Robert Graham (footballer, born 1884)

Robert Graham (31 July 1884 – 31 May 1916) was a Scottish professional footballer who played in the Scottish League for Falkirk and Cowdenbeath as an inside forward.[1]

Robert Graham

Personal information
Full name	Robert Graham[1]
Date of birth	31 July 1884
Place of birth	Camelon, Scotland
Date of death	31 May 1916 (aged 31)[2]
Place of death	HMS Invincible, North Sea
Position(s)	Inside forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1904–1908	Falkirk	11	(0)
1907–1908	→ Cowdenbeath (loan)	8	(0)
	Leicester Fosse
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Personal life

Graham worked as an engineer at Sharp & Sons Engineers, Camelon.[3] Prior to the First World War, he married the daughter of one of the directors of Leicester Fosse.[3] Graham enlisted in the Royal Navy c. 1909 and served on HMS Roxburgh, before attending a torpedo school.[3] In 1912, he was attached to HMS Invincible and rose to become a chief petty officer.[3] During the First World War, Graham saw action on the Invincible at the battles of the Falkland Islands and Jutland.[3] He was killed in action during the latter engagement, when the Invincible was destroyed by a magazine explosion.[3] Graham is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.[2]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Scottish Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Falkirk	1904–05[1]	Scottish Second Division	8	0	0	0	8	0
	1905–06[1]	Scottish First Division	3	0	0	0	3	0
	Total		11	0	0	0	11	0
Cowdenbeath	1907–08[1]	Scottish First Division	8	0	1	0	9	0
Career total			19	0	1	0	20	0

References

1. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
2. "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
3. "They Died in the Conflict in Season 1916–1917" (PDF). pp. 3–8. Retrieved 28 April 2020.