Bobby Gough - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Robert George "Bobby" Gough (born 20 July 1949) is an English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

former footballer who played as a forward. In a fifteen year professional career in the Football League

The Football League

The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...

he scored 114 goals in 474 league appearances.

After failing to make an impression at Birmingham City

Birmingham City F.C.

Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...

and Walsall

Walsall F.C.

Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...

, he made his name at Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

between 1968 and 1974, making a total of 229 appearances for the "Valiants". During this time he helped the club to win promotion out of the Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

in the 1969–70 season

1969–70 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1969–70 season was Port Vale's fifty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. They achieved promotion with a fourth place finish, taking them back into the Third Division...

. Following a loan spell at Stockport County

Stockport County F.C.

Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

, he transferred to Southport

Southport F.C.

Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...

in 1974, before arriving at Colchester United

Colchester United F.C.

Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....

two years later. He helped Colchester out of the Fourth Division in 1976–77, and scored a total of 80 goals in 232 games, before he departed for non-league Hendon

Hendon F.C.

Hendon Football Club are an English football club based in Hendon, in the London Borough of Barnet. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.In the 2003-04 season they finished fourth in the Isthmian League Premier Division...

in 1981. He later turned out for Chelmsford City

Chelmsford City F.C.

Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...

, before he left football for the building trade.

Early career

Gough was a Birmingham City

Birmingham City F.C.

youth player, but was not offered a professional contract with the club due to his small stature. He then went on to join Third Division

Football League Third Division

The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...

Walsall

Walsall F.C.

in 1966, but only made one league appearance for the club.

Port Vale

He joined Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

in June 1968, who were then in the Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

. He was one of manager Gordon Lee

Gordon Lee (footballer)

Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...

's first signings. He scored his first senior goal on 16 September, in a 3–0 win over York City

York City F.C.

York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...

at Vale Park

Vale Park

Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....

. He added to his tally with a goal against Exeter City

Exeter City F.C.

Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...

, and also scored in both legs of Vale's FA Cup

FA Cup

The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

win over Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury Town F.C.

Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

. He finished the 1968–69

1968–69 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1968–69 season was Port Vale's fifty-seventh season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Fourth Division. New manager Gordon Lee used the season to consolidate the club after it was readmitted to the Football League immediately after being expelled for...

campaign with four goals in 42 games.

He was more prolific in the 1969–70

1969–70 Port Vale F.C. season

season, scoring nine goals in 45 league games to help the club achieve promotion in fourth place. He coped well in the Third Division

Football League Third Division

, and scored a hat-trick at the Gay Meadow

Gay Meadow

The Gay Meadow is the former home ground of Shrewsbury Town FC, a football club in England. It was situated just outside the town centre of Shrewsbury, on the banks of the River Severn and it opened in August 1910....

on 12 September, in what finished as a 7–3 defeat for the "Valiants". By the end of the 1970–71

1970–71 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1970–71 season was Port Vale's fifty-ninth season of football in the Football League, and their first season back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division...

campaign he bagged eight goals in 37 games, including a goal against fallen giants Aston Villa

Aston Villa F.C.

Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

. He finished the 1971–72

1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1971–72 season was Port Vale's sixtieth season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season back in the Third Division...

season as the club's top scorer with ten goals in 47 appearances.

However in 1972–73

1972–73 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1972–73 season was Port Vale's sixty-first season of football in the Football League, and their third successive season in the Third Division. Their promotion efforts ended with a sixth place finish, whilst in the two cup competitions they lost out to Newcastle United and West Ham United...

he was limited two goals in 29 games, hitting the net in easy wins over Southend United

Southend United F.C.

Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...

and Rotherham United

Rotherham United F.C.

Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...

. Instead Ray Williams

Ray Williams (footballer)

Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....

and Sammy Morgan

Sammy Morgan

Samuel John "Sammy" Morgan is a Northern Irish former footballer, who now works as Academy Manager at Ipswich Town....

were forming an impressive attacking partnership, scoring 22 goals between them. Gough was dropped in November 1973, and went out on a one month loan to struggling Fourth Division side Stockport County

Stockport County F.C.

in December, but failed to score in six appearances. He scored his final goal for the Vale against Southport

Southport F.C.

on 2 March 1974. He finished the 1973–74

1973–74 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1973–74 season was Port Vale's sixty-second season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Third Division. They finished in twentieth spot, though were seven points clear of relegation...

campaign with two goals in 26 games for Vale, as well as six games for Stockport County. In May 1974 he was allowed join Southport on a free transfer. He made a total of 229 appearances (210 in the league) and scored 35 goals (33 in the league) for the Vale.

