Background
Born in Stewart Street, Silksworth,, his father Joe was a miner at Silksworth Colliery. His mother, Elizabeth, stayed at home to look after Bobby, his three brothers and one sister.
Born in Stewart Street, Silksworth,, his father Joe was a miner at Silksworth Colliery. His mother, Elizabeth, stayed at home to look after Bobby, his three brothers and one sister.
Bobby took up football as a child, playing for his village team Bobby was signed to in May 1925, after being spotted by Charlie Buchan while playing for top non-league side Bishop Auckland. He made his debut nearly a year later against West Ham United on 3 April 1926, scoring once in a 3–2 defeat.
He would play for the next three seasons alongside a striker who hit at least 35 league goals in each of his four full seasons at Roker Park, Dave Halliday, the most prolific goals to games striker in "s history.
After Halliday"s departure Gurney was regularly the club"s top goalscorer, garnering his best tally of 33 goals in the 1930-1931 season. Among his career highlights were ten hat-tricks and two four-goal hauls.
He was also one of just a handful of players to score five times in a match. Bobby went on to make 388 league appearances for, scoring 228 goals, which makes him the club"s all-time top scorer.
On retiring from playing he stayed in the game and in 1950 became manager of Midland League side Peterborough United.
He was subsequently manager of Darlington, and finally had a short spell as manager of Hartlepool United. As a player
First Division runner-up: 1934-1935
FA Charity Shield runner-up: 1937
War Cup runner-up: 1942.