Iles, Bob

Bob Iles

Clubs played for: Bournemouth, Poole Town, Weymouth, Chelsea, Wealdstone, Yeovil Town, Bashley (1973-1990)

Born: 1955

Birthplace: Leicester

Position: Goalkeeper

Biography: Spent five years at the club after a £10,000 move from non-league Weymouth, and was deputy to four different keepers. A decent shot stopper with good hands, he never got the first team run that over 100 appearances for the reserves deserved. Was released and joined Wealdstone where he played at Wembley alongside Stuart Pearce and Vinnie Jones. Now lives back in Dorset where he works as an agent for international yacht brokers. Is a member of Dorset Sailing Club, where he races with his wife. Since retiring from football he has established himself as an accomplished sailor, winning races at a national level.

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Iles, Bob BOB WAS A APPRENTICE AT BOURNEMOUTH AND BOSCOMBE ATHLETIC SAME TIME AS I WAS IN 1970. MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO YOUNGER THAN ME BUT EVEN THEN A GREAT SHOT STOPPER.

23-06-22 terry jones

Iles, Bob We met in Horley on a very wet day. I now live in Suffolk where I am very happy. Regards Janet.
19-01-22 Janet Bayliss

Iles, Bob Bob was really unlucky at Chelsea when money was tight during the late 70s & early 80s before Bates, Weymouth sold him to Chelsea for £10,000[plus another£5,000 when he made 15 appearances] in June 78 by which time he had already trialled in 2 end of season friendliest for the blues on their Summer Scandinavian tour v Voss & Hauger both of Norway. He stayed till Summer 83 before signing for Wealdstone, he played 7 games in Division 1, he played over a 100 games for the reserves and 7 more in Division 2 over the next 3 seasons, having reached14 games he was dropped before he could play his 15th game which would cost poor Chelsea another £5,000 he never played again and moved on to Wealdstone aged 25.
He also played in many friendliest, as sub v New York Cosmos & Moscow Dynamo in 1978,& Charlie Cooke’s Testimonial v Palace& again as sub v Los Angeles Aztecs & in a benefit match for his old team Weymouth in 1979, again as sub against an International Xl for John Dempsey’s Testimonial & starting the game for Chelsea (present) v Chelsea Past Xl for Ron Harris’ Testimonial in 1980 & pre-season frendlies away in Panathiniakos & A.E.K.Athens in Greece & again pre-season for 81/2 season v Flens IF & BK Forward(as sub) & HofersAIF, all Swedish.he played v Welsh team Aberystwyth & mid-season v Hackensack BK of Sweden at our training ground. How do I know all this - I’ve got the programmes! So he got to travel round Europe, played with lots of big star names such as Cruyff & Best, but once Eddie. Niedzwicki signed for 83/4 season& Francis was 2nd choice he moved on down to Wealdstone! What a shame, he could have had a great future at Chelsea, all for £5,000. Look at them now under Abramovic, millions everywhere! David Sawyer
19-11-20 David Sawyer