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 best known for his time at Weymouth.
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.Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2020) Non-League Club Directory 2021, p512 He initially played as a forward but was later converted into a defender and also played two matches as a goalkeeper.
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. He then won the 1964–65 and 1965–66 Southern League titles and the 1972–73 Southern Football League Cup with Weymouth.
He was part of the Weymouth teams which reached the 1961–62 FA Cup fourth round and the 1973–74 FA Trophy quarter-finals.
He was released by Weymouth in May 1976.
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 in January 1984. He retired in May 1985 at the age of 45.
Managerial career Hobson managed the Weymouth Reserves between 1982 and January 1984.
Cricket career He was both a wicket-keeper and a batsman for Weymouth; he was Weymouth's Player of the Year in 1969. He debuted for Dorset County in 1976, and was playing in the Minor Counties Championship as late as 1985 and possibly 1986.
Personal life His father T. F. M. Hobson also played for Weymouth, having done so between 1930 and 1947.
In December 2022, the Southhill Stand was renamed to the Tony Hobson Stand at the Bob Lucas Stadium in his honour.
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupSFL CupOther (e.g. FA Trophy)TotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsWeymouth1958–59Southern Football League South-East Division311010511021959–60Southern Football League Premier Division1520020502221960–61Southern Football League Premier Division4163030515271961–62Southern Football League Premier Division3817030305111962–63Southern Football League Premier Division3612050705011963–64Southern Football League Premier Division3903080705701964–65Southern Football League Premier Division2514040403711965–66Southern Football League Premier Division43040401606701966–67Southern Football League Premier Division41020301706301967–68Southern Football League Premier Division43130411816831968–69Southern Football League Premier Division39150401135941969–70Southern Football League Premier Division4203030905701970–71Southern Football League Premier Division4011080605511971–72Southern Football League Premier Division33320301004831972–73Southern Football League Premier Division38110811005721973–74Southern Football League Premier Division37260301105721974–75Southern Football League Premier Division38270301506321975–76Southern Football League Premier Division4002060172652Total63123560752176893833
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