Bobby Reid

[Ross Johnstone]

Hi Everyone, 

I wanted to ask a question, Bobby Reid from the team in the 70s who unfortunately got a career ending injury is my uncle, and I was enquiring whether anyone has some old stories of how he used to play, what sort of player he was and if anyone has any memories that they would like to share about him.

[linwood buddie]

From what I remember he was a good solid player would nip in with the odd goal , was part of one of our best and most entertaining teams , Fergies Furies.

[portmahomack saint]

Was a Fantastic number 5 who unfortunately got injured playing for Scotland in what I remember was a kind of friendly meaningless game up north somewhere in the close season,

We were all shocked and in the left in the dark to what actually happened don't think the TV covered the game that's how i remember it 

Remember him scoring against Bristol City with an overhead kick who were a top tier team in England at the time.

Was being watched by Liverpool and seemingly they were 50/50 on who they would sign between him and Alan Hanson.

Remember him being sent off at Ibrox when he got into a skirmish with Wee Tommy Mclean who was about 4 feet 2"  think Tommy jumped up and stuck the head on his knee  we were all scratching our heads why the ref sent Bobby off too, but these things happened in those days even more then than they do now.

Bobby no doubt would have gone on to have a great career in football sadly it was cut short, I can assure you he is fondly remembered he was a big part of the best StMirren team in the last 60 years. 

Your uncle was a Star. 

[HSS]

Bobby used to go on runs from defence to attack with the ball at his feet,quite skilful for a tall chap He scored 22 goals in 145 games which is brilliant for a centre half

Loved the Big Man 🖤🤍❤️

Edited January 13 by HSS

[shull]

Big Bobby Reid is a St Mirren legend.

An all round fantastic football player whether defending, passing and terrorising opposition goalkeepers and defenders at corner kicks. Scored many goals with his feet as well as with many headers.

Would have made it to the very top in England if it wasn't for his injury. Bloody shame.

He, like many was part time at Love Street as he worked in a Solicitors office at Barrhead centre.

Bobby Reid, a never to be forgotten hero of Love Street and of course a valued member of Fergie's Furies.

[beyond our ken]

22 minutes ago, HSS said:

Bobby used to go on runs from defence to attack with the ball at his feet,quite skilful for a tall chap He scored 22 goals in 145 games which is brilliant for a centre half

Loved the Big Man 🖤🤍❤️

Quite often seemed he lost patience with the forwards when he went on those runs with the intention of sorting it all out by himself

brave player who refused to be intimidated by the older heads he faced off to when we were promoted 

people finally stopped talking about how much we missed MCQueen when Bobby broke through and that’s probably the biggest recommendation you could get

 

 

 

[shull]

From 7 mins 20 seconds onwards, a couple of goals from Bobby.

 

[eastlandssaint]

A great player and a great person.

[BuddieinEK]

9 hours ago, Ross Johnstone said:

Hi Everyone, 

I wanted to ask a question, Bobby Reid from the team in the 70s who unfortunately got a career ending injury is my uncle, and I was enquiring whether anyone has some old stories of how he used to play, what sort of player he was and if anyone has any memories that they would like to share about him.

In a nutshell, one of the best defenders I've ever seen... and not just at Saints.

He was one of my favourite players and I reckon a stick-on to be a Scotland mainstay for many a year.

Solid at the back and elegant going forward.

Tragic end to a very promising career. 

A genuine Saints legend. 

[Albanian Buddy]

This unfortunately was the game in which Bobby had an ACL injury that ultimately destroyed his football career. 

Bobby was an excellent player and was destined for the English top flight.

A powerful presence at both ends of the pitch. 

Some older supporters at the time believed he was a better player than Gordon McQueen. I wasn’t old enough to remember Gordon at Saints but obviously saw him at Leeds, Man U and Scotland - from what I saw of Bobby he had the ability to go as far in the game and win some major honours for club and country.

[Callum Gilhooley]

3 hours ago, Albanian Buddy said:

 

This unfortunately was the game in which Bobby had an ACL injury that ultimately destroyed his football career. 

Bobby was an excellent player and was destined for the English top flight.

A powerful presence at both ends of the pitch. 

Some older supporters at the time believed he was a better player than Gordon McQueen. I wasn’t old enough to remember Gordon at Saints but obviously saw him at Leeds, Man U and Scotland - from what I saw of Bobby he had the ability to go as far in the game and win some major honours for club and country.

