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Jack Robinson (footballer, born 1870)

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Jack Robinson
Personal information
Full name John William Robinson
Date of birth (1870-04-22)22 April 1870
Place of birth Derby, England
Date of death 28 October 1931(1931-10-28) (aged 61)
Place of death Derby, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Derby Midland
1889–1891 Lincoln City
1891–1897 Derby County 163 (0)
1897–1898 New Brighton Tower
1898–1903 Southampton 116 (0)
1903–1905 Plymouth Argyle 50 (0)
1905 Exeter City
1905–1907 Millwall
1907 Green Waves (Plymouth)
1908–1909 Exeter City
1909–1912 Stoke 55 (0)
1912 Rochester (New York)
Total 384+ (0)
International career
1897–1901 England 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John William "Jack" Robinson (22 April 1870 – 28 October 1931), was a professional footballer who played for, among others Derby County, Southampton and England.

Football career

Robinson made 163 League appearances for the Rams before spending his thirties with several clubs both in the UK and the United States.

His most celebrated era during this period was when he teamed up with a host of ex-internationals and top flight experienced players to help Southampton dominate the Southern League at the turn of the 20th Century.[1] As goalkeeper Robinson was instrumental in a string of victories over top flight sides in the F A Cup during this period, especially in getting to the 1900 FA Cup Final where infighting over the selection of an out of form English forward over the in-form Roddy McLeod of Scotland led to fighting between the English and Scottish factions and ultimately led to a very disjointed team performance and a heavy defeat.[2]

Legacy

Robinson was noted, during his playing career, for his reliability and was, according to author Francis Hodgson, among the first goalkeepers to dive full length to make saves.[3] Touring eastern Europe with Southampton in 1899, Robinson played a notable role in introducing modern goalkeeping techniques to Austria and Hungary. Gyula Grosics, the Hungarian international of the 1950s, observed that "it was Moon of the Corinthians, Robinson, and many other world-famous England goalkeepers who have been the pioneers of this art, and they showed the way for all Europe's goalkeepers."[3] Hugo Meisl, the noted coach of the Austrian "Wunderteam" of the 1930s, went further, recalling:

"In that year (1899)a the first English professionals came over, Southampton F.C. They beat the Viennese city eleven 6–0 and their goalkeeper, Robinson, showed for the first time how to tackle low shots by flying through the air with the greatest of ease. Until this day (1930) that type of save is called a 'Robinsonade' in Austria and Central Europe. After the match, Robinson gave an exhibition. His goal was bombarded simultaneously with six balls and he blocked most of the shots.[3]"

Baseball career

Robinson also played baseball, alongside Steve Bloomer, for Derby County Baseball Club and helped them become British champions twice in the 1890s.

Honours

Footballer

Derby County
Southampton
England

Baseball player

Derby County Baseball Club

Footnotes

  • ^a According to the Southampton F.C. histories, the club's first tour of Europe was in April 1901.[4][5] Among their opponents on that tour were Vienna Cricket & Football Club, who were defeated 7–0 and a Vienna Combined XI who were defeated 8–0.[6]

References

  1. ^ Holley & Chalk 1992, p. 286.
  2. ^ Giant Killers 1900
  3. ^ a b c Hodgson 1998, pp. 155–157.
  4. ^ Holley 2012, p. 26.
  5. ^ Chalk & Holley 1987, p. 28.
  6. ^ Chalk & Holley 1987, p. 212.

Bibliography

  • Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Hodgson, Francis (1998). Only the Goalkeeper To Beat. Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-68693-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Holley, Duncan (2012). Suited and Booted. Bristol: Hagiology Publishing. ISBN 0-9534474-9-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
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