Robert Hopkins (footballer)

Robert Arthur Hopkins (born 25 October 1961) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger.

Robert Hopkins

Personal information
Full name	Robert Arthur Hopkins[1]
Date of birth	(1961-10-25) 25 October 1961 (age 63)[1]
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
1977–1979	Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1979–1983	Aston Villa	3	(1)
1983–1986	Birmingham City	123	(20)
1986–1987	Manchester City	7	(1)
1987–1989	West Bromwich Albion	83	(11)
1989–1991	Birmingham City	50	(9)
1991–1992	Shrewsbury Town	27	(3)
1992	Instant-Dict
1993	Colchester United	14	(1)
1993–19??	Solihull Borough
1999–????	Bromsgrove Rovers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hopkins was born in the Hall Green district of Birmingham, and started his playing career at Aston Villa his longest club he played for with whom he won the FA Youth Cup in 1980.^[3] He played in more than 300 Football League matches for Aston Villa, Birmingham City (in two spells), Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Shrewsbury Town and Colchester United.^[4] He also played in Hong Kong for Instant-Dict and for non-League clubs Solihull Borough and Bromsgrove Rovers. While at Birmingham, the club he has supported since childhood, he helped the club to win promotion to the First Division in 1985 and the Associate Members' Cup in 1991.^[3] He also scored the decisive own goal in an embarrassing FA Cup defeat at home to non-league club Altrincham.^[5]

In 2012, Hopkins was one of seven former players elected to Birmingham City's Hall of Fame.^[6]

Honours

Aston Villa

• FA Youth Cup: 1979–80
• Southern Junior Floodlit Cup: 1979–80

Birmingham City

• Football League Second Division runners-up: 1984–85
• Associate Members' Cup: 1990–91

Individual

• Birmingham City F.C. Hall of Fame: inducted 2012^[6]

References

1. "Robert Hopkins". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
2. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1990). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 (21st ed.). Queen Anne Press. p. 84. ISBN 0-356-17911-7.
3. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
4. "Robert Hopkins". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
5. Smith, Martin (5 January 2008). "FA Cup third-round: Top 10 giant-killing goals". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
6. "The magnificent seven". Birmingham City F.C. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2018.