Bob Kiddle


Robert Sherren Kiddle was an English amateur footballer who played as an inside-forward for Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s.

Football career

Kiddle was born in Southampton and had achieved distinction as a track athlete in his youth. He played football for Southampton Harriers before being recruited to the newly formed Southampton St. Mary's club in 1889. In his first few seasons at the Antelope Ground, he was restricted to friendly matches and local cup tournaments, including winning the Hampshire Junior Cup in 1890 and the Hampshire Senior Cup in each of the following two seasons.
In 1891, "the Saints" made their first appearance in the FA Cup, with Kiddle making "good use of his athletic skills to outpace his opponents" as Southampton defeated Warmley 4–1 in the First Qualifying Round, before meeting Reading. The match ended 7–0 in favour of Southampton, but after the match Reading protested about the ineligibility of two players, Jock Fleming and Sandy McMillan, and consequently Southampton were expelled from the competition.
In 1892–93, Kiddle scored a hat-trick as the Saints defeated Newbury 4–1 in the First Qualifying Round played at the Antelope Ground. In the Second Qualifying Round they played Maidenhead United at the Antelope Ground on 29 October 1892 and suffered a 4–0 defeat — apart from the Hampshire County Cricket Club Charity Cup the previous April, this was the Saints first defeat in a cup match. Kiddle's final FA Cup appearance came in November 1894, when they lost 2–1 at Reading.
Although Southampton were one of the founding members of the Southern League in 1894, it was not until 19 October 1895 that Kiddle made his solitary league appearance, taking the place of Willie Naughton as the Saints crashed 7–3 at Clapton. Kiddle was now past his prime and retired shortly afterwards.

Career outside football

Kiddle was employed as a clerk in Southampton, but little is known about his later life. His son, Russell Sherren Kiddle, was a reserve team player for Southampton in 1919.