Bob Maskell

Bob Maskell was a talent scout for Rovers, a first-division football team. In 1974, he offered 17-year-old Gary Turner a contract with the team, through his father Eric. Gary had played amateur football for years but was intending to take a course in catering management after leaving school, and so he turned down the offer. Keen for his son to sign with the team, Eric met with Bob in the Rovers Return and urged him to offer something to Gertie Robson, Gary's aunt with whom he was close. Bob was keen to sign Gary, thinking he was playing hardball and that other teams were sniffing round him. Bob saw Gary to offer the improved contract personally - 25% up on the previous offer plus the promise of rewarding Gertie financially for Gary to live with her. Gary ultimately turned down this offer too, choosing to follow his original plan of getting a degree first before deciding on a career path.


 * Actor Malcolm Terris played Bob Maskell, twenty years before his debut as Firman's Freezers boss Eric Firman.