The 2009 Chieftain is ALEXANDER ROBERT McLEOD better known as Bobby

Bobby was brought up in the family home in Dunrobin Street, Helmsdale where the family owned the ironmongers shop, garage and undertakers. The business called A .R. McLeod & Sons was started by his grandfather (who he is named after). The sons were Jock, who provided the first electricity in the village, George who ran the garage and undertakers, and his father Jimmy, who ran the ironmongers shop and filling station. Jimmy was an outstanding football player, playing for Helmsdale and Brora Rangers. He played war-time football at the highest level against players such as Stanley Matthews.

Bobby for the first 17 years of his life attended Helmsdale Primary and Junior Secondary Schools. Later he travelled to Golspie High School where he studied for his O Levels and Highers. A keen athlete at this time one of his highlights was becoming County Champion at 800 metres. At 18 he left the Highlands to train as a PE teacher at Sunderland Teacher Training College and on qualification worked for a year at a local grammar school there. He became Head of P.E. at a small school in Hartlepool and one year later he was seconded to Carnegie School of PE (Leeds University) to attain his degree. On his return to Hartlepool he was promoted to Head of PE at a large comprehensive school.

During this time Bobby started to invest in property, which slowly grew into a full-time business. He left teaching in1994. Bobby is married to Avril who is a part-time teacher. They have three children. Kristen is a civil servant in Whitehall, Helen is a chartered accountant in London and Mark, who played pro football for Darlington and then changed career direction due to injury is now in his first year at York University studying Economics.

Most of Bobby’s interests have been sporting. He has fond memories of Helmsdale having learnt to swim in the harbour and sea there. He first played tennis on the courts by the harbour and still plays today at a local club in Sunderland. He learnt to play golf at Helmsdale Golf Club where he played with his father Jimmy and other family members.

Undoubtedly the love of his life has been football. At 9 years old he was playing for Helmsdale under 14’s. He was captain of Golpsie School under 18’s team when they won the North of Scotland Cup. From the age of 15 to 18 he was captain of Sutherland and the North of Scotland under 18’s. He also played for Helmsdale United which was in the same league as Brora Rangers, before they joined the Highland League. At 13 he was chosen for the men’s county team and became their captain at 16. At 18 he was offered trials at Sunderland and Newcastle and was offered a part-time contract at Sunderland but decided to accept a part time pro contract at Hartlepool as Brian Clough was manager there and quite persuasive. He made his pro debut aged 18 at Hartlepool. Later he joined senior non league team South Shields, who then became Gateshead. He played fifteen years for them. He was granted a testimonial in 1983 and Brian Clough brought Nottingham Forest up for this shortly after they had won the European Cup.

We welcome Bobby as our Chieftain for 2009 and are delighted to show our appreciation for all his efforts in support of the Games and community over the years.