Robert Smyth McColl


Robert Smyth McColl was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre forward.

Playing career

McColl started his career with junior club Benmore in 1892 and moved to Queen's Park in 1894. He represented the Scottish League in 1901. He later played professionally in England for Newcastle United, remaining on Tyneside for three years until he came back to Glasgow in 1904 to play for Rangers. He returned to Queen's Park in 1907, although the restoration of his amateur status had to be decided by the board of the club beforehand. McColl finished his football career in 1912, scoring 6 goals in his penultimate game against Port Glasgow Athletic, a Scottish scoring record which stands to the present day.
McColl played 13 games and scored 13 goals for the Scotland national football team and he was inducted into the Scottish [Football Hall of Fame] in November 2011. He is the only player to have scored a hat-trick against each of the other home nations.

Personal life

McColl is now better known for lending his name to the newsagent chain RS McColl, which he set up in 1901 with his brother Tom; due to this, he became known as Toffee Bob. He served as a sergeant in the Royal Army Service Corps during the First World War.

Death

McColl died in 1959, aged 83. He is buried in Cathcart Cemetery in southern Glasgow.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.28 March 1896Solitude Ground, Belfast1–03–31895–96 British Home Championship-
2.28 March 1896Solitude Ground, Belfast2–13–31895–96 British Home Championship-
3.27 March 1897Ibrox Park, Glasgow3–05–11896–97 British Home Championship-
4.26 March 1988Solitude Ground, Belfast2–03–01897–98 British Home Championship-
5.18 March 1899Racecourse Ground, Wrexham2–06–01898–99 British Home Championship-
6.18 March 1899Racecourse Ground, Wrexham5–06–01898–99 British Home Championship-
7.18 March 1899Racecourse Ground, Wrexham6–06–01898–99 British Home Championship-
8.25 March 1899Celtic Park, Glasgow1–09–11898–99 British Home Championship-
9.25 March 1899Celtic Park, Glasgow4–09–11898–99 British Home Championship-
10.25 March 1899Celtic Park, Glasgow6–09–11898–99 British Home Championship-
11.7 April 1900Celtic Park, Glasgow1–04–11899–1900 British Home Championship-
12.7 April 1900Celtic Park, Glasgow3–04–11899–1900 British Home Championship-
13.7 April 1900Celtic Park, Glasgow4–14–11899–1900 British Home Championship-

Honours

Queen's Park
Scotland