Bobby Mimms

Football player infobox
playername= Bobby Mimms


fullname = Robert Andrew Mimms
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1963|10|12|df=y
cityofbirth = York
countryofbirth = England
position = Goalkeeper
currentclub =
years = 1981–1985
1985–1988
1987 1988–1990
1989–1990
1990–1996
1996–1996
1996–1997
1997–1998
1998–2000
2000–2001

clubs = Rotherham United
Everton
→ Manchester City (loan)
Tottenham Hotspur
→ Aberdeen (loan)
Blackburn Rovers
Crystal Palace
Preston North End
Rotherham United
York City
Mansfield Town
caps(goals) = 083 (0)
029 (0) 003 (0)
037 (0)
006 (0)
126 (0)
001 (0)
027 (0)
043 (0)
053 (0)
045 (0)
nationalyears = 1985–1986
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 003 (0)

Robert Andrew "Bobby" Mimms (born 12 October 1963) is an English former football goalkeeper.

Career

Bobby Mimms, as he is commonly known, began his footballing career as an apprentice at Halifax Town, however he found it difficult breaking into the first team and joined Rotherham United in November 1981 for a fee of £15,000. During the 1980s, Mimms played for no less eight different clubs, as managers were reluctant to give the young goalie a chance. However, due to an injury to Neville Southall, Mimms played in goal for Everton for a large part of the 1985/86 season. Everton finished runners up in the league championship and Mimms also played in the FA Cup Final of 1986. Everton lost 3-1 against Merseyside rivals, Liverpool.

He got his second big break in December 1990, when Blackburn Rovers manager Don Mackay brought him to Lancashire for a fee of £250,000 from Tottenham Hotspur. Mimms' arrival coincided with "the Jack Walker revolution" at Ewood Park with vast amounts of money being spent by the new owner on talents such as Bobby Mimms and later Alan Shearer.

Blackburn began the 1991–92 season poorly with Don Mackay as manager and he was soon sacked to make way for Kenny Dalglish. Dalglish made several substantial signings during the season and Blackburn reached the playoff final where they beat Leicester City 1–0, ending 26 years outside the top flight.

Mimms was an integral part of this team. However, Jack Walker was not one to rest on his laurels and after the clubs promotion vast amounts of money were spent to recruit the finest talents in the country to Ewood Park.

Players such as Alan Shearer, Stuart Ripley, Graeme Le Saux, Kevin Gallagher were brought to the club and Mimms was a key part of the team which finished fourth in the 1992–93 season, just missing out on a UEFA Cup place.

Walker and Dalglish were not finished yet and in a crushing blow to Bobby Mimms' confidence, Southampton goalkeeper Tim Flowers was brought in as the new number one.

This acquisition was seen by Bobby not only as a threat to his Blackburn spot, but the dream of representing his country at the forthcoming Euro 96 tournament was also disappearing. The 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons were a frustrating time for Mimms, as he found it difficult to displace Flowers as the number one goalkeeper. Despite making only a handful of appearances in the victorious 1994-95 premiership winning side, Mimms' attitude and commitment to the cause made him a fan's favourite and also became somewhat of a cult figure amongst the Blackburn faithful.

Having tasted success, Mimms' wanted more, and was not prepared to be second choice for much longer whilst Flowers took all the plaudits. Going into the 1995–96 season, Mimms' lost his patience and was soon looking to engineer a move for himself away from Ewood Park. He joined Crystal Palace on a one-game loan deal during this time.

Now clearly past his best, Mimms spent the remaining years of his career at various lower league clubs such as Preston North End, Rotherham United, hometown club York City and finished off his playing career at Mansfield Town.

Since retiring from playing professionally, Mimms has represented Blackburn Rovers in the Masters football tournament.

Bobby Mimms was the goalkeeping coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers helping guide Matt Murray and Wayne Hennessey from 2001 to 2008. He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Blackburn Rovers as from 04/08/2008, where he will coach England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Reserve Keepers Jason Brown and Mark Bunn, and youngsters Gunnar Nielsen, Frank Fielding and Bjorn Bussmann.

Mimms is the father of former Liverpool youth team goalkeeper Josh Mimms.

External links

*soccerbase|id=5487|name=Bobby Mimms
* [http://www.alexpenny.co.uk] Alex Penny