| Intro | British association football player and baseball player |
| A.K.A. | John Robinson, John William Robinson |
| Was |
Athlete Football player Association football player Baseball player |
| From | United Kingdom |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 22 April 1870, Derby |
| Death |
28 October 1931, Derby (aged 61 years) |
John William “Jack” Robinson (22 April 1870 – 28 October 1931), was a professional footballer who played for, among others Derby County, Southampton and England.
Football career
Robinson made 163 League appearances for the Rams before spending his thirties with several clubs both in the UK and the United States.
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.
Legacy
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 Austria 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:
- “In that year (1899)a 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.”
- Holley & Chalk 1992, p. 286.
- Giant Killers 1900
- ^ Hodgson 1998, pp. 155–157.
Baseball career
Robinson also played baseball, alongside Steve Bloomer, for Derby County Baseball Club and helped them become British champions twice in the 1890s.
Honours
Footballer
- Derby County
- Football League First Division runners-up: 1895–96
- Southampton
- FA Cup finalists: 1900, 1902
- Southern League champions: 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03
- England
- British champions: 1898, 1899, 1901, 1903 (shared)
Baseball player
- Derby County Baseball Club
- British Champions: 1895, 1897