Bobby Park (footballer, born 1952)
Robert Park, Jr (born 5 January 1952) is a Scottish former footballer. Though he was a promising young midfielder playing for Sunderland at age 17, his short career was subsequently plagued with serious injuries.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 January 1952 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1969–1972 | Sunderland[1] | 64 | (4) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Playing career
Park began his footballing career with Sunderland in 1962. Park was a promising midfielder, reaching the first team squad at the young age of 17. However, Park's career was repeatedly punctuated with serious injuries. His career lasted a brief seven years, during which time he suffered from broken leg injuries three times.
During his playing career, Park scored a crucial penalty against Tyne and Wear rivals Newcastle United in front of a 51,950 crowd in the 1969–70 season, in which the game concluded in a 1–1 draw result.[2]
Later career
For a brief period in later life Park was a journalist writing freelance sporting articles for local newspapers in Hexham. Park wrote about certain football teams, such as Carlisle United and Sunderland. He also wrote about golf, one of his personal interests.
Trivia
- Park's father Robert Park, Sr. played as a goalkeeper for Queen of the South F.C. & Hull City A.F.C.
- Park was in Sunderland A.F.C.'s team squad in their 1973 FA Cup win.
- Park retired from football and first opened a discount household goods store.
- Park was planning to play his debut international cap for Scotland before he broke his leg for the second time.
Honours
- FA Cup Winner 1973
References
- Bobby Park at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
- "Newcastle v mackems". nufc.com.