Robert "Bob" Fullam (1895–1971) was an Irish footballer and one of the best-known players in the

League of Ireland The League of Ireland ( ga, Sraith na hÉireann), together with the Football Association of Ireland, is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland. The term was originally use ...

in the 1920

A versatile attacking player, he was skilful but also had a tough-man image. Born in

Ringsend Ringsend () is a southside inner suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is located on the south bank of the River Liffey and east of the River Dodder, about two kilometres east of the city centre. It is the southern terminus of the East Link Toll ...

, the son of John and Mary Fullam, Bob worked as a docker in Dublin, and played for Shelbourne F.C. 1918–21, winning the Irish Cup in 1920. He then transferred to Shamrock Rovers and played in the inaugural Free State Cup final in 1922. In that match, his skirmishes with Charlie Dowdall of eventual champions St. James's Gate F.C. helped provoke post-match disturbances involving players and supporters. This led to a ban for the start of the following season. Nevertheless, he finished top scorer with 27 goals in 22 games, as Rovers won their first League title. He transferred to

Leeds United Leeds United Football Club is a professional football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire in England. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of England's football league system, and plays its home matches at Elland Road ...

for 1923–24 but played only seven games. He returned to Rovers the next season, helping them to the Double, as "give it to Bob" became a Dublin catchphrase. In the 1926 Cup final, he famously pulled out of a goalmouth challenge, sacrificing a goal (and the Cup) to prevent injuring the Fordsons goalkeeper. Fullam made his debut for the Irish Free State against

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in 1926; he scored in the return match against Italy in 1927. As he was now 30, and the selectors had a preference for young players, this second cap was his last. He continued to play for Shamrock Rovers into the early 1930s. In 1927/28 he went to the United States along with Dinny Doyle and several other players from both North and South. Upon their arrival in

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, they formed their club which was known as Irish

Philadelphia Celtic Philadelphia Field Club is a name used by four soccer teams based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All four versions of Philadelphia F.C. competed in the first American Soccer League (1921-1933), American Soccer League, but none were in any way r ...

. After a year Bob returned to

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...

where he renewed his association with Rovers. After his playing days, Bob continued with the Hoops as a coach, a capacity he held until his departure to London in 1945. His time with Rovers was littered with medals. He won the League and the

FAI Cup The Football Association of Ireland Senior Challenge Cup (FAI Cup), known as the Extra.ie FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland (as well as Derry ...

4 times scoring 92 league goals and 9 Cup goals along with 6 Inter-League caps. In 1956 Bob was awarded damages in a libel case taken against the ''

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'' for a story that the journalist admitted making up. During his time at Shamrock Rovers Fullam played alongside his second cousin

Billy Behan William Behan (8 August 1911 – 12 November 1991) was an Irish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Manchester United during the 1930s. He made his Rovers debut on 8 February 1931 in a 5–1 win over B ...

who later became a successful scout for

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. Fullam died in

Slough Slough () is a town and unparished area in the unitary authority of the same name in Berkshire, England, bordering west London. It lies in the Thames Valley, west of central London and north-east of Reading, at the intersection of the M4 ...

on 21 July 1971.Evening Herald page 16 22 July 1971

Honours

; Shamrock Rovers *

: 4 ** 1922–23, 1924–25, 1926–27, 1930–31 *

: 4 ** 1925, 1929, 1930, 1931 *

League of Ireland Shield The League of Ireland Shield ( ga, Sciath Sraithe na hÉireann) is a defunct Irish football tournament which was introduced when the League of Ireland started in 1921 and ran uninterrupted until 1972. It was played before the league season began ...

: 3 ** 1924–25, 1926–27, 1931–32 * Leinster Senior Cup: 4 ** 1923, 1927, 1929, 1930 * Leinster Senior League: 1 ** 1921–22 ;Individual *

League of Ireland Top Scorer A list of League of Ireland top scorers. A Division ;Notes Premier Division First Division ;Notes All–Time ;Notes References {{League of Ireland Top Ireland Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulst ...

: ** 1922–23 (27 goals).

References

* *

External links

PictureBob Fullam and the Great K.O.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fullam, Bob Republic of Ireland association footballers Republic of Ireland international footballers League of Ireland players Shamrock Rovers F.C. players Shamrock Rovers F.C. managers League of Ireland managers Shelbourne F.C. players Leeds United F.C. players English Football League players Association footballers from Dublin (city) 1895 births 1974 deaths League of Ireland XI players Leinster Senior League (association football) players Association football forwards Republic of Ireland football managers