James Robinson (footballer born 1982)

Football player infobox
playername= James Robinson
fullname = James Robinson


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|9|18
cityofbirth = Liverpool
countryofbirth = England
height = height|m=1.78
currentclub = Perth Glory
clubnumber = 8
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs = Crewe Alexandra
years = 2003–2005
2005
2005
2005–2006
2006
2006–2007
2007
2007–"present"
clubs = Crewe Alexandra
ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar
Accrington Stanley
Altrincham
Richmond SC
Melbourne Victory
Marconi Stallions
Perth Glory
caps(goals) = 11 0(1)
14 0(4)
19 (13)
07 0(1)
21 0(2)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 21 January 2008
ntupdate = 21 January 2008

James Robinson (born 18 September 1982 in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom) is an English-Australian football (soccer) player who currently plays for Perth Glory in the Australian A-League.

Club career

England

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. [Lynch, Michael: [http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/chorus-grows-for-mr-robinson-graduate-of-crewe/2007/01/04/1167777217498.html Chorus grows for Mr Robinson, graduate of Crewe] , "The Age", January 5 2007.] He left Crewe Alexandra by mutual consent in 2005 with a year remaining on his contract [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/4398465.stm Robinson parts company with Crewe] , British Broadcasting Corporation, March 31 2005.] , and joined Accrington Stanley F.C., punctuated by a four-month stint playing in Iceland. He signed for Altrincham F.C. in November 2005, and made 13 appearances for the team, then at the top of the Football Conference league.

Australia

In February 2006, Robinson headed to Australia, 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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4875272.stm Altrincham charged by Conference] , British Broadcasting Corporation, April 24 2006.] 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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/altrincham/4943920.stm Robinson devastated at deduction] , British Broadcasting Corporation, April 25 2006.]

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-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 against Adelaide United in the 2007 A-League Major Semi-Final 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. [Lynch, Michael: [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/02/04/1170523960542.html Escape to Victory] , "The Age", February 5 2007.]

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 Australian visa conditions. [Bernard, Grantley: [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21425039-5000940,00.html Victory shows door to trio] , Fox Sports (Australia), March 22 2007.]

Perth Glory

Robinson was signed by A-League club Perth Glory for the 2007/2008 season after his performances for Sydney team Marconi Stallions and after impressing on a pre season trial.

A-League career statistics

("Correct as of 29 September 2008")

Honours

With Melbourne Victory:
* A-League Championship: 2006-2007
* A-League Premiership: 2006-2007

References

External links

* [http://www.perthglory.com.au/default.aspx?s=pgfc_playerprofile_item&pid=1039 Perth Glory profile]
* [http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/depart05.htm Altrincham FC profile]
* [http://www.crewe-mad.co.uk/footydb/loadpcrr.asp?pid=101146 Crewe Alexandra profile]