Bobby Stuart

Bobby Stuart (9 October 1913 – 1987) was a professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who played as a defender for

Middlesbrough Middlesbrough ( ) is a town on the southern bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the North York Moors national park. It is the namesake and main town of its local borough council area. Until the early 1800s, the a ...

Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. As of the 2021–22 season, the team are competing in League One, the third tier of English football. They have played at Home Park, ...

and

Whitby Town Whitby Town Football Club is an English football club based in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football. Founded in 1880, Whitby are one of the oldest clubs from the Nor ...

. He was born in

, England. Bobby Stuart gained 3 England International caps as a Schoolboy, from the age of 14 (All Wins) (played then at Half back). Signed amateur for Middlesbrough FC aged 15, Professional at 17 and made his debut for

at Highbury against

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

at 19. As the last line of defence, during the 1934–35 season, he scored 5 own goals against

playing in Left back position. Towards the end of the 1938 season Middlesbrough played Stoke who then had the legendary Stanley Matthews on the right wing. The match report stated 'Stuart staying close to Matthews prevented the maestro performing his usual magic.' When questioned how he managed to achieve the feat he stated "I respected Stanley's skill so I just kept my eye on the ball and shuffled him into the corner", this allowing the defence to be ready to manage any eventual cross.' He continued in the Left back position until the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

when he joined the RAF as L.A.C. Post war he played for 'The Boro' from 1945 to 1947 before being transferred to

till 1949. He made over 250 appearances for

who at the time were in Division 1 (now the Premiership). He was said to be one of the hardest kickers of a dead ball with either foot and although playing Left back for most of his (leather) footballing life he played Centre half as a Schoolboy and in the RAF. He was also credited with being the fastest fullback in English football an attribute he passed on to his Granddaughter Louise Collins (née Stuart) who competed at 200m in the 24th Olympiad in the

Seoul Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...

for Great Britain in 1988. 1913 births 1987 deaths Footballers from Middlesbrough English men's footballers English Football League players Men's association football fullbacks Middlesbrough F.C. players Plymouth Argyle F.C. players Whitby Town F.C. players Royal Air Force airmen Royal Air Force personnel of World War II {{England-footy-defender-1910s-stub