Robert Samuel Fairman (13 July 1883 – 1968) was an English footballer who played as a full back or wing half. He scored two goals in 38 appearances in the Football League over two spells for Birmingham,[1] and played 90 Southern League matches for West Ham United.[4]

Bob Fairman
Personal information
Full name Robert Samuel Fairman[1]
Date of birth 13 July 1883[2]
Place of birth Southampton, England[1]
Date of death June 1968 (age 84)[1]
Place of death Abingdon, Berkshire
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Full back, wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Southampton 0 (0)
1907–1909 Birmingham 22 (2)
1909–1912 West Ham United 90 (0)
1912–1917 Birmingham 16 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Fairman was born in Southampton, Hampshire. He began his football career with Southampton, although he never played a first-team match, before joining Birmingham in 1907.[5] He played regularly at left half at the start of the 1908–09 season, but lost his place when the club signed Thomas Daykin,[6] and he moved to West Ham United, then a Southern League club, at the end of the season. He spent three years with West Ham, playing more than 100 games in all competitions, before returning to Birmingham in 1912.[4] He played little first-team football after his return, and retired from the game in 1917.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Joyce, Michael (2012) [2002]. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-905891-61-0.
  2. ^ 1939 England and Wales Register
  3. ^ "The coming of the big ball: the Second Division: Birmingham". Athletic News. Manchester. 18 August 1913. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ a b "Robert Fairman". westhamstats.info. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  5. ^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  6. ^ Matthews, pp. 82, 155.
  7. ^ Matthews, pp. 86, 159–61.