from his contract on 18 March 2011 and the following week joinedColchester United on trial.[77]
Westlake made his Montreal Impact debut, starting the whole game, in a 2–2 draw againstAtlanta Silverbacks on 17 July 2011.[80] He then scored two goals in two matches between 7 August 2011 and 11 August 2011 againstMinnesota United andTampa Bay Rowdies.[81] Westlake quickly became a fixture in the Impact's starting line-up scoring two goals in 13 games.[82] On 5 December 2011, it was announced that Westlake re-signed to continue with the Impact in 2012, the team's first year inMajor League Soccer,[83] however Westlake was waived by Montreal on 27 February 2012, despite appearing for the club during their pre-season.[84]
After being released by Montreal Impact following the introduction of a "six foreign players" rule, Westlake returned to Suffolk before signing forNeedham Market eighteen months later in June 2013.[85]
Westlake made his Needham Market debut, starting the match and scoring his first goal from a free kick, in a 3–0 win againstRomford.[86] He then became a first team regular for the side, and continued to produce his goal scoring form.[87][88] Following his performance againstAFC Sudbury in the Fourth Qualifying Round of FA Cup, in which he scored, Westlake was praised by Manager Mark Morsley, saying: "The likes ofKemal Izzet and Ian Westlake are massive for us and I am proud of them."[89] However, he suffered a knee injury that kept him out for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[90]
In the 2014–15 season, Westlake returned from injury and continued a first team regular for the side, as well, as producing his goal scoring form.[91] This lasted until he suffered a hamstring injury that kept him out briefly and resume his place in the first team.[92] Westlake helped Needham Market win the Ryman Division One North title following a 5-0 victory overChatham Town.[93] At the end of the 2014–15 season, he announced his retirement from professional football.[94]
Westlake is married to his wife, Clair, and together, they have two daughters.[5] He continued to resided in Ipswich, even after announcing his retirement from professional football.[5][94] Westlake previously resided in Canada but following his release by Montreal Impact, his family moved back to Ipswich.[85] Since then, Westlake opened up a lettings company and project manage new builds across Ipswich.[5][85]
Westlake once represented England at water polo.[104][87] Growing up, he was anIpswich Town supporter.[105]
^"MINNESOTA 3 IMPACT 1" (in French). Montreal Impact. 6 August 2011.Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved21 September 2020. "TAMPA BAY 3 IMPACT 3" (in French). Montreal Impact. 10 August 2011.Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved21 September 2020.
