- Birthdate: 22 November 1944
- Birthplace: Motherwell, Scotland
- Other clubs: Coventry City (1972-73), Tranmere Rovers (loan 1973), Motherwell (1973-77), Hamilton Academical (1977-81), Shotts Bon Accord
- Bought from: Motherwell Bridge Works (youth)
- Signed for LFC: Joined 1960 - Professional November 1961
- Liverpool debut: 14.09.1964
- Last appearance: 26.02.1972
- Debut goal: 14.09.1964
- Last goal: 26.02.1972
- Contract expiry: 09.03.1972
- Win ratio: 45.26% W:62 D:38 L:37
- Games/goals ratio: 3.26
- Total games/goals opposite LFC: 1 / 0
- League games / goals: 103 / 31
- Total games / goals: 137 / 42
Player Profile
Graham had three seasons in Liverpool reserves, scoring 16 goals in 40 matches in 1963/64, before scoring in his long-awaited first-team debut for the club in Liverpool's first European home game against KR Reykjavik on 14 September 1964. His League debut 12 days later was one of the best-ever in the history of the club as he scored a hat-trick as Liverpool thrashed Aston Villa 5-1 at Anfield two months before his twentieth birthday. He scored in the following game as well as well against Sheffield United but his explosive start fizzled out and he only played 12 matches in the next three seasons.
Graham won a regular place in the side in April 1969 when Roger Hunt and Ian St John were disappearing into the sunset and played all 54 games in the 1969/70 season. After a promising start to the 1970/71 season, he fell awkwardly on the Anfield turf when Chelsea were the visitors early in October and was carried off with a broken leg. John Toshack was signed from Cardiff City only weeks later and Kevin Keegan arrived from Scunthorpe the following spring. Graham's days at Liverpool were numbered and he moved on to Coventry City where he stayed 18 months, playing only 19 games and also being loaned out to Tranmere, before joining his hometown club, Motherwell, signing for his former teammate, Ian St John. Graham enjoyed much success on his return north of the border and scored 37 goals in 132 league matches for Motherwell between 1973-1977. He was signed by neighbours Hamilton Academical for a club record fee of £15,000 in 1977 and added 42 goals in 115 league matches in four years as well as being the club's assistant manager.
Appearances per season
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
7 |
594 |
Manchester City |
7 |
557 |
Leicester City |
7 |
519 |
WBA |
7 |
480 |
Leeds United |
6 |
540 |
Coventry City |
6 |
540 |
West Ham United |
6 |
540 |
Nottingham Forest |
6 |
540 |
Sheffield United |
6 |
540 |
Manchester United |
6 |
469 |
Chelsea |
5 |
450 |
Ipswich Town |
5 |
450 |
Southampton |
4 |
360 |
Stoke City |
4 |
346 |
Burnley |
4 |
314 |
Tottenham |
4 |
290 |
Wolves |
3 |
270 |
Crystal Palace |
3 |
234 |
Arsenal |
3 |
229 |
Everton |
2 |
210 |
Mansfield Town |
2 |
180 |
Servette |
2 |
180 |
Newcastle United |
2 |
180 |
Sunderland |
2 |
180 |
Aston Villa |
2 |
180 |
Huddersfield Town |
2 |
180 |
Derby |
2 |
180 |
Sheffield Wednesday |
2 |
180 |
Watford |
2 |
180 |
Ferencvaros |
2 |
148 |
Dundalk |
2 |
121 |
Vitoria Setubal |
2 |
110 |
Bayern Munich |
2 |
99 |
QPR |
1 |
90 |
Ajax |
1 |
90 |
Wrexham |
1 |
90 |
KR Reykjavík |
1 |
90 |
Petrolul Ploiesti |
1 |
90 |
Birmingham City |
1 |
90 |
Fulham |
1 |
90 |
Blackpool |
1 |
48 |
Athletic Bilbao |
1 |
20 |
Oxford United |
1 |
19 |
Hull City |
Total |
Started/substitutions |
125 |
Started |
34 |
On the bench |
12 |
Substitute |
11 |
Substituted |
Total |
Venue |
69 |
Away |
68 |
Home |
Goals per season
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
14.09.1964 |
KR Reykjavík |
Anfield |
Europe |
50 |
30.08.1969 |
Sheffield Wednesday |
Hillsborough |
League |
100 |
22.08.1970 |
Huddersfield Town |
Anfield |
League |
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
65 |
14.09.1964 |
KR Reykjavík |
Anfield |
Europe |
Related Articles
The Coventry Evening Telegraph on Coventry City - Liverpool on 07.01.1970.
Forty years ago Liverpool played their first European game at Anfield Road.
Scrapbook
Focus on Bobby Graham from the 1970/71 season
Graham finally settling in - from the 1969/70 season
Graham floors Ipswich! - 29 March 1971
Graham showdown - 7 September 1971
In and out but happy - Football Monthly November 1969
LFC Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
Poster from Jimmy Hill Football Weekly
Poster of Bobby Graham - Football Monthly November 1969
Poster of Bobby Graham - Goal magazine
The best start-of-season player in Britain - from 1971/72
The day I caught a star!
The in and out career of Bobby Graham
Three debut goals for Graham
Two-goal Graham in bid for final - 26 April 1971
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Coventry City |
1971-1972 |
England First Division |
13 |
2 |
13 |
2 |
Coventry City |
1972-1973 |
England First Division |
6 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
Tranmere Rovers |
1972-1973 |
England Third Division |
10 |
3 |
10 |
3 |
Motherwell |
1973-1974 |
Scotland Division 1 |
33 |
13 |
39 |
15 |
Motherwell |
1974-1975 |
Scotland Division 1 |
32 |
11 |
44 |
15 |
Motherwell |
1975-1976 |
Scotland Premier League |
34 |
5 |
44 |
8 |
Motherwell |
1976-1977 |
Scotland Premier League |
33 |
8 |
40 |
9 |
Hamilton Academical |
1977-1978 |
Scotland Division 1 |
38 |
10 |
43 |
11 |
Hamilton Academical |
1978-1979 |
Scotland Division 1 |
38 |
18 |
40 |
18 |
Hamilton Academical |
1979-1980 |
Scotland Division 1 |
30 |
11 |
35 |
14 |
Hamilton Academical |
1980-1981 |
Scotland Division 1 |
12 |
3 |
14 |
3 |
Shotts Bon Accord |
1981- |
Scotland |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Total |
279 |
85 |
328 |
99 |