Bobby Beale

Robert Hughes Beale (8 January 1884 – 5 October 1950) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born in Maidstone, Kent, he played in the Southern League for Brighton & Hove Albion and Norwich City before joining Football League side Manchester United in 1912. After the First World War, he returned to the Southern League with Gillingham.

This article is about the English footballer. For the EastEnders character, see Bobby Beale (EastEnders).

Bobby Beale
Personal information
Full name Robert Hughes Beale[1]
Date of birth (1884-01-08)8 January 1884
Place of birth Maidstone, Kent, England
Date of death 5 October 1950(1950-10-05) (aged 66)[2]
Place of death Dymchurch, Kent, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
?–1905 Maidstone United
1905–1908 Brighton & Hove Albion 10 (0)
1908–1912 Norwich City
1912–1919 Manchester United 105 (0)
1915–1916 → Arsenal (guest)
1919–1920 Gillingham 12 (0)
1920–1921 Maidstone United
1921 Manchester United 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Maidstone, Kent, Beale began his career with his hometown club, Maidstone United, in the early 20th century.[1] In 1905, he signed for Brighton & Hove Albion,[3] before moving to Norwich City three years later. In May 1912, he was signed by Manchester United for £275.[1] He made 105 appearances for the club in The Football League, and played once for the Football League XI in an inter-league representative match,[1] but his career in The Football League was ended by the First World War.

When competitive football resumed, he joined Gillingham of the Southern Football League.[1] He began the 1919–20 season as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, but lost his place after 12 games and eventually returned to his first club, Maidstone United.[4] Beale's son, Walter, also had a career as a footballer and signed for his father's former club, Manchester United, in May 1938, however he never played for the first team.[5]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939. Soccerdata. p. 20. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  2. Sharpe, Graham (8 December 2014). Free the Manchester United One: The Inside Story of Football's Greatest Scam. Pavilion Books. ISBN 978-1-910232-15-6.
  3. Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-9521337-1-1.
  4. Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. Soccerdata. p. 33. ISBN 1-899468-20-X.
  5. Dykes, Garth (1994). The United Alphabet: A Complete Who's Who of Manchester United F.C. Leicester: ACL & Polar Publishing (UK). p. 28. ISBN 0-9514862-6-8.
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