The Transfer Record: Ian Ormondroyd
In February 1989 he moved to Graham Taylor’s Aston Villa and was member of the team which were top-flight runners-up in 1990.
He signed for Leicester City’s promotion rivals Derby County for a fee of £300,000 in September 1991. Six months later he moved to Filbert Street for a Leicester City club record fee valued at £350,000 as part of a swap deal which saw Paul Kitson move to Derby County.
An ever-present for the rest of the season he helped his new club reach the Play-offs for a place in the newly formed Premier League.
He scored in second leg of the play-off semi-final in the 5-0 victory over John Beck’s Cambridge United and played in the Play-off final at Wembley against Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn Rovers which ended in a 1-0 defeat.
The following year Brian Little’s Leicester City reached the Play-offs again. Ian scored in the second leg of the semi-final against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. He didn’t play in the final though when Leicester City were defeated 4-3 by Glenn Hoddle’s Swindon Town.
The following season, Leicester City reached their third successive Play-Off Wembley Final and for the third semi-final in succession Ian scored, this time against Tranmere Rovers. This helped to secure a Wembley final against his old club Derby County who were favourites to beat an injury hit Leicester City.
In the final, Ian played a crucial role in the winning goal when his header from Simon Grayson’s cross was parried by the goalkeeper who then couldn’t prevent Steve Walsh scoring from the rebound.
The following season, the team struggled in the Premier League. In November Brian Little and his management team left the Club to manage Aston Villa.
Following the arrival of the new manager Mark McGhee, Ian went on loan to Hull City. He then returned, for a season each, to Bradford City (and another play-off final victory) and Oldham Athletic before finishing his career at Scunthorpe United.