Richard (Dickie) Robinson

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Richard 'Dickie' Robinson is a football player from England. Robinson signed for Middlesbrough FC after being watched by their manager David Jack.

Jack had spotted Robinson playing for local team Marsden Welfare Juniors. Robinson played in the Colts for Middlesbrough FC and guested for Dunfermline Athletic, whilst working as a Bevin Boy in Scotland at the end of the war.

His debut for Middlesbrough FC, was in the 1-0 away win against Newcastle United on 7th Oct 1944 as a 17 year old and he played in the first post war game (1945-46 season) against Manchester City aged 18. He went on to play a total of 390 games in the league and 26 in the FA Cup for Middlesbrough. He scored only one goal in his career surprisingly against close rivals Sunderland FC.

During his time at Middlesbrough FC, Robinson went on two FA tours with the England team to Switzerland / Portugal, and Scandinavia, yet never gained a full cap. He was supposed to stand in for the injured Neil Franklin in the England 10-0 defeat of Portugal, but Franklin declared himself fit 30 minutes before the start.

It was said at the time that 3 Middlesbrough players in the England team (Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick were also regulars) might have seemed biased though he did get England B team honours.

He also went on to gain the following English League representative honours:

30th April 1947 English League v League of Ireland (Dublin)
22nd Oct 1947 English League v Irish League (Windsor Park Belfast)
20th Sept 1948 English League v Irish League (Anfield)
29th Nov 1950 English League v Scottish League (Ibrox)
10th Oct 1951 English League v League of Ireland (Goodison Park)

During his time at Middlesbrough FC, Robinson also won the Players Footballers Association Golf Championship at Childwall, Southport in 1951, interestingly with his manager David Jack acting as his caddy. The trophy was presented to him by Reg Drury, the Football League Chairman.

He transferred to Barrow AFC in 1959-60 season from Middlesbrough FC, where he continued to play, notching up another 151 league and FA Cup games, until injury forced him out of playing the game in 1963. He carried on from 1964 to 1969 as trainer for Barrow AFC, and then retired from the game having played in a total of 567 league and cup games.