Stuart Bobby Image 4 Middlesbrough 1937

Description

Middlesbrough born left back Bobby Stuart began his football career with local junior club South Bank in 1930 and won 3 England Schoolboy caps before signing for First Division Middlesbrough in January 1931, making his Football League debut at Arsenal in March 1932. He broke into the Middlesbrough team from the start of the 1933-34 season, missing very few games and he was an ever present in 1936-37, playing for Middlesbrough both sides of the Second World War, which robbed him of several years of his career. During the 1934-35 season he had the misfortune to put through his own net five times! \

Towards the end of the 1938 season Middlesbrough played Stoke who then had the legendary Stanley Matthews on the right wing. The match report stated ‘Stuart staying close to Matthews prevented the maestro performing his usual magic.’ When questioned how he managed to achieve the feat he stated “I respected Stanley’s skill so I just kept my eye on the ball and shuffled him into the corner”, this allowing the defence to be ready to manage any eventual cross.’

After 2 goals in 271 appearances for ‘Boro he transferred to Plymouth Argyle in October 1947 where he played 21 times before the end of the 1947-48 season before joining non league Whitby Town in the summer of 1948.

He was also credited with being the fastest full back in English football an attribute he passed on to his granddaughter Louise Collins (née Stuart) who competed at 200m in the 24th Olympiad in the Seoul Olympics for Great Britain in 1988.