Bill Robinson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Bill Robinson was a professional football
er who played as a centre forward
for Sunderland
, Charlton Athletic
and West Ham United
.
Robinson was born in Whitburn
, Northumberland
, England
, and played for West Ham between 1949 and 1952. He joined from Charlton – where he had scored 16 goals in 51 appearances and won the FA Cup
(played at the Empire Stadium 26 April - the same day as his only child Robert was born) in 1947 – for £7,000. A week after signing for West Ham, Robinson scored on his debut, a 1-2 away win against West Bromwich Albion
on 15 January 1949. He went on to make 105 appearances for the Upton Park
club, and score 61 goals.
He then joined the coaching staff at West Ham United. Firstly looking after the youth team and was instrumental in helping to produce players such as Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst through the ranks to become members of the first team at West Ham eventually culminating in them playing for their country. He was then promoted to assistant manager under Ted Fenton and was responsible for coaching the first team. Under their guidance West Ham were promoted to Division One. After this success, he left to return to his native north east to become manager of Hartlepools United
. This proved to be the end of his career in football due to being relieved of his duties due to the failure of the club. Subsequently it was revealed that several members of that team were taking bribes to lose. This had a devastating effect on him and he never returned to football despite many offers. He was succeeded by Allenby Chilton
in 1962.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er who played as a centre forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
and West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
.
Robinson was born in Whitburn
Whitburn, South Tyneside
Whitburn is a village in South Tyneside, on the coast of North East England. It lies just to the north of the City of Sunderland in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear. Until 1974, when the Local Government Act 1972 came into being, it was part of County Durham...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and played for West Ham between 1949 and 1952. He joined from Charlton – where he had scored 16 goals in 51 appearances and won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
(played at the Empire Stadium 26 April - the same day as his only child Robert was born) in 1947 – for £7,000. A week after signing for West Ham, Robinson scored on his debut, a 1-2 away win against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 15 January 1949. He went on to make 105 appearances for the Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
club, and score 61 goals.
He then joined the coaching staff at West Ham United. Firstly looking after the youth team and was instrumental in helping to produce players such as Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst through the ranks to become members of the first team at West Ham eventually culminating in them playing for their country. He was then promoted to assistant manager under Ted Fenton and was responsible for coaching the first team. Under their guidance West Ham were promoted to Division One. After this success, he left to return to his native north east to become manager of Hartlepools United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. This proved to be the end of his career in football due to being relieved of his duties due to the failure of the club. Subsequently it was revealed that several members of that team were taking bribes to lose. This had a devastating effect on him and he never returned to football despite many offers. He was succeeded by Allenby Chilton
Allenby Chilton
Allenby C. Chilton was an English football player.Chilton started his career with Seaham Colliery before joining Liverpool as an amateur in the summer of 1938. Chilton transferred to Manchester United soon after in November 1938 and made his first team debut against Charlton Athletic in September...
in 1962.