James Robinson (footballer born 1982)
Encyclopedia
James Robinson is an English/ Australian
professional footballer who currently plays for Oakleigh Cannons
in the Victorian Premier League
, as a Midfielder
, Robinson joined English
team Crewe Alexandra
in 1990 at the age of eight, and made his first team debut with the club in 2002, making 15 first team appearances. He left Crewe Alexandra
by mutual consent in 2005 with a year remaining on his contract, and joined Accrington Stanley
, punctuated by a four-month stint playing in Iceland
. He signed for Altrincham
in November 2005, and made 13 appearances for the team, then at the top of the Conference National
.
, where he joined Melbourne
-based Richmond SC
. At that time, it was discovered that neither Accrington
nor Altrincham
had obtained international clearance for Robinson to transfer or play for them, a procedure required due to his stint in Iceland
. Accrington
escaped penalty, as Robinson had not appeared for their first team. Altrincham
, however, had 18 points deducted (all points earned during Robinson's matches), nearly dooming them to relegation. Robinson was devastated by the sanctions to his former team, but went on to help Richmond SC
, then in Victorian State League Division 1
, earn promotion to the Victorian Premier League
.
club Melbourne Victory
. By Round 8, and with Melbourne
's prolific striker Archie Thompson
away on national duty for Australia, Robinson was called up to a bench spot for the away match at Newcastle, upon which he came on as an 81st minute substitute.
With the departure of Belgian defender Geoffrey Claeys
in November 2006, Melbourne Victory
announced the signing of the striker; at the end of the home and away season, Robinson had played a total of five games. His only start came in the Round 19 match against Perth Glory
at Members Equity Stadium
. His first and only goal for the club came in the 92nd minute with a looping header against Adelaide United in the 2007 A-League
Major Semi-Final second leg in front of 47,000 fans to win the game for Melbourne Victory
and send them through to their first A-League
Grand Final, making him an instant club hero.
Despite his crucial contribution to the Victory's
triumphant campaign, he was not offered a new contract by Melbourne Victory
coach Ernie Merrick
, he said that the loss of Robinson from the team was due to his Australia
n visa
conditions.
club Perth Glory for the 2007–08 season after his performances for Sydney
team Marconi Stallions
and after impressing on a pre season trial.
: A-League Championship: 2006-2007
A-League Premiership: 2006-2007
With Oakleigh Cannons
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...
professional footballer who currently plays for Oakleigh Cannons
Oakleigh Cannons
Oakleigh Cannons Football Club is a football club based in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia. The club was formed in 1972 as the South Oakleigh Soccer Club by members of Oakleigh's Greek Australian community...
in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
, as a Midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
England
Born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Robinson joined English
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...
team Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in 1990 at the age of eight, and made his first team debut with the club in 2002, making 15 first team appearances. He left Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
by mutual consent in 2005 with a year remaining on his contract, and joined Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
, punctuated by a four-month stint playing in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. He signed for Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
in November 2005, and made 13 appearances for the team, then at the top of the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
.
Australia
In February 2006, Robinson headed to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he joined Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
-based Richmond SC
Richmond SC
Richmond Soccer Club is an Australian association football club from Richmond, Victoria, an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. They currently play in the Victorian Premier League.-History:...
. At that time, it was discovered that neither Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
nor Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
had obtained international clearance for Robinson to transfer or play for them, a procedure required due to his stint in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
escaped penalty, as Robinson had not appeared for their first team. Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
, however, had 18 points deducted (all points earned during Robinson's matches), nearly dooming them to relegation. Robinson was devastated by the sanctions to his former team, but went on to help Richmond SC
Richmond SC
Richmond Soccer Club is an Australian association football club from Richmond, Victoria, an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. They currently play in the Victorian Premier League.-History:...
, then in Victorian State League Division 1
Victorian State League Division 1
The Victorian State League Division 1 is the second tier association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and the third nationally, including the A-League...
, earn promotion to the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
.
Melbourne Victory
It was a string of impressive performances for the third, then second-tier club – 19 games for 13 goals in 2006 – that saw Robinson initially selected as a train-on squad player for A-LeagueA-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
. By Round 8, and with Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's prolific striker Archie Thompson
Archie Thompson
Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record...
away on national duty for Australia, Robinson was called up to a bench spot for the away match at Newcastle, upon which he came on as an 81st minute substitute.
With the departure of Belgian defender Geoffrey Claeys
Geoffrey Claeys
Geoffrey Claeys is a football player who last played for Melbourne Victory in the A-League as a central Defender....
in November 2006, Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
announced the signing of the striker; at the end of the home and away season, Robinson had played a total of five games. His only start came in the Round 19 match against Perth Glory
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
at Members Equity Stadium
Members Equity Stadium
Perth Oval, known by its sponsored name nib Stadium since July 2010, is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. It has been the home of A-League club Perth Glory since 1996 and has housed the administrative facilities of the Western Australia Rugby League since 2003...
. His first and only goal for the club came in the 92nd minute with a looping header against Adelaide United in the 2007 A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
Major Semi-Final second leg in front of 47,000 fans to win the game for Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
and send them through to their first A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
Grand Final, making him an instant club hero.
Despite his crucial contribution to the Victory's
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
triumphant campaign, he was not offered a new contract by Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
coach Ernie Merrick
Ernie Merrick
Ernest 'Ernie' Merrick is the Scottish former head coach for the Australian A-League football team, Melbourne Victory.-Melbourne Victory:...
, he said that the loss of Robinson from the team was due to his Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
conditions.
Perth Glory
Robinson was signed by A-LeagueA-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club Perth Glory for the 2007–08 season after his performances for Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
team Marconi Stallions
Marconi Stallions
The Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian football club located in Sydney, Australia. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne FC and Sydney City SC...
and after impressing on a pre season trial.
North Queensland Fury
Robinson was a founder member of the North Queensland Fury team and made a number of impressive performances for the team.A-League career statistics
(Correct as of 2 February 2009)| Club | Season | League | Finals | Asia | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... |
2006–07 A-League 2006-07 The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup... |
5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 7 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
| Perth Glory | 2007–08 A-League 2007-08 The A-League 2007-08 season was the third season of the Australian A-League football competition, won by the Newcastle Jets. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by and playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and... |
18 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||
| 18 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 2008–09 A-League 2008-09 The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion... |
3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| North Queensland Fury | 2009-10 | 13 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||
| 13 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||
| Total | 39 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 41 | 3 | 13 | |
Honours
With Melbourne VictoryMelbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
: A-League Championship: 2006-2007
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
A-League Premiership: 2006-2007
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
With Oakleigh Cannons
Oakleigh Cannons
Oakleigh Cannons Football Club is a football club based in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia. The club was formed in 1972 as the South Oakleigh Soccer Club by members of Oakleigh's Greek Australian community...
- Victorian Premier LeagueVictorian Premier LeagueThe Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
Runners Up 2011