Spottiswood Bob Image 1 Crystal Palace 1911

Description

Carlisle born half back Bob Spottiswood joined hometown professional club Carlisle United in 1905 and made his debut in a “senior” match in an FA Cup 1st round proper replay at Brentford in January 1908, a match that Carlisle won 3-1 after extra time. He retained his place for the next round where they were heavily beaten by Second Division Grimsby Town. In May 1908 he joined Southern League Croydon Common where he stayed a single season scoring once in 21 appearances for The Commoners before being signed by Crystal Palace in the summer of 1909. He played for Palace in the six seasons until peacetime football was suspended due to the advent of the First World War, scoring twice in 189 League and FA Cup appearances. While at Selhurst Park he represented The Southern League in a 2-1 defeat to The Football League at Old Trafford in September 1912.

After the War he joined Clapton Orient in 1919 but played only once for their first team in October 1919 in a 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Wales to join Caerphilly in 1920, moving to Aberdare Athletic later the same year. He then joined Sittingbourne and finished his career playing for Elsecar Main, who he joined in the close season of 1922. He then became the (player?) coach of Inter Milan between 1922 and 1926.

His younger brother Joe played for Manchester City, Bury, Chelsea, Swansea and Queens Park Rangers.

NB in the photograph he sits behind Crystal Palace team mate Jimmy Williams.