Robert Fleck (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert William Fleck is a former professional football
er. He was a striker who began his career with Rangers
.
Despite not being a first team regular, he scored many important goals for the club under Graeme Souness
.
In 1987, Fleck was transferred for £580,000 to Norwich City
in the English
Football League First Division
. He scored 66 goals in 181 appearances in his first spell with the club, earning a call-up to the Scotland Squad
winning 4 caps, including 2 caps at the 1990 World Cup. 'Flecky' attained hero status among Norwich supporters and was voted Norwich City player of the year
in 1992 at the end of the final season of his first spell at Carrow Road
. He helped them finished fourth in the league in 1989, when they also reached the FA Cup
semi-final, though Fleck and his team-mates were unable to compete in the following season's
UEFA Cup
due to the ongoing ban on English clubs in European competitions that followed the Heysel disaster of 1985. Fleck helped the Canaries reach another FA Cup semi-final in 1992, where they surprisingly lost to Second Division underdogs Sunderland
.
He moved on to Chelsea
for a (then) club record fee of £2.1million just before the first season
of the new Premier League got underway. It was also a record sale for Norwich. The move proved unsuccessful; Fleck scored just four goals in 48 appearances and was loaned
out to Bolton Wanderers
and Bristol City
. He missed out on a place in Chelsea's squad for the 1994 FA Cup Final, which they lost 4-0 to Manchester United
.
Despite his dismal goalscoring record at Chelsea, he is remembered fondly by the club's fans, who sang a song in his honour - We all live in a Robert Fleck world - based on the lyrics of Yellow Submarine
by The Beatles
.
Fleck re-joined Norwich (who had just been relegated from the Premier League) for £650,000 in September 1995 after a loan spell, but his performances were not as consistent as in his first spell at Carrow Road
, as they failed to make a serious attempt to push for promotion in any of his three seasons back at the club. He moved to Reading
towards the end of the 1997-98 season, spending one season at the Berkshire
club, and in nine league games he scored once against Luton Town (in the first game at the Madejski Stadium
), before injury ended his playing career.
After a spell with Gorleston where he won the Norfolk Senior Cup in 2001, he joined Diss Town
who play in the Ridgeons League, as manager in the summer of 2002. He won the Norfolk Senior Cup again in 2003 and 2005. A poor run of form during 2006 saw him sacked on 18 October 2006.
Fleck returned to employment with Norwich City in May 2007, when he joined the club's scouting network.
Fleck is fourth in the list of Norwich City FC all-time goalscorers, behind Johnny Gavin, Terry Allcock
and Iwan Roberts
. In 2002, Norwich fans voted him into the club's Hall of Fame.
Fleck's nephew John
plays for Rangers F.C.
.
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...
er. He was a striker who began his career with Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
Despite not being a first team regular, he scored many important goals for the club under Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
.
In 1987, Fleck was transferred for £580,000 to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in the English
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. He scored 66 goals in 181 appearances in his first spell with the club, earning a call-up to the Scotland Squad
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
winning 4 caps, including 2 caps at the 1990 World Cup. 'Flecky' attained hero status among Norwich supporters and was voted Norwich City player of the year
Norwich City player of the year
The Norwich City player of the year award is voted for annually by Norwich City's supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season...
in 1992 at the end of the final season of his first spell at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
. He helped them finished fourth in the league in 1989, when they also reached 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...
semi-final, though Fleck and his team-mates were unable to compete in the following season's
UEFA Cup 1989-90
The UEFA Cup 1989-90 was won by Juventus on aggregate over Fiorentina. This was the first final between two Italian sides in the UEFA competitions history and the third between two clubs of the same country....
UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
due to the ongoing ban on English clubs in European competitions that followed the Heysel disaster of 1985. Fleck helped the Canaries reach another FA Cup semi-final in 1992, where they surprisingly lost to Second Division underdogs Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
.
He moved on to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
for a (then) club record fee of £2.1million just before the first season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
of the new Premier League got underway. It was also a record sale for Norwich. The move proved unsuccessful; Fleck scored just four goals in 48 appearances and was loaned
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
out to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
and Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. He missed out on a place in Chelsea's squad for the 1994 FA Cup Final, which they lost 4-0 to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
Despite his dismal goalscoring record at Chelsea, he is remembered fondly by the club's fans, who sang a song in his honour - We all live in a Robert Fleck world - based on the lyrics of Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine (song)
"Yellow Submarine" is a 1966 song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney , with lead vocals by Ringo Starr. It was included on the Revolver album and issued as a single, coupled with "Eleanor Rigby". The single went to number 1 on every major British chart, remained at number 1 for four weeks...
by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.
Fleck re-joined Norwich (who had just been relegated from the Premier League) for £650,000 in September 1995 after a loan spell, but his performances were not as consistent as in his first spell at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
, as they failed to make a serious attempt to push for promotion in any of his three seasons back at the club. He moved to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
towards the end of the 1997-98 season, spending one season at the Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
club, and in nine league games he scored once against Luton Town (in the first game at the Madejski Stadium
Madejski Stadium
The Madejski Stadium is a stadium in Reading, Berkshire, England. The stadium is the home of Reading Football Club and to the rugby union club London Irish as tenants. It also provides the finish for the Reading Half Marathon...
), before injury ended his playing career.
After a spell with Gorleston where he won the Norfolk Senior Cup in 2001, he joined Diss Town
Diss Town F.C.
Diss Town F.C. are an English football club based in Diss, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Brewers Green Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
who play in the Ridgeons League, as manager in the summer of 2002. He won the Norfolk Senior Cup again in 2003 and 2005. A poor run of form during 2006 saw him sacked on 18 October 2006.
Fleck returned to employment with Norwich City in May 2007, when he joined the club's scouting network.
Fleck is fourth in the list of Norwich City FC all-time goalscorers, behind Johnny Gavin, Terry Allcock
Terry Allcock
Terence Allcock is a former professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers and Norwich City. Allcock was also a cricketer.-Bolton:...
and Iwan Roberts
Iwan Roberts
Iwan Wyn Roberts is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a striker for a number of English league clubs. The most notable period of his club career was with Norwich City...
. In 2002, Norwich fans voted him into the club's Hall of Fame.
Fleck's nephew John
John Fleck (footballer)
John Alan Fleck is a Scottish association footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Scottish Premier League side Rangers.-Club career:Fleck began his career in the Rangers youth teams...
plays for Rangers F.C.
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.