After a decade of being our leading Licht, our legendary winger Bobby Linn is saying goodbye to Gayfield.
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Within the world of football, if you are lucky, you perhaps once in a lifetime get to witness a player who is classed as legendary or iconic.
For many Arbroath supporters, Bobby Linn has been that once in a lifetime iconic legend, and it is with a heavy heart that we announce that Bobby is to leave the Lichties after 10 seasons, 374 Competitive appearances and an incredible 86 competitive goals.
It was just under 10 years ago in June 2013 when Paul Sheerin signed Bobby Linn for Arbroath, and alongside current team mate Ricky Little, they both made their debuts on a very warm and sticky Edinburgh afternoon on Saturday 6th July 2013 in a friendly against Craigroyston Football Club.
It was a tough debut season in League One in 2013/2014 and Arbroath ended up being relegated to League Two, but as he would go on to prove, time and time again, Bobby would be player who could provide a moment of magic and help his team either with a goal, normally in the spectacular fashion, or an assist.
In his first full season, Bobby netted his first Arbroath goal in a 3-2 friendly win over Lossiemouth before opening the scoring in his first competitive match in a 4-4 game after extra time against Stenhousemuir in the Ramsdens Cup.
Although, perhaps it was Bobby’s goal at Ibrox which was the one to savour, as he left Lee McCulloch on the deck as he ran forward before slotting past Cammy Bell to silence the home support. 39 Competitive appearances and 7 goals. A great return, and a sign of things to come for Linn and Arbroath. Bobby Linn also won player’s player of the year with over 3/4 of the votes and was named TASC Player of the Year.
Season 2013/2014 also produced one of the most iconic videos which highlighted the true brutality of the weather at Gayfield as Bobby and Alan Cook were hit by a wave as they took a corner kick!
The new season 2014/2015 in League 2 started so well with Arbroath running away with the League come January with friends Simon Murray and Paul McManus joining Bobby in attack. As the season progressed Arbroath lost momentum and eventually lost out to Queen’s Park at Hampden in the play-offs, but Bobby still was leading the way with 13 more goals in 45 appearances. It was these stats that seen him voted the PFA Scotland League 2 Player of the Year and was named in the PFA Scotland team of the Year alongside Simon Murray.
The following season of 2015/2016 was another challenging season as Arbroath struggled in League 2, but again it was on those dark days that Linn was the Licht for his team and supporters and despite the team finishing 9th under the guidance of new Manager Dick Campbell, it was another 13 goals for Bobby in 38 appearances. For the second season in succession Bobby was named in the PFA Scotland League Two Team of the Season alongside Ricky Little.
For Season 2016/2017 a new team had been recruited by the Campbell’s and everything clicked but with Forfar Athletic opening up a large gap it was Arbroath who came together and hunted them down with a magical afternoon in Stirling one that all Arbroath supporters will remember forever as Arbroath picked up only their second ever League win.
It was fitting that Bobby provided the cross from Martin Scott to head home the opening goal and the vital point needed for League success. Once again Bobby had provided numerous assists and netted another 7 goals in 38 appearances.
It was a hat-trick of PFA Scotland Team of the Year appearances as Bobby was named in the team for the 3rd consecutive season with his Arbroath team mates Ricky Little, Colin Hamilton and Steven Doris.
The test of League One in 2017/2018 was a big one, and despite an incredible 3rd place finish in their debut season, it was a cruel end after defeat in the Championship semi-finals against Dumbarton which seen the Lichties back playing in League One for the 2018/2019 season but again Bobby had netted 7 goals in 38 games.
Perhaps, like all good stories there are games and moments set for our hero and the opening day of the 2018/2019 season was one of those games. Montrose, our local rivals celebrating their own League Two Title win, and as they unfurled their flag, the Angus Derby kicked off.
A brace from Bobby, including the iconic images of leaping onto the Links Park wall celebrating in front of his adoring Arbroath fans, before celebrating his 83rd minute goal with a Ronaldo esq celebration in front of the Montrose fans who had berated him all afternoon, well it was the start of a special season.
From that first game Arbroath led League One for all 36 games, and it was a season that belonged to Bobby Linn. He netted 3 hat-tricks, including 2 against Forfar Athletic with that infamous incredible hat-trick free-kick, and another against Airdrieonians for a very special season.
A League One medal, his second in 3 seasons, but an incredible 23 goals in 39 appearances and being appreciated by his peers as he was voted the PFA League One Player of the Year by his League One fellow players and named for the 4th time in a PFA Scotland team of the year alongside Jason Thomson, Ricky Little, Thomas O’Brien and Gavin Swankie.
