Bobby Veck
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bobby" Veck was an English footballer who played, mainly at outside left, for Southampton
and Gillingham
in the years after the Second World War.
, Hampshire
and was a member of Southampton
's nursery side in 1938, scoring 14 goals in 11 junior League and Cup matches, before the war interrupted his football career.
During the war, he joined the Royal Air Force
, and his military career initially took him across Britain, where he made guest appearances for several clubs, including Leeds United
, Bradford Park Avenue
, St. Johnstone and York City
. After spending time at Yeadon
and Church Fenton
(both in Yorkshire
), he was sent out to Egypt
for the duration of the war. Whilst in Egypt, he played for the United Services team and also for the Egyptian Railways.
Following his demobilisation, he returned to Southampton in late 1945, playing in the League South
in 1945–46, scoring five goals from 28 appearances, plus one in the FA Cup
. For the opening match of the first season of League football after the war, Veck was one of eight players making his League debut in the Second Division
for Southampton, scoring in a 4–0 victory over Swansea Town, with fellow debutant Doug McGibbon
scoring a hat-trick
. Veck retained his place at outside left for the first seven matches of the season, before being replaced by Wilf Grant
, who in turn gave way to Eric Day
as manager Bill Dodgin
was assembling a team to try to gain promotion from the Second Division
.
Veck reclaimed the No. 11 shirt at the end of the season, but in 1947–48 only made six appearances as Dodgin tried five players at outside left before settling on Grant. Over the next few seasons, Veck only made the occasional appearance including replacing centre forward Charlie Wayman
for two matches in April 1949 and again in February 1950, scoring in a 1–1 draw against Coventry City
.
In July 1950, Veck was transferred to Gillingham
for £3000. During his four League seasons at The Dell, Veck made 23 League and 4 FA Cup appearances, scoring three goals. In three of those seasons, the "Saints" narrowly missed promotion, finishing third in 1947–48, a feat repeated the following season (despite having an 8 point lead with 8 games to play) whilst in 1949–50 they were to be denied promotion by 0.06 of a goal, missing out on second place to Sheffield United
.
as a virtual fixture on the left, either on the wing or at left back, making 36 appearances in the Third Division South
scoring twelve goals, of which five were penalties.
He dropped out of League football in 1951, spending a season with Chelmsford City
in the Southern League
, before moving back to Kent
where he joined Canterbury City
in the Kent League
, helping them win the Kent Senior Cup
in 1954.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
in the years after the Second World War.
Southampton
Veck was born in TitchfieldTitchfield
Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and was a member of Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
's nursery side in 1938, scoring 14 goals in 11 junior League and Cup matches, before the war interrupted his football career.
During the war, he joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, and his military career initially took him across Britain, where he made guest appearances for several clubs, including Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, 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...
, St. Johnstone and York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
. After spending time at Yeadon
Yeadon, West Yorkshire
Yeadon is a town within the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, in West Yorkshire, England. It is home to Leeds Bradford International Airport.-History:...
and Church Fenton
Church Fenton
Church Fenton is a village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. The village is home to many commuters and is served by a railway station; Church Fenton railway station. Neighbouring villages include Cawood and Ulleskelf. It is about from Tadcaster and from...
(both in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
), he was sent out to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
for the duration of the war. Whilst in Egypt, he played for the United Services team and also for the Egyptian Railways.
Following his demobilisation, he returned to Southampton in late 1945, playing in the League South
Football League North and South
The Football League North and Football League South divisions of the Football League were created for the League to continue while limiting the amount of movement that was required by teams. The Leagues started in 1941; however, the leagues only had one full season, in 1945-46...
in 1945–46, scoring five goals from 28 appearances, plus one in the 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...
. For the opening match of the first season of League football after the war, Veck was one of eight players making his League debut in the 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 Southampton, scoring in a 4–0 victory over Swansea Town, with fellow debutant Doug McGibbon
Doug McGibbon
Douglas "Doug" McGibbon was an English footballer who played at centre forward for Southampton, Fulham and Bournemouth in the years just after the Second World War...
scoring 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...
. Veck retained his place at outside left for the first seven matches of the season, before being replaced by Wilf Grant
Wilf Grant
Wilfred Grant was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for Southampton, Cardiff City and Ipswich Town.-Early career:...
, who in turn gave way to Eric Day
Eric Day
Eric Charles Day is an English former footballer who played his entire career of nearly 400 Football League games for Southampton. He was born in Dartford, Kent. During his career with the club, which lasted 11 years from 1945 to 1957, he scored 145 league goals, which placed him seventh on the...
as manager Bill Dodgin
Bill Dodgin, Sr.
William "Bill" Dodgin was an English football player.Born in Gateshead, Dodgin played for Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City, Charlton Athletic, Bristol Rovers, Clapton Orient and Southampton, although his career was curtailed by the Second World War.After retiring as a player, he became coach and...
was assembling a team to try to gain promotion from the 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...
.
Veck reclaimed the No. 11 shirt at the end of the season, but in 1947–48 only made six appearances as Dodgin tried five players at outside left before settling on Grant. Over the next few seasons, Veck only made the occasional appearance including replacing centre forward Charlie Wayman
Charlie Wayman
Charles Wayman was an English footballer.Wayman, who was born in Chilton, Bishop Auckland, was a prolific centre-forward in the first decade after the Second World War. Newcastle United signed him from Spennymoor United in September 1941, while he was working as a miner at Chilton Colliery...
for two matches in April 1949 and again in February 1950, scoring in a 1–1 draw against 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...
.
In July 1950, Veck was transferred to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
for £3000. During his four League seasons at The Dell, Veck made 23 League and 4 FA Cup appearances, scoring three goals. In three of those seasons, the "Saints" narrowly missed promotion, finishing third in 1947–48, a feat repeated the following season (despite having an 8 point lead with 8 games to play) whilst in 1949–50 they were to be denied promotion by 0.06 of a goal, missing out on second place to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
.
Gillingham
At Gillingham, Veck spent one season1950-51 in English football
The 1950–51 season was the 71st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Tottenham Hotspur won their first League Championship, while Newcastle United defeated Blackpool 2–0 to win their fourth F.A. Cup. They would win it twice more over the next four seasons. The league was expanded...
as a virtual fixture on the left, either on the wing or at left back, making 36 appearances in the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
scoring twelve goals, of which five were penalties.
He dropped out of League football in 1951, spending a season with Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City F.C.
Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...
in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, before moving back to Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
where he joined Canterbury City
Canterbury City F.C.
Canterbury City F.C. are a football club currently based in Herne Bay near Canterbury, England. Reformed in 2007, they are the first football club formed as a Community interest company. For the 2011–12 season they will compete in the Kent League Premier Division...
in the Kent League
Kent League
The Kent League is an English football league for teams based in Kent and south east London, which was established in 1966. It was also the name of a similar league which existed from 1894 until 1959.-History:...
, helping them win the Kent Senior Cup
Kent Senior Cup
The Kent Senior Cup is an English football competition played between senior clubs in the county of Kent. It is administered by the Kent County Football Association.-History:...
in 1954.