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First posted on Facebook,  August 4th, 2016

Happy Birthday to Robert Connor who will turn 56 today. Robert was capped four times for Scotland in a rather puzzling International career that lasted from playing his first game in 1986 and his last in 1990, in an almost random pattern.
Robert who was born in Kilmarnock but started out down the road at Ayr United before moving to Dundee where he won his first Scotland cap in April ‘1986. Robert was given his debut on the same night as Ally McCoist in Scotland’s final warm up game prior to the 1986 World Cup. Both players contributed to a solid Scotland performance against the Netherlands in Eindhoven. The scoreline ended 0-0 but if you watch the You Tube highlights which I will post also; both players showed up well, however, interim Manager Alex Ferguson chose not to take either to Mexico.
Ferguson would though pay, Dundee £275,000 and a player to take the midfielder to Aberdeen in August ’86. Robert’s next cap, once more came abroad as he played nine minutes of a friendly in all places, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in February ‘1988. Robert replaced Frank McAvennie as Scotland played out a 2-2 draw against the Saudi’s with goals from Mo Johnston and John Collins.
Connor would wait another 15 months for his next cap as he was chosen to play against England in the Rous Cup by Andy Roxburgh at Hampden in May ‘ 1989. An ineffectual Scotland lost 2-0 to the Auld Enemy and Robert was replaced by Celtic’s Peter Grant in the 57th minute and once more dropped out of the International scene.
His final cap came in another 16 months later as he faced Romania in September 1990 at Hampden. Despite going behind to an early goal, Scotland would win this vital Euro Qualifier 2-1 with goals from Hearts’ John Robertson on his debut and Ally McCoist. Connor would only play 59 minutes before being replaced by Pat Nevin. A surfeit of really good midfield players would prevent this classy midfielder from adding to his tally. Robert would play with Aberdeen for a few more years before moving on to his hometown club Kilmarnock and finishing with stints at Ayr, Partick Thistle and Queen of the South.
Happy Birthday Robert and all the best.

David Stuart