About Robert Smyth McColl
Lived 1876 – 1958 (aged 82). Robert Smyth McColl was a British association football player and entrepreneur.
Robert Smyth McColl (13 April 1876 – 25 November 1959) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre forward.
Playing career McColl started his career with junior club Benmore in 1892 and moved to Queen's Park in 1894. He represented the Scottish League in 1901. He later played professionally in England for Newcastle United, remaining on Tyneside for three years until he came back to Glasgow in 1904 to play for Rangers. He returned to Queen's Park in 1907, although the restoration of his amateur status had to be decided by the board of the club beforehand. McColl finished his football career in 1912, scoring 6 goals in his penultimate game against Port Glasgow Athletic, a Scottish scoring record which stands to the present day.
McColl played 13 games and scored 13 goals for the Scotland national football team and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in November 2011. He is the only player to have scored a hat-trick against each of the other home nations. due to this, he became known as Toffee Bob. He served as a sergeant in the Royal Army Service Corps during the First World War.
Death McColl died in 1959, aged 83. He is buried in Cathcart Cemetery in southern Glasgow.
Career statistics International + Appearances and goals by national team and year Glasgow Cup: 1898–99
Scotland Home Championship: 1896, 1897, 1900, 1902, 1908 (shared)
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Important facts
People in Robert Smyth McColl's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Robert Smyth McColl's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Robert Smyth McColl?
Scottish footballer (1876-1958)
When was Robert Smyth McColl born?
Robert Smyth McColl was born on 13 April 1876 in Glasgow.
When did Robert Smyth McColl die?
Robert Smyth McColl died on 30 November 1958 in Glasgow.
What was Robert Smyth McColl's occupation?
Robert Smyth McColl was an association football player and entrepreneur.
What nationality was Robert Smyth McColl?
Robert Smyth McColl was British.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Robert Smyth McColl
· DBpedia: Robert Smyth McColl
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Robert Smyth McColl. https://biography.guide/robert-smyth-mccoll/
MLA: "Robert Smyth McColl." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/robert-smyth-mccoll/.
Chicago: "Robert Smyth McColl." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/robert-smyth-mccoll/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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