Presidents Invitation Match Programme
- Media Manager
- Jul 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 1
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Bob's Career
Bob Delgado, born on January 29, 1949, in Cardiff, Wales, is a former Welsh footballer whose journey on the pitch has left a lasting mark.
Standing tall at 6 feet, he showcased his versatility as both a defender and midfielder throughout his career.
Bob started with Cardiff Corinthians, but it was at Barry Town where he truly began to shine. In 1970, he made the leap to Luton Town, although he never got the chance to play there before moving to Carlisle United.
Notably, he became the first Black player to represent both Carlisle United and Rotherham United in the Football League. At Rotherham, he played a key role in their promotion from the Fourth Division during the 1974-75 season.
Fans at Chester adored him for his tenacious playing style. After a brief stint with Port Vale and the Miami Americans, he continued to play in the lower leagues with Oswestry Town and Colwyn Bay, even having an adventure in Hong Kong with Bulova SA. After hanging up his boots Bob went on the manage local side Upton AA before managing Chester Nomads first team and representing the vets XI for many years.
Bob Delgado: Barry Town, Luton Town, Carlisle Utd, Workington Town, Rotherham (capt & promotion) Chester (capt) Port Vale for 30k transfer fee then off overseas to Tampa Bay Rowdies & Seiko Hong Kong before returning to play locally at Colwyn Bay and lastly his beloved Chester Nomads
A word from the lads
Chester Nomads has been in our lives since we were both young children. Both myself in the original U12s and Jacko on the first weekend morning club's which are still ongoing today. To recently be informed that the club were going to name the bottom pitch after the old man means the world. This was where dad used to bring me twice a week when he ran the first team to train on the bottom pitch under the floodlights and where my love for both football and the Nomads began.
The transformation of the club over the years has led to the development of the club as a whole to 7 senior teams and 40 plus junior teams across both lads and girls sections. Seeing the first team eventually find a permanent home down the bottom of the slope is great to see and no better place to watch them play than the top of the bank followed by a few in the clubhouse.
We've had some great games on the pitch over the years and it'll be great to continue to see the first team progress under Joe Cossins on a pitch named after dad.
Just remember to make sure you hit the chuffin' target
Geoff Moss
Bob and i go back to the late seventies (old) when i used to go and watch him play for Chester, one game at Tranmere Rovers sticks in my mind the very prolific Ronnie Moore who scored a hat trick and Bob was not well pleased at the jibes i gave him afterwards as he was on such a good run at the time.
We ran a team together in the Birkenhead Sunday League from a very dubious pub called The Corsair in a very rough area. We finished 2nd which was quite an achievement with the competition form The Queens and The Avenue teams at the time
We enjoyed a close friendship and Bob eventually came to work with myself and Taff Gearie for about 15 years after his career ended in Hong Kong.
Locally he ran the Ring of Bells and then Cherry Orchard FC in Chester where he tells me he discovered a young Steve Smith!!
As this was going on I managed to persuade him to join me in the Nomads veterans team alongside other former Chester players, Gary Talbot, Mike Metcalf, Graham Futcher and Jerry Ireland not forgetting welsh international Mal Williams. Bob's aggressive commanding centre half play was a major factor in the terrific veterans team we put together, winning most games. The joke was when he took someone out "Chuffin Hell Bob'!!
Dan & Jack's squad lists:
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