| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Bignall | ||
| Date of birth | (1922-03-14)14 March 1922 | ||
| Place of birth | Wollongong, Australia | ||
| Date of death | 11 August 2013(2013-08-11) (aged 91) | ||
| Position(s) | Right back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1935– | Corrimal Rangers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Woonona-Bulli | |||
| 1945 | North Shore | ||
| 1950–1953 | Corrimal | ||
| 1960 | South Coast United | ||
| Career Total: | 424 | ||
| International career | |||
| 1954–1959 | Australia | 8 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Robert Francis "Choc" Bignall (14 March 1922 – 11 August 2013), commonly referred to as Bob Bignall,[1] was an Australiansoccer player who was theAustralia captain at the1956 Olympic Games held inMelbourne, Australia.[2][3][4][5] Bignall started his career in 1939 and played over 400 matches inNSW forCorrimal Rangers,Woonona, North Shore andSouth Coast United as a defender before going on to represent both NSW and national sides as captain in the 1950s.[6][7] He was inducted to the Football Federation of Australia Hall of Fame in 1999.[8]
Bignall played for North Shore in 1945, then the Corrimal Rangers from 1950 to 1953 and forSouth Coast United in 1960 and 1961. All clubs were part of the NSW Division 1.[4] He was a small stature man who had lightning speed and a tenacious will to win.[6]
Bignall played eight matches for theAustralian national team between 1954 and 1956, and he was the 127th player to debut for his nation againstNew Zealand on 28 August 1954. He became the 16th captain of the national team againstSouth Africa in Sydney on 24 September 1955. He was also the captain for both of the1956 Summer Olympic games.[7][9]
After retiring from soccer, Bignall became a greyhound trainer.[10][11]
Bignall died 11 August 2013 at the age of 91.[12]
