Bob Hutchinson
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Hutchinson (22 December 1894–1971) was an English professional footballer who played as an outside forward. Born in Blyth, Northumberland
, he started his career in local football, before moving to Scottish club St Mirren in 1914. He went on to play for a number of Football League clubs and for two seasons, Hutchinson had a spell in the United States. In a career spanning 16 years, he played for 14 different clubs, leading him to be described as a "nomadic" footballer.
side St Mirren at the start of the 1914–15 season. During the First World War, he had a spell as a wartime guest with Ashington
from January 1915. He later returned to St Mirren and played there until January 1919, when he joined Football League First Division
club Newcastle United
as an amateur. He was given a professional contract in May of the same year, but failed to break into the first team and left at the end of the 1919–20 campaign without having made a senior appearance.
Hutchinson rejoined Football League Third Division North
outfit Ashington on a permanent deal in the summer of 1920. He played there for one season, scoring four goals in 23 league matches. In May 1922, he signed for fellow Third Division North side Nelson
on a free transfer. Hutchinson made his Nelson debut on 26 August 1922 in the 2–6 defeat away at Bradford Park Avenue
. He became first-choice left-winger at the club, and scored his first goal for the side in the 4–0 victory over Durham City
at Seedhill
on 10 February 1923. Hutchinson played every league game in the 1922–23 season as Nelson won the league, achieving promotion to the Football League Second Division
for the first time in their history. He kept his place in the side and his final league match for Nelson was the 0–1 defeat to Oldham Athletic
on 26 January 1924. Later in the month, his stay with Nelson ended as he moved to Stockport County
in a swap for Doug Humphrey.
His spell at Stockport was brief, as he played only four league games, scoring one goal. In the summer of 1924, Hutchinson returned to the Third Division North when he joined Chesterfield
on a free transfer. After one goal in 13 matches, taking him to exactly 100 league appearances, he again switched clubs at the end of the campaign, signing for Barrow
in July 1925. At Holker Street
, Hutchinson became a first-team regular for the first time since leaving Nelson, scoring four goals in 37 games as the side finished bottom of the Third Division North.
Hutchinson emigrated to the United States in 1926, initially playing with the New Bedford Whalers
before joining the Springfield Babes
later in the season. For the 1927 campaign, he played for the Fall River Marksmen
before transferring to the Newark Skeeters
. He went on to assist the Hartford Americans
later in 1927, playing 11 league games. He returned to England early the following year, and joined Third Division North team Darlington
in March 1928. Hutchinson played three league matches and then moved into non-league football
with West Stanley
at the end of the season. After two years with the club, he became an amateur for Gosforth & Coxledge in September 1930, before retiring from football completely. Hutchinson died in Gosforth
in the autumn of 1971, at the age of 76.
Blyth, Northumberland
Blyth is a town and civil parish in southeast Northumberland, England. It lies on the coast, to the south of the River Blyth and is approximately 21 kilometres northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne...
, he started his career in local football, before moving to Scottish club St Mirren in 1914. He went on to play for a number of Football League clubs and for two seasons, Hutchinson had a spell in the United States. In a career spanning 16 years, he played for 14 different clubs, leading him to be described as a "nomadic" footballer.
Career
Hutchinson started his career in amateur football with Palmer's (Jarrow) and Gosforth, before moving to Scottish Football LeagueScottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
side St Mirren at the start of the 1914–15 season. During the First World War, he had a spell as a wartime guest with Ashington
Ashington A.F.C.
Ashington A.F.C. is an English non-league football club from Ashington, Northumberland, currently playing in the Northern League Division One. The team, nicknamed "The Colliers", play their home matches at Woodhorn Lane....
from January 1915. He later returned to St Mirren and played there until January 1919, when he joined Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
club Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
as an amateur. He was given a professional contract in May of the same year, but failed to break into the first team and left at the end of the 1919–20 campaign without having made a senior appearance.
