Bob McColl

The only player to score a hat-trick against each of the other home nations; founder of RS McColl and Rangers' 1904 centre forward.

Robert Smyth McColl (13 April 1876 – 25 November 1959) was a Scottish centre forward whose career bridged the amateur and professional eras of early football. After starting with Benmore in 1892, he played for Queen's Park before a three-year stint with Newcastle United on Tyneside. He returned to Glasgow in 1904 to play for Rangers, where his time was marked by a pivotal return to amateur status in 1907 when he rejoined Queen's Park. A prolific scorer for Scotland, McColl is best remembered today as the founder of the RS McColl newsagent chain and holds a unique scoring record against all other home nations.

Quick Facts

International caps: 13
Goals in penultimate game: 6
Age at death: 83

Lore & Background

McColl's journey began at junior club Benmore in 1892, moving to Queen's Park in 1894. His career took a professional turn when he joined Newcastle United, staying on Tyneside for three years before returning to Glasgow in 1904 to play for Rangers. This period was followed by a significant administrative hurdle; upon his return to Queen's Park in 1907, the club's board had to decide on restoring his amateur status. His international career with Scotland was equally remarkable: he played 13 games and scored exactly 13 goals. He achieved the rare feat of scoring a hat-trick against each of the other home nations, a distinction no other player holds. Inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in November 2011, his legacy extends beyond the pitch to the business world.

Reader's Guide

For historians tracking McColl's timeline, note his start at Benmore (1892), Queen's Park (1894), Newcastle United (three years on Tyneside), Rangers (from 1904), and the return to Queen's Park in 1907. His international tally is precise: 13 caps, 13 goals. Honours include the Sheriff of London Charity Shield (shared, 1899) and Glasgow Cup (1898–99) with Queen's Park, plus shared Home Championships with Scotland in 1896, 1897, 1900, 1902, and 1908. His unique hat-trick record against all other home nations remains a key statistical footnote for any study of Scottish football history.

Did You Know?

His six-goal performance against Port Glasgow Athletic in his penultimate game remains a Scottish scoring record.
He founded the RS McColl newsagent chain with his brother Tom in 1901, earning the nickname 'Toffee Bob'.
He served as a sergeant in the Royal Army Service Corps during the First World War.