McDermid Bob Image 1 Aberdeen 1930

Description

Bonhill, Dunbartonshire born inside forward Bob McDermid started his football career with Glasgow Ashfield before joining amateur club Queen’s Park in 1916. He made his Scottish League debut for Queen’s at Motherwell in October 1916 and scored 11 goals in 29 appearances before joining Glasgow Rangers in 1917. At Rangers he made his debut that August at Kilmarnock and initially played two seasons for The ‘Gers, scoring 5 goals in 35 appearances, but being viewed as no longer in the plans of the Rangers management he was transferred to Dumbarton in 1918. He then returned to Rangers scoring 9 goals in 20 further appearances between 1920 and 1922 to be subsequently loaned out to Dumfries club Queen of the South.

Re-vitalised by the move, McDermid found inspired form at Queens. Along with Joe Dodds and Bob McDougall, Bob McDermid was with Queen of the South when they first joined the Scottish Football League in 1923-24 at its lowest level, the newly created Scottish Third Division. Queens finished a creditable third that season. But Queens’ biggest achievement that season was in the Scottish Qualifying Cup. Then considerably more prestigious than now, Queens brought the Cup to the South West for the first time in its 25-year history. In the final replay a surging run through the opposition half and shot from McDermid opened the scoring. Next McDermid’s ‘dummy’ let Bert Lister in to hit the second. McDermid’s left foot finish sealed the 3-0 win and Queens were crowned Cup winners. The train bringing the players and the trophy back to Dumfries were met by crowds of jubilant well wishers on the platforms and surrounding streets and approaches. The team were then entertained at the Town Hall Buildings on Buccleuch Street.

Such was Bob McDermid’s form at Queens that Aberdeen moved for him in June 1925. He moved to Aberdeen in what many regarded as the twilight of his career. Aberdonians advocate that it was there McDermid enjoyed the best days of his career. McDermid became club captain and scored 49 goals in 270 appearances before retiring in 1933. After retiring from playing McDermid became the Aberdeen club trainer.