Robinson: David (Dave)

1926-1928 (Player Details)

Left Back

Born: Longtown: 04-07-1900

Debut v Blackburn Rovers (h): 09-10-1926

5’7” 11st 6lb (1928)

Early in his career it looked as though Robinson would not make the grade. He began with Lockerbie and was rejected by Aston Villa after trials. After playing with Non-League club Eskdale, he signed for Carlisle United, then also a Non-League club. They converted him into a full back before joining Leeds in May 1926, via other Non-League clubs, Solway Star and Workington. United had three very well established full-backs in Harry Roberts and Bill Menzies, with Jimmy Allan as a reliable deputy for either. So there was very little scope for the twenty-six year-old Robinson, but he did make four appearances in the 1926-27 campaign at left-back as Bill Menzies’ deputy. There was another final appearance in the following season, again as a replacement for an injured Bill Menzies, but his chances had become even more limited with the return of centre-half stalwart Ernie Hart and the moving of Captain Tom Townsley to right back to accommodate him. With Townsley and Menzies almost ever-presents and Jimmy Allan the acknowledged cover for both full-back positions, he moved to Southend United in May 1928. At last he found his niche, making over three hundred appearances for the Shrimpers, despite a bad injury in February 1933. He became a legend at Roots Hall and his full record was a very impressive three hundred and seventeen League games, twenty-four FA Cup appearances and seven in other matches. He did score just one goal for the Shrimpers but he had to wait until his final season of 1938-39 before scoring it. He also got to play at Wembley but not under the usual circumstances as this attachment explains. (Attachment) He continued to play for Southend until after the outbreak of World War Two when injury forced his retirement in 1940. Such was the stature of the Scot, Dave Robinson, in the history of the club that he had his first testimonial match in 1934, when David Jack came to watch and was persuaded to join the Shrimpers as Manager, and his second, on retirement in 1970. Five foot five but as hard as nails, he went on to become a fixture at Southend being Assistant Trainer for thirteen years under Wilf Copping and Wilf Dixon. After he retired from the coaching staff he was appointed Southend’s groundsman and gave his usual unstinted dedication until his retirement in 1970. He also ran a newsagents and tobacconists in the resort. He was still helping out at the club when he died in 1986 aged eighty-six, having spent nearly sixty years with the club. A minute's silence was observed at the home game immediately after his death. He was apparently “a bit of a lad”. I am indebted to David Robinson’s grandson Peter, and his friend Derek Elmore, for several vital pieces of information and the little ‘anecdote’ from a Southend United website, which follows: “J is for Jail Birds - In September 1934 Joe Wilson, Dave Robinson and Bert Jones were in court accused of poaching. Police stopped their lorry and found sixty-two rabbits and four guns. Wilson was fined £1 and the others 10/-, and their guns were confiscated.” (Attachment)