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Ian Westwater
Date of Birth: 08-11-1963Position: Goalkeeper
Joined: 03-04-1985
Appearances: 359
Substitute Appearances: 2
Goals: 115 s
Nationality: English
Previous Clubs: Heart of Midlothian
Subsequent Clubs: Falkirk, Hibernian
First Game - 3 April 1985 v Stranraer (Second Division)
Last Game - 6 May 2000 v Morton (First Division)
Transferred To Falkirk (1st spell), Hibernian (2nd spell)
For most of the period between 1985 and 2000, Ian Westwater`s name was synonymous with the success that Dunfermline Athletic enjoyed over that period, being a member of five different promotion-winning squads.
A talent from an early age, Ian won his first international honours representing Scottish Schools Under 15s in April 1979, and then a year later represented Scotland in the Centenary Under 18 Schools international against England.
In June 1980 he joined Hearts and became the Premier League`s youngest ever goalkeeper in November of that year. Despite regularly featuring in Scotland youth teams, he could not secure first team football at Hearts and in March 1985 Jim Leishman took him to second-division Dunfermline for £4000.
A 20th shutout of the season against Stenhousemuir was enough to help the Pars win the 1985/86 Second Division Championship, and the following season his 18th shut-out of the season against Queen of the South ensured that Premier League football would arrive at East End Park for the first time.
Two years later and he was ever present as Dunfermline won the First Division title and returned to the Premier League.
By 1991 new Pars manager Iain Munro preferred Andy Rhodes so Westwater moved on to Falkirk but, in April 1994, manager Bert Paton re-signed Ian for the Pars. Success in this second spell was not instant, but despite the tragic death of Norrie McCathie, Dunfermline secured the First Division title in May 1996. A superb shut-out in the penultimate game at Tannadice is perhaps the high point of his two spells with the club.
During 1996, Ian memorably came on as an outfield substitute, away to Airdrie, who were at that time playing at Broadwood. His main contribution was a tackle, during which he demolished an Airdrie player and injured himself, not to say endangering the lives of those sitting in the front row of the stand. Referee, Bill Crombie could not blow his whistle for laughing. Two more, virtually ever present seasons followed before Lee Butler gained the No. 1 shirt for season 1998/99. By the start of the following season he had regained the goalie`s jersey but then Jimmy Calderwood arrived and signed Kris Mampaey. Ian played his last Pars game in May 2000.
With injuries playing more of a role, Ian was offered a player/coach position with Hibernian and left for Easter Road after a Pars career of 359 starts, 2 substitute appearances and 114 shut outs. This places him 8th in the list of
those with over 200 appearances for Dunfermline Athletic. On medical advice, Ian gave up the coaching in 2004.
He became Player/Coach at Hibernian, before being advised to retire completely in 2005 due to injury.
Total Pars Apps - 361 (359 + 2 sub)
Total Pars Shut Outs 115 (22 SD, 55 FD, 22 PD, 8 LC, 8 SC)
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