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Fullname: Robert Bryson Templeton
aka: Bobby Templeton, Robert Templeton
Born: 29 March 1880
Died: 2 November 1919
Birthplace: Coylton, Ayrshire
Signed: 17 May 1906 (from Woolwich Arsenal)
Left: 18 Oct 1907 (to Kilmarnock)
Position: Winger, Midfield, Outside-Right
Debut: Celtic 5-0 Kilmarnock, League, 25 Aug 1906 (scored once)
Internationals: Scotland / Scottish League
International Caps: 11 / 3
International Goals: 1 / 1
Biog
Celtic fans have always adored those players who could light up a game with an exciting and entertaining wideman. Bobby Templeton was a crowd pleasing outside-left who signed for Celtic on May 17th 1906 from Woolwich Arsenal (forerunners to modern day Arsenal) for £250.
“Templeton is afflicted with a large measure of the eccentricity of genius. He is a man of moods. When “the afflatus” is upon him he is a winged horse to whom a spur is useless, and whom a curb cannot hold. It is then that the watching multitude is aflame with mingled surprise and admiration – surprise at the wondrous versatility of the man, admiration at the grace and beauty of his movements.”
William Pickford, journalist, in his book,’ Association Football and the Men Who Made It (1905)’
The former Aston Villa and Newcastle man made his Celtic debut in a 5-0 home league victory over Kilmarnock on 25th August 1906. He bagged a début goal and would go on to play a vital part in helping the Bhoys claim a league and Scottish Cup double.
As Celtic went on to win the league in season 1906/07, Bobby Templeton played his part scoring 5 goals including the winner in a 2-1 victory over Rangers in October 1906, and a double over Queen’s Park in a 4-0 victory. His goals though dried up in the second half of the season, and he never scored for Celtic again after the 4-0 victory over Queen’s Park.
However while Bobby Templeton’s dribbles may have been enjoyable to watch he often frustrated team-mates (usually termed as being selfish) and in particular the Celtic directors with his reluctance to part with the ball and consequent tendency to squander possession too easily and at key moments. On a tour to Denmark, playing a Copenhagen Select, Bobby Templeton was put in goal by Willie Maley for the last 2 games of the Danish tour as a punishment for his showboating in previous games.
After one mazy but meaningless run too many he was sold to Kilmarnock in October 1907. As Celtic went on to win the league title that season (1907/08), it was cruel luck to leave but he got to play at least a small part in the title victory.
He played 36 times for Celtic in the league & Scottish and scored five goals helping Celtic on the way to two league titles (albeit only having played a handful of games at the start of the 1907/08 season).
At Rugby Park he was an impressive performer and would win international recognition with Scotland and the Scottish League XI, curiously none whilst at Celtic.
A number of commentators have said that likely Celtic were hasty in letting him go especially in light of his success at international level showing his worth. Although, maybe Celtic weren’t the only problem, prior to his time at Celtic he did seem to move on a number of times after only 1-2 years, but he then had a long stint at Kilmarnock.
He represented the Scotland national side eleven times between 1902 and 1913, scoring one goal. His first international would have been on 5 April 1902, but the match was declared void after 26 spectators died during the first Ibrox disaster. RIP
When he was at Celtic, he used to also play in an unofficial Celtic cricket team, with fellow Celt Alec McNair lauding one of his catches in a match as the best ever seen.
He later ran the Royal Hotel with his good friend and ex-Celtic colleague Sunny Jim Young in George Street Kilmarnock.
One strange claim to fame for Bobby Templeton is that he was the footballer who took a £10 bet to step in a lion’s cage and twist its tail! He did it and won the bet which was good advertisement for the related companies, as added value that a Scottish international footballer had got involved. The bet happened at Bopstock & Wombwell’s menagerie in New City Road on Glasgow Green on 22 Aug 1908.
Sadly, he died prematurely aged just 39 on 2 November 1919, said to have died of a heart seizure while “pulling on his boots“.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1906-07 | 29 | 7 | – | – | 36 |
| Goals | 5 | 0 | – | – | 5 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish League
Scottish Cup
Glasgow Cup
Pictures
Articles
Bobby Templeton
http://spartacus-educational.com/AREtempleton.htm
Robert (Bobby) Templeton was born in Coylton, Scotland on 22nd June 1879. He played football for Kilmarnock and Hibernian in the Scottish League before Aston Villa paid a fee of £250 to join them in May 1899.
Tony Matthews argues in his book, Who’s Who of Aston Villa, that Templeton was “a tremendously gifted player… who was tall and thin, selfish but brilliant.” Templeton was considered an erratic player and only played in 11 games that season. However, with a forward-line that included Billy Garraty, John Devey, George Wheldon, Stephen Smith, George Johnson and Charlie Athersmith, competition was fierce at the club.
Aston Villa won the league championship that season confirming it was the best club in England during the 1890s. This was their fifth league title in seven years.
In 1900 Templeton was suspended for insubordination. However, he returned to the side and was a regular in the first team over the next two seasons.
On the 5th April 1902 Templeton won his first international cap for Scotland against England at Ibrox Park. It was during this game that the newly built West Tribune Stand collapsed. Supporters fell up to 40 feet (12 m) to the ground below. 25 people died and 517 were injured. Afterwards it was claimed that Templeton was partly responsible for this disaster as had the ball on the wing at the time and the vast crowd swayed to see his dribbling skills.
In January 1903 Templeton joined Newcastle United for £400. However, he was unable to bring success to the club and in December 1904 he joined Woolwich Arsenal for a fee of £250. Arsenal had just been promoted to the First Division. The club did reasonably well at the top level finishing in 10th place (1904-05) and 12th (1905-06). The club also had a good FA Cup run that season beating Watford (3-0), Sunderland (5-0), Manchester United (3-2) before losing to Newcastle United 2-0 in the semi-final with Jimmy Howie and Colin Veitch getting the goals.
William Pickford, the journalist, wrote in his book, Association Football and the Men Who Made It (1905): “Templeton is afflicted with a large measure of the eccentricity of genius. He is a man of moods. When “the afflatus” is upon him he is a winged horse to whom a spur is useless, and whom a curb cannot hold. It is then that the watching multitude is aflame with mingled surprise and admiration – surprise at the wondrous versatility of the man, admiration at the grace and beauty of his movements.”
During this period Arsenal had a very impressive forward line that included Templeton, Bert Freeman, Charlie Satterthwaite, Tim Coleman and Billy Garbutt. The defence was also very good with players such as Jimmy Ashcroft, Andy Ducat, Roderick McEachrane, Jimmy Sharp and Percy Sands in the team. However, Arsenal encountered serious financial problems at this time and in May 1906 was sold to Glasgow Celtic for £250. He also played for Kilmarnock before returning to England to sign for Fulham in 1913.
On the 3rd March 1913 Templeton won his last international cap for Scotland against Wales. The game ended in a 0-0 draw. Templeton scored one goal in 11 games for his country.
Robert Templeton died of a heart-attack in November 1919.