Bob Newton (footballer)

Bob Newton

Personal information
Full name	Robert Newton
Date of birth	23 November 1956 (1956-11-23)
Place of birth	Chesterfield, England
Playing position	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1973–1977	Huddersfield Town	42	(7)
1977–1982	Hartlepool United	150	(48)
1982–1983	Port Vale	48	(22)
1983–1985	Chesterfield	78	(29)
1985–1986	Hartlepool United	11	(2)
1986	→ Stockport County (loan)	6	(1)
1987	Bristol Rovers	8	(0)
Total		343	(109)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Robert "Bob" Newton (born 23 November 1956 in Chesterfield) is an English footballer. Newton played as a striker for several clubs in the lower divisions of the Football League during the 1970s and '80s. He is most notable for his first five year spell at Hartlepool United between 1977 and 1982, where he wrote himself into club history with his 48 goals in 150 league games. Popular with Hartlepool supporters, he was later voted as the club's 'Player of the 1980s'.

Career

Newton began his career at Huddersfield Town with the "Terriers" in 1973–74. Newton was named most valuable player in a world youth competition at 17, but suffered two severe injuries that took him off the field for more than two years. He spent four years at Huddersfield and left to join Hartlepool United in mid-1977. He scored eight goals for Hartlepool in his debut season, including both goals in the club's shock 2–1 victory against Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup.

Off the field, Newton has had two car accidents, including one in 1978 in which his passenger, teammate Dave Wiggett, was fatally injured. After the incident he moved to the United States, playing for the New England/Jacksonville Tea Men in the North American Soccer League in 1980 and 1981.

Newton returned to English football and was well received by fans at the Victoria Ground, and for three years formed a strike partnership with teammate Keith Houchen. In 1981–82, Newton and Houchen each had 18 goals and were Hartlepool's top scorers with Newton scoring a total of sixty goals with Hartlepool.

In September 1982, Newton was transferred to Port Vale, where he went on to become the team's top scorer with 22 goals, while the club achieved promotion to Division Three. The following season, he joined his hometown club Chesterfield. Newton spent two seasons at Saltergate and topped the Spireites' goalscoring chart in both seasons. After leaving Chesterfield Newton returned to Hartlepool in the summer of 1985.

After his return to Hartlepool, Newton scored two goals in 11 matches before being loaned to Stockport County and subsequently released. He finished his Football League career with the Bristol Rovers in 1987, before joining Shepsed Charterhouse. He then played for the Cyprus based AEP Paphos and Hong Kong's Laisun team before returning to England and joining the Chesterfield based KSPO team.

He later played for several non-league clubs, including Goole Town, Boston United and Alfreton Town.^{[citation needed]}

Post-retirement

Since retiring, Newton has been involved in various charity causes.

Honours

with Port Vale

• Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion winner: 1982–83

with Chesterfield

• Football League Fourth Division champion: 1984–85