Bob Mountford
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" William Mountford (23 February 1952 – 26 August 2008) was an English
footballer who played 277 matches in the Football League
for various clubs, scoring 64 goals.
and persuaded to join Port Vale
juniors.
He graduated through the Vale youth set up to make his first team debut as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers
on 19 April 1969. Signing professional forms in February 1970, he made his full debut in a 2–0 defeat by Shrewsbury Town
at Vale Park
in a League Cup
first round match on 18 August 1971. The young striker was gradually broken into the team over the 1971–72
and 1972–73
seasons.
He was a regular in the 1973–74
side that battled against relegation
from the Third Division
. The following season
saw the Vale push for promotion, with Ray Williams
, Brian Horton
and new signing Terry Bailey
providing 41 goals between them. Unable to establish himself in the new set-up, Mountford joined Fourth Division
strugglers Scunthorpe United
on a one month loan in October 1974. That December he joined Crewe Alexandra
, another side failing to find the net. He made five appearances for the "Alex" before being sold to Rochdale
for £2,000 later in the month.
The "big, bustling, old fashioned, centre forward" was in his element at Spotland
. The 1975–76 and 1976–77 seasons were spent in mid-table obscurity in the basement division, but with 41 goals in 117 games, Mountford was a sensation for the club.
He moved on to Huddersfield Town
in 1977. The 1977–78 season saw the "Terriers" performing comfortably in the Fourth Division, but Rochdale clearly missed Mountford's goals – they finished bottom with 24 points and 43 goals scored.
In 1978 he joined Halifax Town
, another club at the foot of the Football League
. The 1978–79 and 1979–80 seasons were difficult, Mountford bagging eleven goals from 62 league games.
In 1980 he joined Crewe Alexandra on a permanent basis, but played just three games before joining Stockport County
later in the year. He scored three goals in nine league games during the 1980–81 season.
, playing for Newcastle KB United
, also serving as their assistant coach.
After a spell with Brisbane City FC and Blacktown he was appointed assistant coach and youth coach at Newcastle Breakers
. He later coached Azzuri, Newcastle-Port Stephens juniors and Edgeworth under 19s.
In April 2007 he took charge at Adamstown Rosebuds FC
and was still at the helm at the time of his death.
He joined the Prison
Service in 1988, whilst still coaching, becoming a warden
at Cessnock
jail.
Mountford died on 26 August 2008 in Australia, following a lengthy battle against cancer
. He was survived by his wife and their two children; Paul and Anna.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who played 277 matches in the Football League
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 various clubs, scoring 64 goals.
Playing career
As a youth he played for local village team Brown Edge, before being spotted by Stanley MatthewsStanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
and persuaded to join Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
juniors.
He graduated through the Vale youth set up to make his first team debut as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
on 19 April 1969. Signing professional forms in February 1970, he made his full debut in a 2–0 defeat by Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
first round match on 18 August 1971. The young striker was gradually broken into the team over the 1971–72
1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1971–72 season was Port Vale's sixtieth season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season back in the Third Division...
and 1972–73
1972–73 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Port Vale's sixty-first season of football in the Football League, and their third successive season in the Third Division. Their promotion efforts ended with a sixth place finish, whilst in the two cup competitions they lost out to Newcastle United and West Ham United...
seasons.
He was a regular in the 1973–74
1973–74 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1973–74 season was Port Vale's sixty-second season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Third Division. They finished in twentieth spot, though were seven points clear of relegation...
side that battled against relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
from the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. The following season
1974–75 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1974–75 season was Port Vale's sixty-third season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Third Division. It was Roy Sproson's first full season in charge...
saw the Vale push for promotion, with Ray Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....
, Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
and new signing Terry Bailey
Terry Bailey
Terence "Terry" Bailey is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. His son Mark Bailey also played professional football.After a brief association with Winsford United, he joined Stafford Rangers in 1968...
providing 41 goals between them. Unable to establish himself in the new set-up, Mountford joined Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
strugglers Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on a one month loan in October 1974. That December he joined Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, another side failing to find the net. He made five appearances for the "Alex" before being sold to Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
for £2,000 later in the month.
The "big, bustling, old fashioned, centre forward" was in his element at Spotland
Spotland Stadium
Spotland Stadium is a sports venue located at Willbutts Lane in the Spotland area of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. It is currently home to Rochdale AFC and Rochdale Hornets RLFC...
. The 1975–76 and 1976–77 seasons were spent in mid-table obscurity in the basement division, but with 41 goals in 117 games, Mountford was a sensation for the club.
He moved on to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in 1977. The 1977–78 season saw the "Terriers" performing comfortably in the Fourth Division, but Rochdale clearly missed Mountford's goals – they finished bottom with 24 points and 43 goals scored.
In 1978 he joined Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
, another club at the foot of the Football League
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...
. The 1978–79 and 1979–80 seasons were difficult, Mountford bagging eleven goals from 62 league games.
In 1980 he joined Crewe Alexandra on a permanent basis, but played just three games before joining 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...
later in the year. He scored three goals in nine league games during the 1980–81 season.
Coaching career
After leaving Stockport, Mountford emigrated to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, playing for Newcastle KB United
Newcastle KB United
Newcastle KB United are a defunct Australian association football club. They participated in the National Soccer League from 1978 until early in the 1984 season.-History:...
, also serving as their assistant coach.
After a spell with Brisbane City FC and Blacktown he was appointed assistant coach and youth coach at Newcastle Breakers
Newcastle Breakers
Newcastle Breakers are a defunct Australian association football club. Formed out of elements of the Newcastle Austral club, they participated in the National Soccer League from season 1991/1992, until their dissolution in 1999/2000. The club fared poorly on the field in its nine seasons in the...
. He later coached Azzuri, Newcastle-Port Stephens juniors and Edgeworth under 19s.
In April 2007 he took charge at Adamstown Rosebuds FC
Adamstown Rosebuds FC
Adamstown Rosebuds Football Club is a semi-professional association football club based in Adamstown a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales. At its senior level the club competes in the NewFM Division after being relegated from the NBN League in the 2007 season...
and was still at the helm at the time of his death.
He joined the Prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
Service in 1988, whilst still coaching, becoming a warden
Cessnock
Cessnock can refer to:*Cessnock, New South Wales** Electoral district of Cessnock, an electoral district in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, based around the area** City of Cessnock, the Local Government Area...
at Cessnock
Cessnock
Cessnock can refer to:*Cessnock, New South Wales** Electoral district of Cessnock, an electoral district in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, based around the area** City of Cessnock, the Local Government Area...
jail.
Mountford died on 26 August 2008 in Australia, following a lengthy battle against cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He was survived by his wife and their two children; Paul and Anna.