William_Robertson_(footballer,_born_1874)
William Robertson (footballer, born 1874)
Welsh footballer
William Robertson (8 April 1874 – after 1904) was a Scottish professional footballer who played for Abercorn, Small Heath and Bristol Rovers between 1894 and 1903.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Robertson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1874-04-08)8 April 1874[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Dumbarton, Scotland[lower-alpha 1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Inside forward / Wing half | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Renfrew Victoria | |||
| 1894–1896 | Abercorn | 25 | (12) |
| 1896–1899 | Small Heath | 92 | (14) |
| 1899–1902 | Bristol Rovers | ||
| 1902–1903 | Small Heath | 0 | (0) |
| 1903–190? | Bristol Rovers | ||
| Workington | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Robertson was born in Dumbarton, Scotland.[1][lower-alpha 1] He played football for Renfrew Victoria before joining Abercorn in 1894.[1][3]
Robertson joined English First Division club Small Heath in February 1896,[4] and played eight times before the team were relegated at the end of the season.[1] Having started his career as an inside forward, he had more success after a switch to wing half, and made more than 100 appearances in all competitions for the club.[4] According to the Bristol Mercury, writing when Robertson first joined Bristol Rovers in 1899, "Last season he was looked upon as the best half in the Small Heath team."[2] While a Bristol Rovers player, in March 1900, Robertson took part in the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots trial match, alongside namesakes Tom Robertson and Tommy Robertson.[5][6] He later played for Workington.[1]
- Earlier sources, including Matthews' Birmingham City: A Complete Record, incorrectly identified Robertson as born in Pontypool, Wales. This should have been incompatible with his participation in the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots trial match, given the strict eligibility criteria in place at the time.
- "Player search: Robertson, W (William)". English National Football Archive. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- "Association Football. Prospects for the Season". Bristol Mercury. 24 August 1899. p. 3.
- John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
- "Football. Scots v. Anglo-Scots". The Herald. Glasgow. 22 March 1900. p. 11.
- Bauldie (23 March 1900). "The Cathkin Trial. Its finds and failures". The Scottish Referee. p. 2 – via London Hearts Supporters Club.
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