Robert Newton (born 23 November 1956) is an English footballer. Newton played as a striker for several clubs in the lower divisions of the English Football League during the 1970s and 1980s. He had a five-year spell at Hartlepool United between 1977 and 1982, where he scored 48 goals in 150 league games and was later voted as the club's 'Player of the 1980s'.

Early life Robert Newton was born on 23 November 1956 in New Houghton, a village in Derbyshire. His mother was a cleaner and his father was a lorry driver and had served previously as a soldier. He is one of four children and the only boy.

Career Huddersfield Town Newton began his career at Huddersfield Town with the "Terriers" in 1973–74. Newton was named most valuable player in a world youth competition at 17, but suffered two severe injuries that took him off the field for more than two years. He spent four years at Huddersfield and left to join Hartlepool United in mid-1977 for a fee of £5,000.

Hartlepool United He scored eight goals for Hartlepool in his debut season, including both goals in the club's shock 2–1 victory against Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup.

Off the field, Newton has had two car accidents, including one in 1978 in which his passenger, teammate Dave Wiggett, was fatally injured; he was sentenced to nine months in prison in 1979 after being found guilty of causing death by reckless driving. After the incident he moved to the United States, playing for the New England/Jacksonville Tea Men in the North American Soccer League in 1980 and 1981.

Newton returned to English football and was well received by fans at the Victoria Ground, and for three years, formed a strike partnership with teammate Keith Houchen. In 1981–82, Newton and Houchen each had 18 goals and were Hartlepool's top scorers, with Newton scoring a total of sixty goals with Hartlepool.

Port Vale In September 1982, Newton was transferred to Port Vale for £15,000. He had an immediate impact, winning the Fourth Division Player of the Month award for October. He went on to become the team's top scorer with 22 goals, while the club achieved promotion to the Third Division. "Valiants" manager John McGrath nicknamed Newton and strike partner Ernie Moss as the "Kray twins" due to their dominance of opposition defenders.

Chesterfield The following season, he joined his hometown club Chesterfield, with Martin Henderson and £8,000 going to Port Vale. Newton scored two goals on his debut on 15 October, in a 4–2 win over Rochdale. He spent two seasons at Saltergate and topped the Spireites' goalscoring chart in both seasons, forming a powerful front three with Phil Brown and Ernie Moss. After leaving Chesterfield, Newton returned to Hartlepool in the summer of 1985 for a fee of £17,500 on the promise of better wages.

Later career After his return to Hartlepool, Newton struggled with illness and injury and was limited to two goals in 11 league matches before being loaned to Stockport County and subsequently released. He finished his Football League career at Bristol Rovers in 1987. He then played for the Cyprus-based AEP Paphos and Hong Kong's Eastern and Lai Sun, before returning to England. He later played for several non-League clubs, including Goole Town, Boston United, Alfreton Town and Oakham United.

Post-retirement Since retiring, Newton has been involved in various charity causes. He operated a mobile cafe near Chesterfield for many years. He started a footballing coaching franchise called Schools Football Initiative (SFI) and hosted a radio show in Chesterfield. In December 1986, seven years after being sent to prison for causing death by reckless driving, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was banned from driving for five years and given a suspended prison sentence after speeding through red lights at speeds of 85 mph in Chesterfield whilst twice the legal limit for alcohol. He later worked as a lorry driver before he was again caught drunk driving and handed a 12-month driving ban in December 2007. His son, Lee, was a trainee at Chesterfield. He also has a daughter.

Career statistics

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHuddersfield Town1973–74Third Division401200521974–75Third Division300000301975–76Fourth Division18500001851976–77Fourth Division1722043235Total42732434912Hartlepool United1977–78Fourth Division30355203781978–79Fourth Division238222127111979–80Fourth Division3312110034131980–81Fourth Division2710100028101981–82Fourth Division3415221137181982–83Fourth Division30004070Total1504811109217060New England (loan)1980NASL2114——2114Jacksonville Tea Men (loan)1981NASL253——253Port Vale1982–83Fourth Division4120100042201983–84Third Division72002294Total482210225124Chesterfield1983–84Fourth Division3314331037171984–85Fourth Division451521425118Total782954528835Hartlepool United1985–86Fourth Division1120030142Stockport County (loan)1985–86Fourth Division61000061Bristol Rovers1986–87Third Division80000080Boston United1986–87Conference740000741987–88Conference2062071297Total271020713611Career total41613622163010468162

Honours Individual Football League Fourth Division Player of the Month: October 1982

Port Vale Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1982–83

Chesterfield Football League Fourth Division: 1984–85

References