Introduction
Robert Hope (born 28 September 1943) is a Scottish former footballer who made more than 400 appearances as a midfielder in the Football League. He played more than 300 league games for West Bromwich Albion where he spent most of his club career. He won two caps for Scotland.
Born in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland, Hope played for West Brom between 1959 and 1972. A cultured, scheming inside-forward, he was the general in the team's midfield throughout the 1960s. Together with Clive Clark on the wing, Hope provided the ammunition for players like Tony Brown and Jeff Astle. Hope enjoyed success during this period, winning the League Cup in 1966 and FA Cup in 1968. He scored Albion's first goal in European competition when he found the net against DOS Utrecht in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup on 2 November 1966.
He moved to Birmingham City in 1972, spending time on loan in the NASL with Philadelphia Atoms and Dallas Tornado, and later played for Sheffield Wednesday and Bromsgrove Rovers. He went on to manage Bromsgrove and Burton Albion. He returned to West Brom as a scout in later years.
Hope won only two full caps for Scotland, perhaps due to the abundance of Scottish midfield talent in this period. Since 2000 he has been West Bromwich Albion's chief scout.
Honours
West Brom
- FA Cup: 1968
- Football League Cup: 1966