Bobby Laing
Encyclopedia
Robert Smith "Bobby" Laing (1 February 1925 – September 1985) was a Scottish professional footballer who made 79 appearances in the Football League
playing for Birmingham City
and Watford
.
. He had been on the books of Falkirk
, but while stationed at Hednesford
, Staffordshire
, during the Second World War, he appeared for Birmingham City
in the wartime Football League South
. He made his debut in the Second Division
on 14 February 1948, deputising for George Edwards
in a home game against Leeds United
which Birmingham won 5–1; Laing scored twice, his first goal coming inside the first five minutes. He played more frequently during the 1948–49 season in the First Division
, competing with Harold Roberts
for the outside left spot after Edwards moved to Cardiff City
, but at the start of the next season the club switched Johnny Berry
to the left wing, and Laing returned to the reserves.
In June 1950, he joined Watford
of the Third Division South
, where he had two years of regular first-team football. He then moved into non-league football
with Kettering Town
of the Southern League
, where he scored 10 goals from 42 appearances, and later played for Worcester City
, Halesowen Town
, Brierley Hill Alliance
and Brush Sports. He retired from the game in 1957.
Laing died in Birmingham
in 1985 at the age of 60.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
playing for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
.
Career
Laing was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He had been on the books of Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, but while stationed at Hednesford
Hednesford
Hednesford is a small town and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, within Cannock Chase District. It adjoins Cannock Chase to the north, and the town of Cannock to the south. It had a 2010 mid-year estimated population of 16,928.-History:...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, during the Second World War, he appeared for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in the wartime Football League South
Football League North and South
The Football League North and Football League South divisions of the Football League were created for the League to continue while limiting the amount of movement that was required by teams. The Leagues started in 1941; however, the leagues only had one full season, in 1945-46...
. He made his debut in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
on 14 February 1948, deputising for George Edwards
George Edwards (Welsh footballer)
George Edwards was a Welsh professional footballer and Wales international.-Club career:Born in Treherbert, Edwards began his football career at Swansea Town as an amateur and made his debut in the Football League at the end of the 1938–39 season...
in a home game against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
which Birmingham won 5–1; Laing scored twice, his first goal coming inside the first five minutes. He played more frequently during the 1948–49 season in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, competing with Harold Roberts
Harold Roberts (footballer)
Harold Roberts , also known as Harry Roberts, was an English professional footballer who made 213 appearances in the Football League playing for Chesterfield, Birmingham City, Shrewsbury Town and Scunthorpe United. He played as an outside left.-Career:Roberts was born in Liverpool...
for the outside left spot after Edwards moved to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, but at the start of the next season the club switched Johnny Berry
Johnny Berry
Reginald John "Johnny" Berry was an English football player. Berry joined Manchester United from Birmingham City in 1951. He was a natural right winger, with technique and pace as his strengths. He played 277 matches for Manchester United, scoring 44 goals along the way, including helping...
to the left wing, and Laing returned to the reserves.
In June 1950, he joined Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
of the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
, where he had two years of regular first-team football. He then moved into non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, where he scored 10 goals from 42 appearances, and later played for Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
, Halesowen Town
Halesowen Town F.C.
Halesowen Town is an English association football club formed in 1873, since 2011 playing in the Southern League Division One South & West]]. The team is nicknamed "The Yeltz".-History:...
, Brierley Hill Alliance
Brierley Hill Alliance F.C.
Brierley Hill Alliance F.C. was an English football club based in Brierley Hill in the West Midlands.Formed in 1887 from a merger of Brockmoor Harriers and Brockmoor Pickwicks, the club joined the Birmingham & District League in 1890 and the team were league champions on two occasions and...
and Brush Sports. He retired from the game in 1957.
Laing died in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1985 at the age of 60.