Shotton: Robert (Bob)

WW2 Guest: 1944-1945 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Winger

Born: Witton Gilbert, Co. Durham: 27-10-1910

Debut: v Bradford Park Avenue (a): 17-02-1945

Height & Weight: Unknown

Shotton started with Bearpark before he joined, then Third Division North, Durham City, in 1927 but never played a senior game before moving to First Division Bolton Wanderers the following year. However, once again he did not figure in the Trotters’ first team and went to Non-League West Stanley. He joined First Division Leeds United in 1930 but never played a senior game for them either, before joining Hartlepools United in August 1931. He made his debut at Left Back in a 0-6 defeat against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank on 31st August 1931. He played thirty-three League and one F.A. Cup games before playing his final game for the Monkey-Hangers at Left Back on 28th March 1932 in a 1-4 defeat at Barrow. He moved to Third Division North Barnsley and soon established himself as their regular Left Back. He had an eventful eight seasons at Oakwell and scored eight goals, all from the penalty spot, in two hundred and twenty-two League appearances and also played in fifteen F.A. Cup games. In his second season the Tykes won promotion to the Second Division as Champions of the Third Division North with Shotton scoring six goals from forty-two games. Barnsley were always relegation candidates and finally were back in the Third Division North at the end of the 1937-38 season but bounced straight back as Champions the following season. Shotton was no longer a regular in the last two seasons before the Second World War. During the War he Played mainly for his own team, Barnsley, scoring five goals in twenty-one games in 1939-40, four goals in thirty-six games in 1940-41, he did not find the net in thirty-one games in 1941-42 nor in thirty-four games in 1942-43, but scored twice both in 1943-44, when he played twenty-two times and in 1944-45 when he played twenty games. He only played twice without scoring in 1945-46 but by then he had passed his thirty-fifty birthday. However, thirteen goals in one hundred and seventy-six games was a good return for someone in the twilight of his career. He also made several guest appearances for Leeds United, playing at Full Back, in the 1944-45 Football League Northern Section (Second Championship). He made his debut at Right Back on 17th February 1945 in a 2-5 defeat away at Bradford Park Avenue and was again at Right Back in the reverse fixture at Elland Road the following week as United again went down 0-2. He missed one game before playing three consecutive games at Left Back, in a 3-1 home win over Preston North End, a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough and his final game in a 1-1 draw with Grimsby Town at Elland Road. He did also play for other West Riding clubs. He made one appearance for Halifax Town in the 1941-42 season, One game in each of the 1942-43 and 1943-44 season for Bradford City, and played for Bradford Park Avenue once in 1943-44 and three times in 1944-45, and failed to score for any of the clubs. He did not play in the Football League after the Second World War. He became a qualified physiotherapist and it was in that capacity and as trainer coach that he accompanied the F.A. Touring team to Australia in May 1951. He died in 1999.