Members News: Remembering CCFC ‘Keeper Bob Who Would Have Been 84 Today
Bob in the early 1960s
One of the best loved Coventry City goalkeepers of the modern era, sixties shotstopper Bob Wesson would have celebrated his 84th birthday today
Bob was born in Thornaby on Tees on 15th October 1940 and straddled the pre- and post- Sky Blues era making a total of 156 first team appearances for the Club between 1960 and 1966. He started with Thornaby Boys Brigade, trialled with Headington United and became an amateur with Middlesbrough. He was signed by Billy Frith for the Bantams (as City were then known) in late 1958 as an understudy to Arthur Lightening but had to wait until March 1961 to make his debut at Newport County and he played the last dozen games for the City that season. The following season (1961-62) the South African’s form restricted Bob to only four league appearances and it was only the next season (1962-63) when Dave Meeson, who Jimmy Hill bought on Arthur’s departure, failed to impress that Bob became the Sky Blues’ Number One.
The arrival in 1964 (in a record deal for a goalie at that time) of fellow CCFPA member Bill Glazier threatened this status but Bob again proved himself to be a very capable custodian when Bill broke his leg late in the 1964-65 season and Bob made 43 first team appearances in JH’s 1965-66 team.
Bill recovered, however, and returned to retake the No.1 slot in April 1966 and Bob moved on to Walsall in September 1966 for £15,000 and played for the Saddlers for seven seasons making 220 appearances (plus five on loan to Doncaster Rovers) before a shoulder injury at an F.A.Cup tie at Kettering forced his retirement. Bob and his beloved late wife Janet then entered the pub trade in Warwickshire and Leicestershire for over two decades before he finally retired.
