The fourth inductee into the Motherwell Football Club Hall of Fame, class of 2022, is Bobby Graham.
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 Shankley’s Liverpool, joining the Anfield club from Motherwell Bridge Works aged 17.
Shankley 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 bonafide 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 then, 12 days later, netted a hat-trick in his first league outing against Aston Villa then followed that with a goal against Sheffield United the following week.
Bobby’s early time at Liverpool was somewhat unfortunate for himself 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 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 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 an ‘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 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, that 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 illusive although there were several near misses at the Semi Final stages.
Bobby Graham was very much at the core of that. Quick, intelligent with a laser-guided passing ability, he’s the local lad who done good, not only in the bright lights of the English top-flight, but back home at his beloved Fir Park. One of our own, and now rightfully in the Motherwell FC Hall of Fame.
Our highly-anticipated Hall of Fame dinner will welcome its fourth batch of inductees later this month
The event, launched in 2019, has already paid special tribute to the legendary names of the club’s long and distinguished history.
For the first time, the dinner will take place at Dalziel Park Hotel on Friday 18 November, with host Tam Cowan inducted five new names, with Bobby joining the already-announced Keith Lasley, Willie MacFadyen and Tommy Coyne.
The event is priced at £64 for adults and £30 for children aged under 12.
You can buy tickets for the dinner online here now or contact the commercial department on 01698 338 011.
The final legend of the 2022 class of inductees will be revealed shortly, joining:
2019 intake |
2020 intake |
2021 intake |
George Stevenson |
John ‘Sailor’ Hunter |
Bobby Ferrier |
Willie Pettigrew |
Andy Paton |
John Martis |
Ally Maxwell |
Joe Wark |
Tommy McLean |
Phil O’Donnell |
Davie Cooper |
Stevie Kirk |
James McFadden |
Steven Hammell |
Stephen Craigan |
* Please note that some of the colourful language on the night may not be appropriate for young children or those easily offended.