Bob Bonthron

Bob Bonthron

Personal information
Full name	Robert Pollock Bonthron
Date of birth	1880
Place of birth	Burntisland, Scotland
Height
Position(s)	Right-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Raith Athletic
1900–1902	Raith Rovers
1902–1903	Dundee
1903–1907	Manchester United	119	(3)
1907–1908	Sunderland	23	(1)
1908–1910	Northampton Town
1910–1911	Birmingham	11	(1)
1911	Airdrieonians
1911–19??	Leith Athletic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Pollock "Bob" Bonthron (1880 – after 1911) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a right-back for Manchester United, Sunderland and Birmingham in the Football League.

Bonthron was born in Burntisland, Fife. He played for Raith Rovers and Dundee before joining Manchester United in May 1903. He helped them to promotion to the First Division in the 1905–06 season, and made a total of 134 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring three goals. He was a combative player, and during the promotion season was at the centre of a serious incident after Manchester United's match at Bradford City. His treatment of Bradford player Jimmy Conlin during the match enraged the crowd, and after the game Bonthron was attacked by home supporters. Criminal charges followed against the perpetrators, and a Football Association (FA) inquiry resulted in the temporary closure of Bradford City's Valley Parade ground.

He joined Sunderland in May 1907, playing 24 games, before moving on the following year to Northampton Town, with whom he won the Southern League championship in the 1908–09 season. He spent the 1910–11 season with Birmingham before returning to Scotland with Airdrieonians and Leith Athletic.