Bob Blyth
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Fleming Blyth | ||
| Date of birth | 16 October 1869[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Glenbuck, Ayrshire, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 7 February 1941 (aged 71)[2] | ||
| Place of death | Milton, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England[3] | ||
| Position(s) |
Wing half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Glenbuck Cherrypickers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Middlesbrough Ironopolis | |||
| 1891–1894 | Rangers | 10 | (2) |
| 1894–1899 | Preston North End | 114 | (8) |
| 1897 | Dundee | 9 | (2) |
| 1899–1901 | Portsmouth | ||
| Total | 133 | (12) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1901–1904 | Portsmouth | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Robert Fleming Blyth (16 October 1869 – 7 February 1941) was a Scottish footballer and manager for Portsmouth from 1901 to 1904.[2]
Football career
Blyth was born in Glenbuck, and was a member of the Glenbuck Cherrypickers, playing alongside members of his extended family. From there he was scouted by the Rangers, playing as a wing-half (1891–1894), followed by Preston North End (1894–1899), a brief spell at Dundee (1897), and Portsmouth (1899–1901).[2][4][5]
He became player–manager of Portsmouth in 1901, winning the 1901-02
Personal life and family
Blyth grew up in a poor mining village which managed to produce a number of football stars. Five of his nephews played professionally, including future Liverpool manager
He married Isabella Taylor,[7] with whom he had daughters Mary and Janet, and a son, Robert Blyth, who played for both Portsmouth and Southampton in the 1920s.[8][2]
Blyth was also a licensee and operated several hotels in Portsmouth. He died peacefully at St James' Hospital, Portsmouth, in 1941.[3][2]
Honours
As manager
Portsmouth
- Southern League championships: 1901-02
References
- ^ "1869 BLYTH, ROBERT FLEMING (Statutory registers Births 607/ 109)". ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
Robert Fleming Blyth, born 1869 October Sixteenth, Glenbuck, Muirkirk parish, son of James Blyth, coal miner, and Janet Blyth (Fleming)
- ^ a b c d e f g "Death of Mr. R. Blyth - One of Football's Personalities". Portsmouth Evening News. 8 February 1941. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- ^ a b Estate left to Robert Roberts Taylor Blyth at St James Hospital Milton Portsmouth; England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995
- ^ "Robert Blyth | Player Statistics | Dundee (Dee Archive)". deearchive.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Barney Battles | Player Statistics | Dundee (Dee Archive)". deearchive.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
- ^ Robert Blyth, professional footballer; 1901 England Census
- ^ 1911 England Census
Further reading
- Powley, Adam; Gillan, Robert (2015). Shankly's Village: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Glenbuck and its Famous Sons. Pitch Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78531-125-3.