Southport

Southport F.C.

were starting their 1974–75 campaign in the Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

, having suffered relegation out of the Third Division

Football League Third Division

. The club entered free-fall, and had to apply for re-election at the end of 1975–76, having finished second-from-bottom in the Football League

The Football League

. Gough managed sixteen goals in 61 league appearances for the club in his two seasons, before he joined Colchester United

Colchester United F.C.

for a £7,000 fee in January 1976.

Colchester United

Bobby Roberts's Colchester United

Colchester United F.C.

lost their third tier status at the end of 1975–76

1975–76 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1975–76 season was Colchester United's second consecutive season in the Football League Third Division. The season ended in relegation back to the Football League Fourth Division.-Season Review:...

, despite Gough scoring five goals in 22 games during the second-half of the season. Colchester won promotion of the Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

in third-place in 1976–77

1976–77 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1976–77 season was Colchester United's first season back in the Football League Fourth Division spending the two previous seasons playing in the Football League Third Division...

, with Gough scoring nineteen goals in 52 games – five short of strike partner Colin Garwood

Colin Garwood

Colin Arthur Garwood is an English former professional footballer who scored 157 goals from 426 games in the Football League playing as a striker for Peterborough United, Oldham Athletic, Huddersfield Town, Colchester United, Portsmouth and Aldershot during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s...

. The U's consolidated their Third Division

Football League Third Division

status with an eighth place finish in 1977–78

1977–78 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1977–78 season was Colchester United's first season back in the Football League Third Division after a one year absence playing in the Football League Fourth Division.-Season Review:...

, and Gough finished as the club's top-scorer with seventeen goals in 51 games. Garwood's tally of thirteen strikes meant the pair combined to bring the U's thirty goals over the course of the campaign.

United went on to finish seventh in 1978–79

1978–79 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1978–79 season was Colchester United's second consecutive season in the Football League Third Division.-Season Review:Manager Bobby Roberts kept faith with his squad, but with a second injury to Eddie Rowles, Colin Garwood's replacement, forced him into the transfer market...

, and Gough was once again the club's top-scorer with 22 goals in fifty appearances. In the FA Cup

FA Cup

, he scored a hat-trick against Oxford United

Oxford United F.C.

Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...

, two against Leatherhead

Leatherhead F.C.

Leatherhead F.C. is a football club based in Leatherhead, Surrey, England. The club is nicknamed The Tanners and plays home at Fetcham Grove.-History:...

and the winning goal against Newport County

Newport County A.F.C.

Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

to bring Colchester a Fifth Round tie with Manchester United

Manchester United F.C.

Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

– which the "Red Devils" won 1–0.

Colchester finished fifth in 1979–80, Gough scored twelve goals in 32 games, some six behind strike partner Trevor Lee

Trevor Lee (footballer)

Trevor Carl Lee is an English former professional association football player. He played for Epsom & Ewell, Millwall, Colchester United, Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Bournemouth, Cardiff City, Northampton Town and Fulham between 1975 and 1985.-References:...

. The club suffered relegation at the end of the 1980–81

1980–81 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1980–81 season was Colchester United's fourth consecutive season in the Football League Third Division. The season ended in relegation back to the Football League Fourth Division.-Season Review:...

campaign after finishing two points below the safety of Walsall

Walsall F.C.

. Gough spent much of the season out of the first team, and made just eighteen appearances, scoring five goals, as Kevin Bremner

Kevin Bremner

Kevin Johnston Bremner is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a striker. He made nearly 450 appearances in the English and Scottish Football Leagues, representing ten different clubs.-Football career:...

was preferred to partner Lee up front. Gough left the club for Hendon

Hendon F.C.

at the end of the campaign, having scored a total of 80 goals (65 in the league) in 232 games (196 in the league).

Later career

Gough later turned out for non-league sides Hendon

Hendon F.C.

and Chelmsford City

Chelmsford City F.C.

Honours

with Port Vale

Football League Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

4th place: 1969–70
1969–70 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1969–70 season was Port Vale's fifty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. They achieved promotion with a fourth place finish, taking them back into the Third Division...

(promoted)

with Colchester United

Football League Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

3rd place: 1976–77 (promoted)

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