Tony Hobson (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 February 1940 | ||
| Place of birth | Weymouth, England | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Youth career | |||
| –1958 | Weymouth YMCA | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1958–1976 | Weymouth | 631 | (22) |
| 1976–1979 | Bridport | ||
| 1979–1981 | Portesham United | ||
| 1981–1982 | Portland United | ||
| 1984–198? | Portland United | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1982–1984 | Weymouth Reserves | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Tony Hobson (born 20 February 1940) is an English former footballer and cricketer who played as a forward and later as a defender. He is most well known for his time at Weymouth.[1]
Football career
Weymouth
Hobson spent most of his career with Weymouth and made a record 1076 appearances (938 competitive) for the club while also scoring 32 goals.[2] He initially played as a forward but was later converted into a defender and also played two matches as a goalkeeper.[1][3]
He was promoted to the senior team in 1958 and made his senior debut for Weymouth on 8 October 1958 during a 5–1 victory against Poole Town.[1][4] He then won the 1964–65 and 1965–66 Southern League titles and the 1972–73 Southern Football League Cup with Weymouth.[2]
He was part of the Weymouth teams which reached the 1961–62 FA Cup fourth round and the 1973–74 FA Trophy quarter-finals.[2]
He was released by Weymouth in May 1976.[2][5]
Later career
He joined Bridport in May 1976 and stayed with the club until 1979; he won Player of the Year at the club in 1979.
He then joined Portesham United in 1979 and then Portland United in 1981. He left in 1982 and rejoined again in January 1984.[1]
Managerial career
Hobson managed the Weymouth Reserves between 1982 and January 1984.[1]
Cricket career
He was both a wicket keeper and a batsman for Weymouth.[6] He debuted for Dorset County in 1976.[1]
Personal life
His father also played for Weymouth, having done so between 1930 and 1947.[1]
In December 2022, the Southhill Stand was renamed to the Tony Hobson Stand at the Bob Lucas Stadium in his honour.[7]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | SFL Cup | Other (e.g. FA Trophy)[a] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Weymouth | 1958–59 | Southern Football League South-East Division | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| 1959–60 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
| 1960–61 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 41 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 52 | 7 | |
| 1961–62 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 38 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 1 | |
| 1962–63 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 50 | 1 | |
| 1963–64 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 39 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 57 | 0 | |
| 1964–65 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 1 | |
| 1965–66 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 43 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 67 | 0 | |
| 1966–67 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 63 | 0 | |
| 1967–68 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 43 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 68 | 4 | |
| 1968–69 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 39 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 59 | 4 | |
| 1969–70 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 57 | 0 | |
| 1970–71 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 55 | 1 | |
| 1971–72 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 1972–73 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 57 | 2 | |
| 1973–74 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 37 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 57 | 2 | |
| 1974–75 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 38 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 63 | 0 | |
| 1975–76 | Southern Football League Premier Division | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 65 | 2 | |
| Total | 631 | 22 | 56 | 0 | 75 | 2 | 176 | 2 | 938 | 32 | ||
- ^ Exact competition statistics for "Other" are unknown.
Honours
Football
Weymouth
- Southern Football League: 1964–65, 1965–66; third place 1959–60, 1962–63, 1966–67
- Southern Football League Cup: 1972–73; runner-up 1963–64, 1964–65, 1970–71
Bridport
- Western Football League Cup: 1977–78
- Dorset Senior Cup: 1976–77, 1977–78
Individual
- Bridport Player of the Year: 1979
Cricket
Individual
- Weymouth Player of the Year: 1969
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Whitney, Steve (20 March 2020). "Southern League Legends (Part One)". Southern Football League. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2020) Non-League Club Directory 2021, p512 ISBN 978-1869833848
- ^ Whitney, Steve (19 April 2020). "Famous FA Cup Runs….Weymouth 1961/62". Southern Football League. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "Previous Seasons 1958/59". Weymouth Football Club. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b Asman, Ryan (10 October 2016). "Terras Legends #3 | Tony Hobson". Under the Main Stand. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ "Fond memories of Terras legend Jeff Astle". Dorset Echo. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "Unveiling the Tony Hobson Stand!". Weymouth Football Club. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2025.