Robert Suart (1882 – 27 September 1918) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Stockport County and Fulham as a wing half. He was killed in action during the First World War.

Bob Suart
Personal information
Full name Robert Suart[1]
Date of birth 1882
Place of birth Stockport, England[2]
Date of death 27 September 1918 (aged 36)[3]
Place of death near Gouzeaucourt, France[3]
Position(s) Wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1902–1903 Edgeley
1903–1908 Stockport County 142 (13)
1908–1911 Fulham 97 (1)
1911–1915 Port Vale 130 (4)
1915–1917Stockport County (guest) 22 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

After beginning his career in non-League football with Edgeley,[4] Suart played in the Football League for Stockport County and Fulham,[1][5] before joining Central League club Port Vale in July 1911.[2] He helped the "Valeites" to win the 1911–12 Staffordshire Senior Cup, the 1912–13 Birmingham Senior Cup and the 1914–15 North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup.[2] Vale went into abeyance in 1915 and Suart returned to Stockport County as a guest.[2]

World War I edit

During the second year of the First World War in 1915, Suart enlisted as a private in the South Lancashire Regiment.[6] He transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment later that year and went on to see action at High Wood, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Le Transloy, Arras and the Third Battle of Ypres during 1916 and 1917.[6] His division was transferred to the Italian Front following the Third Battle of Ypres, but returned to France in April 1918.[6] Suart was killed during a German counter-attack near Gouzeaucourt on 27 September 1918, just over six weeks before the Armistice.[6] He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.[3]

Career statistics edit

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stockport County 1903–04[5] Second Division 6 1 0 0 6 1
1904–05[5] Lancashire Combination First Division 33 4 5 0 38 4
1905–06[5] Second Division 38 3 3 0 41 3
1906–07[5] Second Division 36 2 2 0 38 2
1907–08[5] Second Division 29 3 0 0 29 3
Total 142 13 10 0 152 13
Fulham 1907–08[6] Second Division 6 1 0 0 6 1
1908–09[6] Second Division 35 0 1 0 36 0
1909–10[6] Second Division 33 0 3 0 36 0
1910–11[6] Second Division 23 0 1 0 24 0
Total 97 1 5 0 102 1
Port Vale 1911–12[7] Central League 30 0 0 0 30 0
1912–13[7] Central League 33 2 4 0 37 2
1913–14[7] Central League 32 2 8 1 40 3
1914–15[7] Central League 35 0 3 0 38 0
Total 130 4 15 1 145 5
Career total 369 18 30 1 399 19

Honours edit

Port Vale

References edit

  1. ^ a b Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 279. ISBN 978-1905891610.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 283. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  3. ^ a b c "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Suart Bob Fulham 1910". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Watts, Ian. "Bob Suart County Record". gogogocounty.org. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Bob Suart". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d Bob Suart at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)