Bob Whiting


Robert Whiting, sometimes known as Pom Pom Whiting, was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Chelsea. He made 253 appearances in the Southern League for Brighton & Hove Albion and was a part of the club's 1909–10 Southern League First Division and 1910 FA Charity Shield-winning teams.

Career

Whiting was given the nickname "Pom Pom" due to the strength of his kicks.
In December 1914, four months after the outbreak of the First World War, Whiting enlisted in the Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. After arriving in France in November 1915, Whiting became infected with scabies at the front and was sent to a hospital in Brighton for treatment. As a result of the discovery of his wife's pregnancy and the death of his brother on the Somme in August 1916, Whiting went AWOL. After 133 days he was caught in October 1916 and court-martialled in France in February 1917. A shortage of men due to the Battle of the Somme and Hubert Gough's need for men in the Battle of Arras meant that his sentence of 9 months' hard labour lasted just one week before he rejoined the Football Battalion. He was killed in action whilst assaulting a fortified German position at Oppy Wood during the battleon 28 April 1917 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
After Whiting's death it was rumored that he was shot for desertion. His commanding officer wrote a letter published by The Argus which debunked these claims.

Personal life

Whiting married Sarah "Nellie" Whiting, with whom he had three sons. His second-youngest son, William, later followed in his footsteps to play as a goalkeeper for Tunbridge Wells Rangers.

Honours

Brighton & Hove Albion

Works cited

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