Robert Ian Wardle (born 5 March 1955) is an English former footballer who played as a

goalkeeper In many team sports that involve scoring goal (sport), goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie, or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or i ...

Career

Wardle started his career at

Bristol City Bristol City Football Club is a professional football club based in Bristol, England. The team compete in the , the second level of the English football league system. Founded in 1894, the club competed in the Southern League and Western L ...

, however he did not play a professional game before moving to

Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The team currently competes in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1886, the club were inaugur ...

. At Shrewsbury, he would make 131 appearances in his eight years there, earning him a move to

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

, with

Steve Ogrizovic Steven Ogrizovic (born 12 September 1957) is an English football coach, former professional footballer and cricketer. As a player, he was a goalkeeper from 1977 until 2000, the last 16 years of which were at Coventry City. Nicknamed "Oggy", he ...

going to Shrewbury in exchange. However, he did not make a first team appearance at Liverpool, with

Bruce Grobbelaar Bruce David Grobbelaar (born 6 October 1957) is a Zimbabwean former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, most prominently for English club Liverpool between 1981 and 1994, and for the Zimbabwean national team. Regarded as one of ...

being their first choice goalkeeper. He was loaned out to

Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...

and

Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. The team competes in , the fourth level of the English football league system. Founded in 1884 as Belmont Football Club, they ...

before being forced to retire due to an eye injury. A testimonial match in his honour was held at Gay Meadow on 16 December 1986 where his former clubs Liverpool and Shrewsbury played one another. Steve Nicol scored both goals in a 2–0 victory for the visitors.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wardle, Bob 1955 births Living people English men's footballers Men's association football goalkeepers English Football League players Bristol City F.C. players Shrewsbury Town F.C. players Liverpool F.C. players Wrexham A.F.C. players Tranmere Rovers F.C. players Footballers from Halifax, West Yorkshire