Bob Fullam
Encyclopedia
Bob Fullam was an Irish
footballer and one of the best-known players in the League of Ireland
in the 1920s http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/about/history. A versatile attacking player, he was skilful but also had a tough-man image.
He 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 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 F.C.
goalkeeper.
Fullam made his debut for the Irish Free State against Italy
in Turin
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 Philadelphia they formed their own club which was known as Irish Philadelphia Celtic. After a year Bob returned to Dublin 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
4 times scoring 92 league goals and 9 Cup goals as well as winning 6 Inter-League caps.
In 1956 Bob was awarded damages in a libel case taken against the Sunday Dispatch
for a story that the journalist admitted making up.
League of Ireland
: 4
FAI Cup
: 3
League of Ireland Shield
: 3
Leinster Senior Cup
: 4
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer and one of the best-known players in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
in the 1920s http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/about/history. A versatile attacking player, he was skilful but also had a tough-man image.
He worked as a docker in Dublin, and played for Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
1918-21, winning the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
in 1920. He then transferred to Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
, and played in the inaugural Free State Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
final in 1922. In that match, his skirmishes with Charlie Dowdall
Charlie Dowdall
Charlie Dowdall was an Irish footballer. He played for several clubs in both the League of Ireland and the English League and was also capped at international level by the Irish Free State...
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 for 1923-24 but played only seven games. He returned to Rovers the next season, helping them to the Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
, 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 F.C.
Fordsons F.C.
Fordsons Football Club is a former Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1924 and 1930. The club was originally the factory team of the Ford Motor Company, a major employer in the city at that time and was named after the Fordson tractor, resulting in the...
goalkeeper.
Fullam made his debut for the Irish Free State against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
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 Philadelphia they formed their own club which was known as Irish Philadelphia Celtic. After a year Bob returned to Dublin 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
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
4 times scoring 92 league goals and 9 Cup goals as well as winning 6 Inter-League caps.
In 1956 Bob was awarded damages in a libel case taken against the Sunday Dispatch
Sunday Dispatch
The Sunday Dispatch was a British newspaper, published between 27 September 1801 and 1961. Until 1928, it was called the Weekly Dispatch.-History:...
for a story that the journalist admitted making up.
Honours
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 4
-
-
- Shamrock Rovers - 1922/23, 1924/25, 1926/27, 1930/31
-
FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
: 3
-
-
- Shamrock Rovers - 1925, 1929, 1930, 1931
-
League of Ireland Shield
League of Ireland Shield
The League of Ireland Shield is a defunct Irish football tournament which was introduced when the League of Ireland started in 1921 and ran uninterrupted until 1972...
: 3
-
-
- Shamrock Rovers - 1924/25, 1926/27, 1931/32
-
Leinster Senior Cup
Leinster Senior Cup (football)
The Leinster Senior Cup is an association football cup competition organised by the Leinster Football Association. It contested by the top League of Ireland sides based in the province in Leinster along with four Leinster Senior League sides and the two Leinster Junior Cup finalists. The Cup was...
: 4
-
-
- Shamrock Rovers - 1923, 1927, 1929, 1930
-
