Bobby Downes (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert David "Bobby" Downes (born 18 August 1949) is an English former footballer, coach and manager. He started his playing career as a left back, later becoming a left winger. After starting his career at West Bromwich Albion
, Downes played 470 games in the Football League for Peterborough United
, Rochdale
, Watford
, Barnsley
and Blackpool
.
, Staffordshire
, Downes started his career as an apprentice at West Brom. He turned professional in 1966, but joined Peterborough United the following year having failed to make a league appearance. After two seasons as a squad player at Peterborough, he joined newly-promoted Rochdale at the end of the 1968–69 season. He was a first-team regular at Rochdale, as they managed to stay in the Football League Third Division
for four consecutive seasons. Following their relegation in 1974, he transferred to Watford, for a fee of £10,000. Downes missed just three games in his debut season at Vicarage Road
, but Watford were relegated to the Fourth Division
at the end of 1974–75, and were unable to obtain promotion in the following two campaigns.
Mike Keen
was replaced as manager by Graham Taylor in June 1977. Taylor decided that Downes, who had previously spent much of his career at left back, should play further up the field; Downes was ever-present on the left wing in the 1977–78 season
, scoring 10 goals in all competitions as Watford won promotion as Fourth Division Champions. He faced increased competition in 1978–79, but nonetheless made 46 appearances as Watford secured a second consecutive promotion, and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup
. However, Downes only managed 10 Watford appearances in 1979–80, and was sold to Barnsley for £10,000 in March 1980, playing a part in Barnsley's improved form at the end of that season.
After two years at Barnsley, he joined Blackpool on a free transfer in 1982. After two years as a player-coach for the Tangerines, he retired from playing in 1984.
manager Taylor appointed Downes as a youth coach. He remained there until 1991, before taking up the same role at Port Vale
in July that year. He was upgraded to the position of first team coach in March 1992. He was again signed by Taylor in 1994, this time as assistant manager at Wolverhampton Wanderers
. Following Taylor's dismissal in November 1995, Downes briefly served as caretaker manager. Wolves won two and drew one of Downes' six matches in charge. Taylor signed Downes for a third time in 1996, as director of youth football at Watford.
Downes left Watford in 1997, to take up a similar position at Premier League side Blackburn Rovers
. Players to go through the academy during Downes' tenure included England
international David Dunn
, as well as future Watford player Martin Taylor. He left the position in July 2009, by mutual consent. Following this he took up a scouting role at Preston North End
.
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Downes played 470 games in the Football League for Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, 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...
, Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
and Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
Playing career
Born in BloxwichBloxwich
Bloxwich is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands, England, with a population of around 40,000 people.-Early history:Bloxwich has its origins at least as early as the Anglo-Saxon period, when the place name evidence suggests it was a small Mercian settlement named after the...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, Downes started his career as an apprentice at West Brom. He turned professional in 1966, but joined Peterborough United the following year having failed to make a league appearance. After two seasons as a squad player at Peterborough, he joined newly-promoted Rochdale at the end of the 1968–69 season. He was a first-team regular at Rochdale, as they managed to stay in the Football League 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...
for four consecutive seasons. Following their relegation in 1974, he transferred to Watford, for a fee of £10,000. Downes missed just three games in his debut season at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
, but Watford were relegated to the 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...
at the end of 1974–75, and were unable to obtain promotion in the following two campaigns.
Mike Keen
Mike Keen
Michael Thomas "Mike" Keen was an English former footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s. He was the father of former West Ham United and Stoke City player Kevin Keen....
was replaced as manager by Graham Taylor in June 1977. Taylor decided that Downes, who had previously spent much of his career at left back, should play further up the field; Downes was ever-present on the left wing in the 1977–78 season
1977–78 Watford F.C. season
Watford Football Club is an English football team, based in Watford, Hertfordshire. 1977–78 was the club's first season under the management of Graham Taylor, and , its most recent in the fourth tier of English football...
, scoring 10 goals in all competitions as Watford won promotion as Fourth Division Champions. He faced increased competition in 1978–79, but nonetheless made 46 appearances as Watford secured a second consecutive promotion, and reached the semi-finals of the 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...
. However, Downes only managed 10 Watford appearances in 1979–80, and was sold to Barnsley for £10,000 in March 1980, playing a part in Barnsley's improved form at the end of that season.
After two years at Barnsley, he joined Blackpool on a free transfer in 1982. After two years as a player-coach for the Tangerines, he retired from playing in 1984.
Coaching career
In 1987, newly-appointed Aston VillaAston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
manager Taylor appointed Downes as a youth coach. He remained there until 1991, before taking up the same role at 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...
in July that year. He was upgraded to the position of first team coach in March 1992. He was again signed by Taylor in 1994, this time as assistant manager at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. Following Taylor's dismissal in November 1995, Downes briefly served as caretaker manager. Wolves won two and drew one of Downes' six matches in charge. Taylor signed Downes for a third time in 1996, as director of youth football at Watford.
Downes left Watford in 1997, to take up a similar position at Premier League side Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. Players to go through the academy during Downes' tenure included England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international David Dunn
David Dunn
David John Ian Dunn is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.-Blackburn Rovers:...
, as well as future Watford player Martin Taylor. He left the position in July 2009, by mutual consent. Following this he took up a scouting role at Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
.