Robert "Bobby" Moncur is a
ScottishScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional footballer. He is most famous for his role as captain of
Newcastle United F.C.Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in the late 1960s, and of the
Scottish national sideThe Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in the early 1970s.
Career
Moncur made his full league debut as an 18-year-old in a Division Two clash between Newcastle and
LutonLuton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in 1963. However, he proved to be something of a slow developer and was nearly sold to
NorwichNorwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
for as little as £25,000. This deal fell through and made Bobby more determined than ever to improve his game, Helping Newcastle to promotion as Division 2 champions in 1965. In 1971, his revival complete in some style, manager
Joe HarveyJoe Harvey was an English football player and later manager. He spent much of his career at Newcastle United; he was the club's longest serving captain, manager, and, as of the 2009 – 10 season the last to win a major trophy....
described him as "the supreme sweeper and a most valuable asset both to Newcastle United and Scotland".
Bobby played a total of 296 times in the famous black and white shirt, scoring three goals - all in the two-legged final of the 1969 Fairs Cup. He also played 16 times for Scotland between his debut in 1968, against
the NetherlandsThe Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
, and 1972. In 1974 after Captaining Newcastle in the
FA CupThe 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...
final, he was transferred to
SunderlandSunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, moving again to
Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in 1976, where he ended his playing career.
Moncur then started a career as a manager, initially with Carlisle, before moving to
Heart of MidlothianHeart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in 1980. He led the side to the
First Division titleThe Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
in
1979-80The 1979–80 season was the 83rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: Dundee, Hibernian-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Hearts, Airdrieonians...
but was unable to save them from relegation again the following season. He moved south to assume control of
Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
in 1981, where he stayed for two years, before short spells with
Whitley BayWhitley Bay Football Club are an English football club based in the North-East of England. The present Whitley Bay Football Club was formed in 1950 and was known as Whitley Bay Athletic...
and
Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, leaving the last position in 1989.
Honours
Bobby Moncur captained the United team that won the
1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup FinalThe 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final was the final of the eleventh Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. It was played on 29 May and 11 June 1969 between Newcastle United F.C. of England and Újpesti Dózsa of Hungary. Newcastle won the tie 6–2 on aggregate.-First leg:...
, against Ujpesti Dozsa. Over the two legs he scored two goals in the first game and one more in the second leg, with Newcastle running out 6 - 2 winners.
Post-football
Nowadays, Bobby makes semi-frequent appearances on
Sky TVBritish Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
as a football pundit. He currently holds the record of being the last
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
captain to lift silverware with the club, and is frequently quoted as wanting to lose this honour as quickly as possible. He is currently commentator on Real Radio Northeast for the
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
matches.
Personal life
Moncur is married to Camille and together they have two children, Paul and Angela. In September 2007, Moncur was diagnosed with
cancer of the colonColorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
, but nine months later he was told he was cancer free.
External links