BOBBY STUART-FAST FULL BACK

On the 30th March 1935, in a First Division League game at Molineux, between Wolves and Middlesbrough, the visiting left back, Bobby Stuart, who played 247 games for Middlesbrough, scored his 5th own goal of the season but in 247 games during his career, he almost balanced those out by scoring two at the right end! 

Born in Middlesbrough 9th October 1913, he firstly worked in a garage and played for his local side South Bank FC and then Middlesbrough (1931-47) for 250+ apps and managed 2 (TWO) goals...he was a defender. He won 3 England Schoolboy caps and signed for Middlesbrough at 15, became a professional at 17 and made his debut at Highbury v Arsenal at 19 years old. In 1938 he faced the legendry Stanley Matthews who was playing for Stoke City, then he joined the RAF during the war, afterwards went back to Boro', until he signed for Plymouth Argyle (diagonally opposite geographically) in 1947. He enjoyed a game of snooker (28th April 1939). 

Credited with being one of the fastest players in the league, his genes were passed on to his grand daughter, Louise Collins (Stuart), who ran 200m for GB in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

His last commitment to a football club was with Whitby Town. He died on October 9th (the same date as his birth) in 1987.

SOUTH BANK FC founded in 1868, was playing in the Northern Leagues but a series of disasters, club house arson and so on caused the club to dissolve in 1999. 

The Old Carthusians (Old boys of Charterhouse) played South Bank FC in the FA Amateur Cup 1895 Semi-final, firstly at Headingly in a drawn game 1-1 and then in the replay at Derby winning 3-2. The "posh" amateurs, who were holders of the Amateur Cup, went on to beat Middlesbrough (then an amateur club) in the Final 2-1 at Headingly. (Middlesbrough had beaten the King's Own Lancashire regiment in their semi-final).

To reach the final, South Bank beat Stockton in a rearranged First Rd tie 1-3 following an abandoned game which Stockton were winning 3-0. Their next fixture v Cliftonville, was a walk over (their oppo. probably not prepared to travel), then Reading at home 5-2 in Rd 3 and then into the semi-finals v OCs.