| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Booker[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1958-01-25)25 January 1958 (age 67)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Watford,[1] England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Bedmond Social | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978–1988 | Brentford | 231 | (42) |
| 1978 | →Barnet (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 1988–1991 | Sheffield United | 109 | (13) |
| 1991–1993 | Brentford | 19 | (2) |
| 1993–? | Harrow Borough | ||
| Total | 357 | (58) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2000–2006 | Brighton & Hove Albion (assistant manager) | ||
| 2001 | Brighton & Hove Albion (caretaker manager) | ||
| 2003 | Brighton & Hove Albion (caretaker manager) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Robert Booker (born 25 January 1958) is an English formerfootballer who primarily played as amidfielder but oftenfilled other roles in his later years. Born inWatford, England he started his career atBrentford in 1978 where he spent ten seasons playing in the lower divisions before switching toSheffield 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 atBrighton & Hove Albion where he was twice installed as caretaker manager during his tenure.
Booker was initially spotted byWatford whilst playing for Saturday side Bedmond Social and they invited him to attend a couple of training sessions before he also caught the eye ofBrentford and was offered a trial.[2] 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.[2] After agreeing a 'fee' with Bedmond, which saw the non-league side receive a set of tracksuits,[2] Booker signed for the Bees and made hisFootball League debut two days later on 14 October 1978, ironically against his home-town club ofWatford.[1]
After a short loan toConference sideBarnet, for whom he scored three goals in 13 appearances,[3] he returned to Brentford and duly scored a hat-trick in his first game back.[2] From this point he became a stalwart of the Brentford first team and would be virtually ever present for the next ten seasons atGriffin Park eventually making over 250 appearances for the Bees.[1] 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.[2]
Booker's time at Brentford was marred when he suffered acruciate ligament injury in 1986 which kept him out of the side for nearly 18 months with the surgeons claiming he would never be able to play again.[4] 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.[2]
We've got Bobby Booker,
He's a dirty f_____,
He's six-foot tall;
And he cost f___ all
Booker was considering quitting football, taking the money from the benefit game thatBrentford had offered him and putting the money into a window cleaning business.[2] His final contract with Brentford had given him the option of a free transfer should he choose it, in recognition of ten years good service to the club, but it was still something of a surprise whenDave Bassett offered him the chance to move toSheffield United in 1988 having monitored his progress for a number of years.[1] Blades midfielderSimon Webster had broken his leg and United needed someone to replace him[2] so club physio Derek French, who had played with Booker back in his Bedmond days, contacted him to see if he was interested in a move North. Within 24 hours Booker had signed for the Blades.[2]
Over thirty years old, with a recurring knee injury and seemingly with his best years behind him Booker proved an inspired signing, as he became the linchpin of the side that rose through the divisions to reach the top flight in 1990.[1] A cult hero with theBramall Lane fans Booker endeared himself with his gutsy performances and genuine affection for the club and its fans who he would happily spend hours chatting with.[2] On one occasion a ten-year-old fan wrote to the club asking if Booker could come to dinner at his house – a request which he duly obliged, staying for two hours.[2]
Booker continued to be a key player inDivision One before injuries finally started to take their toll and he was allowed to return to Brentford in 1991.[1]
Signing a three-year deal withThe Bees,[2] nearly five years after they had deemed him surplus to requirements, Booker suffered a difficult return. A squad player he was part of the side that were crownedDivision Three champions in 1992 but then suffered an immediate relegation the following year. Booker's knee problems had returned as well, and he was forced to retire in 1993 on his doctor's advice.[2] Booker was inducted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in November 2014.[5]
After drifting out of football for a while Booker eventually took up a coaching post atBrentford in 1994[2] before being offered the position of assistant manager toMicky Adams atBrighton & Hove Albion in 2000.[1] When Adams left after the side were promoted Booker was made joint caretaker manager along withMartin Hinshelwood before the arrival ofSteve Coppell.[1] Remaining at the club he was again called upon to act as caretaker manager in 2003 after Coppell quit to joinReading.[1] New managerMark McGhee retained Booker as his assistant and the pair remained in charge until McGhee was sacked following a poor start to the 2006–07 season.[1] After a spell managing village side Pease Pottage FC, Booker returned to Brighton along with Micky Adams in 2008 to take up the position of reserve team coach.[6]
Booker now works as a driving instructor[7] and summariser on Brighton & Hove Albion's match commentary.
Booker left school at 16 to begin a four-year apprenticeship in an upholstery warehouse whilst playing Saturday football.[2] During his first game forBrentford he was marked byWatford defenderIan Bolton who would eventually join him at Brentford and ironically end up as his brother-in-law.[2]
Following his retirement from playing Booker made occasional appearances as match summariser onBBC Radio Sheffield[2] and married formerSouthern FM breakfast show hostNicky Keig-Shevlin in 2008.[6]
In July 2017, a biographical book of Booker's life, written with his support, was published.OOH-AAH: The Bob Booker StoryISBN 978-1910515594.[8]
