Bob Bonthron

Robert Pollock Bonthron (1880 – after 1911) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a right-back for Manchester United, Sunderland and Birmingham in the Football League.[2]

Bob Bonthron
Personal information
Full name Robert Pollock Bonthron[1]
Date of birth 1880
Place of birth Burntisland, Scotland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
Raith Athletic
0000–1900 Burntisland Thistle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1900–1902 Raith Rovers
1902–1903 Dundee 0 (0)
1903–1907 Manchester United 119 (3)
1907–1908 Sunderland 23 (1)
1908–1910 Northampton Town 59 (0)
1910–1911 Birmingham 11 (1)
1911–1912 Airdrieonians 5 (0)
1912–1913 Leith Athletic 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Bonthron was born in Burntisland, Fife.[1] He played for Raith Rovers and Dundee before joining Manchester United in May 1903.[2][3] He helped them to promotion to the First Division in the 1905–06 season and made a total of 134 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring three goals.[4] He was a combative player and during the promotion season was at the centre of a serious incident after Manchester United's match at Bradford City. His treatment of Bradford player Jimmy Conlin during the match enraged the crowd and after the game Bonthron was attacked by home supporters.[5] Criminal charges followed against the perpetrators and a Football Association (FA) inquiry resulted in the temporary closure of Bradford City's Valley Parade ground.[6][5]

He joined Sunderland in May 1907, playing 24 games,[7] before moving on the following year to Northampton Town, with whom he won the Southern League championship in the 1908–09 season.[8][9] He spent the 1910–11 season with Birmingham before returning to Scotland with Airdrieonians and Leith Athletic.[2]

Personal life

Bonthron served as a lance corporal in the Gordon Highlanders and the Labour Corps during the First World War.[1]

Honours

Raith Rovers

References
  1. "Robert Pollock Bonthron | Service Record | Football and the First World War". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 30. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  3. "United All-Time Transfer List". red11.org. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  4. "Bonthron". Manchester United: The Official Statistics Website. Barn End Media. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  5. "Fallen Heroes of the Great War". bantamspast Museum. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2010.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988. Breedon Books Sport. p. 53. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.
  7. "Robert Bonthron". StatCat. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  8. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  9. "Northampton Town". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle.
  10. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
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