Bob McFarlane (footballer, died 1898) explained

Bob McFarlane
Fullname:Robert McFarlane
Birth Date: 1866
Birth Place:Airdrie, Scotland
Death Date:October
Death Place:Airdrie, Scotland
Position:Full-back
Years1:?–1888
Years2:1888–1890
Clubs2:Bootle
Years3:1890–1891
Years4:1891–1892
Caps4:18
Goals4:1
Years5:1892–1898
Caps5:66
Goals5:2

Robert McFarlane (c. 1866 – 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 66 league games between 1894 (when the club joined the Scottish Football League) and 1898,[9] 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

Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Shury and Landamore (2005), p. 68.
  2. Web site: 1889–90 Football Alliance . FCHD.info . 6 April 2014 .
  3. Web site: 1890–91 Football Alliance . FCHD.info . 6 April 2014 .
  4. Dykes (1994), pp. 239–40.
  5. June 2009 . Newton Heath and Manchester United Captains . Manchester United Museum Information Sheets . Manchester United .
  6. Shury and Landamore (2005), p. 53.
  7. Web site: 1891–92 Football Alliance . FCHD.info . 6 April 2014 .
  8. McCartney (2002), p. 15.
  9. A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. John Litster. Scottish Football Historian magazine. October 2012.