Pop Robson

For the former Manchester United and England national football team player, see Bryan Robson

Pop Robson

Personal information
Full name	Bryan Stanley Robson
Date of birth	11 November 1945 (1945-11-11)
Place of birth	Sunderland, England
Playing position	Centre forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1962–1971	Newcastle United	206	(82)
1971–1974	West Ham United	120	(47)
1974–1976	Sunderland	90	(34)
1976–1979	West Ham United	107	(47)
1979–1981	Sunderland	52	(23)
1981–1982	Carlisle United	48	(21)
1982–1983	Chelsea	15	(3)
1982–1983	→ Carlisle United (loan)	11	(4)
1983–1984	Sunderland	12	(3)
1984–1985	Carlisle United	13	(1)
1985–1986	Gateshead	?	(1)
Teams managed
1984	Sunderland (caretaker)
1985	Carlisle United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Bryan Stanley Robson, better known as Pop Robson (born 11 November 1945) is a former much-travelled footballer, playing for Newcastle United, West Ham United, Sunderland, Chelsea and Carlisle United as a centre forward. Although diminutive, Pop was one of the most prolific goalscorers of his generation, yet was only ever an England Under-23 International, never managing to earn a full England cap.

Biography

Born in Sunderland, Robson played for Clara Vale in his youth. His first senior club was Newcastle United, and whilst there he won the Second Division title in 1964–65 and the 1969 Fairs Cup, forming a productive partnership with Welshman Wyn Davies.

In February 1971 he became West Ham's record purchase when he signed for £120,000. He scored on his debut against Nottingham Forest on 24 February 1971. He was West Ham's leading scorer in two of his three seasons at Upton Park.

He made a return to the North-East to join Sunderland in July 1974 for £145,000.

He rejoined West Ham in October 1976. During his two spells at West Ham, he made 254 appearances, scoring 104 goals. In the October 2004 issue of EX, a retro magazine dedicated to former players of West Ham United, Robson reflected on his two spells at Upton Park and revealed his regret at not staying longer.

He returned to Roker Park in June 1979 for £45,000, and was to eventually play for Sunderland in three separate stints, his goals twice helping them to promotion, as Football League Second Division Champions 1976 and Runners Up in 1980.

Pop was employed as a player/coach by Carlisle and Chelsea, and at Sunderland during his third spell there. He even stepped in as caretaker manager for one game during the 1983–84 season before the arrival of Len Ashurst. In 1982 Carlisle managed promotion back to the Second Division with a young Peter Beardsley alongside Robson in attack.

Robson is perhaps most fondly remembered by the Sunderland fans for the great rescue act on the last day of the 1983–84 season at Leicester. Recalled to lead the front line at the ripe old age of 38 years and 182 days, the Bald Assassin scored his last ever goal for Sunderland in a 2–0 win that saved the team from relegation. In his three stays at the club he amassed 174 appearances (10 from the bench) and 67 goals. He also managed the club as caretaker for a single game in 1984 following the sacking of Alan Durban.

He finished his Football League career with a third spell at Carlisle, and in total he made 674 Football League appearances and scored 265 goals.

Robson briefly played for non-league Gateshead after leaving Carlisle, scoring one goal during his stint at the club in 1985–86.

Coaching career

After finishing playing with Carlisle he coached at Hartlepool United, Manchester United, and finally Sunderland until May 2004.