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Jack Robinson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John William "Jack" Robinson (22 April 1870 - 28 October 1931), was a professional footballer
who played for, among others Derby County
, Southampton
and England
.
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." Hugo Meisl
, the noted coach of the Austrian "Wunderteam" of the 1930s, went further, recalling:
Robinson made 163 League appearances for the Rams before spending his thirties with several clubs both in the UK and the United States
. though 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.
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.
, alongside Steve Bloomer
, for Derby County Baseball Club
and helped them become British champions twice in the 1890s.
Derby County
Southampton
England
Baseball Player
Derby County Baseball Club
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...
who played for, among others Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Football career
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. Touring eastern Europe with Southampton in 1899, Robinson played a notable role in introducing modern goalkeeping techniques to AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Gyula Grosics
Gyula Grosics
Gyula Grosics is a Hungarian former football goalkeeper who played 86 times for the Hungarian national football team and was part of the legendary Golden Team of the 1950s. He was nicknamed the Black Panther ....
, the Hungarian international of the 1950s, observed that "it was Moon
Billy Moon
William 'Billy' Robert Moon was an English footballer who represented the England national football team. He also played first-class cricket with Middlesex and his brother Leonard Moon was a Test cricketer....
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." Hugo Meisl
Hugo Meisl
Hugo Meisl , brother of the journalist Willy Meisl, was the multi-lingual football coach of the famous Austrian 'Wunderteam' of the early 1930s, as well as a referee.-Background:...
, the noted coach of the Austrian "Wunderteam" of the 1930s, went further, recalling:
- "In that year (1899) 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."
Robinson made 163 League appearances for the Rams before spending his thirties with several clubs both in the UK and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. though 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
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
dominate the Southern League at the turn of the 20th Century.
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
1900 FA Cup Final
The 1900 FA Cup Final was contested by Bury and Southampton at Crystal Palace. Bury won 4–0, with goals by Jasper McLuckie , Willie Wood and John Plant. This final was the last of the 19th Century and the first victory in the FA Cup for Bury, who beat a team who similarly had never reached...
where infighting over the selection of an out of form English forward over the in form Roddy McLeod
Roddy McLeod
Roderick McLeod was a Scottish professional footballer who was part of the West Bromwich Albion team which won the FA Cup in 1892, and was a losing finalist in 1895.-West Bromwich Albion:...
of Scotland led to fighting between the English and Scottish factions and ultimately led to a very disjointed team performance and a heavy defeat.
Baseball career
Robinson also played baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, alongside Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game...
, for Derby County Baseball Club
Derby County Baseball Club
The Derby County Baseball Club was a baseball club in Great Britain that played baseball until 1898 when football become the dominant sport in that region...
and helped them become British champions twice in the 1890s.
Honours
Football PlayerDerby County
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
- Runner Up 1895-96
Southampton
- FA CupFA CupThe 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...
- Finalist 19001900 FA Cup FinalThe 1900 FA Cup Final was contested by Bury and Southampton at Crystal Palace. Bury won 4–0, with goals by Jasper McLuckie , Willie Wood and John Plant. This final was the last of the 19th Century and the first victory in the FA Cup for Bury, who beat a team who similarly had never reached...
, 19021902 FA Cup FinalThe 1902 FA Cup Final was contested by Sheffield United and Southampton at Crystal Palace. The match finished 1–1 after extra time, with the goals scored by Alf Common for Sheffield United and Harry Wood for Southampton....
- Finalist 1900
- Southern League ChampionsSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
: 3- 1898-99, 1900–01, 1902–03
England
- British ChampionsBritish Home ChampionshipThe British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
: 4- 1898, 1899, 1901
- Shared titles 1903
Baseball Player
Derby County Baseball Club
- British Champions: 2
- 1895, 1897