Kennedy Robert Image 1 Gateshead 1932

Description

Glasgow born inside left Robert Kennedy began his football career with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy playing for Petershill in 1924 and Shettleston in 1925 before joining Scottish League club Falkirk in 1926. After a loan spell with Raith Rovers in 1927 he signed for Third Division (North) club South Shields in May 1928, making his Football League debut at Darlington in August 1928. Although he lost his place in October (through injury?), he returned to the side in January, and was an ever present the following season in the final campaign before South Shields moved to Gateshead and changed its name.

A consistent if not prolific goalscorer, his best League return of 16 goals came in the 1931-32 campaign as Gateshead finished runners up in the Third Division (North), narrowly missing out on promotion, although in 1932-33 he returned 18 goals including an FA Cup hat-trick in a win over Margate in December 1932. He again lost his place in September 1933 but returned to the team at the end of December, scoring 4 goals in a 5-3 win over Mansfield Town in February 1934, but he left Gateshead to return to Scottish League football with Third Lanark in the 1934 close season after 84 goals in 216 appearances. Third Lanark was his last known club before his eventual retirement.

NB the photograph was taken before the League match between Walsall and Gateshead at Fellows Park on 15th October 1932. Walsall won the match 2-0.