Bob Booker
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Booker | ||
| Date of birth | 25 January 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Watford, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Bedmond Social | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978–1988 | Brentford | 231 | (42) |
| 1978 | → Barnet (loan) | ||
| 1988–1991 | Sheffield United | 109 | (13) |
| 1991–1993 | Brentford | 19 | (2) |
| 1993–? | Harrow Borough | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 2000–2006 | Brighton & Hove Albion (assistant manager) | ||
| 2001 | Brighton & Hove Albion (caretaker manager) | ||
| 2003 | Brighton & Hove Albion (caretaker manager) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Robert 'Bob' Booker (born 25 January 1958) is an English former footballer who primarily played as a midfielder but often filled other roles in his later years. Born in Watford, England he started his career at Brentford in 1978 where he spent ten seasons playing in the lower divisions before switching to Sheffield United with whom he enjoyed his most successful period, gaining two promotions and playing in the top flight. He returned to Brentford for a further two seasons before injuries prompted him to retire. A spell on the coaching staff at Brentford was followed by a period as assistant manager at Brighton & Hove Albion where he was twice installed as caretaker manager during his tenure.
Booker was initially spotted by Watford whilst playing for Saturday side Bedmond Social and they invited him to attend a couple of training sessions before he also caught the eye of Brentford and was offered a trial. Despite being a midfielder he was played as a striker in his trial game and duly scored two goals prompting Brentford to offer him a deal. After agreeing a 'fee' with Bedmond, which saw the non-league side receive a set of tracksuits, Booker signed for the Bees and made his Football League debut two days later on 14 October 1978, ironically against his home-town club of Watford.
After a short loan to Conference side Barnet where he netted a couple of goals, he returned to Brentford and duly scored a hat-trick in his first game back. From this point he became a stalwart of the Brentford first team and would be virtually ever present for the next ten seasons at Griffin Park eventually making over 250 appearances for the Bees. Noted for his versatility, by the time Booker was voted the Bees Player of the Season in 1982 he had played in every position apart from goalkeeper.
Booker's time at Brentford was marred when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in 1986 which kept him out of the side for nearly eighteen months with the surgeons claiming he would never be able to play again. He returned to fitness and played a few first team games but was now deemed surplus to requirements and offered a testimonial game and a free transfer.
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