Championship Football awaited and the 2019/2020 season kicked off with one of the toughest Championships with both Dundee and Dundee United pushing for promotion.
The winning goal against Alloa Athletic after game 3 gave Arbroath their first Championship win, before Bobby netted the winning penalty over Dundee United at Tannadice to give Arbroath the win in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup.
Another winning goal over Greenock Morton, and perhaps the most special goal came in the home draw against Dundee at Gayfield on the 7th December.
Nobody could have predicted how a global pandemic would end the season so quickly, but it was 8 more goals for Bobby in 33 appearances as Arbroath finished 5th in their debut season in the Scottish Championship.
Season 2020/2021 was incredibly difficult for everyone in Scottish Football as supporters had to stay at home, whilst a shortened season started in October made it more challenging for part-time players.
With Heart of Midlothian and Dundee in the league it was a challenge but as Bobby made his 300th appearance against Falkirk in the Scottish Cup, it was also an unfortunate one for Bobby as a heavy impact on his knee seen him stretchered off. Thankfully it wasn’t as bad as initially feared and it was another 25 appearances for Bobby and 1 goal against Queen of the South.
Season 2021/2022 and Arbroath had a season like no other, just 30 minutes away from the history books, but it wasn’t to be. It was an incredible season for the supporters and for the team and Bobby became the architect for Anton Dowds, Craig Wighton, Jack Hamilton and Joel Nouble as the team came together to defy the odds.
Surging past the 300 appearances mark, Bobby made another 31 appearances with another goal.
His 10th season with the Club and a well-deserved testimonial game, it was the fourth season in the Scottish Championship for season 2022/2023.
It was a tough season for everyone at the Club, but the tenacity and fight shown to survive will be looked back when the dust settles as another huge achievement.
Bobby started the season on fire with 2 stunning goals against FC Edinburgh, with another screamer in the friendly against AFC Fylde and yet scored another stunning goal against Dundee in the draw at Gayfield in October, and his staring performance set up a Scottish Cup tie against Motherwell as his double knocked out Fraserburgh.
A man of the match vintage performance against Hamilton Accies showed that Bobby Linn has and always will have that magic, and with 7 goals ended joint top goal-scorer with Michael McKenna making another 42 appearances.
374 Competitive appearances, 86 competitive goals, even more in friendly matches and dozens upon dozens of assists, we can’t quite believe that it is coming to an end.
Arbroath Chairman Mike Caird went on record to say “I’m sure that I can speak for all my fellow Directors and our thousands of supporters when I say that’s it’s been an absolute pleasure to have witnessed first-hand Bobby’s tremendous contribution over the past 10 seasons to get this football club to where it is now.”
He has been not only the most exciting player that I have seen in my 25 years to have pulled on the maroon strip but is also a fantastic ambassador for Arbroath Football Club and a true legend.
It goes without saying that I wish Bobby all the best with whatever he decides to do in the future and he will always be welcome back home anytime where I’m sure he will get a hero’s welcome.”
An emotional Bobby also expressed his thoughts;
“Being at Arbroath has been the most memorable part of my career. I love this club. I always will.
It’s an emotional moment to leave the club but I’m certainly not going to be a stranger. I feel part of the family here. My kids and my whole family feel part of it. They’ve always felt welcomed here.
I want to thank everyone for their love and support over the years.
It’s a truly special club and I feel we’ve grown together from the humble days of 300 and 400 fans in League Two to keeping this club in the Championship for five successive seasons in front of over 2,500 of our own fans.
I’ll never forget my days here but I can maybe come back, stand on the terrace and hurl abuse at some of the players!”
The truth is Bobby has given much more to Arbroath than his appearances, goals, celebrations, awards and winners medals. He has given us 10 years of his life, training, traveling and the dedication that goes with that. Eating healthy, the gym sessions, the boxing sessions, keeping himself fit and healthy season after season.
He has inspired thousands of young Lichties and been an ambassador for the Club throughout his tenure.
More than that is we have got to know Bobby. His cheeky smile, his huge personality and kindness and over those years he has given his time for countless selfies, autographs, chats with supporters, posing for the newest kit, podcasts, vlogs, and so much more.
A family man, who can and will always have the Arbroath supporters as his extended family and most certainly a future Arbroath FC Hall of Famer.
Bobby Linn – Thank you!
