Bob Sharp
Encyclopedia
Councillor Robert 'Bob' Sharp (born October 1894, date of death unknown) was a football
manager
of Bradford City
who also served as Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford. He was a football visionary who called for the introduction of Third
and Fourth Divisions
12 years before they were formed.
, England
. He left school intent on making his way in business, and worked in his father's oil cloth shop. This was called Harry Sharp and Sons at this time but after Robert took control it was eventually renamed Sharps (Floor Furnishers) Ltd. It had been started as a market stall but expanded into multiple shops in several local towns before downsizing into the single one at Legrams Lane, Bradford
. Later still it was handed over to his sons Peter and David.
He was councillor for Bradford Moor
from 1931 to 1934 and again from 1937 to 1945. He served as Deputy Lord Mayor in 1946. He represented the Eccleshill
ward from 1950 to 1952.
board in February 1938. In July 1943 he put his name forward as the club manager when Fred Westgarth
left to join Hartlepools United
. He was manager for three years but never took charge of a competitive league match because of World War
. Instead he handed over the reins to Jack Barker
in May 1946.
The same year, as the club's honorary secretary, at a meeting of the Division Three (North)
committee he seconded a motion to introduce divisions Three
and Four
of the football league.
In 1947 he bought Norman Bank, a large house in Idle
, to convert into a hostel for single City players needing accommodation. He also commissioned a City gramophone record, Hello Chorus.
He resigned from the City board in March 1948. Supporters bought an inscribed silver salver
to recognise his ten years service to the club. It was presented by Lord Mayor
Alderman Councillor F. J. Cowie. Fellow directors appointed Sharp and his wife Peggy as life-members of the club.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
who also served as Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford. He was a football visionary who called for the introduction of Third
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...
and Fourth Divisions
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...
12 years before they were formed.
Biography
Sharp was born in October 1894 in BradfordBradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He left school intent on making his way in business, and worked in his father's oil cloth shop. This was called Harry Sharp and Sons at this time but after Robert took control it was eventually renamed Sharps (Floor Furnishers) Ltd. It had been started as a market stall but expanded into multiple shops in several local towns before downsizing into the single one at Legrams Lane, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. Later still it was handed over to his sons Peter and David.
He was councillor for Bradford Moor
Bradford Moor
Bradford Moor is an electoral ward in the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. It is in the BD3 postcode area.The ward covers the areas of Bradford known as Bradford Moor, Laisterdyke and Thornbury...
from 1931 to 1934 and again from 1937 to 1945. He served as Deputy Lord Mayor in 1946. He represented the Eccleshill
Eccleshill
Eccleshill is a Ward in the City of Bradford Metropolitan District in the county of West Yorkshire, England....
ward from 1950 to 1952.
Football career
Sharp was elected to the Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
board in February 1938. In July 1943 he put his name forward as the club manager when Fred Westgarth
Fred Westgarth
Fred Westgarth was an English footballer though he is more renowned for his role as a manager.-Career:...
left to join Hartlepools United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. He was manager for three years but never took charge of a competitive league match because of World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Instead he handed over the reins to Jack Barker
Jack Barker
John William "Jack" Barker was an English footballer who played 327 league games for Derby County and won 11 England caps...
in May 1946.
The same year, as the club's honorary secretary, at a meeting of the Division Three (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...
committee he seconded a motion to introduce divisions Three
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...
and Four
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...
of the football league.
In 1947 he bought Norman Bank, a large house in Idle
Idle, West Yorkshire
The village of Idle and its outskirts make up a mainly residential suburban area in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, in England. The area is loosely bordered by the areas of Eccleshill, Wrose, Thackley and Greengates, in the north east of the city....
, to convert into a hostel for single City players needing accommodation. He also commissioned a City gramophone record, Hello Chorus.
He resigned from the City board in March 1948. Supporters bought an inscribed silver salver
Salver
A salver is a flat tray of silver or other metal used for carrying or serving glasses, cups and dishes at table or for the presenting of a letter or card by a servant...
to recognise his ten years service to the club. It was presented by Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
Alderman Councillor F. J. Cowie. Fellow directors appointed Sharp and his wife Peggy as life-members of the club.