Danskin: Robert (Bob)

1929-1932 (Player Details)

Centre Half

Born: Scotswood, Nr Newcastle: 28-05-1908

Debut v Derby County (h): 02-05-1931

5’8” 11st 7lb (1938)

Danskin a regular Methodist Church-goer, who liked a round of golf, began with Throckley in the East Tyne League before joining Leeds from Wallsend United in May 1929. He found it impossible to dislodge the consistent Ernie Hart and a £2,000 fee took him to Bradford Park Avenue in December 1932. It was not long before he established himself as a regular in the heart of the Park Avenue defence as he started to accumulate the appearances which saw him become one of Bradford's all time stalwarts with over five hundred appearances for the club, in all competitions. He played the entire period of World War Two. He played twenty-one games in 1939-40, scored twice in thirty-one games in 1940-41, scored once in thirty three appearances in 1941-42, made thirty-seven appearances in 1943-44, thirty-six in 1944-45 and thirty in 1945-46. A total of 3 goals in two-hundred and twenty-five appearances in war-time matches. He also found time to assist Huddersfield Town playing once in each of the 1939-40, 1940-41, 1941-42 and 1944-45 seasons. He was still a regular when the Football League resumed after the War and he managed to take his peace-time record to six goals in two hundred and sixty-one League appearances before retiring in June 1948. He later bred pigs and dairy cattle and figured on the post-war Bradford staff as a coach. He came from a family steeped in football tradition. David Danskin, of Arsenal fame, was Bob's Uncle. Another nephew of David Danskin played for the Leeds United reserves as did the nephew's son, Andrew, who was on the Leeds books from 1967 to 1970 and Andrew's son, Matt, featured in the Australian Olyroos and was on the books of Werder Bremen. Bob died in September 1985 in Newcastle.