We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Motherwell FC Hall of Famer Bobby Graham.
Born in Motherwell, his hugely exciting and successful career started with Liverpool, where he was guided under the late, great Billy Shankly.
Spending eight years at Liverpool and playing over 100 games for the Reds, Graham moved to Coventry City in 1972.
The following year he would return to his hometown to represent his beloved claret and amber.
Finishing as top goalscorer in his maiden season, his second campaign would see him build a formidable partnership with new signing Willie Pettigrew.
Across four seasons, he would play over 180 games for the Steelmen, scoring 48 times.A firm fan favourite and club legend, he was inducted into the MFC Hall of Fame in November 2022.
Graham passes away aged 80, and the thoughts of everyone at Motherwell Football Club are firmly with his family and friends at this sad time.
RIP, Bobby.
Below is the story of Bobby Graham’s career in full. He will always be remembered.
Although Bobby was born and brought up in Motherwell and supported the Steelmen as a kid, he would make his footballing name in the red of Bill Shankly’s Liverpool, joining the Anfield club from Motherwell Bridge Works aged 17.
Shankly had already made the trip to Lanarkshire to secure the signing of Ian St John from Motherwell just six months earlier for a then club-record fee.
Whilst St John was signed as a bona fide first-team starter, Graham, who was six years younger than his compatriot, spent several profitable years in the youth system before breaking into the Reds’ first-team in 1964 and made quite the impression.
He scored on his debut against KR Reykjavík, and then, 12 days later, netted a hat-trick in his first league outing against Aston Villa and followed that with a goal against Sheffield United the following week.
Bobby’s early time at Liverpool was somewhat unfortunate for him, as he found it difficult to dislodge the hugely successful strike partnership of St John and Roger Hunt as Shankly’s side became one of the best ever.
As the 1960s were coming to an end, he had forced his way into a regular starter position, but his ambitions were cut short courtesy of a cruel leg break at Anfield against Chelsea at the start of the 1970/71 season.
His eleven-year Liverpool career came to an end in March 1972 when he moved to Coventry City for £70,000. He stayed at Highfield Road for 18 months, playing 19 games and also being loaned out to Tranmere, where he linked up with Ian St John, who was coaching at Rovers.
So it was therefore little surprise when St John, upon his appointment as Motherwell manager, looked to Bobby to provide guidance up front, and it proved to be a very shrewd decision. Motherwell had to beat off the likes of Portsmouth, Peterborough & Luton Town, who were also vying for his signature, but the draw of coming back home and signing for his boyhood club was too much.
He finished his first full season as the club’s top scorer, but things would really click into gear when a certain young buck by the name of Willie Pettigrew arrived on the first-team scene, almost instantly forming a telepathic partnership with his new strike partner.
The youngster had spent most of the first half of the season on the bench under Willie McLean, but following a ‘play me or sell me’ ultimatum to the manager, the duo were put together for the first time against Ayr United.
Pettigrew, aided by Graham, netted four that day at Fir Park before Celtic came to Lanarkshire the following midweek. Pettigrew got one, Graham got two, and that was the start of a lethal four years together in claret and amber.
As a goalscorer, Graham was often considered second fiddle to Pettigrew in terms of goals, and whilst that is true, the diminutive forward still had a very impressive record. In 172 starts at Fir Park, he netted a total of 48 times and assisted countless others.
For ‘Well fans of a certain vintage, the mid- to late 1970s will be fondly remembered as an exciting, swashbuckling Motherwell side that could live with any team in the country. Sadly, despite the significant talent that was at the club at the time, a winner’s medal would prove elusive, although there were several near misses at the semi-final stages.
Bobby Graham was very much at the core of that. Quick and intelligent with a laser-guided passing ability, he’s the local lad who’s done good, not only in the bright lights of the English top-flight, but also back home at his beloved Fir Park. One of our own, he will be remembered as one of the best to ever grace the Fir Park turf.
