Bobby Beale

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

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.

Career[edit]

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[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939. Soccerdata. p. 20. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. Soccerdata. p. 33. ISBN 1-899468-20-X.
^ 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.

[joyce-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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