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Bobby Downes (footballer)

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Bobby Downes
Personal information
Full name Robert David Downes[1]
Date of birth (1949-08-18) 18 August 1949 (age 75)
Place of birth Bloxwich, Staffordshire, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Left-back; left-winger
Youth career
West Bromwich Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1967 West Bromwich Albion 0 (0)
1967–1969 Peterborough United 26 (3)
1969–1974 Rochdale 174 (10)
1974–1980 Watford 199 (18)
1980–1982 Barnsley 43 (1)
1982–1984 Blackpool 28 (3)
Total 470 (35)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert David Downes (born 18 August 1949) is an English former footballer, coach and manager. He started his playing career as a left-back, later becoming a left-winger. After starting his career at West Bromwich Albion, Downes played 470 games in the Football League for Peterborough United, Rochdale, Watford, Barnsley and Blackpool.[3] He won the Fourth Division title with Watford in 1977–78. He later worked as a coach at Blackpool, Aston Villa, Port Vale, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Watford, and Blackburn Rovers, before being appointed Head of Recruitment at Nottingham Forest in February 2013.

Playing career

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Born in Bloxwich, Staffordshire, Downes started his career as an apprentice at West Brom. He turned professional in 1966 but joined Peterborough United the following year, failing to make a league appearance. After two seasons as a squad player at Peterborough, he joined newly-promoted Rochdale at the end of the 1968–69 season.[3][4][5] He was a first-team regular at Rochdale, as they managed to stay in the Football League Third Division for five consecutive seasons. Following their relegation in 1974, he transferred to Watford for a fee of £10,000.[4][5] Downes missed just three games in his debut season at Vicarage Road. Still, Watford were relegated to the Fourth Division at the end of 1974–75 and were unable to obtain promotion in the following two campaigns.[6]

Mike Keen was replaced as manager by Graham Taylor in June 1977. Taylor decided that Downes, who had previously spent much of his career at left-back, should play further up the field; Downes was ever-present on the left-wing in the 1977–78 season, scoring ten goals in all competitions as Watford won promotion as champions of the Fourth Division. He faced increased competition in 1978–79, but made 46 appearances as Watford secured a second consecutive promotion and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup.[7] However, Downes only managed 10 Watford appearances in 1979–80, and was sold to Barnsley for £10,000 in March 1980, playing a part in Barnsley's improved form at the end of that season.[4][6][8]

After two years at Barnsley, he joined Blackpool on a free transfer in 1982. After two years as a player-coach for the Tangerines, he retired from playing in 1984.[3][4]

Coaching career

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In June 1987, newly appointed Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor appointed Downes as a youth coach. He remained there until 1991 before taking up the same role at Port Vale in July of that year.[9] He was upgraded to the position of first-team coach in March 1992.[9] He was again signed by Taylor in June 1994, this time as assistant manager at Wolverhampton Wanderers.[10] Following Taylor's dismissal in November 1995, Downes briefly served as caretaker manager. Wolves won two and drew one of Downes' six matches in charge.[11] Taylor signed Downes for a third time in June 1996 as Watford's youth football director.[4]

Downes left Watford in May 1997 to take up a similar position at Premier League side Blackburn Rovers.[12] Players to go through the academy during Downes' tenure included England international David Dunn, as well as future Watford player Martin Taylor. He left the position in July 2009 by mutual consent.[13] Following this he took up a scouting role at Preston North End.[14]

In February 2013, he was appointed as the Head of Recruitment at Nottingham Forest.[15] He left the club in March 2014 and went on to scout for Preston North End, Derby County, Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday.[12]

Personal life

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Downes' son, David, was appointed sporting director at Blackpool in June 2023. He previously worked for Sheffield Wednesday.[16]

Career statistics

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Source:[17]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other[A] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
West Bromwich Albion 1966–67 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Peterborough United 1967–68 Third Division 12 2 0 0 0 0 12 2
1968–69 Fourth Division 14 1 1 1 0 0 15 2
Total 26 3 1 1 0 0 27 4
Rochdale 1969–70 Third Division 30 4 1 0 0 0 31 4
1970–71 Third Division 37 0 5 1 2 0 44 1
1971–72 Third Division 36 1 0 0 3 0 39 1
1972–73 Third Division 29 1 0 0 2 0 31 1
1973–74 Third Division 42 4 3 1 2 0 47 5
Total 174 10 9 2 9 0 192 12
Watford 1974–75 Third Division 43 3 1 0 2 0 46 3
1975–76 Fourth Division 30 2 0 0 3 1 33 3
1976–77 Fourth Division 35 2 3 0 3 0 41 2
1977–78 Fourth Division 46 9 3 0 5 1 54 10
1978–79 Third Division 37 2 2 0 7 2 46 4
1979–80 Second Division 8 0 0 0 2 0 10 0
Total 199 18 9 0 25 4 233 22
Barnsley 1979–80 Third Division 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
1980–81 Third Division 30 1 6 0 6 0 42 1
Total 43 1 6 0 6 0 55 1
Blackpool 1982–83 Fourth Division 27 3 2 0 4 1 33 4
1983–84 Fourth Division 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Total 28 3 3 0 4 1 35 4
Career total 470 35 28 3 41 5 539 43
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members' Cup.

Honours

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Watford

References

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  1. ^ "Bobby Downes". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 58. ISBN 0362020175.
  3. ^ a b c "Bobby Downes". Neil Brown. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e Jones, Trefor (1996). Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. p. 73. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
  5. ^ a b "Rochdale history 1945 to 1975". Tony Brown. Statto.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  6. ^ a b Jones, Trefor (1998). Watford Season by Season. T.G. Jones. pp. 158–169. ISBN 0-9527458-1-X.
  7. ^ Phillips, Oliver (1991). The Official Centenary History of Watford FC 1881–1991. Watford Football Club. pp. 193–209. ISBN 0-9509601-6-0.
  8. ^ "1978–1982 Back up and challenging". Barnsley Football Club. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 5 September 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  9. ^ a b Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 6. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  10. ^ Shaw, Phil (1 June 1994). "Football: Taylor unveils new staff". The Independent. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Bobby Downes". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Bobby Downes". LinkedIn. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Downes leaves Blackburn Rovers academy". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  14. ^ "Dodgy penalty was not enough for a promotion". The Sentinel. 19 February 2011. p. 26.
  15. ^ "Nottingham Forest: Bobby Downes named head of recruitment". BBC Sport. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  16. ^ Black, Dan (8 June 2023). "Blackpool bring in David Downes as Sporting Director from Championship newcomers Sheffield Wednesday". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  17. ^ Bobby Downes at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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