Bob Batey

Norman Robert (Bob) Batey was born in Greenhead on 18th October 1912. A wing half he played non-league football before joining Carlisle United in 1932. Over the next two years he played 11 games for the club.

In 1936 he joined Preston North End. He replaced Bill Tremelling when the centre-half got injured in the 1936-37 season. However, the form of Jimmy Milne and Bill Shankly meant he only played 14 games that season.

That year Preston challenged Arsenal for the First Division title. In the final match of the season the two teams played each other. During the game Jimmy Milne broke his collarbone in a collision with Alf Kirchen. Ten man Preston lost 3-1 and Arsenal won the championship.

Bob Batey replaced Jimmy Milne for the 1938 FA Cup Final against Huddersfield Town. This was the first time that a whole match was shown live on television. Even so, far more people watched the game in the stadium as only around 10,000 people at the time owned television sets. No goals were scored during the first 90 minutes and so extra-time was played. In the last minute of extra-time, Bill Shankly put George Mutch through on goal. Alf Young, Huddersfield's centre-half, brought him down from behind and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Mutch was injured in the tackle but after receiving treatment he got up and scored via the crossbar. It was the only goal in the game and Batey won a cup winner's medal.

Bob Batey also deputised for Jimmy Milne in the 1938-39 season. He also played in the first three games of the 1939-40 season that was brought to an end by the outbreak of the Second World War. Since arriving at the club he played in 93 matches.

In 1946 Batey joined Leeds United. He only played eight games before joining Southport in 1947. At the end of that season he retired from professional football.

Bob Batey died in 1962.