*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Bob Wickens
Appearances: 45+1 Goals: 1
Date / Year of birth: 28th January 1950
Position: Centre-back
Season of first appearance: 1970/71
Season of last appearance: 1971/72
Also played for: Ramsgate Athletic, Herne Bay, Canterbury City and Dover
5' 9" tall, tough-tackling defender who was born in Lichfield.
Bob started his career with Ramsgate, making his debut for them during the 1967/68 season, and captained the Rams' reserve side before moving to Herne Bay.
He joined Margate in December 1970 and immediately became captain of the reserves. On 13.1.71 Bob made his first team debut in a 1-1 draw at Dartford and went on to make 19 appearances (one as sub) before the end of the 1970/71 campaign. The local press described Bob as having "an over-awing physical presence" and he scored one goal - a 20 yard effort in a 5-4 win over Dartford on 10.3.71.
Bob was in and out of the side during the early part of the 1971/72 season but on 20.11.71 he featured in Margate's infamous 11-0 defeat at Bournemouth & Boscombe in the FA Cup 1st Round. He'd made 27 appearances before being undergoing a cartilage operation in February 1972 and by the end of March 1972 he'd recovered. Bob then played in a few reserve team games before the end of the campaign and earlier in the season Bob had been described as "a resolute destroyer" by the local press. In the summer of 1972 he was released.
Bob joined Canterbury for the 1972/73 season and went on to stay at Kingsmead for over four years. He made 105 Southern League appearances for City (five as sub) without scoring before joining Dover for the 1976/77 campaign.
During the 1984/85 season Bob was manager of Thanet United's Under-14 side and he later ran the club's Under-16's too.
In the summer of 1988 he became manager of Ramsgate's Under-18 side before joining Herne Bay as reserve team manager for the 1989/90 campaign. Bob made three substitute appearances for the reserves aged 39 during the early part of the season.
Towards the end of 1989 he took over as manager of Ramsgate and held the position until resigning in October 1991.
In the summer of 1992 Bob returned to Margate to assist with the first and reserve teams for the 1992/93 season.
His brother John played alongside him at Herne Bay, Margate, Canterbury and Dover whilst Bob's sons Brian and Gary later played for Thanet clubs. Brian had a spell at Margate and Gary spent several seasons at Ramsgate.
In 2011 Bob was working as a builder in Margate and in 2015 he emigrated to Thailand.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1970/71 (MFC) |
18 (72) |
1 |
1 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (13TH OF 22) |
1R |
1R |
SF |
QF |
GR |
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1971/72 (MFC) |
27 (69) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (9TH OF 22) |
1R |
1R |
SF |
2R |
GR |
| Played in FA Cup 1st Round (20.11.71 - lost 11-0 at Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic). | |||||||||