Bob Mountford

Robert William Mountford (23 February 1952 – 26 August 2008) was an English footballer who played 277 matches in the Football League for various clubs, scoring 64 goals.

He debuted for Port Vale in April 1969 and became a first-team regular after signing professional forms in February 1970. He was loaned out to Scunthorpe United and Crewe Alexandra in 1974 before he joined Rochdale for £2,000 in December of that year. He scored 41 goals in 117 league and cup games before moving on to Huddersfield Town in 1977. He switched to Halifax Town the following year before joining Stockport County via Crewe Alexandra in 1980. He emigrated to Australia the following year and played and coached at numerous teams, including Newcastle KB United, Brisbane City FC, and Adamstown Rosebud. He became a prison warder at Cessnock Correctional Centre in 1988.

Playing career As a youth, he played for local village team Brown Edge before being spotted by Stanley Matthews and persuaded to join Port Vale juniors.

He was a regular in the 1973–74 side that battled against relegation from the Third Division. The following season saw the Vale push for promotion under Roy Sproson's stewardship, with Ray Williams, Brian Horton and new signing Terry Bailey providing 41 goals between them. Unable to establish himself in the new set-up, Mountford joined Fourth Division strugglers Scunthorpe United on a one-month loan in October 1974. That December he joined Crewe Alexandra, another side failing to find the net. He made five appearances for the "Alex" before being sold to Walter Joyce's Rochdale for £2,000 later in the month.

The "big, bustling, old fashioned, centre forward" was in his element at Spotland. The 1975–76 and 1976–77 seasons were spent in mid-table obscurity in the basement division, but with 41 goals in 117 games, Mountford was a sensation for the club.

He moved on to Huddersfield Town in September 1977 for £10,000 but struggled with injuries at Leeds Road. The 1977–78 season saw the "Terriers" performing comfortably in the Fourth Division under Tom Johnston's stewardship, but Rochdale missed Mountford's goals – they finished bottom with 24 points and 43 goals scored.

In 1978, he joined George Kirby's Halifax Town, another club at the foot of the Football League. The 1978–79 and 1979–80 seasons were difficult, with Mountford bagging eleven goals from 62 league games.

In 1980, he joined Tony Waddington's Crewe Alexandra permanently but played just three games before joining Stockport County later in the year. He scored three goals in nine league games for Jimmy McGuigan's "Hatters" during the 1980–81 season.

Coaching career After leaving Stockport, Mountford emigrated to Australia, playing for Newcastle KB United, also serving as their assistant coach.

He joined the Prison Service in 1988, whilst still coaching, becoming a warden at Cessnock Correctional Centre in Cessnock, New South Wales.

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1968–69 Fourth Division

1969–70 Fourth Division

1970–71 Third Division

1971–72 Third Division

1972–73 Third Division

1973–74 Third Division

1974–75 Third Division

81!!9!!10!!2!!4!!0!!95!!11 Scunthorpe United (loan) 1974–75 Fourth Division

Crewe Alexandra (loan) 1974–75 Fourth Division

1974–75 Fourth Division

1975–76 Fourth Division

1976–77 Fourth Division

1977–78 Fourth Division

98!!37!!8!!3!!6!!1!!112!!41 Huddersfield Town 1977–78 Fourth Division

1977–78 Fourth Division

1978–79 Fourth Division

1979–80 Fourth Division

62!!11!!3!!0!!2!!1!!67!!12 Crewe Alexandra 1980–81 Fourth Division

Stockport County 1980–81 Fourth Division

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