Bobby Atherton

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For other people named Robert Atherton, see Robert Atherton (disambiguation).

Bobby Atherton
Personal information
Full name Robert Atherton[1]
Date of birth (1876-07-29)29 July 1876
Place of birth Bethesda, Wales
Date of death 19 October 1917(1917-10-19) (aged 41)[2]
Place of death North Sea
Position(s)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Dalry Primrose
1895–1897 Heart of Midlothian 0 (0)
1897–1903 Hibernian 75 (25)
1903–1906 Middlesbrough 60 (13)
1906 Chelsea 0 (0)
International career
1899–1905 Wales 9 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Atherton (29 July 1876 – 19 October 1917)

half back and forward for Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Middlesbrough and Chelsea in the late 1890s and early 1900s. He was capped by Wales at international level.[4]

Bobby Atherton was the son of Samuel Atherton and Ann Williams,[5] and younger sibling of Tommy Atherton.[citation needed]

Career

Hibernian

Although he was born in north Wales, Atherton grew up in Scotland.[6] After spells with Dalry Primrose juniors and Heart of Midlothian,[6][7] Atherton signed for Hibernian, at the start of the 1897–98 season.[6] He was a versatile player who could play in a number of positions in midfield and the forward line.[6]

He captained the Hibs side that won the

1903 British Home Championship.[6]

Middlesbrough

Atherton was transferred to Middlesbrough in 1903 and he became the first Middlesbrough player to win international honours.[6] Atherton made 66 appearances in all for Middlesbrough and became club captain.[10]

International

He won his first cap for

1899 British Home Championship match against Ireland, and he also played against England that year.[6]

He scored his two international goals while with Middlesbrough. The first was in a 1–1 draw with Scotland at Dens Park,[11][12] and the second was in a 2–2 draw against Ireland during his 9th and last international appearance.[13]

Personal life

He married Margaret Jane Kirkconnell in Guisborough on 4 January 1904.[5] They had four children.

Atherton retired from playing football after a short spell with

Merchant Navy.[6] Atherton was presumed dead in October 1917 after his ship, the SS Britannia (1889), disappeared without trace in the North Sea,[14] either due to a mine or enemy action, potentially from SM UC-75.[6][15] He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.[2]

Ancestry

He a direct descendant of Gawain Atherton.[16] His distant Atherton relatives include the American historian Lewis Eldon Atherton and politician, Gibson Atherton.

References

  1. ISBN 978-1905891610
    .
  2. ^ a b "Casualty Details: Atherton, Robert". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Entry for Bobby Atherton on the Atherton One Name Study".
  4. ^ Interesting and curious facts about full internationals and national players (1901–1910), IFFHS
  5. ^ a b "Football and the First World War".
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bobby Atherton, Hibernian Historical Trust
  7. ^ "Robert Atherton – Hearts Career – from 23 May 1895 to 26 Apr 1897". www.londonhearts.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Pia, Simon (20 May 2001). "Edinburgh's real disgrace? Hibs have not won the cup since Buffalo Bill was in town". Scotland on Sunday. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  9. ^ a b "99 years and counting ..." BBC Sport. BBC. 23 May 2001.
  10. ^ Boro remember fallen war heroes Archived 21 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Middlesbrough F.C. official site.
  11. ^ Sat 12 Mar 1904 Scotland 1 Wales 1, London Hearts.
  12. ^ 12 March 1904 Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Welsh Football Data Archive.
  13. ^ 8 April 1905 Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Welsh Football Data Archive.
  14. ^ Leslie, Colin (31 May 2008). "Memorabilia mixes with poignant tales in new Easter Road exhibit". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Hibernian Football Club in the First World War" (PDF). p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Entry for Gawain Atherton". atherton.one-name.net.
Sources
  • Lugton, Alan (1999). The Making of Hibernian 1. John Donald Publishers Ltd.
    ISBN 0-85976-509-1
    .
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