Ernie Phythian
{{Short description|English footballer (1942–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Ernie Phythian
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname = Ernest Rixon Phythian
|birth_date = {{birth date|1942|7|16|df=y}}
|birth_place = Farnworth, England
|death_date = {{death date and age|2020|8|3|1942|7|16|df=y}}
|death_place = Johannesburg, South Africa
|height =
|position = Striker
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Bolton Wanderers
|years1 = 1960–1961
|clubs1 = Bolton Wanderers
|caps1 = 10
|goals1 = 3
|years2 = 1962–1965
|clubs2 = Wrexham
|caps2 = 134
|goals2 = 44
|years3 = 1965–1968
|clubs3 = Hartlepools United
|caps3 = 124
|goals3 = 51
|years4 =
|clubs4 = Southern Suburbs
|caps4 =
|goals4 =
|totalcaps = 268
|totalgoals = 98
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 = England Youth
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/18646120.tributes-paid-former-wanderer-ernie-phythian-died-aged-78/|title=Tributes paid to former Wanderer Ernie Phythian who has died aged 78|website=The Bolton News}}
Career
As a child he captained Farnworth Schoolboys and played for Lancashire Schoolboys. He also played cricket for North of England Schools and for various clubs around Bolton.
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. He made his first-team debut in 1960, aged 17.
He later played for Wrexham and Hartlepools United before moving to South Africa to play with Southern Suburbs.{{Hugman|15748|accessdate=5 August 2020}}{{NeilBrownPlayers|player/erniephythian}}
Later life and death
He died on 3 August 2020, aged 78, in Johannesburg, South Africa.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53758076|title=Ernie Phythian: Ex-Wrexham, Hartlepool United and Bolton striker dies|work=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{English Fourth Division top scorers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phythian, Ernie}}
Category:Footballers from Farnworth
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:English expatriates in South Africa
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in South Africa
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Southern Suburbs F.C. players
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