| Bob McNicol | |
| Fullname: | Robert Hugh McNicol |
| Birth Date: | 13 February 1933 |
| Birth Place: | Cumbernauld, Scotland |
| Death Place: | Tenerife, Spain |
| Position: | Full back |
| Youthclubs1: | Vale of Leven Academy FP |
| Clubs1: | Vale of Leven |
| Years2: | 1953–1956 |
| Caps2: | 56 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 1956–1959 |
| Caps3: | 134 |
| Goals3: | 5 |
| Years4: | 1959–1962 |
| Caps4: | 93 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 1962–1963 |
| Clubs5: | Gravesend & Northfleet |
| Years6: | 1963–1964 |
| Caps6: | 1 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 1964–19?? |
| Clubs7: | Stalybridge Celtic |
Robert Hugh McNicol (13 February 1933 – 25 April 1980) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a full back. He made 56 Scottish League appearances for Stirling Albion and 228 in the English Football League playing for Accrington Stanley, Brighton & Hove Albion and Carlisle United.[1]
McNicol was born in 1933 in Cumbernauld, Scotland,[2] and attended Vale of Leven Academy. He went on to train as a carpenter and played football for his school's Former Pupils team, from where he joined junior club Vale of Leven. He was a member of their team that won the 1952–53 Scottish Junior Cup;[3] [4] the match programme described him as "a strong, resolute defender who has a senior future if desired".[5] His senior future began forthwith: he joined Stirling Albion for the 1953–54 Division One season, and made 56 appearances in the top flight while completing his National Service obligations with the RAF.[1] [2]
After three years, McNicol moved to England to join Accrington Stanley of the Third Division North. He made 147 consecutive appearances in league and cups, a run ended when he broke a toe while playing in goal.[2] He signed for Third Division club Brighton & Hove Albion in June 1956, but despite making 99 appearances in all competitions, he failed to settle, twice submitted transfer requests, and was eventually allowed to leave on a free transfer in July 1962. He helped Gravesend & Northfleet of the Southern League reach the fourth round of the 1962–63 FA Cup, in which they were eliminated by Sunderland only after a replay. He attempted a return to the Football League with Carlisle United, but appeared only once, and ended his football career with Stalybridge Celtic.[2]
He became a newsagent, and later worked in the family haulage business.[2] In 1980, McNicol and members of his family died in the Dan-Air Flight 1008 crash in Tenerife.[3] [2]
