Robert James Irvine (17 January 1942 – 30 June 2026) was a Northern Irish footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Stoke City. His younger brother Willie was a forward for Burnley in the sixties.
Club career Linfield Irvine signed for Linfield as a teenager in 1957 from Carrick Tech and established himself in the first team at Windsor Park when at 16. In the fifties, he featured in some of the south Belfast club's earliest European Cup games.Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats Irvine found disfavour with the Linfield selection committee during the 1960–61 season and at one stage it seemed he would be released.Ibid
Stoke City In June 1963 Irvine transferred to Stoke City for £6,000 and made his debut in the opening game of the season, a 2–1 defeat of Spurs. He lost his place after seven games, however, to Lawrie Leslie and remained out of the side for most of the season. Irvine did pick up a League Cup runners-up medal at the end of his first season. He was largely out of favour in 1964–65, making just one league appearance but returned to the first team the following year. Irvine was given the honour of captaining Stoke in a League Cup tie against Burnley, who were captained in that game by his brother Willie. The idea of them both captaining their sides came from Clarets' manager Harry Potts. The brothers met in the centre circle to shake hands and toss the coin and then played against each other for the first time since schooldays. Irvine's career at the Victoria Ground was brought to an end after an FA Cup third-round game against Walsall. He gave away a penalty that helped the Third Division side to a 2–0 win. Furious with Irvine's antics, manager Tony Waddington never picked him again.NIFG
International career Irvine was capped at both schoolboy and Under 23 level for Northern Ireland before making his senior debut against the Netherlands in Rotterdam in 1962. He was brought in to replace Harry Gregg and would keep his place for the next six international matches. Irvine made his eighth and final international appearance in 1965 against Wales.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsStoke City1963–64First Division11000101201964–65First Division100010201965–66First Division1301030170Career total2501050310
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsNorthern Ireland196250196320196510Total80
Death Irvine died 30 June 2026, aged 84. A statement from Linfield Football Club on 1 July read: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former goalkeeper Bobby Irvine, who passed away last night."Tributes paid as 'Hero of Bilbao' Bobby Irvine dies at 84, Belfast Telegraph (1 July 2026). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
Honours Stoke City Football League Cup runner-up: 1963–64
References
External links Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats