Steve Robinson (Northern Irish footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen "Steve" Robinson (born 10 December 1974) is a Northern Ireland
former footballer currently working for the Irish Football Association.
, Robinson began his career with the Tottenham Hotspur
youth system
as a trainee, signing a professional contract in January 1997. He joined Bournemouth
due to the lack of first team opportunities at Tottenham. After a highly successful time at Bournemouth, Robinson joined Preston North End
in 2000. After failing to force himself into Preston's starting XI, he joined Bristol City
on loan until the end of the 2001–02 season.
After this he joined Luton Town
for a fee of £50,000 in 2002. He was forced to play on the right-wing by then manager
Joe Kinnear
, despite his position being an attacking centre-midfielder in his Bournemouth days. New manager Mike Newell
soon reverted Robinson to his favoured central-midfield role, and he was rewarded with a League One
championship in 2005, and a tenth place finish in the Championship
in 2006. During the 2006–07 season, Robinson captained the side in Chris Coyne
's absence and was handed a new two-year contract by Hatters boss Mike Newell. On 26 July 2008 Robinson agreed to a mutual termination of his contract at Luton.
He is currently a County Performance Coach (Co. Antrim) and Assistant Manager of the Under-19 Northern Ireland squad with the Irish Football Association.
internationally by Northern Ireland
on seven occasions from 1997 to 2007. He also played for the under-16 (one cap), under-18 (two caps, one goal), under-21
(one cap) and B
(four caps, one goal) teams.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
former footballer currently working for the Irish Football Association.
Club career
Born in LisburnLisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
, Robinson began his career with the Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
as a trainee, signing a professional contract in January 1997. He joined Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
due to the lack of first team opportunities at Tottenham. After a highly successful time at Bournemouth, Robinson joined Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in 2000. After failing to force himself into Preston's starting XI, he joined Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on loan until the end of the 2001–02 season.
After this he joined Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
for a fee of £50,000 in 2002. He was forced to play on the right-wing by then manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
Joe Kinnear
Joe Kinnear
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kinnear is an Irish football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Newcastle United....
, despite his position being an attacking centre-midfielder in his Bournemouth days. New manager Mike Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
soon reverted Robinson to his favoured central-midfield role, and he was rewarded with a League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
championship in 2005, and a tenth place finish in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
in 2006. During the 2006–07 season, Robinson captained the side in Chris Coyne
Chris Coyne
Christopher "Chris" Coyne is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Perth Glory FC and the Australian national football team as a centre back.-Club career:...
's absence and was handed a new two-year contract by Hatters boss Mike Newell. On 26 July 2008 Robinson agreed to a mutual termination of his contract at Luton.
He is currently a County Performance Coach (Co. Antrim) and Assistant Manager of the Under-19 Northern Ireland squad with the Irish Football Association.
International career
Robinson was cappedCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
internationally by Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
on seven occasions from 1997 to 2007. He also played for the under-16 (one cap), under-18 (two caps, one goal), under-21
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
(one cap) and B
Northern Ireland B national football team
Northern Ireland B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the Northern Ireland national football team. Primarily seen as a stepping-stone between the Under-21 and Full international teams, the matches are also used to give a run-out for fringe players and to honour Irish...
(four caps, one goal) teams.