14 Facts About Bobby Blood

Robert Blood was an English footballer who played as a centre-forward and was noted for his powerful strikes.

Bobby Blood played non-League football for various teams based around Buxton.

Bobby Blood served in the Army for three years during World War I before he started his professional career after signing for Port Vale in November 1919.

Robert Bobby Blood was born on 18 March 1894 in Harpur Hill, Buxton; he was the youngest of ten children to John and Maria Bobby Blood, a quarry worker and housewife, respectively.

Bobby Blood followed his father and brothers to work in the Hoffman Quarry, and played non-League football for Buxton and Buxton Lime Firms.

Bobby Blood made his debut for Leek Alexandra on 13 September 1913, and playing at outside-left scored one of Leek's six goals past Macclesfield.

Bobby Blood represented the British Army in football matches against Belgium and France and won both the Divisional Cup and the Brigade Cup with the 7th Sherwood Foresters.

Bobby Blood returned to Buxton after the Allies declared victory on 11 November 1918, and determined to become a professional footballer, he managed to strengthen his leg by spending many hours kicking a ball against a steep slope next to Harpur Hill cemetery.

Bobby Blood demonstrated the fearsome power of his shot by striking a penalty which was saved by the Bristol City goalkeeper at the cost of a broken wrist.

However, Bobby Blood was informed that the club's financial situation meant that either "[he] went or the club".

Bobby Blood moved on to league rivals Mossley in 1928, scoring six goals in 17 league games.

Bobby Blood then transferred to Ashton National Gas before returning to Buxton in 1930.

Bobby Blood later scouted young talent for West Bromwich Albion.

Bobby Blood had good footballing intelligence and distribution skills, but his greatest skill was his tremendously powerful shots.