Name: Robert James Hatton



Country: England
Club: Birmingham City F.C.
Number: 10
Position: ★SS, CF, WF
Side: RF/LS
Age: 25-29 years (10/04/1947)

Height: 181 cm
Weight: 77 kg

Attack: 83
Defence: 42
Balance: 81
Stamina: 82
Top Speed: 81
Acceleration: 79
Response: 84
Agility: 79
Dribble Accuracy: 79
Dribble Speed: 78
Short Pass Accuracy: 81
Short Pass Speed: 76
Long Pass Accuracy: 77
Long Pass Speed: 76
Shot Accuracy: 83
Shot Power: 80
Shot Technique: 84
Free Kick Accuracy: 65
Curling: 72
Header: 85
Jump: 82
Technique: 83
Aggression: 78
Mentality: 78
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 81

Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 7
Weak Foot Frequency: 7
Consistency: 5
Growth Type: Standard


CARDS:
P13 - Dummy Runner
S01 - Marauding
S05 - 1-Touch Play

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Tactical Dribble - Post Player - Positioning - Reaction - 1-Touch Pass

Attack/Defence Awareness: Attack-Minded


INFO:
A well built and strong attacker with a good touch, Hatton preferred the left of the field and was not afraid to try his luck at goal, with either foot. A "workhorse", he was great at shielding the ball with his back, possessed fantastic first touch, excellent reaction. Tricky, unpredictable, used both feet almost equally, he exploited the advantage of a low centre of gravity, and was very often the striker and creator for Latchford and Francis. Strong, unselfish, good in the air and a brilliant finisher.

Born in Hull in 1947 he joined Blues in 1971 as a Freddie Goodwin signing. Hatton had done the rounds - and scored regularly - for Wolves, Bolton Wanderers, Northampton Town and Carlisle United. Regarded as the final cog in the promotion-winning team of 1972, Hatton formed part of the fabled attacking triumvirate with Trevor Francis and Bob Latchford. Between them, they scored 50 league goals that memorable season. When Latchford was sold to Everton, Kenny Burns took up some of the slack, and Hatton adapted nicely to the new look. In fact, that was a feature of his time at Blues. He was clever enough to fit in with whoever was used up front, and still contribute to the overall good. Often unsung but highly effective, striker Bob Hatton averaged a goal every three games for Blues.

Hatton was a very skillful player and liked inside-left, where he could drift out wide or dart through the middle to cause problems for defences. He left Blues in 1976 after 214 appearances and 73 goals, including 15 goals in 26 games in 1972, and continued to find the back of the net for Blackpool, Luton Town, Sheffield United and Cardiff City.