Obituary: Bobby Wishart, Scots footballer who won First Division Championships with two clubs
Bobby Wishart, who has died aged 87, was a leading Scottish footballer of the 1950’s and early ‘60’s who achieved the remarkable feat of winning old First Division Championships with two different clubs, neither being Rangers or Celtic. In 1955 he was instrumental in Aberdeen’s first ever title success, while in 1962 he was a key member of the Dundee team that won their first and only top tier League title. At Aberdeen he also claimed a League Cup winner’s medal in 1955 and a loser’s medal in the 1959 Scottish Cup Final.
League success at Dundee led to the European Cup the following season, during which the Dark Blues had an unforgettable campaign, reaching the semi-final, where they lost over two legs to the formidable A.C. Milan, with Bobby playing in every single match.
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Hide AdHaving begun in boys’ football with the quaintly named Corstorphine Swifts, to go on to play Milan in a European Cup semi-final in front of 78,000 fans in the San Siro was the stuff of which dreams are made.
Other highlights included being capped twice for Scotland at under 23 level and twice for the Scottish League. An intelligent player with a powerful shot, he was an excellent passer of the ball who read the game well, playing mostly at inside forward at Aberdeen and left half at Dundee.
Robert Whyte Wishart was born in Edinburgh, younger son of William, a factory worker, and Flora. He and brother Ian were brought up in Corstorphine and Bobby attended the rugby playing George Heriot’s School.
Initially he managed to combine both games but then concentrated on football for Corstorphine Swifts, following in his father’s footsteps. His talent attracted well-known juvenile side, Merchiston Thistle, where he was spotted by senior clubs, leading to trials with Hearts and Aberdeen, with Bobby joining the Dons in 1951.
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Hide AdBefore he could make his debut for them, two years’ National Service had to be undertaken with the R.A.F. in Northern Ireland when Bobby played for Irish League side Portadown at centre forward. A frequent scorer, his excellent form saw him touted for selection for the Irish League team.
After National Service he moved to Aberdeen, living with relatives as he sought to break into the first team, making his debut in December 1953. Establishing himself in a strong team was a challenge but by season 1954/55 he had succeeded and able to play an important role in the historic title win, featuring in 23 of the 30 games.
Later that year he was in the Dons side that clinched the League Cup against St Mirren, his semi-final goal against Rangers, “a 25 yard rocket”, being crucial to progress.
Such excellent form saw him rewarded with two appearances for the Scottish League, against the Irish Leagues and two for Scotland under 23s against their English counterparts, games in which he kept good company alongside such as Lawrie Reilly and Gordon Smith and against opponents like Johnny Haynes and Duncan Edwards.
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Hide AdAlthough by 1959 Aberdeen’s league fortunes were suffering, they reached the Scottish Cup Final, but an early injury rendered them effectively a man short and St Mirren prevailed. In early January 1961 he signed for Bob Shankly’s Dundee side. His debut the next day could hardly have been bettered, with two goals against derby rivals United.
By the judicious signing of Bobby, Gordon Smith and Bobby Seith, the astute Shankly added experience and nous to the talents of youngsters Alan Cousin, Alan Gilzean and Ian Ure among others and fashioned an attractive footballing side that deservedly clinched the title, with Bobby playing in 29 of 34 games.
He also more than played his part in the European Cup the next season as Dundee astounded Europe by whipping Cologne before comfortably defeating Sporting Lisbon, when Bobby’s display in the away leg earned him top marks. Then Anderlecht were eliminated, but a combination of unfortunate refereeing, dubious opposition tactics and poor defending resulted in defeat to Milan and the dream of the Wembley final was over.
A part-timer with Dundee, he also worked in insurance for the N.F.U. in the Lothians, whose secretary was his good friend Edinburgh lawyer Bill Lindsay, later chairman of Hearts and the S.F.A.
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Hide AdIn 1964 he joined Airdrie and then Raith Rovers for a handful of games before hanging up his boots. It says much for Bobby that throughout 400 games he was never booked or sent off.
In the late 1960’s he became manager of Leek and Westbourne Building Society, which later became the Britannia, in Edinburgh’s George Street, retiring after 25 years’ sterling service.
In 1958 he married Jean Rae, with whom he enjoyed 62 years of happy and fulfilling marriage, during which they had daughter Carol and son David. The couple first met in Aberdeen in the café which Bobby and teammates visited after training and where Jean worked at the time.
Initially they lived in Aberdeen but after Bobby’s move to Dundee set up home in Currie where they remained.
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Hide AdA big family man, he also enjoyed golf at Baberton, where he was a long-term popular member and Captain in 1979/81.
A warm hearted, generous spirited gent, Bobby was an excellent raconteur with a good sense of humour who was the best of company. He is survived by his wife, children, four grandchildren and one great grandson.