Bobby Graham (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Bobby Graham is a former professional footballer who played for Liverpool
during the 1960s.
, Scotland
, Graham played for Motherwell Bridge Works as an amateur before Bill Shankly
signed him for Liverpool as 17 year old in the November 1961.
A striker, Graham scored on his full debut, the 6-1 thumping of KR Reykjavik
on the 14 September 1964
in a European Cup
preliminary round 2nd leg tie at Anfield
, he scored a hat-trick
in his first league game against Aston Villa 12 days later on the 26th, the game finished 5-1 to the Reds with Bobby's goals coming in the 6th, 64th and 86th minutes.
Graham was at Liverpool at an unfortunate time for himself as he found it almost impossible to dislodge the successful strike partnership of Ian St John and Roger Hunt
and found first team appearances hard to come by. Such was the dominance of both St John and Hunt he missed out on FA Cup
glory in 1965 and only made 1 appearance during the Reds run to the league title the following season, obviously, not enough to gain him a medal.
The 1969/70
season was the most successful for him in a red shirt, with Hunt and St John both pensioned off he made 54 (ever present) first-team appearances and scored 21 goals which included a stunning strike in the Merseyside derby
at Goodison Park
, the same game that saw Everton
's Sandy Brown scored 'that' infamous own goal. Shortly afterwards, though, 2 new strikers arrived in the form of Kevin Keegan
from Scunthorpe United
and John Toshack
from Cardiff City
, Graham lost his place once again.
In March 1972
he was allowed to leave Anfield and moved to Highfield Road and Coventry City
where he linked up with former team-mate St John once more, again he struggled to get 1st team recognistion, even going out on loan to Tranmere Rovers
, when St John was in charge, for 10 games. Bobby ended his short association with the Sky Blues and moved to his home town club Motherwell
.
Ian St John was certainly a fan of Graham's as it was he who again signed Bobby for the Fir Park
club and by the end of his first season he had shown why 'The Saint' had shown such faith, he finished top scorer. A young Willie Pettigrew
was added to the side the following season and the pair formed a lethal partnership that terrorised Scottish defences for 4 seasons. When Crawford Boyd
was later interviewed for the Queen of the South F.C.
website, Boyd listed Bobby Graham as the best player that he played against in his time at Queens.
After 132 games and 37 goals Graham joined Hamilton Academical
in 1977 for a, then, record transfer fee of £15,000, he, again, made over 100 appearances scoring 42 times. Graham ended his career at Shotts Bon Accord
in the Scottish junior football scene.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
during the 1960s.
Life and playing career
Born in Motherwell, North LanarkshireNorth Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Graham played for Motherwell Bridge Works as an amateur before Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
signed him for Liverpool as 17 year old in the November 1961.
A striker, Graham scored on his full debut, the 6-1 thumping of KR Reykjavik
Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur
Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, , for short KR or KR Reykjavík, is an Icelandic athletic club based in the capital, Reykjavík. KR is the oldest and most successful club in Icelandic football.-History:...
on the 14 September 1964
1964-65 in English football
The 1964–65 season was the 85th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* After a three-way tussle for the League title between Manchester United, Leeds United and Chelsea, Manchester United came out on top and were crowned champions....
in a European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
preliminary round 2nd leg tie at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
, he scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in his first league game against Aston Villa 12 days later on the 26th, the game finished 5-1 to the Reds with Bobby's goals coming in the 6th, 64th and 86th minutes.
Graham was at Liverpool at an unfortunate time for himself as he found it almost impossible to dislodge the successful strike partnership of Ian St John and Roger Hunt
Roger Hunt
Roger Hunt, MBE is an English former footballer. He was a member of the England team which won the 1966 World Cup.-Club career:...
and found first team appearances hard to come by. Such was the dominance of both St John and Hunt he missed out on FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
glory in 1965 and only made 1 appearance during the Reds run to the league title the following season, obviously, not enough to gain him a medal.
The 1969/70
1969-70 in English football
The 1969–70 season was the 90th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Everton won their seventh title, finishing nine points clear of Leeds United with Chelsea in third and newly promoted Derby County in fourth...
season was the most successful for him in a red shirt, with Hunt and St John both pensioned off he made 54 (ever present) first-team appearances and scored 21 goals which included a stunning strike in the Merseyside derby
Merseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is the name given to any football match contested between Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the two most successful clubs from the city of Liverpool in England...
at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
, the same game that saw Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
's Sandy Brown scored 'that' infamous own goal. Shortly afterwards, though, 2 new strikers arrived in the form of Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
from 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....
and John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
from Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, Graham lost his place once again.
In March 1972
1971-72 in English football
The 1971–72 season was the 92nd season of competitive football in England.-FA Cup:Leeds United overcame holders Arsenal to win the 1972 FA Cup Final...
he was allowed to leave Anfield and moved to Highfield Road and Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
where he linked up with former team-mate St John once more, again he struggled to get 1st team recognistion, even going out on loan to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, when St John was in charge, for 10 games. Bobby ended his short association with the Sky Blues and moved to his home town club Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
.
Ian St John was certainly a fan of Graham's as it was he who again signed Bobby for the Fir Park
Fir Park
Fir Park Stadium is a football stadium situated in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.- History :...
club and by the end of his first season he had shown why 'The Saint' had shown such faith, he finished top scorer. A young Willie Pettigrew
Willie Pettigrew
William "Willie" Pettigrew is a former Scottish international footballer who played as a striker.Pettigrew started his career with Hibernian but left Easter Road for junior side East Kilbride Thistle after failing to make a first-team breakthrough...
was added to the side the following season and the pair formed a lethal partnership that terrorised Scottish defences for 4 seasons. When Crawford Boyd
Crawford Boyd
Crawford Boyd from Kilwinning is a Scottish former professional footballer.Crawford Boyd is best known for his time at Dumfries club, Queen of the South The defensive cornerstone of the 1970s returned to Queens during the promotion campaign of 1980-81 to make a total of 321 first team appearances...
was later interviewed for the Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
website, Boyd listed Bobby Graham as the best player that he played against in his time at Queens.
After 132 games and 37 goals Graham joined Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
in 1977 for a, then, record transfer fee of £15,000, he, again, made over 100 appearances scoring 42 times. Graham ended his career at Shotts Bon Accord
Shotts Bon Accord F.C.
Shotts Bon Accord Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Shotts, North Lanarkshire.-History:Playing at Hannah Park, they were formed in 1950 and currently compete in the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association....
in the Scottish junior football scene.