Bobby Stokes facts for kids

Robert William Thomas Stokes (born January 30, 1951 – died May 30, 1995) was an English footballer. He is most famous for scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup Final for Southampton in 1976. This big moment happened in the 83rd minute against Manchester United.

Bobby Stokes was born in Portsmouth, England. He spent most of his football career playing for Southampton. He also played for other teams like Portsmouth, Washington Diplomats in the USA, and several non-league clubs before he stopped playing.

Bobby Stokes' Football Journey

Starting His Career

Bobby Stokes was born in Portsmouth on January 30, 1951. He grew up in the Paulsgrove area. As a young boy, he was very good at football. Many clubs wanted him to join their teams.

He tried out for Portsmouth but didn't get in. Instead, he joined Southampton in September 1966 as an apprentice. An apprentice is a young player who trains with the team while learning the game. He became a professional player in February 1968.

Bobby found it a bit hard to get into the main team at first. But he made his first big game appearance on April 7, 1969. He scored two goals in that game against Burnley. Over the next few years, he continued to play well.

The Amazing 1976 FA Cup Final

The year 1976 was a very special one for Southampton. They reached the FA Cup final! Bobby Stokes had scored eight goals in the league that season. He almost left Southampton before the final, but he decided to stay. He later said he didn't want to move to a local rival team.

On the way to the final, Bobby scored a goal against Blackpool in the fourth round. In the fifth round, many Southampton players were sick. But Bobby, even though he was affected, scored a late goal to make the game a 1-1 draw. Southampton won the replay. Then, they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in the semi-final to reach the final.

In the final, Southampton played against First Division team Manchester United. Everyone expected Manchester United to win. But Bobby Stokes scored the only goal of the game! He shot the ball perfectly into the corner of the net, past the Manchester United goalkeeper, Alex Stepney.

At first, some people thought he might have been offside. But replays showed he was not. This goal was a huge moment for Southampton. It remains the club's biggest success ever. Bobby even won a new car for scoring the first goal in the final. But he was the only player in the team who didn't drive!

After the Big Win

After the FA Cup win, Bobby Stokes played one more season with Southampton. He made 11 appearances and scored one goal. In 1977, he left Southampton to join his hometown club, Portsmouth.

When he was 26, Bobby moved to the USA to play for the Washington Diplomats. He played with famous players like Johan Cruyff there. For two years, he spent his summers playing in Washington. In the winters, he played for English non-league clubs like Dartford and Cheltenham Town. After returning to England, he played for a few more non-league teams before he stopped playing football.

Life After Football

After retiring from playing, Bobby Stokes did not become a coach or manager. He ran a pub for a while. Later, he worked at a cafe owned by his cousin in Portsmouth.

Bobby Stokes was very interested in horse racing. He was always a well-liked person in the south coast area. In 1994, Southampton FC held a special event to honor him.

Bobby Stokes passed away on May 30, 1995, when he was 44 years old. He is remembered by Southampton FC. One of the special hospitality suites at the St Mary's Stadium is named after him. Also, Stokes Court, a building where Southampton's old ground used to be, is named in his honor.

Honours

Southampton

• FA Cup: 1975–76