Hutchinson rejoined Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
outfit Ashington on a permanent deal in the summer of 1920. He played there for one season, scoring four goals in 23 league matches. In May 1922, he signed for fellow Third Division North side Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
on a free transfer. Hutchinson made his Nelson debut on 26 August 1922 in the 2–6 defeat away at Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
. He became first-choice left-winger at the club, and scored his first goal for the side in the 4–0 victory over Durham City
Durham City A.F.C.
Durham City A.F.C. are an English football club that currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They are based in the city of Durham in North East England.-History:...
at Seedhill
Seedhill Football Ground
The Seedhill Football Ground was a football stadium in Nelson, Lancashire. It was the home of current North West Counties League Division One side Nelson F.C. from 1905 until 1968. Nelson later moved to Victoria Park, before the ground was demolished in 1980 to make way for the M65 motorway...
on 10 February 1923. Hutchinson played every league game in the 1922–23 season as Nelson won the league, achieving promotion to the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
for the first time in their history. He kept his place in the side and his final league match for Nelson was the 0–1 defeat to Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
on 26 January 1924. Later in the month, his stay with Nelson ended as he moved to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
in a swap for Doug Humphrey.
His spell at Stockport was brief, as he played only four league games, scoring one goal. In the summer of 1924, Hutchinson returned to the Third Division North when he joined Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
on a free transfer. After one goal in 13 matches, taking him to exactly 100 league appearances, he again switched clubs at the end of the campaign, signing for Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
in July 1925. At Holker Street
Holker Street
Holker Street, also known as the Furness Building Society Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is a sports stadium located in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. Currently and originally used as a football ground, it has also previously been used for speedways races...
, Hutchinson became a first-team regular for the first time since leaving Nelson, scoring four goals in 37 games as the side finished bottom of the Third Division North.
Hutchinson emigrated to the United States in 1926, initially playing with the New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
before joining the Springfield Babes
Springfield Babes
The Springfield Babes was an American soccer club based in Springfield, Massachusetts that was a member of the American Soccer League. The club folded during its only season in the ASL. Springfield had a baseball team of the same name that played in the Central League from 1905 to 1907.-Year-by-year:...
later in the season. For the 1927 campaign, he played for the Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
before transferring to the Newark Skeeters
Newark Skeeters
The Newark Skeeters was an American soccer club based in Newark, New Jersey and was a member of the American Soccer League and the Eastern Soccer League.The club folded upon the merger of the ASL & ESL after the fall 1929 season.-Year-by-year:...
. He went on to assist the Hartford Americans
Hartford Americans
The Hartford Americans was an American soccer club based in Hartford, Connecticut that was member of the professional American Soccer League. They joined the league in 1927, but were dropped early in the season to balance the league after the Philadelphia Celtic was suspended after only 10...
later in 1927, playing 11 league games. He returned to England early the following year, and joined Third Division North team Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
in March 1928. Hutchinson played three league matches and then moved into non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with West Stanley
West Stanley F.C.
West Stanley Football Club was a football club based in the mining village of West Stanley, County Durham, England.Originally known as "Oakey's Lillywhites", the club was founded in 1889 and became founder members of the North Eastern League in 1906...
at the end of the season. After two years with the club, he became an amateur for Gosforth & Coxledge in September 1930, before retiring from football completely. Hutchinson died in Gosforth
Gosforth
Gosforth is an area of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, to the north of the city centre. Gosforth constituted an urban district from 1895 to 1974, when it became part of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne. It has a population of 23,620...
in the autumn of 1971, at the age of 76.
Honours
Nelson:- Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division NorthThe Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
: 1922–231922–23 Nelson F.C. seasonThe 1922–23 season was the 42nd season in the history of Nelson F.C. and their second as a professional club in the Football League. After finishing 16th in their inaugural Third Division North campaign in 1921–22, the team performed well above expectations under the guidance of player-manager...