Bill Robertson (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
William Harold "Bill" Robertson (25 March 1923 – 15 March 2003) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
for Chelsea
, Birmingham City
and Stoke City
. He played as a goalkeeper.
Robertson was born in Crowthorne
, Berkshire
. In youth football he played as a centre forward, only switching to goalkeeping while in the Royal Air Force
stationed at Lossiemouth
during the Second World War. He signed for Chelsea
in October 1945, and played 43 times in all competitions for the first team before moving to Birmingham City
in December 1948. This move failed to improve matters, as Robertson found himself behind Gil Merrick
in the pecking order, and played just three times in a three-and-a-half years. In June 1952, he joined Stoke City
for a fee of £8,000, and finally found regular first-team football. In the eight years before he retired from the game at the end of the 1959–60 season, he played more than 250 games in all competitions.
After retirement from football he kept a newsagent
s' in Bucknell, Shropshire
, before returning to the south of England in 1963. He moved to Hanworth
, Middlesex
, where he again kept a newsagents' shop until his retirement.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
. He played as a goalkeeper.
Robertson was born in Crowthorne
Crowthorne
Crowthorne is also a suburb of Johannesburg, South AfricaCrowthorne is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest district of south-eastern Berkshire. It has a population of 6,711...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. In youth football he played as a centre forward, only switching to goalkeeping while in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
stationed at Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...
during the Second World War. He signed for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in October 1945, and played 43 times in all competitions for the first team before moving to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in December 1948. This move failed to improve matters, as Robertson found himself behind Gil Merrick
Gil Merrick
Gilbert Harold "Gil" Merrick , was an English footballer and football manager. Considered one of the best goalkeepers in the UK during the mid-1950s, Merrick was one in a long line of great Birmingham City keepers which included the likes of Johnny Schofield and Harry Hibbs...
in the pecking order, and played just three times in a three-and-a-half years. In June 1952, he joined Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
for a fee of £8,000, and finally found regular first-team football. In the eight years before he retired from the game at the end of the 1959–60 season, he played more than 250 games in all competitions.
After retirement from football he kept a newsagent
Newsagent
A newsagent's shop , newsagency or newsstand is a business that sells newspapers, magazines, cigarettes, snacks and often items of local interest. In Britain and Australia, these businesses are termed newsagents...
s' in Bucknell, Shropshire
Bucknell, Shropshire
Bucknell is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. The village lies on the River Redlake, within 600 metres of the River Teme and close to the borders with Wales and Herefordshire...
, before returning to the south of England in 1963. He moved to Hanworth
Hanworth
Hanworth lies to the south east of Feltham in the London Borough of Hounslow. The name is thought to come from the Anglo Saxon words “haen” and “worth”, meaning “small homestead”....
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, where he again kept a newsagents' shop until his retirement.
External links
- Robertson's league stats at Neil Brown's site