Bobby Baxter (footballer, born 1911) explained

Bobby Baxter
Fullname:Robert Denholm Baxter
Birth Date:1911 1, df=y
Birth Place:Edinburgh, Scotland
Death Date:April 1991
Position:Centre half
Years1:
Years2:1931–1946
Years3:1946–1947
Clubs1:Musselburgh Bruntonians
Caps2:247
Goals2:19
Caps3:25
Goals3:0
Totalcaps:266
Totalgoals:25
Manageryears1:1947–1950
Manageryears2:1951–1955
Managerclubs2:Cowdenbeath
Nationalyears1:1938–1939
Nationalteam1:Scotland
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1939–1944
Nationalteam2:Scotland (wartime)
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1941
Nationalteam3:Scottish League XI
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0

Robert Denholm Baxter (23 January 1911 – April 1991) was a Scottish footballer best known for his time with English club Middlesbrough.

Career

Baxter was born in the Gilmerton area of Edinburgh. A dominating centre half and a great tackler, he joined Middlesbrough from junior club Musselburgh Bruntonians in 1931 after being spotted by manager Peter McWilliam. The match McWilliam had been to Scotland to watch had been cancelled and after going to watch Musselburgh instead, he spotted the young defender and decided to sign him.[1]

Baxter went on to play 247 times for Middlesbrough, playing in nine different positions and later became club captain.[1] He remained at Middlesbrough until 1946, but played for both Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian[2] in unofficial matches during World War II. While at Middlesbrough he earned three caps for the Scotland national team, the third as captain against England in 1939. He subsequently played against England in four unofficial internationals during the war,[3] and also made an appearance for the Scottish League XI in a 1941 fundraising match, although the league itself was not operating (officially the team represented the wartime Southern League) and he was only a guest player (for Hibs) at the time.[4]

Upon the return of official professional football in the 1946–47 season, Baxter returned to Scotland where he played for Hearts for a single season.[5] In 1947 he became manager of Leith Athletic and was also joint manager of Scottish speedway team Edinburgh Monarchs. He later managed Cowdenbeath, where he was appointed in 1951.

Baxter's son, also named Bobby, played professional football for Darlington, Brighton & Hove Albion and Torquay United.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: BOB BAXTER 1931-1945. 28 September 2007. www.mfc.co.uk. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070817050516/http://www.mfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HeroesDetail/0%2C%2C1~52170%2C00.html. 17 August 2007.
  2. https://www.fitbastats.com/hibs/player.php?playerid=5987 (Hibernian player) Baxter, Robert
  3. Web site: [Scotland player, including unofficial matches] Bobby Baxter]. London Hearts Supporters' Club. 14 December 2020.
  4. Web site: [SFL player] Bobby Baxter]. London Hearts Supporters' Club. 6 December 2011.
  5. Web site: [Hearts player] Bobby Baxter]. London Hearts Supporters' Club. 14 December 2020.
  6. Book: Kelly, Graham . Terrace Heroes: The life and times of the 1930s professional footballer . 2005. Routledge . 978-0-7146-8294-5 . 67 . Bob Baxter.