Bob Lucas (footballer)

Bob Lucas, nicknamed Mr. Weymouth from 1949 onwards, (6 January 1925 – 12 August 2010) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper during the 1940s and early 1950s, and was later a physiotherapist from 1957 to 2002.

Early life
Bob Lucas was born on 6 January 1925 in Bethnal Green, London, England. During World War II, his family home was damaged and he was evacuated with his family to Maidenhead.

Maidenhead United (1941–42)
Bob Lucas began his career as a goalkeeper with the Maidenhead United under-16 team, which he represented until 1941, when he made his first senior team appearance when the regular keeper was unable to get leave from the British Army; Lucas played for Maidenhead United for the rest of the 1941–42 season.

Golders Green (1942–46) and Crystal Palace trial (1942)
Lucas and his family moved back to London in 1942 and he signed for Golders Green in the same year. Also in 1942, Lucas was given a trial at Crystal Palace, but he was unable to play due to being called up to the Royal Navy.

He was demobbed in 1946 and played for Golders Green until the end of the 1945–46 season.

Crystal Palace (1946–48)
Between 1946 and 1948, Lucas made four first team and seventy-six reserve appearances for Crystal Palace. He made his debut for Crystal Palace on 7 September 1946 in a 2–1 victory against Bristol Rovers.

Tonbridge Angels (1948–49)
In June 1948, Lucas became the first goalkeeper to play for the then-newly founded club Tonbridge Angels. He stayed with the club until 1949.

Weymouth (1949–51)
Lucas signed for Weymouth in 1949 and played for the club until 1951. During his time at Weymouth, he is most notable for being the starting goalkeeper for Weymouth during their 4–0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford during the 3rd round proper of the 1949–50 FA Cup. While playing for Weymouth, he also worked as a printer for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

Ramsgate (1951–53)
Lucas signed for Ramsgate in 1951, but in 1953, aged 28, while playing for Ramsgate, Lucas suffered a ruptured lung which ended his playing career.

Life between 1953 and 1957
Sometime around 1953, Lucas became a double-decker bus driver, and shortly after, he got a job at the Friary Press.

Dorchester Town (1957–1963) and time as an FA coaching physiotherapist (1957–72)
After retiring from the Friary Press, Lucas became an FA authorised physiotherapist for Dorchester Town in 1957. After six years at Dorchester Town, the FA invited him to be their physiotherapist at their coaching courses, which he undertook for fifteen years.

Weymouth (1972–2002)
In 1972, Graham Williams persuaded Lucas to return to Weymouth at the physiotherapist, and he became the club's physiotherapist until he retired in 2002; he was physiotherapist at Weymouth for 1,948 matches.

Later life and death
After retiring as a physiotherapist in 2002, he became the club president of Weymouth in 2006. In July 2010, the Wessex Stadium, home of Weymouth, was renamed to the Bob Lucas Stadium in his honour.

On 12 August 2010, Lucas died in his home in Culliford Way, Weymouth from cancer aged 85. His body was privately cremated shortly after September 6, 2010.

Personal life
Lucas married Jean in 1951, whom he met in 1941 or 1942 when he went to buy a pair of football boots at Cole's sports shop in St Mary Street, Weymouth. He had a daughter, Linda, and a son, Bobby, who died from cancer at the age of five. He was also a supporter of Weymouth.