Bob McRoberts

For the American football player, see Bob McRoberts (American football).

Bob McRoberts
Personal information
Full name Robert McRoberts
Date of birth (1874-07-12)12 July 1874
Place of birth Coatbridge, Scotland
Date of death 27 February 1959(1959-02-27) (aged 84)
Place of death Birkenhead, England
Position(s) Centre-forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Coatbridge
1894–1895 Airdrieonians 7 (7)
1895–1896 Albion Rovers
1896–1898 Gainsborough Trinity 52 (15)
1898–1905 Small Heath 173 (70)
1905–1911 Chelsea 104 (10)
Managerial career
1911–1915 Birmingham
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert McRoberts (12 July 1874 – 27 February 1959) was a Scottish professional association football player and manager. He played as a centre forward.

McRoberts was born in Coatbridge, Scotland. He started his football career at Airdrieonians and Albion Rovers in the Scottish League,[1] and went on to play for Gainsborough Trinity, Small Heath (Birmingham) and Chelsea, where he also played as a defender, in the Football League. He was Small Heath's leading goalscorer for three successive seasons, from 1899–1900 to 1901–02, and was Chelsea's first ever £100 signing, playing in their first League game in September 1905.[2] On 4 November 1905, as Chelsea beat Barnsley 6–0 in a home league match, McRoberts scored the club's first-ever penalty.

After retirement, he came back to Birmingham where in June 1911 he was appointed their first full-time professional team manager.[3] Previously the team had been selected by a committee. He managed the club for four years.

McRoberts died in Birkenhead, England, at the age of 84.

Sources

  • Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-010-2.

References

  1. ^ John Litster (October 2012). A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. Scottish Football Historian magazine.
  2. ^ Chelsea FC Player Profile: Bob McRoberts, StamfordBridge.com
  3. ^ "Birmingham F.C. Team manager appointed". Birmingham Daily Mail. 20 June 1911. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.


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