Jock Robertson Explained

Jock Robertson
Fullname:James Walter Robertson
Birth Date:1898 2, df=y
Birth Place:Chatham, England
Death Place:Rochester, England
Position:Defender
Years1:19??–1919
Clubs1:Chatham Centrals
Years2:1919–1933
Caps2:365
Goals2:1
Years3:1933–19??

James Walter "Jock" Robertson (21 February 1898 – 29 December 1970) was an English association footballer who played professionally for Gillingham. He joined the club while it was still playing non-league football and went on to set a club record for the most matches played in the Football League, making over 350 appearances.

Career

Robertson was born in Chatham and shortly after the First World War played for local team Chatham Centrals. Upon his demobilisation from the Army in November 1919 he signed for professional club Gillingham,[1] at the time playing in the Southern League, but had to wait until the following April to make his debut for the team, which came in an away match against Southend United. He played in seven of the team's final eight matches of the season.[2]

At the end of the 1919–20 season, the Southern League Division One was absorbed into the Football League to form the new Third Division, and Robertson played in the club's first ever Football League match against Southampton on 28 August 1920.[3] Over the next thirteen seasons he made over 350 Football League appearances, a club record which stood for over 30 years.[4] At the end of the 1932–33 season he left Priestfield Stadium to join non-league club Canterbury Waverley. Details of his career beyond that point are unknown. He died in Rochester in 1970.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[5]
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gillingham1919–20Southern League Division One700070
1920–21Football League Third Division41030440
1921–22Football League Third Division South27020290
1922–2335020370
1923–2428040320
1924–2538070450
1925–2642020440
1926–2736040400
1927–2830130331
1928–2932020340
1929–3030010310
1930–3116000160
1931–32200020
1932–33100010
Career totals36513003951

Notes and References

  1. Book: Triggs, Roger. The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd . 2001. 0-7524-2243-X. 26.
  2. Book: Brown , Tony . The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record . Soccerdata . 2003 . 1-899468-20-X . 33.
  3. Book: Brown , Tony . The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record . 34.
  4. Book: Triggs , Roger . Gillingham Football Club: A Chronology 1893–1984 . Kent County Libraries . 1984 . 13.
  5. Book: Brown , Tony . The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record . 33–46.