Bobby Adams Player Profile

Biography

Larne born winger Bobby Adams played just a single game for Ballymena United in 1950.

During war-time Ulster, Adams caught the attention of the football public in his hometown, scoring goals for Larne Juniors in the Minor League throughout the latter part of the 1943/1944 season whilst only in his mid-teens.

Starring for both Larne Juniors and the Larne Boys’ Auxiliary team (a wartime youth cadet unit) at outside forward. The youngster got his opportunity for a first-team debut with Larne in May 1945 and even scored on his debut in a 6-3 win over Bangor Reserves, as the Invermen had dropped into the Intermediate League instead of competing in the war-time Regional League, which was made up mostly of the Belfast clubs.

In October 1945, Bobby made the move to Belfast Celtic to play for the West Belfast club’s second eleven, but by the end of that same season had gravitated back to the Legion Grounds to play for his native Larne.

The next few years seen Bobby in a state of football flux, appearing for numerous clubs in the East Antrim domain, firstly joining rivals Carrick Rangers in April 1947. In the Summer of 1948, Adams joined Ballycarry of the Intermediate League and by the following season had reappeared at Corran Works, a junior team based in Larne.

Still having only just turned into his twenties, it was at Corran Works where his football career stabilised, as impressive performances attracted the interest of Ballymena United in March 1950 and played the remainder of the 1949/1950 season as a regular in the Reserve team at the Showgrounds.

Adams was quickly re-signed in May 1950 for the following campaign, and despite featuring in the pre-season practice match for the first team, he had to be patient for his opportunity in senior football. In November of the 1950/1951 season, he was called up to the panel for the 4-0 defeat to Glenavon at Mourneview Park and failed to make a meaningful impact on the game which proved to be his only senior appearance for the Braidmen.

Bobby’s time at the Showgrounds fizzled out after that game in Lurgan, and eventually moved to Larne Tech Old Boys in November 1951, which was his last known club of a football career that arguably failed to live up to its early potential during his teenage years.

Career: (1944) Larne; (Oct 1945) Belfast Celtic; (1946) Larne; (Apr 1947) Carrick Rangers; (1948) Ballycarry; (1949) Corran Works; (Mar 1950) Ballymena United; (Nov 1951) Larne Tech Old Boys