Rab Stewart

For the Dunfermline and Falkirk player of the 1980s, see Rab Stewart (footballer, born 1962).

Robert Edward Thorburn Stewart (7 October 1932 – 27 September 1992) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a right half, making nearly 150 appearances in the Scottish Football League. After retiring as a player, Stewart became a coach and was the original manager of the Scotland women's national football team.

Rab Stewart

Personal information
Full name	Robert Edward Thorburn Stewart
Date of birth	7 October 1932
Place of birth	Kilmarnock, Scotland
Date of death	27 September 1992 (aged 59)
Place of death	Kilmarnock, Scotland
Position(s)	Right half
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Dreghorn Juniors
1951–1961	Kilmarnock	102	(7)
1961–1962	St Mirren	35	(0)
1962–1963	Ayr United	11	(2)
Total		148	(9)
Managerial career
1972–?	Scotland Women
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Playing career

Stewart began his Scottish Football League career at Kilmarnock in 1951,^[1] starting for Killie in the 1956–57 Scottish Cup final and final replay defeat to Falkirk. Manager Willie Waddell later tried to boost the team's forward line by handing Stewart an attacking position, but during the experiment his regular place at wing half was taken by Frank Beattie.^[2] Stewart moved on to St Mirren,^[3] where he played in their 1961–62 Scottish Cup final defeat, then Ayr United.^[4]

Coaching career

In November 1972, Stewart took charge of the Scotland women's national football team for the first ever official women's international match to take place in Britain, a 3–2 defeat to England at Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock.^[5]

References

1. Neil Brown. "KILMARNOCK : 1946/47 – 2010/11". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
2. David Ross. "A Tribute to Frank Beattie". Kilmarnock FC. Retrieved 7 January 2012. His move to the half-back line where he was to make his reputation came about by accident. Waddell wanted to improve a lacklustre forward line by moving right-half Rab Stewart into attack. Frank replaced Stewart and after five years as an inside-forward never played as an attacker for Killie again.
3. Neil Brown. "ST. MIRREN : 1946/47 – 2010/11". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
4. Neil Brown. "AYR UNITED : 1946/47 – 2010/11". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
5. Owen, Wendy (2005). Kicking Against Tradition. Tempus Publishing. p. 51. ISBN 0-7524-3427-6. ROBERT STEWART, Scottish Manager and former professional footballer with Kilmarnock and St Mirren.