Gregg Bob Image 1 Birmingham City 1931

Description

Ferryhill, County Durham born inside forward Bob Gregg started his football career in north east junior football with Ferryhill Athletic in 1922, Cornford Juniors in 1923, Spennymoor United in 1924 and Chilton Colliery Recreation Athletic in 1925 before joining Second Division Darlington in 1926, for whom he made his Football League debut at South Shields in December of that year, playing 3 times in what turned out to be a relegation season for Darlington. In 1927-28 he came to note as the club’s leading goalscorer, notching 21 goals in 40 appearances including hat-tricks against Hartlepools and Ashington. Having scored at a goal every two games for Darlington, Gregg joined First Division Sheffield Wednesday before the 1928-29 season, and contributed to them winning that year’s League Championship scoring 7 goals in 30 League games. The following season, he lost his place to the high-scoring Harry Burgess, and in January 1931 he joined Birmingham for a fee of £2,200 after 39 appearances for The Wednesday. He played his part in that season’s FA Cup campaign, and “scored” a goal in the 1931 FA Cup Final which was disallowed for offside as Birmingham lost the Final 2-1 to West Bromwich Albrion. He moved on to Chelsea in September 1933 for a fee of £1,500, scoring 6 goals in 51 appearances over 5 seasons before finishing his career with Boston United in the Midland League in 1938 and with Sligo Rovers in Ireland from 1939 and during the Second World War.

Gregg also made a wartime guest appearance for Clapton Orient on 26th August 1944, playing at Fratton Park against Portsmouth in a 5-1 defeat, before a 10 000 crowd. In November 1945 he was stationed at the Colchester Garrison and he made 3 appearances for then Southern League side Colchester United, his debut came at the age of 41 years and 272 days in the FA Cup against Wisbech Town.