Robert McFarlane (1866 – October 1898) was a Scottish footballer who played as a full-back.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert McFarlane | ||
| Date of birth | c. 1866 | ||
| Place of birth | Airdrie, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | October 1898 (aged 31–32) | ||
| Place of death | Airdrie, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Full-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 000?–1888 | Airdrieonians | ||
| 1888–1890 | Bootle | ||
| 1890–1891 | Sunderland Albion | ||
| 1891–1892 | Newton Heath | 18 | (1) |
| 1892–1898 | Airdrieonians | 66 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Born in Airdrie, McFarlane began his career with local side Airdrieonians, before moving to England to play for Bootle.[1] He was part of the Bootle side that took part in the inaugural season of the Football Alliance in 1889–90, helping them to second place behind The Wednesday.[2] That summer, he joined Sunderland Albion,[1] whom he also helped to a runners-up spot in 1890–91.[3]
He moved on to Newton Heath in 1891–92,[4] where he took over as captain from the departing Jack Powell.[5] He immediately became the club's first-choice right-back and played in all but four league matches during the season, scoring once in a 5–0 win at home to Walsall Town Swifts on 5 March 1892,[6] as he secured his third successive second-place finish.[7] He also played in four FA Cup matches (although the Second Round Qualifying match was technically a friendly after their opponents, Heywood, were disqualified from the competition) and the Manchester Senior Cup semi-final defeat to Bolton Wanderers.[6]
At the end of the season, while on holiday back home in Airdrie, he re-signed for Airdrieonians after being allowed to resume his amateur status.[8] To replace McFarlane, Newton Heath signed Airdrieonians full-back Andrew Mitchell, who had been set to partner McFarlane in defence for the Scottish club.[8] McFarlane played a further 66 league games between 1894 (when the club joined the Scottish Football League) and 1898,[9] when he contracted pneumonia and died.[8] His final appearance for the club came against Morton at Cappielow on 8 October 1898, and he died later that month.[8]
McFarlane was married to a sister of the Doughty brothers, Jack and Roger, who also played for Newton Heath in their pre-League days.[4]
General
Specific
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Newton Heath captain 1891–1892 |
Succeeded by Joe Cassidy |