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Bertie Lutton

Name: Robert John Lutton
Born: 13 July 1950, Banbridge
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight: 10.09 st
Position: Forward/Winger

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 6 Full Caps (1970-1973).
Club Honours: (with Brighton) Division Three Runner-Up 1971/72 (promoted).

Club Career:
Teams
Seasons
Signed
Fee
League
FA Cup
FL Cup
Other
Banbridge Town
-
-
Youth
(Irish League B Division)
Wolverhampton W.
67/68-71/72
Sep-67
£50
16 (5)/1
-
2(0)/0
1(0)/0
Brighton & Hove A.
71/72-72/73
Sep-71
£5,000
18(11)/4
-
1(0)/0
-
West Ham United
72/73-73/74
Jan-73
£12,000
8 (4)/1
1(0)/0
-
-
Horsham
-
-
-
(Isthmian League)
Sydney Hakoah
-
-76
-
(Australia)
South Melbourne
-
-78
-
(Australia)
TOTALS
-
£17,050
42(20)/6
1(0)/0
3(0)/0
1(0)/0

Biography:
Bertie Lutton joined Wolves as a fifteen year-old following some impressive performances for ‘B’ Division Banbridge Town. He turned professional in September 1967 and made his senior debut late in the 1968/69 season. In the following campaign he was given an extended run-out in the Wolves firstteam following Derek Dougan’s lengthy suspension. Normally a winger, his tireless running leading the line – he was regarded as among the fittest players at Molineux – proved inspirational. He scored his first senior goal during a second-half comeback against Arsenal and was also widely praised for his performance in a 3-0 win over Chelsea.

Called into the Northern Ireland Under-23 panel for a match against Wales in March 1970, he was denied an a cap as the match was cancelled due to heavy snow. He didn't have long to wait for international recognition as he appeared at inside-right in the Home Nations match against Scotland in April 1970 and at outside-left against England three days later.

Thereafter, Lutton’s chances at Wolves were limited. He made just two appearances during the 1970/71 season and in September 1971 he joined Brighton on loan. He played seventeen times as the Seasiders were promoted as Division Three runners-up and his move became permanent in March 1971. Mid-way through the 1972/73 season he returned to the top-flight on loan with West Ham. He made his Hammers debut in a 1-0 win at Norwich and impressed enough during his initial month at Upton Park that the move was made permanent in a £12,000 deal. His only goal for West Ham was scored in a 1-1 draw at Derby in April 1973.

Lutton's return to the upper-echelons brought him a re-call to the Northern Ireland squad after a three year absence. His appearance from the bench in a World Cup qualifier against Cyprus was the first time that a West Ham player had been capped by Northern Ireland. He added three more caps to his total, two from the bench, through to November 1973, taking his total to six.

On 19th January 1974 Lutton made his final Football League appearance in a 1-1 draw at Newcastle. He was then blighted by injury and left full-time football behind at the age of 24 and later emigrated to Australia where he resumed playing on a part-time basis. He has since settled permanently in Australia.

WestHamStats
Wolves Heroes (1)
Wolves Heroes (2)

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
18-04-1970 Scotland H L 0-1 BC
21-04-1970 England. A L 1-3 BC
08-05-1973 Cyprus.. H W 3-0 WCQ sub
16-05-1973 Scotland A W 2-1 BC sub
19-05-1973 Wales... H W 1-0 BC sub
14-11-1973 Portugal A D 1-1 WCQ

Summary: 3(3)/0. Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 2.

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