Heap Bob Image 1 Bury 1920

Description

Haslingden, Lancashire born wing half Bob Heap began his football career at Failsworth in 1907, before joining Lancashire Combination club Rochdale in 1908. He played for Cheltenham College in 1909 before joining First Division Bury as an amateur in 1910, making his Football League debut for them as an amateur against Sunderland in April 1911. His first three seasons at Bury, during which he scored once in 22 appearances, were all as an amateur, but having turned professional he only appeared once more in October 1914 before the First World War intervened and peacetime football was suspended.

Resuming after the War with Bury in 1919 he played three more years, missing only two games in the first peacetime season and four games in the second, before losing his place in November 1921 and retiring from professional football thereafter, after 4 goals in 113 appearances for The Shakers.

NB it is not known if he was related to Fred Heap, who also played for Bury and Rochdale at similar times, and there appears physical similarity, although they weren’t born in the same place, and Bob was some seven years older, however it does seem a strong possibility.