Shropshire Star

Final whistle for football ace Rob, 84

A charity fundraiser and shining star of Shropshire's local football scene of yesteryear who once played against the legendary Stanley Matthews has died at the age of 84.

Published
Bob Picken, third from right, with Sir Stanley Matthews, centre, outside Mombasa Stadium in 1956 before they played against each other in a cup match.

Rob Picken was a centre forward who was dubbed "the goalkeeper's nightmare" scoring 616 goals in 10 seasons, and putting the ball into the net 87 times in one season.

Mr Picken, from Ellerdine Heath, died at the Severn Hospice on November 1 and the funeral is on Tuesday, November 21, at 11.30am at Shrewsbury crematorium.

He leaves a widow, Margaret, and family. Mr Picken used to help Margaret in running a charity dog walk, held every two years and starting at "The Tiddly" - the Royal Oak pub in Ellerdine - to raise money for the Severn Hospice.

It raised large amounts - for instance, the 2004 event raised £6,500.

Mr Picken was a plumbing and heating engineer, and also an expert in lead work. He was a keen shot who enjoyed shooting and fishing.

Known during his footballing days as Bob Picken, rather than Rob, he played for Roden, Wellington Town reserves, Chatwood Safe Works, and Dawley, before going to Donnington Wood - which he reckoned was the best amateur football club in the county - in the 1952-53 season and playing the remaining 10 years of his career there.

Through loyalty to the Donnington club he turned down offers to make money out of the game, and the end of his playing career was precipitated by a knee injury.

Speaking in 2013, he recalled his on-field encounter with Sir Stanley Matthews, which happened when Mr Picken was doing his National Service with the 1st Battalion of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry from 1954 to 1956, which included a spell in Kenya.

"When we were overseas Stanley Matthews did a tour over there. He played for an African XI against a European XI. We were the opposing side and beat them 2-1," he said.

He and his teammates were pictured with Sir Stanley before the game at the Mombasa stadium.