ABSTRACT
The word ‘inspirational’1 has been used to describe one of Middlesbrough’s greatest centre-halves and captains, Bob Baxter. With his square jaw, his sunken eyes and his black, slicked-down hair, Baxter was an imposing figure at the heart of Boro’s defence throughout much of the 1930s. Good in the air and a great tackler, he was a leader both on and off the pitch. His wicked sense of humour was often seen in his own penalty area, as he insisted on dribbling the ball past opposition forwards instead of responding to the shouts and screams of his team-mates to ‘just boot it clear’. Off the field Baxter was known for his ability to impersonate others, including his team-mates. As Boro’s right-half Duncan McKenzie commented in an article published in 1939, ‘Most of the fun at Ayresome is started by skipper Bob Baxter. He could make a living any day with his impersonations, and mimics the boys so well that, at times, it’s like looking into a mirror.’2 As another team-mate, George Hardwick, recalled, ‘He was an inspirational sort of player and also a natural comedian.’3 Baxter is still regarded by many as the club’s best ever captain and was certainly seen as a terrace hero by supporters in the 1930s.
