| Bobby Harper |
 Robert Harper was born on Sunday, 6th June, 1920, in Glasgow. The forward signed for Donald Turner's Thistle on Tuesday, 25th April, 1939, having most recently been with Kello Rovers. Aged 21, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 18th October, 1941, in a 7-2 win at home to Third Lanark in the Southern League. There were no goals for Bobby during his time with Thistle. He played his last game for the club on Saturday, 9th May, 1942, in a 1-1 draw away to St Mirren in the Southern League, having appeared as a Jag on 18 occasions. His club-list included Kello Rovers, Partick Thistle, Ayr United, Huddersfield Town, Newport County, Southend United, Linfield and Gloucester City. Bobby died on Monday, 18th December, 1978, in New Cumnock, East Ayrshire, aged 58. |
 This left winger was a former junior internationalist for Scotland. He was associated with Kello Rovers for several seasons, before and during the war. Although he had been provisionally signed by Donald Turner prior to the outbreak of war, Bobby never got his first-team chance until 1941-42 when the 21-year-old made all of his appearances for Thistle. Appeared for Ayr United in August 1945. After the war was over he had a brief spell with Huddersfield Town, before settling with Newport County for the duration of the 1940s. The Division Three (South) side caught the imagination of the public with their run to the last 16 of the FA Cup in 1948-49. Huddersfield & Leeds United were defeated en route, and some 10,000 Welshmen made the journey to Portsmouth in February for a David v Goliath clash against the English champions-elect. Bobby drew County level at 1-1 in front of 48,541 (see video), and they put up a great show, only losing by the odd goal in five after extra-time. Joined Southend in the close season of 1950 before final flings at Linfield and Gloucester City the following season. |
| (WS/AFK) |
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