Bob Latchford

Infobox Football biography
playername = Bob Latchford


fullname = Robert Dennis Latchford
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1951|1|18|df=y
cityofbirth = Birmingham
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = height|ft=6
position = Centre forward
youthyears = 1967–1968
youthclubs = Birmingham City
years = 1968–1974
1974–1981
1981–1984
1984
1984–1985
1985–1986
1986
1986–1987
clubs = Birmingham City
Everton
Swansea City
NAC Breda
Coventry City
Lincoln City
→ Newport County (loan)
Merthyr Tydfil
caps(goals) = 160 0(68)
236 (106)
087 0(35)
016 0(13)
012 00(2)
015 00(2)
020 00(5)
nationalyears =
1977–1979
nationalteam = England youth
England U23
England
nationalcaps(goals) = 004 00(?)
006 00(?)
012 00(5)

Robert Dennis "Bob" Latchford (born 18 January 1951) is an English former association footballer who played as a centre forward. He made more than 500 appearances in the Football League, playing for Birmingham City, Everton, Swansea and Coventry City in the First Division, and won 12 full caps for England.

Latchford was the complete centre-forward: good in the air and on the ground. Despite his size - 6 feet (1,83m) tall - he was very fast over short distances, making him a great 'poacher' of goals and he also scored with some great diving headers.

Latchford was born in Kings Heath, Birmingham. He was transferred from Birmingham City to Everton for £350,000, a British transfer record at the time (Howard Kendall and Archie Styles were transferred to Birmingham City as part of the same deal, with Birmingham being paid just £80,000). At Everton, Latchford was the top scorer for six successive seasons, scoring 30 goals in the 1977–78 season. During the mid-seventies, Latchford was widely considered as one of the top English forwards of his generation. He earned his first full cap for England in a World Cup qualifier against Italy in 1977. In April 2006 a book was published telling the story of his 1977/78 season. Co-written with journalist Martin O'Boyle, the book supports [http://www.evertonfc.com/club/everton-former-players-foundation.html Everton's former players charity.]

The closest he came to a winner's medal at Everton was a finalist in the League Cup in 1977. Latchford made 268 appearances (3 as substitute) for Everton scoring 138 goals. He was a great inspiration to a whole generation of Everton fans in the 1970s. Latchford left Everton for top-flight Swansea in 1981, scoring a hat-trick on his debut for the Swans. He later also played for Dutch NAC Breda (15 Appearances - 13 Goals) and Newport County.

Latchford won 12 caps and scored 5 goals for England.

Honours

*with Birmingham City
**FA Youth Cup runners-up 1967.
**Football League Second Division promotion 1972.
**Club's top scorer 1972, 1973.
*with Everton
**Football League Cup runners-up 1977.
**Club's top scorer 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978.
*with Swansea City
**Welsh Cup winners 1982, 1983.
**Club's top scorer 1982.
*with NAC Breda
**Eerste Divisie promotion 1984.
*with Merthyr Tydfil
**Welsh Cup winners 1987.

References

*cite book
author=Matthews, Tony |title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record |year=1995 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |pages=p. 105 |isbn=978-1-85983-010-9

External links

*Englandstats|579|Bob Latchford
* [http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/boblatchford.htm Profile] at Neil Brown's player database
* [http://www.swanseacity.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Legends/0,,10354~64273,00.html Profile] at Swansea City A.F.C.
* [http://www.evertonfc.com/history/bob-latchford.html Everton Giants] at Everton F.C.

Persondata
NAME = Latchford, Bob
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Latchford, Robert Dennis
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 1951-01-18
PLACE OF BIRTH = Kings Heath, Birmingham, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =