Gillespie Bob Image 1 Queen’s Park 1922

Description

Cathcart, Glasgow born centre half Bob Gillespie began his football career playing for Battlefield Juniors during the First World War and signed for Scottish League amateur club Queen’s Park in 1919, making his Scottish League debut against Clyde that August. He became a stalwart of the club and was also a potent centre forward when required, scoring all four goals in a 4-1 win over Aberdeen in April 1925, and was noted as a free kick specialist. He was in the side which won the Second Division Championship in 1922-23 and was a fixture in The Spiders’ team until his retirement in May 1933, scoring 79 goals in 462 Scottish League and Cup appearances.

In October 1922 he was selected for The Scottish League and played in a 3-0 victory over The Irish League at Parkhead. He was first capped for Scotland’s amateur international team in 1926 and won 11 caps in total over a seven year period. He also won four full caps for Scotland, making his international debut in a 3-0 victory over Wales at Ibrox in October 1926, but he had to wait four years for his second cap in the same fixture, a 1-1 draw in October 1930, also at Ibrox. He was then capped on Scotland’s European tour of May 1932 when he played in a 3-1 victory over France in Colombes, his final cap won in a 2-1 victory over England at Hampden Park in front of 136.259 spectators in April 1933. He captained his country in the latter three internationals.

After his retirement as a player, he served Queen’s Park as secretary, committeeman and President until May 1957.