Bobby Liddle

Robert Liddle (11 April 1908 – 12 April 1972) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke City.[1][2]

Bobby Liddle
Personal information
Full name Robert Liddle[1]
Date of birth (1908-04-11)11 April 1908[1]
Place of birth Gateshead, England[1]
Date of death 12 April 1972(1972-04-12) (aged 64)[1]
Place of death Nottingham, England[1]
Playing position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1927 Washington Colliery
1928–1938 Stoke City 297 (61)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Liddle was born in Gateshead and at the age of 19 he was working as a miner at Washington Colliery also playing in the works football team along with Joe Mawson.[1] The pair were signed by Stoke City in January 1928. Liddle was a small, tricky, right winger and became a very likeable person both on and off the pitch. He scored on his debut in a 5–1 win over Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the 1928–29 season however he did not fully establish himself in Tom Mather's side until the next campaign.[1] He was able to play in all forward positions and was more than capable of using both feet. This two footed ability saw Liddle play out of position as he played most of 1929–30 and 1930–31 at inside left.[1] He scored a career best of 15 in 1930–31 as he finished joined top scorer with Wilf Kirkham. The emergence of Mawson and Tommy Sale as natural goalscorers in 1931–32 gave Liddle his right wing position back and targets for which to aim his crosses which worked well as Stoke gained promotion in 1932–33.[1]

Being primarily a right flank player, Liddle established a good rapport with right back and long serving captain Bob McGrory and the two became good friends. When a young up and coming Stanley Matthews burst onto the scene and took Liddle's number 7 position, McGrory took offence.[1] McGrory became manager in 1935 and Liddle remained out of position but he regained his place during World War II with Matthews spending most of his time away with the RAF and making guest appearances.[1] He retired once the Football League resumed in 1946 after making 316 appearances scoring 64 goals. He was then appointed club trainer a position he kept until 1953. He then moved to Nottingham where he became a newsagent until his death in 1972.[1]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Club Season League FA Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1928–29 Second Division 12100121
1929–30 Second Division 25600256
1930–31 Second Division 4114314415
1931–32 Second Division 3911504411
1932–33 Second Division 33721358
1933–34 First Division 33630366
1934–35 First Division 3810103910
1935–36 First Division 33451385
1936–37 First Division 20100201
1937–38 First Division 21100211
1938–39 First Division 200020
Career total 2976119331664

Honours
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References
  1. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
  2. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  3. Bobby Liddle at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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