Robert Smyth McColl


Robert Smyth McColl was a Scottish amateur 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 for Newcastle United. McColl remained in Newcastle for three years and returned 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.

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.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
128 March 1896Solitude Ground, Belfast1–03–3BHC
228 March 1896Solitude Ground, Belfast2–13–3BHC
327 March 1897Ibrox Park, Glasgow3–05–1BHC
426 March 1898Solitude Ground, Belfast2–03–0BHC
518 March 1899The Racecourse, Wrexham2–06–0BHC
618 March 1899The Racecourse, Wrexham5–06–0BHC
718 March 1899The Racecourse, Wrexham6–06–0BHC
825 March 1899Celtic Park, Glasgow1–09–1BHC
925 March 1899Celtic Park, Glasgow4–09–1BHC
1025 March 1899Celtic Park, Glasgow6–09–1BHC
117 April 1900Celtic Park, Glasgow1–04–1BHC
127 April 1900Celtic Park, Glasgow3–04–1BHC
137 April 1900Celtic Park, Glasgow4–14–1BHC