Bob McFarlane (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert McFarlane | ||
| Place of birth | Airdrie, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | October 1898 | ||
| Playing position | Full-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| ?–1888 | Airdrieonians | ||
| 1888–1890 | Bootle | ||
| 1890–1891 | Sunderland Albion | ||
| 1891–1892 | Newton Heath | 18 | (1) |
| 1892–? | Airdrieonians | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Robert "Bob" McFarlane (unknown – October 1898) was a Scottish footballer who played as a full-back.
Born in Airdrie, McFarlane began his career with local side Airdrieonians, before moving to England to play for Bootle.[1] He was part of the Bootle side that took part in the inaugural season of the Football Alliance in 1889–90, helping them to second place behind The Wednesday.[2] That summer, he joined Sunderland Albion,[1] whom he also helped to a runners-up spot in 1890–91.[3]
He moved on to Newton Heath in 1891–92,[4] where he took over as captain from the departing Jack Powell.[5] He immediately became the club's first-choice right-back and played in all but four league matches during the season, scoring once in a 5–0 win at home to Walsall Town Swifts on 5 March 1892,[6] as he secured his third successive second-place finish.[7] He also played in four FA Cup matches (although the Second Round Qualifying match was technically a friendly after their opponents, Heywood, were disqualified from the competition) and the Manchester Senior Cup semi-final defeat to Bolton Wanderers.[6]
At the end of the season, while on holiday back home in Airdrie, he re-signed for Airdrieonians after being allowed to resume his amateur status.[8] To replace McFarlane, Newton Heath signed Airdrieonians full-back Andrew Mitchell, who had been set to partner McFarlane in defence for the Scottish club.[8] McFarlane played a further 67 league games between 1894 and 1898, when he contracted pneumonia and died.[8] His final appearance for the club came against Morton at Cappielow on 8 October 1898, and he died later that month.[8]
McFarlane was married to a sister of the Doughty brothers, Jack and Roger, who also played for Newton Heath in their pre-League days.[4]
References
- General
- Dykes, Garth (1994). The United Alphabet: A Complete Who's Who of Manchester United F.C. Leicester: ACL & Polar Publishing (UK). ISBN 0-9514862-6-8.
- McCartney, Iain (2002). Tartan Reds. Cradley Heath: Britespot Publishing Solutions. ISBN 1-904103-05-7.
- Shury, Alan; Landamore, Brian (2005). The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. SoccerData. ISBN 1899468161.
- Specific
- 1 2 Shury and Landamore (2005), p. 68.
- ↑ "1889-90 Football Alliance". FCHD.info. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ↑ "1890-91 Football Alliance". FCHD.info. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- 1 2 Dykes (1994), pp. 239–40.
- ↑ "Newton Heath and Manchester United Captains". Manchester United Museum information sheets. Manchester United. June 2009.
- 1 2 Shury and Landamore (2005), p. 53.
- ↑ "1891-92 Football Alliance". FCHD.info. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 McCartney (2002), p. 15.
External links
- Profile at StretfordEnd.co.uk
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jack Powell |
Newton Heath captain 1891–1892 |
Succeeded by Joe Cassidy |