Stewart Robson

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Stewart Ian Robson (born November 6, 1964) is an English former football player.

Born in Billericay, Essex. He was educated at Alleyn Court Prep School in Westcliff On Sea, and Brentwood School. He was also an outstanding cricketer.^{[citation needed]} Robson joined Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1978. He made his debut soon after his 17th birthday, on December 5, 1981 against West Ham United, and quickly became a regular feature in the Arsenal side, as well as the England team.

Robson showed great promise as young footballer, both in his versatility (although he usually played in midfield, he was equally adept in defence as full back or centre back) and his competitiveness; he was an enthusiastic runner and tackler. He was the Arsenal fans' 1984 Player of the Year, and made the England senior squad, but a series of injuries hampered his career – Robson had continual problems with his groin and hamstrings. He spent three months out injured in 1985-86.

After the arrival of George Graham as manager, Robson found himself frozen out of the Arsenal side, only playing five matches of the 1986-87 season, before losing his place to Steve Williams. He was sold to West Ham United in January 1987 for £650,000; in total he had played 186 matches for Arsenal, scoring 21 goals.

He started brightly at West Ham - he was a regular in the Hammers' first team for two and a half years, and Player of the Year for 1987. However, he lost his place after they were relegated in 1989, playing only eight times in the following two years. In March 1991 he joined Coventry City, and went on to make 57 league appearances for the Sky Blues, but once again, injury ruined his spell at the club; he suffered a bad knee injury playing his old club Arsenal at the start of the 1993-94 season. In summer 1995 he retired, after an entire season out injured. Following this, he went on to teach PE at Forest School in East London up until 1998.^{[citation needed]}

Robson later joined Wimbledon as a youth coach, eventually moving up the ranks to become reserve team manager and then first-team coach. In 2003 he spent a short spell as first-team coach at Southend United, and in 2004 he joined Rushden & Diamonds as assistant manager. He is now the Diamonds' technical director.