Bob Latchford

Robert Dennis "Bob" Latchford (born 18 January 1951) is an English former association footballer who played as a centre forward. He made more than 500 appearances in the Football League, playing for Birmingham City, Everton, Swansea City and Coventry City in the First Division, and won 12 full caps for England.

Latchford was the complete centre-forward, able to score or create chances for teammates using either his feet or head. Despite his size – 6 feet (1.83m) tall – he was very fast over short distances, a quality he used to his advantage when scoring many of his goals.

Career

Latchford was born in Kings Heath, Birmingham. He was transferred from Birmingham City to Everton for £350,000, a British transfer record at the time (Howard Kendall and Archie Styles were transferred to Birmingham City as part of the same deal, with Birmingham being paid just £80,000). At Everton, Latchford was the top scorer for six successive seasons. He scored 30 goals in the 1977–78 season, winning a £10,000 prize offered by a national newspaper for the first footballer to reach that number in a single season.^[1] During the mid-seventies, Latchford was widely considered as one of the top English forwards of his generation. He earned his first full cap for England in a World Cup qualifier against Italy in 1977. In April 2006 a book was published telling the story of his 1977/78 season. Co-written with journalist Martin O'Boyle, the book supports Everton's former players charity.

The closest he came to a winner's medal at Everton was as a finalist in the League Cup in 1977. Latchford made 268 appearances (3 as substitute) for Everton scoring 138 goals. Latchford left Everton for Swansea, newly promoted to the top tier of English football, in 1981, scoring a hat-trick on his debut for the Swans. He later also played for Dutch NAC Breda (15 Appearances – 13 Goals), Newport County and finally Merthyr Tydfil before retiring as a player in 1987.

During his time at Everton, he was the club's leading post Second World War goalscorer with 138 goals, a record he held until 1989 when Graeme Sharp exceeded Latchford's tally. By the time Latchford left Everton, only Dixie Dean (pre Second World War) had scored more goals for the club in history.

Latchford played 12 times for England, scoring 5 goals. He represented the players at Professional Footballers' Association, and in 1983 was part of a delegation^[2] which negotiated improved terms for players in the FA's deal with broadcasters for live coverage of that season's FA Cup.

Now living in Germany with his family, Latchford makes regular trips back to England to speak on the after-dinner circuit and also has a regular column on Everton independent website, NSNO.co.uk.

Latchford's two brothers, Dave and Peter, were both professional goalkeepers. Like Bob, Dave Latchford played for Birmingham City; whilst Peter Latchford represented West Bromwich Albion before spending over ten years at Celtic.

Honours

• with Birmingham City
  • FA Youth Cup runners-up 1967.
  • Football League Second Division promotion 1972.
  • Club's top scorer 1972, 1973.
• with Everton
  • Football League Cup runners-up 1977.
  • Club's top scorer 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978.
• with Swansea City
  • Welsh Cup winners 1982, 1983.
  • Club's top scorer 1982.
• with NAC Breda
  • Eerste Divisie promotion 1984.
• with Merthyr Tydfil
  • Welsh Cup winners 1987.

References

• Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9. 

External links

• Bob Latchford England profile at Englandstats
• Profile at Neil Brown's player database
• Profile at Swansea City A.F.C.
• Everton Giants at Everton F.C.