James Walter "Jock" Robertson (21 February 1898 – 29 December 1970[1]) was an English association footballer who played professionally for Gillingham. He joined the club while it was still playing non-league football and went on to set a club record for the most matches played in the Football League, making over 350 appearances.
 Robertson pictured on a cigarette card | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Walter Robertson | ||
| Date of birth | 21 February 1898 | ||
| Place of birth | Chatham, England | ||
| Date of death | 29 December 1970 (aged 72) | ||
| Place of death | Rochester, England | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 19??–1919 | Chatham Centrals | ||
| 1919–1933 | Gillingham | 365 | (1) |
| 1933–19?? | Canterbury Waverley | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editRobertson was born in Chatham and shortly after the First World War played for local team Chatham Centrals. Upon his demobilisation from the Army in November 1919 he signed for professional club Gillingham,[1] at the time playing in the Southern League, but had to wait until the following April to make his debut for the team, which came in an away match against Southend United. He played in seven of the team's final eight matches of the season.[2]
At the end of the 1919–20 season, the Southern League Division One was absorbed into the Football League to form the new Third Division, and Robertson played in the club's first ever Football League match against Southampton on 28 August 1920.[3] Over the next thirteen seasons he made over 350 Football League appearances, a club record which stood for over 30 years.[1][4] At the end of the 1932–33 season he left Priestfield Stadium to join non-league club Canterbury Waverley.[1] Details of his career beyond that point are unknown. He died in Rochester in 1970.[1]
Career statistics
edit| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Gillingham | 1919–20 | Southern League Division One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 1920–21 | Football League Third Division | 41 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 0 | |
| 1921–22 | Football League Third Division South | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| 1922–23 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||
| 1923–24 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
| 1924–25 | 38 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||
| 1925–26 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 0 | ||
| 1926–27 | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||
| 1927–28 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
| 1928–29 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
| 1929–30 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| 1930–31 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 1931–32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1932–33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career totals | 365 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 395 | 1 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 26. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
- ^ Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. Soccerdata. p. 33. ISBN 1-899468-20-X.
- ^ Brown, Tony. The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. p. 34.
- ^ Triggs, Roger (1984). Gillingham Football Club: A Chronology 1893–1984. Kent County Libraries. p. 13.
- ^ Brown, Tony. The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. pp. 33–46.