I have hugely overlooked what can only be described as the best signing Falkirk FC ever made, in 1910 Blackburn Rovers signed Jock Simpson from Falkirk for about £1850, this was a lot of money in 1910, but Blackburn Rovers also added the League papers of James Robertson.
Often overlooked, but for a free transfer he scored over 100 goals for the club in the next eight years, during a period in which he was often off fighting the Bosch with the Highland Light Infantry.
It was reported in the Falkirk Herald that he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Medal & the Croix de Guerre for his exploits on the Western Front, but I have no way to prove this yet.
Jimmy was a big lad, in an era when most Centre-Forwards were, pictures of him in the team line-up show how bulky he was compared to the other players.
When given a run in the team he scored lots of goals [this necessarily declined from 1914-1919], I reckon without the War he would have been up about Bobby Keyes' number of goals.
After Falkirk he returned to Dunbartonshire, but I don't know how he faired, I, honestly hope he did well
James Robertson
b Alexandria, Dunbartonshire
d Unknown
Debut – Saturday February 18th 1911 v Clyde (H) Scottish League Division 1
Positions – Centre-Forward
Club Honours – Scottish Cup W 1912/13, North-Eastern Cup W 1911/12, RU 1910/11, Dunedin Cup W 1913/14,
Dewar Shield W 1913/14, Falkirk District Charity Cup W 1913/14, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1912/13, 1913/14
Falkirk Leading League Goalscorer 1911/12 [12], 1912/13 [12], 1913/14 [21], 1914/15 [11]
Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [160/75]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [11/2]
Scottish Victory Cup Matches/Goals [2/-]
Minor League Matches/Goals [1/1]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [26/20]
Other Matches [10/8]
Total Matches/Goals [210/106]
Scored [2] on his League Debut
Hat-Tricks – 1 [Division 1 [1]]
Known Career – Vale of Leven [1904/05], Distillery, Blackburn Rovers [1905/06-1907/08], Brighton & Hove Albion [1908/09], Vale of Leven
[1909/10-1910/11], Falkirk [1910/11-1918/19], Dunfermline Athletic [1915/16], Vale of Leven [1918/19-1920/21], Dumbarton Harp
Played for Home-Scots v Anglo-Scots, Scottish International Trial at Glasgow, 18th March 1913
Height - 5 ft 8 in: Weight 13 st 0 lbs [1913]