Robert Hopkins (footballer)

Robert Hopkins
Personal information
Full name Robert Arthur Hopkins[1]
Date of birth (1961-10-25)25 October 1961[1]
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Date of death 11 January 2026(2026-01-11) (aged 64)
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Position Winger
Youth career
1977–1979 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1983 Aston Villa 3 (1)
1983–1986 Birmingham City 123 (20)
1986–1987 Manchester City 7 (1)
1987–1989 West Bromwich Albion 83 (11)
1989–1991 Birmingham City 50 (9)
1991–1992 Shrewsbury Town 27 (3)
1992 Instant-Dict
1993 Colchester United 14 (1)
1993–1999 Solihull Borough
1999–???? Bromsgrove Rovers
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Arthur Hopkins (25 October 1961 – 11 January 2026)[3][4] was an English professional footballer who played as a winger. In 2012, Hopkins was one of seven former players elected to Birmingham City's Hall of Fame.[5]

He played in more than 300 Football League matches for Aston Villa, Birmingham City (in two spells), Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Shrewsbury Town and Colchester United.[6] He also played in Hong Kong for Instant-Dict and for non-League clubs Solihull Borough and Bromsgrove Rovers.

Career

Hopkins was born in the Hall Green district of Birmingham, and started his playing career at Aston Villa, with whom he won the FA Youth Cup in 1980.[7] The 18-year-old made his debut under Ron Saunders in March 1980 in a 2-0 victory at home to Norwich,[8] when he came on as a substitute and scored with his only touch in the game.[9] On 9 Oct 1982, he made his final appearance in a 1-4 defeat to Notts County at Meadow Lane.[8]

Hopkins gained notoriety at Villa for supposedly wearing a Birmingham City badge on his shirt.[9] While at Birmingham, the club he supported from childhood, he helped the club to win promotion to the First Division in 1985 and the Associate Members' Cup in 1991.[7] He also scored the decisive own goal in an embarrassing FA Cup defeat at home to non-league club Altrincham.[10]

Honours

Aston Villa

Birmingham City

Individual

  • Birmingham City F.C. Hall of Fame: inducted 2012[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Robert Hopkins". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack, ed. (1990). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 (21st ed.). Queen Anne Press. p. 84. ISBN 0-356-17911-7.
  3. ^ "Robert Hopkins (1961–2026)". West Bromwich Albion. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  4. ^ Clubs pay tribute to former player Hopkins
  5. ^ a b "The magnificent seven". Birmingham City F.C. 10 March 2012. Archived from the original on 6 December 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Robert Hopkins". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  7. ^ a b Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  8. ^ a b https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/robert-hopkins
  9. ^ a b p111 The Aston Villa Miscellany David Woodhall, 2007. ISBN 1-905326-17-3
  10. ^ Smith, Martin (5 January 2008). "FA Cup third-round: Top 10 giant-killing goals". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
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