Both he and McQueen were superb players, didn’t get to see as much of McQueen as we would have liked as he left at a very young age.    
I’d say GM had the physical presence - even as a young man with Saints but Bobby Reid was the more skilful with the ball at his feet .

Such a pity how his career was cut short . 🙁
 

[Albanian Buddy]

1 hour ago, Callum Gilhooley said:

Both he and McQueen were superb players, didn’t get to see as much of McQueen as we would have liked as he left at a very young age.    
I’d say GM had the physical presence - even as a young man with Saints but Bobby Reid was the more skilful with the ball at his feet .

Such a pity how his career was cut short . 🙁
 

Although it could be argued that Bobby’s football career was cut short by a terrible knee injury it may have saved him from the crippling brain injury that Gordon McQueen died of.

”In January 2021, Gordon McQueen was diagnosed with vascular dementia.This highlighted the issue of injuries caused to footballers by persistent heading of a ball. He died from complications of dementia at home on 15 June 2023, at the age of 70.”

 

Edited January 14 by Albanian Buddy

[TPAFKA Jersey 2]

On 1/13/2025 at 10:43 AM, linwood buddie said:

From what I remember he was a good solid player would nip in with the odd goal , was part of one of our best and most entertaining teams , Fergies Furies.

....and the 2025 prize (even though it's only January) for understatement of the year goes to.......

[linwood buddie]

2 minutes ago, TPAFKA Jersey 2 said:

....and the 2025 prize (even though it's only January) for understatement of the year goes to.......

Thanks , I have arthritis in my fingers so wanted to keep it short , what’s the prize anyway?

[kingstrut]

Hi Ross

I don't usually post on forums but I thought this was worth it. I was a North Bank teenager during the Fergie years and remember your uncle well. A proper marauding defender, well capable of beating his man. As others have said, I reckon he would have had a shout as a Scotland mainstay.

I looked out this picture below. It belongs to a pal of mine but we would both be delighted if you want it as a memento. I'm more than happy to parcel it up and post it to you if you send me a personal message with an address. Some of the more regular posters will advise on the best way to do that.

 

[shull]

1 hour ago, kingstrut said:

Hi Ross

I don't usually post on forums but I thought this was worth it. I was a North Bank teenager during the Fergie years and remember your uncle well. A proper marauding defender, well capable of beating his man. As others have said, I reckon he would have had a shout as a Scotland mainstay.

I looked out this picture below. It belongs to a pal of mine but we would both be delighted if you want it as a memento. I'm more than happy to parcel it up and post it to you if you send me a personal message with an address. Some of the more regular posters will advise on the best way to do that.

 

Fantastic memorabilia.

The best ever St Mirren team that I ever seen.

[Ross Johnstone]

Thanks everyone for the comments so far.  Its amazing hearing the high regards that you all held Bobby in.  Im going to share these stories with my sons who are just starting out on their football journeys.  Would have been amazing to see how far he could have gone without the injuries!

[portmahomack saint]

3 hours ago, kingstrut said:

Hi Ross

I don't usually post on forums but I thought this was worth it. I was a North Bank teenager during the Fergie years and remember your uncle well. A proper marauding defender, well capable of beating his man. As others have said, I reckon he would have had a shout as a Scotland mainstay.

I looked out this picture below. It belongs to a pal of mine but we would both be delighted if you want it as a memento. I'm more than happy to parcel it up and post it to you if you send me a personal message with an address. Some of the more regular posters will advise on the best way to do that.

 

If he doesn't want it I'll take it off yer hands  

[kingstrut]

Gone already.. 😁

[eckthesaint]

Just came across this post. By a strange coincidence I picked up a half a dozen old programmes from the Fergie days circa 76 -78 and Bobby features a lot in them of course. I'd have been 12 - 14 years of age and Bobby was one of my heroes from those days. I've popped a couple of pics on to this post. One is the cover pic from a Spring Cup game against Meadowbank (remember them) and the other is an article from a SPL game in 1978 describing Bobby scoring against Ayr United. 

Brilliant Centre Half.

[eckthesaint]

[Doug Maden]

He was a class act and I would say solid and cultured at same time.

I think it was him that scored one of the best own goals ever. Scored from halfway against Falkirk at old Brockville.

Great player sadly finished too early

[HSS]