Archie Robertson (footballer)

Archibald Clark Robertson (15 September 1929 – 28 January 1978) was a Scottish footballer who spent most of his career with Clyde, firstly as an inside right and latterly as manager.

Archie Robertson
Personal information
Full name Archibald Clark Robertson
Date of birth (1929-09-15)15 September 1929
Place of birth Busby, Scotland
Date of death 28 January 1978(1978-01-28) (aged 48)
Position(s) Inside forward
Youth career
Rutherglen Glencairn
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1947–1961 Clyde 293 (121)
1961–1963 Greenock Morton 51 (17)
1964–1965 Cowdenbeath 5 (3)
Total 349 (141)
International career
1954 Scottish League XI[1] 2 (1)
1955–1958 Scotland 5 (2)
Managerial career
1964–1967 Cowdenbeath
1968–1973 Clyde
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Club

Robertson joined Clyde from Junior side Rutherglen Glencairn in 1947, on a part-time basis as he continued his studies towards a degree in chemistry.[2] He spent the next 14 seasons with the Bully Wee, during which time he experienced relegation on three occasions, although he also helped the side win the Division Two title twice, in 1951–52 and 1956–57.

Robertson also enjoyed success with Clyde in the Scottish Cup. In the 1955 final he scored Clyde's equalising goal direct from a corner kick in the 88th minute, forcing a 1–1 draw with Celtic.[3] Clyde went on to win the replay 1–0 with a goal by Tommy Ring. He also played in the 1958 Cup final when Clyde defeated Hibernian 1–0.[3]

He eventually left the club when signed by Morton for £1,000 in the autumn of his career.[2] A teammate was Allan McGraw who stated that he "Learnt a lot" from Robertson.[4] He spent two seasons in Greenock before retiring in 1963.

International

In the 1950s, Robertson along with Harry Haddock, and Tommy Ring, were three of 49 junior players to later earn full international honours for that decade.[5]

While with Clyde, Robertson earned 5 caps for the Scotland national football team and played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden. He also earned selection for the Scottish League representative side on two occasions.

Manager

Robertson began a managerial career with Second Division Cowdenbeath in 1964 and spent three and a half mid-table seasons with the Blue Brazil.[2] In January 1968 he succeeded Davie White as manager of old club Clyde but was not able to replicate White's 1966-67 third-place finish as Clyde's league form gradually declined in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They eventually experienced relegation in the 1971–72 season and despite leading his team to the Second Division title the following campaign, Robertson ended his association with the club in 1973. His final footballing role was as Tottenham Hotspur's Scottish scout.[2]

Other work

Throughout his career, Robertson combined his footballing role with another career. Following his graduation he worked in the scientific branch of the National Coal Board,[2] while in later years he was a science teacher at Hunter High School in East Kilbride.[2] One of his pupils was future Scotland striker Ally McCoist, who credited the guidance of Robertson (in his role as the school team's coach) in his early development as a player.[6]

Honours

Player

Clyde

Morton

Manager

Clyde

References
  1. "Archie Robertson - Scotland Football League Record from 15 Sep 1954 to 18 Nov 1954 clubs - Clyde".
  2. Lamming, Douglas (1987). A Scottish Soccer Internationalists Who's Who, 1872-1986 (Hardback). Hutton Press. ISBN 0-907033-47-4. ().
  3. "History: Post War Boom". Clyde F.C. 17 June 2007.
  4. "Revival of Ton". Greenock Telegraph. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  5. "Scottish Cup football: Juniors' chance to come of age in the Cup". The Scotsman. 26 September 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  6. "Where the boy done good". The Herald. 22 February 1994. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  7. "1951–52: Clyde 5 v 1 St. Johnstone". Clyde FC. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
    "1951–52: St Johnstone 2 v 2 Clyde". Clyde FC. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. "1951–52: Celtic 1 v 2 Clyde". Clyde FC. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  9. "1958–59: Rangers 0 v 1 Clyde". Clyde FC. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  10. "1956–57: Rangers 2 v 0 Clyde". Clyde FC. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. "1951–52: Third Lanark 2 v 2 Clyde". Clyde FC. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  12. "1957–58: Rangers 0 v 4 Clyde". Clyde FC. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  13. "1958–59: Celtic 5 v 0 Clyde". Clyde FC. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  14. "Renfrewshire Cup Final 1st Leg 1961". SMFC Programmes. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
    "Renfreshire Cup Final 2nd Leg 1962". SMFC Programmes. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  15. "Peter Boyle". Clyde FC. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  16. "1970–71: Rangers 2 v 0 Clyde". Clyde FC. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
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