This faded photograph was the last to be taken of Robert Anderson wearing the navy blue and white striped shirt of the original Bootle Football Club. The badge he is wearing had been awarded for representing the Liverpool FA. Anderson had been born on the 13th of May 1861 in the Clyde side town of Dumbarton where, after completing his education, he joined his father working in the local shipyard. During his time there he signed for his local football club who were then amongst the best teams in Scotland. In 1881 & 1882 Dumbarton reach the SFA Cup final and on both occasions were beaten by Queens Park. In April 1883 Dumbarton reached the final for a third consecutive time and were held to a draw by local rivals Vale of Leven at Hampden Park in Glasgow. The replay was arranged - the following Saturday - at the same location and Robert Anderson took part in a game that saw Dumbarton lift the trophy for the first time. During the summer of 1885 he accepted an offer to move South and join Bootle who found him employment as a Boilermaker.

The Scot took part in the opening game against the 1883 FA Cup winners, Blackburn Olympic and was a regular player throughout a season that saw his side reach the final of the Liverpool Senior Cup. They were, however, beaten 1-0 by Everton on the home of the Stanley club at Walton Stiles. Next season Bootle made a couple of astute signings - one of whom was the former captain of Scotland Andrew Watson - and reach the last eight of the FA Cup competition.

On the 7th of March 1888, Anderson was in the Bootle side that were beaten 2-0 by the Old Carthusians at the Oval Cricket Ground. It was the first time a team from Merseyside had played an FA Cup tie in the Capitol. Next month Bootle again reached the final of the local knockout and Anderson was amongst the goal scorers as they beat Stanley 3-0 in a game that was held at the Liverpool Athletic Club in Fairfield. The Scot then retired from the game, was granted a benefit match, and became a match official.

The former Dumbarton man was now spending his social life amongst the local Scottish community where he met and married Mary McPherson who had been born at Lanark. The 1911 census finds the couple. who now have 2 children, living at 11 Wyndham Street in Kirkdale where the head of the household is still working as a Boilermaker. Robert Anderson was residing at Middlesex Street in Bootle when he died in August 1940 and was buried in Kirkdale Cemetery.

Tony Onslow.