Bob Bonthron

Infobox Football biography
playername = Bob Bonthron


fullname = Robert Pollock Bonthron
dateofbirth = 1880
cityofbirth = Burntisland
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = Deceased
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = height|ft=5|in=11
position = Right back
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years =
1900–1902
1902–1903
1903–1907
1907–1908
1908–1910
1910–1911
1911
1911–19??
clubs = Raith Athletic
Raith Rovers
Dundee
Manchester United
Sunderland
Northampton Town
Birmingham
Airdrieonians
Leith Athletic
caps(goals) =
119 (3)
023 (1)
011 (1)

Robert Pollock "Bob" Bonthron (born 1880, deceased) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a right back for Manchester United, Sunderland and Birmingham in the Football League.cite book |author=Joyce, Michael |title=Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 |publisher=SoccerData (Tony Brown) |location=Nottingham |year=2004 |page=p. 30 |isbn=978-1-899468-67-6]

Bonthron was born in Burntisland, Fife. He played for Raith Rovers and Dundee before joining Manchester United in May 1903.cite web |url=http://www.red11.org/mufc/alltransfer.htm |title=United All-Time Transfer List |publisher=red11.org |accessdate=2008-04-08] He helped them to promotion to the First Division in the 1905–06 season, and made a total of 134 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring three goals. [cite web |url=http://www.red11.org/mufc/ShowPlayerMatches.do |title=Red11 Player Match Info Bonthron, Robert (Defender) (1903-1906) |publisher=red11.org |accessdate=2008-04-08] He was a combative player, and during the promotion season was at the centre of a serious incident after Manchester United's match at Bradford City. His treatment of Bradford player Jimmy Conlin during the match enraged the crowd, and after the game Bonthron was attacked by home supporters. Criminal charges followed against the perpetrators, and a Football Association inquiry resulted in the temporary closure of Bradford City's Valley Parade ground. [cite book |author=Frost, Terry |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |publisher=Breedon Books Sport |year=1988 |pages=p. 53 |isbn=0907969380] [cite web |url=http://www.bantamspast.co.uk/EarlyDays/TheGreatWar/jimmyconlin.html |title=Jimmy Conlin |publisher=bantamspast Museum |accessdate=2008-04-08]

He joined Sunderland in May 1907, playing 24 games, [cite web |url=http://www.statcats.co.uk/Mplayers/MPG177.asp |title=Robert Bonthron |publisher=StatCat |accessdate=2008-04-08] before moving on the following year to Northampton Town, with whom he won the Southern League championship in the 1908–09 season. [cite book
author=Matthews, Tony |title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record |year=1995 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |page=p. 73 |isbn=978-1-85983-010-9] [cite web |url=http://www.fchd.info/NORTHAMT.HTM |title=Northampton Town |work=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |accessdate=2008-04-08] He spent the 1910–11 season with Birmingham before returning to Scotland with Airdrieonians and Leith Athletic.

References

Persondata
NAME = Bonthron, Bob
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Bonthron, Robert Pollock
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 1880
PLACE OF BIRTH = Burntisland, Fife, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =